catholic family faith

Happy Feast of St. Lucy!

Today, December 13, is the Feast of St. Lucy.  I have grown to appreciate St. Lucy more over the years.  For her story, go to http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=75.

Light a candle and ask St. Lucy to pray that you will see the Light of Christ in your life.

Online Advent Resources

It's the end of the first week of Advent.  Are you still looking for something to inspire you in this season of preparation and anticipation of Christ's coming?  Check out some of these websites:

• Loyola Press - http://www.loyolapress.com/liturgical-year-advent.htm?ftm=ocf - Advent calendars, wreaths, and activities  (I really like their on-line Advent experience - a reflection or activity for each day of Advent.)
• CatholicMom.com - http://catholicmom.com/advent_kids.htm - coloring pages, word puzzles, and other activities for Advent
• Homeschooling Countdown to Christmas - http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/advent125.htm - each day of this Advent calendar offers a recipe, a game, a coloring page, an activity page, and a craft
• Catholic Icing - http://catholicicing.com/category/adventchristmas/ - this is a "sweet" website filled with crafts and recipes

Whatever you do this Advent, make sure you make time just to simply enjoy the season.  If you need some rest, take it.  Too often we try to cram too much into the season - baking, shopping, wrapping, church, get-togethers with family and friends - to the point where we get sick or feel depressed.  When God became human through the Incarnation, God didn't intend for us to feel overwhelmed with having to do all kinds of stuff.  God really wants us to be filled with joy and peace.

I pray that whatever you do this Advent, you are able to experience God's abundant joy and peace and love in a profound way.

 

 

We Wait in Joyful Hope - Advent 2012

Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.   (Mark 13:33, NAB)

Ominous and gloomy? Perhaps not. 

Why do we so often contemplate the coming of the Son of Man with fear and dread?  Isn't it going to be a glorious return?  Will we not rejoice when we see His face?

Fear and gloom?  I think not.

Yes, we need to stay alert and be watchful, but aren't we alert and watchful even when we're enjoying ourselves?  God created us to be happy.  We can prepare for Christ's coming with joy and loving anticipation.  We can prepare to look upon His face by practicing love and having a positive attitude.  Jesus didn't say we had to be watchful in a state of dread and gloom.  He simply said, "Be alert!"

We can look forward to the return of the Son of Man with joyful hope.

How is your family celebrating this season of Advent this year?  Are you enjoying this first week of the season?  What are you doing to prepare for and celebrate the Incarnation? 

Beautiful Litany of Saints for All Saints Day

This is the best recording of the Litany of Saints that I have found.  Very prayerful and soothing.  Fitting for All Saints Day tomorrow.

 

Forgive Unceasingly - Lord's Day Faith Chat - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 11, 2011

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?  As many as seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  (Matthew 18:21-22, NAB)

Every time we pray the Our Father, we say "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."  But do we really mean what we say?  Do we forgive others as we wish to be forgiven by God?

Today's reading reminds us that we need to practice living in God's mercy.  We need to practice forgiving as God forgives.  Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence in Terre Haute, Indiana, once wrote, "God's mercy is greater than the number of sins we will ever commit."  God's mercy is greater than any number or greatness of sins we can commit.  No matter what we do, if we ask God's forgiveness, God will grant us forgiveness.

What a comforting thought!

But do we do the same for others?  or even ourselves?  Does our forgiveness mirror God's?

When was the last time you held a grudge?  How many grudges are you holding right now?  Why do you hold onto those grudges?  What good is it really doing you or anyone else that you aren't forgiving?

As you reflect on the reading for this Lord's Day, invite the God of Mercy to fill you with compassion and to help you forgive.  Allow God to take the weight of holding those grudges off your heart.  You will be amazed at how much happier you will after you give and accept forgiveness!

Back to School

Teachers and students have returned to school this week.  How has your family survived the return to activities and routine?

This first week of school is important for families.  It sets the tone for how they may relate to one another throughout the academic year.  Consider how your family did this first week of school by reflecting on these questions:

• Have we established a morning routine for breakfast, sharing the bathroom, deciding what to wear, and making sure we each have what we need before we walk out the door?
• Do we have a balanced after school routine:  extra-curricular activities, homework, family time?
• Have we eaten a meal together at least two times this week?
• Have we spent time together as a family talking about our day and sharing support and encouragement for one another?
• Are our activities balanced?  Are our kids in too many activities, too few, just right?

As you reflect on these questions, ask God to keep your family connected and supportive of one another.  If you feel out of sorts and unbalanced, ask God to help you to discern your priorities and create a more balanced schedule.

God of Love, help us to keep our focus on you and on one another.  Fill us with your Spirit of Compassion as we begin this school year.  Bless our year with love, joy, and peace.  Amen.

 

Lord's Day Faith Chat - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 2011

Readings:  Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

When Peter responded to Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus told him, "Blessed are you...for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." 

When did you first believe - really believe - that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God"?  I grew up in the Catholic faith, so from my infancy I heard that Jesus is the Son of God.  But it wasn't until I was older that I could truly affirm my belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.  I suppose that's so for many people raised in the Christian faith.  At some point when we're able to decide for ourselves, we come to state the belief from our heart rather than just speaking the words.  (At least, I hope that all adults who state belief in Christ Jesus do so from their hearts and not just speak the words.)

While we might be raised in believing in Christ Jesus as the Son of God, it is the Holy Spirit who inspires us to accept the belief and proclaim it from our hearts.  We cannot proclaim any belief without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  So give thanks, today, to God the Holy Spirit for filling you with belief in Christ Jesus, the Son of the living God!

Sometime this week, invite family members to share their favorite titles of Jesus (eg., Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, Good Shepherd, etc.) and come up with words that describe Jesus' personality, ministry, and mission (eg., healer, compassionate, listening, etc.)  The create a word cloud about Jesus with the titles and descriptive words, connecting words together with shared letters.  [Go to www.wordle.net to create a word cloud online.]

Lord's Day Faith Chat - 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 7, 2011

Readings:  1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33

This Sunday, we proclaim the account of Jesus walking on the water.  There are a couple of thoughts that strike me in this reading.

"After he had fed the people (last week we heard the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves), Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray." (Matthew 14:22-23, NAB)

Jesus sent the disciples on ahead of him, then went off by himself to pray.  After curing the sick and feeding the hungry, Jesus needed to refresh and renew his spirit.  And, if you remember, he hadn't had very long to mourn the death of his cousin, John the Baptist.  Jesus recognized his need to be along with his Father.  He needed to pray to his Father about the sorrow he was feeling, to rest in his Father's arms, to simply bask in the silence of God's love.

Parents need time to refresh and renew their spirits.  Parenthood is a 24/7 job.  We feed kids, make sure they are clean and clothed, tend their injuries and illnesses, listen to their joys and struggles, and much more.  Parents need to make time to reconnect with one another and to God, our loving Father.

When was the last time you and your spouse got away?  Or if you are a single parent, when was the last time you were alone?  It is critical for your spirituality and for your sanity, to get away from your kids once in a while.  It doesn't have to be a long time; simple date nights or even an hour or two after sending the kids to be early every now and then will suffice.  Make a commitment to you, your spouse, God, and your kids, to get away.  Even if your kids whine and cry, "Why do we need to go to bed early tonight?" or "Why can't we go with you?" or "I just can't survive without you!" explain to them that you will be a better parent to them if you get a little quiet time once in a while.

Another segment of this story that spoke to me is when Jesus walks on water and approaches the boat.  Peter exclaims, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  I have often struggled with Peter's doubt:  "If it is you..."  But I had a different insight this week.  Peter loved Jesus so much that he wanted to be like Jesus.  I can imagine him thinking, "If Jesus can walk on water, maybe he'll let me walk on water, too!"  Just as Peter wanted to be like Jesus, our children want to be like us.  It is natural for children to look up to their parents.  After all, their first encounter with God and God-like love is through their parents.  So kids want to do things that their parents do.  I remember the questions my daughters asked when they were little:  "Can we stay up with you tonight?"  They wanted to be like me, to see what I did after they went to bed (and they hated missing out on anything that might be happening!)  "When can I take Communion?" (before they celebrated their First Communion.)  "When can I have my first glass of wine?" (when they were a little older.)  "Will I have an office like you someday?"  When parents share God's love with their children, their children want to be like them.  When Jesus did something, Peter wanted to be like him.

So Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water.  "But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'  Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter."  Peter did fine while he was focused on Jesus, but when he started listening to the wind, he lost his trust and courage and began to sink.  I can't tell you how often I've done the same.  I pray daily.  I often feel God's presence with me throughout the day, but many times when life or work just seems overwhelming, I loose my trust and courage and feel like I'm sinking into despair.  Jesus, like a loving parent, immediately - immediately - stretches out his hand and rescues me.  Just as we would not hesitate to save our kids - catching them on their bikes as they are learning to ride, picking them up after they've fallen, running to them when they're hurt, rushing them to the doctor when they're sick - Jesus never hesitates to save us.  We just need to reach out, grasp his hand, and allow him to pull us up.

This week, make time to get away with your spouse or by yourself.  Take a walk.  Go to a movie.  Take a nap.  Spend time in prayer.  And then think about how you want to be like Jesus.  What one characteristic of Jesus would you like to nurture in your life?  How can nurturning that gift help you to be a better parent?

With your whole family, re-read the Gospel reading and talk about the "strong winds" in your life that pull you away from focusing on Jesus.  Share ideas of how you can help one another stay focused on Jesus despite the strong winds.

How to Buy a Bible

If you go to a bookstore, you may be amazed at the number of different kinds of Bibles on the shelves.  One of the most common questions I hear from people at church is, "What kind of Bible should I get?"

As a Catholic, I think it's important to point out that there is a difference between Catholic and Protestant Bibles.  Catholic Bibles include more books than Protestant Bibles.  The "Catholic" books of the Old Testament are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Macabees, 2 Macabees, parts of Esther, and parts of Daniel. 

I typically suggest that Catholics purchase the New American Bible.  This is the translation used in the Lectionary (the Mass readings.)  On March 9, 2011, the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) was released.  This version includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament and the 1986 edition of the New Testament.  (For more on the NABRE, go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/nabre.shtml.)

A good version for Catholic Bible studies is the Catholic Study Bible: New American Bible, edited by Donald Senior, which includes a book-by-book Reading Guide, references and background information, a 15-page glossary of special terms, Bible maps, and a Lectionary guide with Sunday and weekday Mass readings references.

There are, however, a number of different translations of Bibles.  sometimes reading different translations of a passage allow the reader/prayer different perspectives.  For example, look at the differences of Psalm 139 from the New American Bible and the New International Version.

Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.  My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar.  Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all.  Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.  (Psalm 139:1-6, NAB)

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  You hem in behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.  (Psalm 139:1-6, NIV)

The primary meaning is the same in both translations, but the words may evoke images that are slightly different.  "My travels and my rest you mark..." compared to "You discern my going out and my lying down."  And "Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me," compared to "You hem in behind and before, and lay your hand upon me."

Open That Bible!

When was the last time you cracked the binding of your family Bible?  I have to admit that our family Bible doesn't get opened much anymore.  Oh, my personal Bible is opened every day, but since my daughters graduated from high school, my family hasn't read the Scriptures together.  (We hear them at Sunday Mass, but we're often at different Masses.)

My own experience makes me wonder about how many other families read the Bible on a regular basis.  Here is my challenge for your family/household:  Crack open your Bible at least weekly.  Whether it's your big family Bible (you know, the one you and your husband received at your wedding or the one you received when your first child was baptized), your personal Bible, or even if you have to go out and buy a new Bible, put it on your kitchen table and open it up at least once a week.  (I'll do a separate posting on suggestions for purchasing Bibles.)

Here are some tips for reading the Scriptures together as a family:

• Don't let your fear of not knowing what's what keep you from opening your Bible.  Start with the Table of Contents; there you will find a listing of the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Together count the number of books of the Old Testament, then the number of books of the New Testament.  Notice the breakout of the books of the Old Testament:  The Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Wisdom Books, the Prophetic Books.  Look at the breakout of the books of the New Teevelation.stament:  The Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the New Testament Letters or Epistles, the Catholic letters (if you have a Catholic Bible), the Book of Revelation.
• Decide what to read.  You have choices!  You can simply open your Bible and begin reading where your eye lands first.  You can begin with a specific book; what book are you curious about?  You can follow along with the Church's Lectionary, the Sunday or daily readings.  (Click on the USCCB Readings and Psalms for the Month icon on the left menu.) 
• A word about chapter and verse notations...Bible passages are noted with the name of the book, the number of the chapter, and the number of the verse(s).  For example, if you see something like "Mt 13:1-23," the "Mt" is the initials for the book (in this case, Matthew), the "13" before the colon is the chapter number, and the "1-23" is the verses of the passage; so you would open your Bible to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, verses 1-23.  (If you are unsure about the initials of the book noted, Google the passage or go to www.biblegateway.com and search the initials to find the book it is referencing.)
• Read the passage reflectively.  Read the passage through slowly one time.  Let family members just listen to the words and sit quietly with them for a moment.  Then read the passage slowly again.  Invite family members to speak one word or phrase that stood out for them; just the word or phrase.  Read the passage slowly a third time.  Invite family members to dialogue about what they hear from this passage.  This is a process of Lectio Divina, Divine Reading.  It is a wonderful way to hear what God is speaking to you through the passage.

Remember that there is no wrong way to read the Bible!  No matter what you read or how you read it, if you just read a passage and reflect on it, you will be hearing God's Word. 

This week, begin making time at least one time per week to read your Bible.  I promise you that it will unite your family with one another and with God.

If you have Bible reading practices that have worked with your family, share your thoughts in "Comments."