Prayer Life – To Jesus Sincerely

How to Fulfill Your Holy Day Obligation

Published on July 13, 2019 by tojesussincerely1 Comment

I have a new friend who is a Byzantine Catholic.

And I know, I’m butchering the terminology from line one, but I’m just figuring this whole Catholic rites thing out so gimme a break!

Anyways, I went to Mass on a recent Saturday and noticed it was the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

That Solemnity isn’t a Holy Day of Obligation for me (Latin Rite) but I happened to know (don’t ask me how) that it was a Holy Day of Obligation for my Byzantine friend.

So I got to wondering how she would fulfill her Holy Day of Obligation, since her Byzantine church is kinda far away.

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Our Rallying Cry: This is the Faith

Published on June 24, 2019June 24, 2019 by tojesussincerely1 Comment

#MyMassTakeaway for June 23, 2019, Corpus Christi. Cover photo by For the Taking Photography.

Do you have one of those phrases that pumps you up every time you hear it? I do.

In the liturgy of baptism, after the parents profess the baptismal vows, the priest prays, “This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen.

There’s something about the string of I do’s followed by the simple phrase “This is the faith” that rocks me to my core.

I want to stand up and clap and cheer and shout and hoot and holler.

It’s hard to explain.

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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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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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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 tojesussincerely3 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 to conquer the Challenge of Discernment: Pause to Pray

Published on April 15, 2019April 24, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#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.

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How to Plan a Mini-Retreat in 7 Simple Steps

Published on April 2, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

Post contains Amazon affiliate links, if you buy through the links, I make a small percentage at no extra cost to you.

Listen, I was going to give you a practical step-by-step-how-to-throw-a-mini-retreat guide, but I’m getting distracted by all the cool retreat prizes that I have to share with you before I explode from the awesomeness.

So, I’m sorry, but you’re just going to have to read the fun part first and we can get down to the how-to business later.

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