Hey moms. These days are hard, I know.
You need some encouragement. An uplifting word. Something to carry you through. I have lots of that for you today, from moms who have been in your shoes.
But first, let’s pray together a quick meditation on the storms of life you’re going through.
Continue reading “The Encouragement that Moms of Littles Need”
#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.
Continue reading “Dearly Beloved – An Anger-Free Parenting Model”
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.
Continue reading “Your Spirit Needs to Rest in the Presence of Jesus”
#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.
Continue reading “How Can Tired Moms Get Their Sunday Rest?”
#MyMassTakeaway for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.
Today I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor apostles in their confusion.
First, they thought Jesus communicated very clearly to be ready for a fight. They heard him say to go out and buy swords.
Continue reading “How to conquer the Challenge of Discernment: Pause to Pray”
#MyMassTakeaway for the 4th Sunday in Lent.
As a hungry teen in my mom’s kitchen, I would often sample the pantry.
“I don’t know what I’m hungry for.”
I’d eat a cookie, a handful of chips, a few crackers, a piece of chocolate. Nothing satisfied.
And then my mom would offer me something, “Can I make you an omelet?”
Yesss pleaaaase.
My mom makes the best omelets. Stuffed with veggie and cheese and cooked just right to perfect fluffiness and deliciousness.
The real food she offered me – nutritious, healthy, and yummy – always satisfied.
Continue reading “I’ll Be Here – Come Back When You’re Ready”
#MyMassTakeaway for the 3rd Sunday in Lent.
Moses reacts to the burning bush in a way I never would.
Something uncomfortable and inexplicable happened in Moses’ life, right in front of his eyes. A bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn.
I would have been out of there so fast.
No way would I have gone and taken a closer look. But Moses didn’t run away. Moses entered into the mystery.
Continue reading “Facing Fears: Draw Near to the Burning Bush”
We play Catholic Trivia over on Instagram each month. These are the questions and answers to this month’s #4thFridayTrivia game.
What’s more familiar to us than the year?
We live it every day, every week, every month, year-in and year-out. You’d think we would know it like the back of our hand.
The liturgical year is packed full of amazing feast days and celebrations. And those feast days and celebrations are surrounded by traditions, customs, symbolism, history, debate, and meanings you may not know they had.
Let’s see how much you know about the liturgical calendar!
Continue reading “What do You Know About the Liturgical Year?”
#MyMassTakeaway for the 2nd Sunday in Lent.
I just love St. Peter. He’s the guy to turn to when we feel like we’re getting it all wrong. Chances are, he’s been there done that.
Peter denied Jesus, rebuked Jesus, lost faith in the middle of a miracle and began to drown. Even Saint Paul had to tell Peter what’s what once in a while.
Despite all Peter’s shortcomings, though, Jesus called Peter the Rock. He built the Church on Peter, and left Peter to take care of it.
If Peter, with all his faults and shortcomings, can be the Rock on which Christ’s Church is built, then there’s hope for me to be who Christ is calling me to be, too.
Let’s take a look at what Peter’s up to, today.
Continue reading “The Gospel in Which God Tells Peter to Shut it.”
#MyMassTakeaway for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This post contains amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through the links, I make a small percentage at no extra cost to you.
First of all, could these planks and splinters not be sticking out of eyes please? Cringe-city over here.
It doesn’t matter what size the wood is – if it’s in your EYE we have a major problem.
And for that matter, you shouldn’t by trying to take a sliver out of your friend’s eye, regardless of what’s in your own. Keep your tweezers away from my eye-splinters, thank you very much.
That job is for a qualified surgeon.
Continue reading “God: the only surgeon qualified to remove splinters (and boards) from eyes”
