![Facing the Machine Gun]()
by Catherine | May 19, 2012 | Faith
Every time I get on Facebook or check the news, I’m bound to see some version of anti-Catholicism. Someday, hopefully someday in the near future, I’ll wise up and stop being so shocked. Usually, the anti-Catholicism is in the form of “machine gun apologetics” — when the person jumps from one point to another as quickly as a machine gun fires, aiming to overwhelm any opposition by taking them down any number of erroneous rabbit holes. Invariably, the discussion jumps from priestly pedophilia to fascism to the Inquisition to how much the Church hates science to their oppression of women to their hatred of homosexuals to any other flavor of the day.
The trouble is, our standards for modern journalism are so low, that anyone is allowed to spew out “fact” in the form of opinion and get away with it, and the tendency carries over to the social networking world. As Patrick Coffin, host of Catholic Answers Live, often says, “If I don’t know what an RBI is, the New York Times is not going to let me write a baseball column for them. But journalists who know nothing about Christianity are assigned to cover church news all the time.”
An ill-informed reader grows to hate what they think is the Church because of the lousy journalism or so-called scholarly work that passes as the latest proof of why the Church is backward and in need of reform. I regularly see even those who went through 12 or more pricy years of Catholic education re-posting the untruths and hate about the Church because of how poorly catechized they were. Unfortunately, we can’t blame most of them. They never learned what Mother Church is and what She’s not. It’s a miracle there are as many young, faithful Catholics as there are considering how poorly catechized our parents’ generation was!
I’d hate Catholics if we truly did and believed everything the world says we do, and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said he would have, too.
He summed up the world’s hatred toward the Catholic Church better than I ever could. This excerpt is a little lengthy, but every word is worth reading, and I couldn’t pare it down:
“There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church—which is, of course, quite a different thing.
These millions can hardly be blamed for hating Catholics because Catholics ‘adore statues;’ because they ‘put the Blessed Mother on the same level with God;’ because they ‘say indulgence is a permission to commit sin;’ because the Pope ‘is a Fascist;’ because the Church ‘is the defender of Capitalism.’ If the Church taught or believed any one of these things, it should be hated, but the fact is that the Church does not believe nor teach any one of them. It follows then that the hatred of the millions is directed against error and not against truth. As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.
If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hates.
My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh. If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world. Look for the Church that is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the world. Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned. Look for the Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth. Look for the Church which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils. Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because he called Himself the Truth. Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself. … the Catholic Church is the only Church existing today which goes back to the time of Christ. History is so very clear on this point, it is curious how many miss its obviousness…”
So, I’m ever so slowly learning to try and stop being surprised every time I open up Facebook or read the news. When “machine gun apologetics,” lousy journalism, and poor excuses for scholarship rule the day, there’s no time for a civilized, fair debate free of red herrings, ridicule, straw men, or any other fallacy. If the goal of debate is to find truth, one would think that the non-Catholic want to find out from the Catholic Church and its faithful what they actually believe. After all, then the non-Catholic could go on to future debates with more clout because they would be able to accurately articulate the Church’s position. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the goal of most debates, especially those anywhere online, is less about truth than making the other person look like a bigoted idiot.
There’s a lot of work to be done for us Catholics. I can’t go on thinking it’s enough to be persecuted just because Christ promised it’d be this way. After all, if people in his day called him Beelzebub, should we really be shocked at some of the names launched our way for being His followers? He promised this kind of hatred. “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
It might tempt us to think we’re something special just because we’re being persecuted, but we better think again. We don’t need to be doormats, but we don’t need to be c
rusaders at every moment either. It’s a delicate dance. As tempting as it is to flush out every red herring or straw man I read about the Church in the news article com boxes or on Facebook, I’m slowly learning that most people are more in need of conversion of heart than whatever words I can type.
Sometimes I’ll point someone in the general direction of a reliable, Catholic resource like Catholic Answers Live, other times I’ll give a short summary of the Church’s position on a particular issue with citations from the Catechism, and other times I’ll bring that person to prayer by name. Entrusting that person to the Blessed Mother or to Our Lord is more powerful than any fleeting vindication I might feel from having “won” a Facebook debate. What victory is it if I haven’t revealed God’s love?
I’m slowly learning to pray for discernment on how to handle these situations. It’d be a lot easier to defend the Faith if I weren’t a broken sinner that the world could point to as a hypocrite, but I suppose the beauty of it all is that the world got Jesus in spite of Judas. God continues to convert hearts despite my failings and miserable blunderings at revealing His love.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (Heb 12:1-4).
So, on with the race set before us. May we keep our eyes always on Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
![New Bedtime Update]()
by Catherine | May 17, 2012 | Faith, Marriage
All was going well with the new bedtime. I was feeling more rested, and I was thrilled to be done with the fire alarm morning routine. I woke up last Wednesday without an alarm at 6:30, and felt amazing. Unfortunately, the kiddos woke up shortly thereafter so I didn’t get in my quiet prayer time. It had to be done at naptime instead.
Then, I went to a concert Thursday night that kept me up past my new bedtime. It was super fun, and it was worth the late night! Then, it was the weekend, and the new bedtime didn’t apply because it was the weekend. Then, it was Mother’s Day and Philip started a week of working nights, and I just can’t seem to sleep very well when Philip’s gone.
Blah, blah, blah. Excuses, excuses. I know, it’s all very pathetic, but I’m getting back on track–TONIGHT! I will be in bed by 9:45, and I will continue to keep my bedtime. It’s too good for me not to! I’m enforcing the new bedtime around here for all weeknights unless an out-of-the-ordinary event comes up (i.e., an out of town visitor, family emergency, etc.). I know I sound old and lame, but, hey, I need to be old and lame. When you’ve got two little ones and a husband who works a crazy schedule like Philip’s, routine is key. I’m okay with being old and lame so long as it means domestic bliss around here. Philip and the kiddos are the ones I’m doing this all for anyway!
So, in short, I didn’t keep my bedtime last week, and we didn’t get to go out for Blizzards. Darn! If at first you don’t succeed… If we keep our weeknight bedtime for a solid week, we’re going to Dairy Queen for Blizzards next Wednesday. French Silk Pie Blizzard, here I come!
I’m looking forward to the quietness of the morning when I’m rested enough to wake up before the kids. Since I am going to be in bed at 9:45 tonight, I’m setting my alarm for 6:00 so that I can get up and have my coffee & prayer time without interruption. If I picture Jesus in the living room, waiting for me to join Him for prayer time, I get my rear end out of bed. The coffee helps, too. My new coffee creamers make that cup of coffee oh so delicious! I usually have two of these in the fridge at all times. Variety is the spice of life, they say.
That’s what gets me to bed early. What would you need to motivate you to be early to bed and early to rise?
![Scattering Flowers on May Day]()
by Catherine | May 2, 2012 | Faith
Happy May Day!
If you didn’t get around to making May Day baskets this year, you’re not alone. Fortunately, I found a fun crafty alternative that you and your whole family can do to scatter flowers year-round! More on that below.
Patrick Coffin, host of Catholic Answers Live (the best show in radio as far as I’m concerned), closes every show by saying, “Be a saint. What else is there?”
Really, what else is there? We’re made to be saints, and we shouldn’t be shy about saying so. If my job as a wife and mother is to get my family to heaven, that’s just another way of saying our mission is to become saints. So, let’s get on with it!
Among all of the saints, St. Therese of Lisieux holds a special place in my heart. This young French girl dedicated her life to becoming a prayer warrior. Ironically, the cloistered Carmelite nun who only lived to the age of 24, is the patroness of the missions because of the way she inspires others to serve, know, and love God. Like Therese, all of us have the opportunity to change the world around us through our prayerful presence–even those of us who might feel like we’re “cloistered” on some days at home with little ones!
In great humility, St. Therese embraced her vocation as a cloistered Carmelite and taught the novices entrusted to her how to follow in her “Little Way.”
“Great deeds are forbidden me. I cannot preach the gospel nor shed by blood — but what does it matter? My brothers toil instead of me and I, a little child, keep close by the throne of God and I love for those who fight. Love proves itself by deeds. I will scatter flowers, perfuming the Divine Throne, and I’ll sweetly sing my hymn of love. Those flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least of actions for love.”
Each day affords us the chance to “scatter flowers” in “every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least of actions for love.” Blockheads like me don’t necessarily take advantage of every opportunity we receive to follow in St. Therese’s “Little Way.” Catholic blockheads like me are blessed that Mother Church, in Her wisdom, gives us sacramentals to help us along our way to sainthood.
Sacramentals engage all of my senses to remind me that my mission is to be a saint and not a blockhead! Bringing sacramentals into our home for us to encounter on a regular basis helps turn our minds to what is above. In a Catholic home, you’re likely to see holy water, crucifixes, statues, icons, candles, blessed salt, the nativity scene, an Advent wreath, palm branches, etc. To remind ourselves of our mission to become saints, Catholics keep the sacramentals on their bodies. Examples include crucifixes, scapulars, wedding rings, ashes, religious habits, liturgical vestments, etc.
I was hoping to put together some May Day baskets for friends and family this year as a little surprise. I found an adorable basket on Pinterest, but the time got away from me. Since I’m too late to deliver baskets, I wanted to think of a way to build in the habit of “scattering flowers” for my loved ones.
A beautiful ministry called The Little Ways is a home-run ministry that is dedicated to spreading the example of St. Therese of Lisieux. As part of their mission, they teach others how to make sacrifice beads and sacrifice bead bracelets.
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| Sacrifice beads. Image from thelittleways.com |
According to their website,
As a child, St. Therese, the Little Flower used a string of beads to count her sacrifices and acts of love done for God, in that way she was able to advance in perfection daily. You too, can grow in holiness by following the example of the Little Flower. Sacrifice Beads or Good Deed Beads are a string of ten beads, which can be pulled and remain in place. They are used to count the acts of love or sacrifices a person makes in a day for God. The string of sacrifice beads helps a person to grow in perfection by increasing their acts of love they do each day. The sacrifice beads we make also have a fixed Our Father bead on the end of them. Thus they double up as a rosary.
I don’t know about you, but this blockhead still needs to work on self-sacrifice and daily acts of love done for God. What a beautiful, tangible reminder of my daily mission as a wife and mother! Not only is this a fun craft that families can do together, but it’s an awesome sacramental that helps to instill the habit of self-denial and service for others. In this “Little Way,” we hold ourselves accountable on the beads, tucked away in our pockets.
Maybe next year I’ll get around to the May Day baskets. They are adorable!
Until then, I’ll make a string of sacrifice beads to help me learn how to scatter flowers like St. Therese. Hopefully, keeping this string of beads in my apron pocket will remind me to do little things everyday for the love of my neighbor (and, therefore, God).
Maybe I’ll get around to those May Day baskets in July…
If you’re interested in learning more about St. Therese of Lisieux, read more at The Society of the Little Flower.
![Spring Has Sprung!]()
by Catherine | Apr 10, 2012 | Everything Else, Faith
I’ve been taking pictures of our burning bushes and lilac bush since they started blooming a few weeks ago. It’s incredible how quickly the blooms explode!
The burning bush
The lilac bush
I’ve always considered it a blessing to live in the northern hemisphere where the climate naturally lends itself to the liturgical calendar. Say whhhhhaaaaaaaat, crazy Catherine? Hear me out.
I’m a visual learner and, well, I can be pretty dense, so it’s helpful that my natural surroundings mirror what’s happening in the Church calendar.
In the fall, we have the beautiful burst of color before the plant life begins to die and fade into winter. In the wintertime of Advent, while we’re waiting for the Light of the World to arrive on Christmas Day, the days become increasingly shorter until the winter solstice on December 21.
Just when we’re getting the hang of celebrating Christ’s birth, we enter the season of Lent, where we prepare for his Passion. The season of self-denial is mirrored in the stark, brown landscape. As we approach Holy Week, there are signs of life again outside. The plants and trees start to bud, and the birds sing in the early morning. We even get the beautiful Easter Lilies, announcing with their big, trumpet-like petals that Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
Throughout the late spring and into summer when nature is in full bloom, we get to celebrate the month of Mary in May, Divine Mercy Sunday, Ascension, the Church’s birthday on Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi, and the Assumption of Mary.
Pretty cool, huh?
![Happy Easter!]()
by Catherine | Apr 9, 2012 | Faith, Family
You might have noticed that the name of my blog is a reference to Blessed Pope John Paul II’s quote: “Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people, and hallelujah is our song.” So, you might have guessed that Easter’s a pretty big deal for this household!
It was a fun day with our little bunnies. Here’s how we celebrated:
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| Bunnies after the egg hunt in the living room |
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| Running her new vacuum in her Easter dress. Kinda looks like a 50’s housewife, huh? |
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| Playing with new blocks and a bath boat |
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| Reading her new Bible |
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| Family pic after Mass |
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| Walt is so excited that Christ is risen! Jane’s ready for nap time. |
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| Trying to keep Walt upright |
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| Egg hunt with the cousins |
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| What’s Easter without a trampoline jump with your buddies? |
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| Giving Grandma a check-up |
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My sweet “little” guy
Celebrating Mass at our beloved home parish, watching the kids hunt for eggs, spending time with family, and eating some amaaaaaaaaaaazing food added up to one fantastic day.
Happy Easter!
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![The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross]()
by Catherine | Apr 5, 2012 | Faith
Shameless Popery is a great blog I read from time to time through the National Catholic Register. The author has been compiling reflections on the Stations of the Cross, and the reflection on the Fifth Station really spoke to me.
The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross.
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| Statue in Vietnam portraying Simon helping Christ carry the cross. Taken from: http://www.hcmctoday.com/2009/04/i-saw-this-beautiful-tugboat-as-i.html |
To make sure Christ didn’t die on his one-mile trek to his place of crucifixion, the soldiers picked Simon the Cyrenian out of the crowd to help Jesus carry His cross. As Pope Benedict XVI says in his reflection on the Fifth Station, Simon “does what he must do, but reluctantly. Significantly, the Evangelist Mark does not only name him, but also his children, who were evidently known as Christians and as members of that community (cf. Mk 15:21). From this chance encounter, faith was born.”
When I heard the Stations of Cross as a child on Fridays during Lent, I thought Simon was kind of a jerk. I mean, here’s Jesus, beaten beyond recognition, and you’re annoyed that you have to help the guy carry the cross he’s going to be murdered on? C’mon! What’s wrong with you?! This is GOD!
I didn’t realize that I was still being called to carry Christ’s cross everyday. I thought it was an interesting part of the story, but I didn’t see how I could participate in shouldering the cross. As I enter into adulthood, I am seeing the countless opportunities I receive throughout my days to help shoulder the cross, but I’m too much of a blockhead to do it most of the time.
Thank goodness for the beautiful words and reflections of the Holy Fathers and blessed people like Mother Angelica. Mother Angelica wrote and recited a reflection on “The Way of the Cross” for her order of nuns. I’d like to share her reflection on the Fifth Station:
My Jesus, Your tormentors enlisted a Simon of Cyrene to help You carry Your Cross. Your Humility is beyond my comprehension. Your Power upheld the whole universe and yet You permit one of Your creatures to help You carry a cross. I imagine Simon was reluctant to take part in Your shame. He had no idea that all who watched and jeered at him would pass into oblivion while his name would go down in history and eternity as the man who helped his God in need. Is it not so with me, dear Jesus? Even when I reluctantly carry my cross as Simon did, it benefits my soul.
If I keep my eyes on you and watch how You suffered, I will be able to bear my cross with greater fortitude. Were you trying to tell all those who suffer from prejudice to have courage? Was Simon a symbol of all those who are hated because of race, color, and creed?
Simon wondered as he took those beams upon his shoulders, why he was chosen for such a heavy burden and now he knows. Help me Jesus, to trust Your loving Providence as You permit suffering to weave itself in and out of my life. Make me understand that You looked at it and held it fondly before You passed it on to me. You watch me and give me strength just as You did Simon. When I enter Your Kingdom, I shall know as he knows, what marvels Your Cross has wrought in my soul. Amen.
I have a sweet nephew who happens to be named Simon. When he was younger, a teacher took his class to the school church where she showed the young children the Stations of the Cross. When my sister picked Simon up from school that day, he was thrilled to tell her all about the part that he, Simon, had played in Jesus’ Passion.
“Mom! Jesus fell down, and I told him, ‘Get up, Jesus! Get up!'”
Lord, help me to love You like a child–simply and completely. Give me an eager and willing heart to help you shoulder Your cross. Please help me to enter into the Lenten season with the innocent love of a child, who pictures himself truly there, telling Jesus to get up and helping Him along His way.
