To Jesus Sincerely

Do You Want to be a Better Catholic Parent?

Published on June 4, 2019June 5, 2019 by tojesussincerely2 Comments

This post is sponsored by Evango.

I’m not a pro at parenting.

I would propose that none of us are.

There’s always something new to learn about our kids, and our kids always have something new to teach us about ourselves.

Any time I think I have it all figured out, a new situation comes up which challenges my preconceived notions. Any time I think our family is rocking it – in behavior, in manners, in the faith, I discover something we could be doing to improve ourselves.

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Overcoming Roadblocks to Worship: Keep Sundays Sacred

Published on June 3, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for June 2, 2019 – which could be the Ascension, or the Sunday after the Ascension, depending on your diocese.

We were on our way to Mass, and the road was closed ahead. We took a right turn. Then a left.

The road was still closed.

Another right and another left.

Still closed.

We saw the steeple ahead of us and decided to drive up close to the caution tape and check out the situation.

It was a road race.

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Dear Public School Catholic Families, I See You.

Published on May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 by tojesussincerely5 Comments

Growing up, we were “those public schoolers” in the Catholic circle.

But in the public school circle, we were those “church kids” to our peers.

It’s hard when you’re the outsider from all angles, and you feel totally alone. You want to be a witness to the secular society you’re immersed in, but you have no Catholic community to stand behind you.

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The Beautiful Unity of the Church Is Seen in the Mass

Published on May 27, 2019May 27, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for Sixth Sunday of Easter.

I was so excited to browse through this week’s participants in the My Mass Takeaway linkup and discover that someone from Austria joined with their thoughts!

The Church is so beautiful in its unity and universality.

Every Catholic, all around the world, goes to Mass on Sunday to worship and receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

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What Do You Know About the Catholic Bible?

Published on May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

We play Catholic Trivia over on Instagram each month. These are the questions and answers to this month’s #4thFridayTrivia game.

It’s time to see how much you know about the Bible.

Catholics are (half-jokingly) notorious for our lack of knowledge about the Bible, so if this is a tough round of Trivia for you, you’re not alone.

Though I would argue, we do know our Bible. We know the message and the stories. Any one of us could probably spout off a list of parables a mile long.

But technical details and memorization facts? Not so much.

Now is your chance to learn a little more of that! I’m not going to lie, I included some of these questions simply because I learned them recently and figured other people might want to learn them, too!

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Dearly Beloved – An Anger-Free Parenting Model

Published on May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway… We found a Latin Mass! 4th Sunday of Easter.

We recently discovered there is Latin Mass in our area, and we tried it today. I noticed that the readings are different from the NO readings so I’ll cite it for you.

James 1:17-21. One of the things I love about the letters in the NT is how they are sometimes addressed, “Beloved.” Even when they’re giving admonishment or correction.

Whenever I hear beloved, it strikes me at how charitable the apostles are in their correction. I’m reminded of the gentleness of God’s correction and the gift of the sacrament of Reconciliation.

And I’m always drawn to reflect if I give the same mercy and understanding when I’m called to the task of correction in parenting.

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Your Spirit Needs to Rest in the Presence of Jesus

Published on May 15, 2019May 15, 2019 by tojesussincerely4 Comments

I used to sleep through Eucharistic Adoration. When I was a kid, my mom took us to “Holy Hour” every week. I knelt down, elbows resting on the back of the pew in front of me, hands clasped in praying form, propping up my head.

I tried to pray, but it was so calm and quiet, the incense was so heady, and I began drifting off to sleep.

So I sat down, and switched to reading whatever “holy book” I brought with me. Eyes… closing… can’t keep them… open…

Then I blinked, and it was time to go.

Yes mom, I will admit it now, I often slept through Adoration.

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Thank You God for Motherhood. Today I Honor You.

Published on May 12, 2019May 12, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for Fourth Sunday of Easter.

At Mass today, one-year-old Legend didn’t want to sit. Didn’t want me to hold him. Didn’t want to be quiet.

He wanted to walk around (he can walk now) and be independent and play.

I tried to keep him happy for a while with quiet toys but he wasn’t having it. So I gave in and made the hike to the narthex.

He walked back and forth, happy at last.

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How Can Tired Moms Get Their Sunday Rest?

Published on May 5, 2019May 5, 2019 by tojesussincerely5 Comments

#MyMassTakeaway for Third Sunday of Easter.

Why don’t I get Sunday rest?

Monday through Saturday, I work. I feed and dress kids, teach them school, prepare their meals, and clean up their messes.

Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning – they’re all my responsibility.

Sunday comes around. The “day of rest.”

I wake up in the morning.

I get the kids dressed.

Load them in the car, bring them to Mass, wrangle the baby the whole time, come home, make breakfast, wash the dishes, pick up stray laundry, make lunch, prepare for the next school week, make dinner, brush teeth, tidy the kitchen, plop into bed exhausted.

Where’s my Sunday rest?

Several years ago, I complained about this dilemma to my confessor.

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