To Know Him

For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

So the recent HHS decision has been weighing heavily on my mind. I keep trying to wrap my brain around why contraceptives are such an essential part of our society and even more why abortion would ever be necessary. I understand the argument as to why some think it is okay and some don't, but was really struggling to understand why it is even an issue. Why would anyone ever want to contracept and further more, why would anyone ever want to get rid of a child. See, to me there is nothing more beautiful in this world than the smile of a child. The most brilliant rose fails in comparison to watching one child's eyes and face light up with laughter and joy over often the smallest things. Now, don't get me wrong, I have children and I know it isn't always a bed of roses to care for someone that can often take so much self giving and can often be so needy and have demands that don't make sense anymore to an adult mind. I wasn't thinking "what a beautiful gift this child is" as I was trying to figure out how to remove a shirt that had some sort of animal poop on it without smearing it across the child's face. I have long known that I don't have the same view of children as large portions of mainstream society, but what I just recently figured out is that this directly ties into the pro-contraceptive/pro-choice issues.

Again, "For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." 1 John 3:1
The world doesn't understand children because it doesn't know the beauty of the marital act that God created and therefore created the children. Our world knows the pleasure portion, but it all to often fails to fully understand the depth of what the act is really saying. Without this understanding, a pregnancy becomes a fertilized egg and no longer the most amazing souvenir you could ever receive from the most amazing experience of a lifetime. The marital act was designed by God to be a glimpse, a mere taste of what the Gates of Heaven hold. If this is true, then it would be a harsh oversimplification to think that Heaven is mere bodily pleasure and not a complete soul altering cosmic unity with the Saints of old as well as those still living today.

If we believe that the marital act is what God created it to be, we shouldn't be fighting why contraceptives are so wrong, we should be proclaiming and shouting from the mountain tops what the act can really be. Yet, those who believe this are often too embarrassed to speak up (after all it isn't really anything you can put into words anyway). If we can proclaim the fullness of God's promise and teach the others the beauty, the rest would fall into place. Who would want an incomplete joy if they understood the fullness of the promise of the joy that could be had.

We therefore, need to treat the issue with nothing but charity as it isn't that those we disagree with are just wrong, but they are like the poor that need to be ministered to. They deserve to know the fullness of truth, but will never understand it unless first the love of the world also consumes them. Proclaim the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words, is also true here. You can't teach people the fullness of love without first loving them fully.

Smelly Animals

The other day I was thinking about farms and barns and animals and Christmas. Most of my life I have heard of Christ being such a sign of humility b/c he was willing to be born amongst the smelly barn animals. So much emphasis on how horrible that place of birth would be. Then it struck me that it might also be a sign of the type of kingship he was seated on. He is not only king of man, but King of Creation. He created it and it is good. The animals are an essential part of the creation that he made. He did not want to profess only his humanly kingship that he could boss people around and be lord over them but rather wanted to profess with his birth that he is King of ALL CREATION!!! He was the Prince of Peace and rightly his birth exemplified that name from the prophecies. St. Francis's mother found the same thing when she went to have him. He would not be born in the fancy upscale house that she lived in (think of what a sterile hospital would have done to stall her labor) but rather she had to humble herself so that he could be born in a stable amongst the animals that we all now know he loved so dearly, understood so indepth and preached to of the glory of God. So this Christmas season, I am going to work not only on growing in humility but also to grow in a deeper understanding of the many facets of the creation that God planned thoroughly and so perfectly.

Enjoy your advent and Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.

Good Friday

So yesterday Fr. Burns had a wonderful homily on the institution of the Eucharist and priesthood and did a beautiful feet washing.

Today I woke up and realized that just as Holy Thursday is a reminder for all priest of their servitude, Good Friday is a reminder to me of my role at the foot of the cross and the special role that my husband has.

The first verse that came to my mind was "Who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Phil 2:7-8)

This is what Christ endured out of humility for us and in return he tells all husbands and wives to "Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her , cleansing her by the bath of water with the word.

I rejoice in this day that serves as a reminder of my role to sit at the foot of the cross in willful obedience just as Mary did so many years ago watching her only Son be sacrificed and crucified for the sake of His Church. I pray that all woman may have the grace to sit in obedience and admiration of their spouse and then all married men will have the strength to endure the wood of the cross.

Shower of Roses

Everyday God has something new to teach me and yet my trust still fails. Now as he slowly reveals His plans, I await my shower of roses on the Feast of St. Therese.

CPSIA again....

Tweek it to suit your needs and send it on to your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm You can do it via email, so what is your excuse??? :)

Dear Senator Lugar,
I have been a small business retailer of specialty baby items for 6 years, however all of that is about to change because of the CPSIA standard. This standard was a reaction to toxic levels of lead being slipped into items manufactured in certain Asian countries, as a result some of my best manufacturers will be unable to afford the component testing prices required of all toys (included wooden toys with water based paint) that are well above and beyond those requirements necessary for sale in all of Europe. These are respectable companies that have never had lead recalls but they are the ones being penalized for a mistake that was not theirs as they have always put the safety of children above their bottom line. I fear that in the next year our children will not be able to have wooden blocks from respectable companies like Selecta Spielzeug and many handmade in American brands but will be completely able to buy another plastic pre-mold from China b/c the testing is cheaper there and their bulk sales are higher. Rep. Weiner from Virgina wrote a fantastic letter expressing his concerns to the CPSA and I encourage you to research this issue and do the same. You can find more information at: http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

Sincerely,
Kathleen Field
Mother of 3 young boys
Owner of Little Ants Inc in Evansville, IN

Katie

Reason #18 Just War

So the other day Alexander and I were chatting about David and Goliath. He told me David cut his head off, I said that I didn't remember that part of the story so we looked it up and of course he was right. We then read about how he carried the head around town for a while after. Alexander asked what everyone did after that so we talked briefly about how the loser was supposed to be the others slave etc.

Anyway, he later came up to me a little troubled about fighting and how that worked with me telling him that it is wrong to hurt other people and fight. So we talked briefly (he is only 6) about how there is criteria for what fights are worth fighting and considered just.

I thought about and realized that this is somewhere that Catholic schools are really lacking. Growing up as a girl, I could never get into the wars. The violence, loss of life and blood shed was just too much for my heart to handle so I memorized, regurgitated for the test and moved on. I still don't know much about a single war. What would have been fascinating and helped me see through all the bloodshed (and I am guessing would help other sensitive children) is for the discussion to also include an analysis of whether the war was just or not. I know this might seem like a lot to ask of a teacher, but it will definitely be the way that my children are presented information about wars. The church has laid out very specific criteria for a war to be considered just and how we view the answers to the criteria can be a little gray but worth an interesting discussion and doesn't allow for the memorize and regurgitate that I think so many children view school subjects as today.

My Middle Child

So Dominic decided that he was going to take a bath and then changed his mind. Since he already was already naked, Alexander suggested maybe he should just get dressed (it is only 2:30pm). Dominic said, "okay but can someone else get me clothes, I don't really like going up and down in the same day." referring to the stairs he would have to climb to get clothing. I think he needs to buy a ranch house when he grows up.

Note: he is still standing in the bathroom naked and probably freezing b/c he doesn't want to walk all the way upstairs.

God Bless Dominic (and whoever he marries).

Too funny not to share...

So the question remains, paid off or threatened?

"When U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald announced in spring 2003 that he would not run for re-election in 2004, the Bush administration approached Edgar about running for the seat. Due to his overwhelming popularity that still exists today, Edgar was seen as a very formidable Senate candidate.

Edgar seemed likely to enter the race, but he suddenly announced he would not seek the seat, saying instead that he was giving his wife an early Mother's Day gift. His medical problems (he had recently undergone heart surgery) were also cited. The Senate seat eventually went to Democrat Barack Obama."

Just can't trust those Chicago politicians. I was looking into it and 3 out of 5 former IL Governors have been arrested, one of the other ones had a policy he made that only allowed for republicans to have state jobs go to the supreme court. The fifth is Jim Edgar. So the question remains was he paid off or threatened?

Coffee banner to the right

Just a note lest you thing my last post was in vein, the coffee banner on the right is coffee sold by monks to help them raise the money they need to spend the whole day in prayer for the greater good of the rest of us. They have some regular/flavored varieties as well as an organic/fair trade and they are all exceptionally yummy.

Reason #17 Santa Claus

So today I read in the paper that retail sales have been the worse they have been since 1969 this Christmas Season. As a retailer, it has me a little worried as I have bills to pay that will inevitably come out of family savings instead of sales, but as a Catholic I am ecstatic. How I would love for every family to get one special gift from the heart and that be all. The twist that our culture has put on St. Nicolas who started by giving to people who had NOTHING is amazing. We have used it to bribe children for our own parental gain (naughty or nice anyone), but last time I checked St. Nicolas did what he did out of a love for God's children not to reward the good and punish the bad. I keep hoping that people's worry this year and reduced spending will bring to light that they didn't really need all of that stuff to make the Christmas season special. There is no greater gift than the gift that God gave us and Mary lovingly accepted on Christmas day (well she accepted it 9 mos early, but I digress).

I have dreams of lighting candles in the snow, stringing popcorn (or eating popcorn with a string and needle in hand), and a celebration of Holy Mass instead of oodles of presents that will fall apart and be in next years garage sale.

Advent 2008

I am so excited for advent this year. I really want to use this as the purple season that it was meant to be. I have all of the Christmas presents wrapped and distributed so except for writing Christmas cards, we have nothing to do but prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord as an infant. We are still trying to figure out our whirlwind tour for Christmas when really I just want to spend the time at home with my beautiful family. I did decide that after this year we only do Christmas visiting after Christmas so that Advent can remain the time of preparation that it is supposed to be.

My prayer for this advent is that every day my soul can truly "Proclaim the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant."

May every day we look at the blessings that God has given us as "favor on his lowly servant." May our culture someday view the conception of a baby as a reason to proclaim the Lord's greatness and blessing rather then a punishment.

24 posts in 7 days???

So my goal of having 40 reasons by Thanksgiving has failed miserably. Oh well such is life. Maybe it will happen by Christmas.

Life has just been a little crazy around here trying to get a website redone and getting a conference planned that I haven't had as much time as I would like to quietly reflect.

I guess I am also a little concerned as to what the next 8 years will look like as I try to save up for my children to go to college and our government is run by a party that has their hearts in the right place but aren't exactly financially savvy. I just hope that either we don't get sick or that Obama's health care plans are better implemented then Blagojevich did in Illinois as that was a complete disaster. I really love to give my husbands hard earned money away, but I don't like it when the government tells me where I need to give it so that has me a little concerned too. I think that takes all of the fun out of tithing when you don't know where it is going and what they are doing with it.

Reason #16 Phil 2:5-11

Okay so this is way later then I said it was going to be, but I have been sick and then I had to catch up on everything that didn't happen while I was sick (somehow cleaning my kitchen comes after updating my blog).

For those of you that do the Divine Office, you will notice how often this reading comes up it is a frequent reminder of the importance of the bridgegroom to be humble and accept death for it is said of the ultimate bridgegroom"he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross." It was never about him. He didn't come for himself or his own self promotion, rather he came to serve taking the form of a slave.

It is this line, however, that in light of reading some of John Paul II's Theology of the Body that just wows me:

"Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God,
something to be grasped."

Just as we are also in the form of God, we are not to deem ourselves equal to God making decisions that only God should have the power to make. We are not to grasp wisdom like Adam did in the Garden, but rather empty ourselves and become obedient to the one true Master. In these current times, I am reminded that "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." This is true for the Catholic Church as much as it is true for us. Let us educate ourselves in why the Catholic Church teaches the morals it does on both marriage and importance of respecting life as well as praying for those who unknowingly usher slander against her without understanding the complete teaching.

Reason #15 Liturgical Cycle again

I am just completely amazed. I read the first three lines of today's first reading: "My beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." It then goes on to say "For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me."

So 2000 years ago, the world was living in a crooked and perverse generation. Is there any hope of change or do we just alter the crookedness and perversion? Are we as Americans saving the lives of soldiers but negotiating the lives of the generation and children that will never be? There was no winning answer and there could not be a winner yesterday, either way we as Americans would loose. However, we are provided hope that through our sacrificial service we will share in the joy of heaven. Let us turn our eyes to the eternal Communion of Saints where the only true Ruler is in charge and remember what my newest close friend (St. Teresa of Avila) said:

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Reason #14 Daily Mass

So every four years we all ponder what the next four years will look like. What types of changes will happen and how will they affect us. We look for leadership and direction but are often disappointed as no one person can ever be the perfect leader for our country. No one human being will ever be a perfect human being except for the only human that was both fully human and fully divine. So after a day of concern and worry over what the future of our country will look like, I went to mass and heard the parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10) that I read so often to the kids in the Atrium for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. This time I noticed something that either we exclude from what we read the children or has never struck me (I need to check my album page to find out). The full reading says:

"I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep."

I had recently read a study that proved that nonprofit organizations run by volunteers are more effective than for profit or governmental agencies because the people are doing the work out of a love and concern for the cause not for a paycheck or their greater good or pride. I could go on for pages about how this passage makes my concern for formal public education starting at birth even more worrisome, but alas I have crabby kids.

Lord to you, I am ever faithful and in you alone will my heart always be full of joy even when my mind is not happy.

On a side note, it is funny that these were not the right readings for the day. The actual reading for today was supposed to be Phil 2:5-11 I will blog tomorrow about the actual readings from today as they are one of my favorite. And everytime I read them I praise God for the gift of David Rodriquez whose voice is always the voice my mind reads them in.

Reason #12 Making it your own & Reason #13 finding souls

Happy Halloween! As a Catholic I am happy to say Halloween also pronounced All Hallow's Eve. One thing the Catholic Church has done over the last 2000 years is to not proclaim others wrong or sinners (note the capital "C" in church, this does not include individual misguided Catholics but the magistarium) but to bring Christ into what they already believe hence our current tradition of Halloween which while it does have roots in pagan rituals of remembering dead people became a Christian celebration of the eve before all Soul's Day. On this All Hallow's eve let us remember what it really means and not try to change it to "Holyween" as I have seen some churches do for All Hallow's Eve as it is already Holy and it is important to remember and pray for the soul's that have gone before us. Prayer is outside of time as God is outside of time, so please pray that every soul may find the happiness that comes from God's loving embrace. The Christian fight isn't about who is right and who is wrong (all though their are truths in the world), it is about precious souls finding peace and rest for all of eternity. This needs to be a war fought with prayer and love, never weapons and hatred. For Jesus commands us: "put on all the armour of God" (Eph 6.11) And from the 15 promises of the Mary, "The Rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies." With Christ as our shield and the rosary as our sword, let us wage a battle for souls. I am going to put my rosary where my computer keys are. Have a great Hallow eve!

Session Ideas

I am giving a conference session on "Saving Green by Going Green" in a week and a half. I have a bunch of ideas, but I thought I would see what other people can come up with. So give me your suggestions.

Reason #11 The Liturgy

So as a mother of three small boys sitting in a pew by ourselves each Sunday (Brandon is playing guitar again). I am so very grateful for the regularity of the liturgy. It makes it easier for a mother to mentally jump in and out as her children's needs fluctuate. My favorite story was on one particular Sunday we had a couple of books in the pew so of course Dominic and Xavier found it necessary to both want the same book at the same time. I was busy being the peacemaker and missed a chunk of the homily. I get the book problem solved and jump back into the homily to hear the priest saying something to the extent of "just like children can be in a room full of toys and insist on fighting over the same one" I thought, well I guess I didn't miss anything at all and maybe Fr. Dusty was looking in our pew and came up with that at the spur of the moment (but I don't think so).

I love that as profound and complete as the liturgy is, it is so complete that it recognizes that we are mere humans we need repetition in our lives, we need musical breaks, we need to stand up, sit down and kneel to keep the blood flowing in our hearts and minds open. We need to be able to put the needs of our children before our own needs and wants.

Reason #10 Render to Caesar

So this reason isn't specifically Catholic but I do love how the 3 year liturgical cycle always seems exactly dead on to where we all need to focus. I seriously need to stop reading anything but the comics in the newspaper. So today I made the sad mistake of reading the paper while enjoying my breakfast. On one page it was all about the education reform ideas of Obama and McCain. My stomach was greatly disturbed to see how much money our future president is going to put into having free public education start at birth. Has anyone actually thought about what is the best for the child? Is encouraging more women to put their newborn baby in formal education really the best in the complete development of the child. There is not a single study that thinks so, but we will be rendering billions of dollars into this new educational ideology while we still provide little to no support (financial management or emotional) for people to live on one income. So then I make the next mistake to flip a few pages further and find out that the city of Evansville has officially decided to give a bunch of tax breaks to Mead Johnson (aka Enfamil). I am not sure how our town things this is a good economic decision, but there you have it.

Greatly disturbed by all of these uses of my money, I remind myself that in this life we must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. This doesn't mean I should just say oh well and let the government spend money however it feels like, but I need to not let it take over my joy. I am reminded that I need to lay my soul and my life before the Lord and He will take care to provide in me and my family what is truly important for a deep seeded happiness that can not be found in the world of Caesar.