The Cross

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.

Just Because They Use The Word "Catholic" ...

It has been MONDAY all over the place here! I feel like I have lived four days today and it is only 5pm! It all started when I got into my office this morning, and found an interestingly ragged, large brown envelope on my desk. It was addressed to my assistant and I, and according to the return address was apparently mailed by my assistant and I at a post office a few towns over last Friday. Neither one of us remembered mailing anything to ourselves. Nor had either of us been in that town on Friday so I knew whatever was inside was going to be unique.

Sadly, I was not mistaken.

Inside the envelope were copies taken off various "Catholic" websites about different topics that had such BAD theology behind them I could hardly believe my eyes. When I went to the websites it was clear that they were not in line with the Magisterium, and in fact were run by "lay Catholics" inviting other "lay Catholics" to leave posts on whatever topic happened to suit their fancy, with apparent disregard for the theological background of the poster.

This is SO dangerous!

Please, if you want to know what the Roman Catholic Church teaches, go to the Vatican website, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website, your diocesan website, or pick up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but please be very careful when you go to just any "Catholic" website.

They are not all created equally. And, know that if you are on a site that calls Pope John Paul II the "antipope" or followers of Vatican II "cult" or "sect" members the person posting is probably not in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

The only thing about the package I received that gave me any hope for the person who sent it was that it was done completely anonymously. Certainly that must mean that the person who mailed it was so unsure of what they were reading that they couldn't bring themselves to attach their name to it.

At least that is my prayer!! ;-)

What Happens When We Jump To Conclusions

Way back in my youth (1983 to be exact) I was newly married and very ill. I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas that year doubled over in pain. It turned out that I had a cyst on my ovary that was wreaking havoc with my system. At first, the doctor thought it would dissolve on its own, and when after several months, the pain became worse and I began to become anemic, he decided I needed a procedure to get my system back in order.

Two weeks after New Year's 1984, I went into the hospital for a dilatation and curettage or uterus scraping. Afterward, the doctor told me everything was fine and that I would be able to have as many children as God would bless me with. A relief for me as I had always wanted a big family.

In 1985 I became pregnant for the very first time. It was a difficult pregnancy; I was on bedrest for the last 4 months, and my oldest son was born in February 1986. The two of us caught a staph infection in the delivery room of the very same hospital I had been in 2 years earlier. The first week of his life was scary but with God's grace we made it through. Two years after his birth, I was expecting again, but sadly lost my second child in a miscarriage.

In 1989, I was again expecting. Early in my second trimester the doctor told me I had to quit my job or it would put my third child's life at risk. After I left the doctor's office, I went to work to give my supervisor the news and then, returned home.

Once home, I retrieved the mail from the box and noticed a large envelope from the Respect Life Committee of our local church. I opened it as I walked up the driveway to the house. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw what was inside!

In the envelope was a horrifyingly graphic color picture of an aborted baby...ripped from it's mother's womb. Across the top was the accusation that that was what I had done to my children(?) when I had aborted them in 1984 and 1988!?! Also in that envelope was paperwork telling me how disappointed Christ was in me for having had abortions!?!

I was alone, confused, and inconsolable. Here I had just returned from a doctor's visit telling me I could lose the child I was carrying if I was not careful, and THIS is what I found in my mailbox. When I was able to compose myself, I called the church whose address was on the envelope. The secretary was as appalled as I was that I was accosted in this way in my own home...and WRONGLY so at that!

After listening to my story, the secretary told me she was going to make a call or two and get back to me. Honestly, I didn't believe her. If someone could send a pregnant woman a horrific picture like that, accusing her of committing acts she never had, lying about returning a telephone call didn't seem all that impossible to believe.

Well, the secretary DID call me back later that day. She told me that one of the vounteers on the committee that had sent me that diabolical picture (at a time when I was trying to keep my own child alive in my womb) was an employee of the hospital where I had the curative d&c five years earlier, and after the miscarriage four years after that.

This employee, over zealous in his/her desire to stop abortion took it upon themselves to send this picture out to every woman whom it APPEARED to him/her had had an abortion.

TO HELP THEM SEE THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS!!

I was appalled that my personal medical records would be used to attack me in such a horrific and erroneous way; and, that a hospital employee would abuse their position in such a way in "Christ's Name."

To her credit, the parish secretary was appalled as well, consoled me as best she could, apologized, and impressed me immensely with her honesty and compassion.

The moral of this story?

IN ALL THINGS...COMPASSION.

We will NEVER win the fight against abortion if our motives and our methods are not PURE. I never felt comfortable in that church EVER AGAIN.

Like Christ, I was wrongly accused and persecuted by someone who believed only what they wanted to believe, despite the TRUTH!

Sadly, in their zeal they forgot one important, indisputable fact: someday they, too will be judged...not by me...but, by God.

"A mother is the most important person on earth.
She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral.
She need not.
She has built something more magnificent than any Cathedral --
a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body."

---Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty---

Our Soul

From the show "Saving Grace:"

Angel: "Ya know when you die you suddenly weigh three quarters of an ounce less than you did when you was alive. Some people think that's the weight of your soul. What a you think?"

Grace: "I think it's the air in your lungs."

The Devil's Beatitudes

One of my catechists just brought this to me. It's too good not to share.

If the Devil were to write his Beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:

Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week in Church - they are my best workers.

Blessed are those who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked - I can use them.

Blessed are the touchy, with a bit of luck they may stop going to Church - they are my missionaries.

Blessed are those who are very religious but get on everyone's nerves - they are mine forever.

Blessed are the troublemakers - they shall be called my children.

Blessed are those who have no time to pray - they are easy prey for me.

Blessed are the gossipers - for they are my secret agents.

Blessed are those critical of Church Leadership - for they shall inherit a place with me in my fate.

Blessed are the complainers - I'm all ears for them.

Blessed are you when you read this and think it is about other people and not yourself - I've got you!

These Old Bones

Today is sort of a blue/gray day on Long Island. Everything about it screams: "RAIN IS COMING!" Of course, my joints were screaming that as I got out of bed this morning...didn't need the sky to tell me. Every now and then, the sun tries to peek through a cloud and stay awhile. But, overall the sky is more gray than blue, and more murky than sunny. And, my joints are more creaky than quiet.


Ever since I turned forty, my joints have been making themselves known loudly and clearly. Sometimes the noises, creakings, and new gray hairs get to me in our world of younger is better and Clairol, L'Oreal, and botox (really? really? inject botulism into my face!? You ARE kidding? Right? I have to be near death to take a Tylenol...botox is NOT happening anywhere near me!!)


All in all, though, I'm okay with my creaks and, I have even embraced my gray hairs...they tell the world that I have weathered a storm or two (or three or four or twelve) and come out the other side...older, yes; but, more importantly wiser.


And the good news is: even though my earthly vessel is a little worse for wear here and there, my spirit is in tact. My heart, my soul, they are younger than springtime. Someday, when the creaking eventually stops, my spirit will soar up, up, up and away right into the arms of Our Lord. There, my spirit unencumbered by it's creaking body, will be free.


I have no illusions about what heaven is like. I know from St. Therese that there will still be work to be done. I know that, too, from my own prayer life. I hardly give any of the saints or deceased family members a day of rest, asking each to intercede for this one or that with the Father. When the time comes, I will be ready, willing, and able to work...what a pleasure it will be to do it without an accompanying soundtrack of cracks and creaks!

Eternal Truths Gleaned From the Movie: "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"

Finally got to sit down this afternoon with my DVD of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua." In the beginning of the movie I was covering my dogs' eyes lest they get any ideas about cashmere sweaters, leather booties, and (really? really?) diamond dog collars.

They are DOGS...they come fully clothed at birth...in fur...they do not require sweaters or pants or skirts and they especially do not require diamond collars!

As with all Disney movies, despite the largesse, I was hooked. When it got to the part where the leader of the Chihuahuas was explaining how tiny and mighty they were, and how they would be spoken to in baby voices "No Mas!" And, dressed like humans "No Mas!" I was hysterical.

Then the head of the Chihuahua Revolution explained: "We Chihuahuas come in all shapes and colors, but when you look not with your eyes but with your soul, we are all the same!" I was enthralled.

Is that not what we all should say about every human, too?

WE HUMANS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND COLORS; BUT, WHEN YOU LOOK NOT WITH YOUR EYES BUT WITH YOUR SOUL, WE ARE ALL THE SAME!

I challenge us all, this week, to make a conscious effort to look at EVERYONE we encounter not with our eyes, but with our soul. Let's see how that will help us grow in Christ!

Child Abuse Prevention Month

A pastor I follow on Twitter put up a link to a cute story entitled: "The Top Ten Signs Your Child Might Be The Son of God" at http://budurl.com/67fr.


Now, as Christians we believe that when Jesus comes again it will not be as an infant, as he was born into the world over 2000 years ago; but rather, in the same way he exited, that is, in his glorified state. Still, I had to chuckle over this top ten list.


Except for sign number 9: "Strange men always stopping by with gifts for him." When I heard sign number 9, as the parish administrator and facilitator for the "Virtus: Protecting God's Children" Program for our diocese, I immediately thought that if strange men were stopping by bringing gifts to my child, before they could get past me, they would have to complete and pass a reference check as well as a criminal background check. As a mom I would probably require a set of fingerprints as well for a little extra assurance.


April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is up to us to stop child abuse every day, of every month, of every year. IF YOU THINK SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT...IT PROBABLY ISN'T! Please don't chat about it at the bus stop, after the PTA meeting, or while you are waiting for religion class to end.


TELL SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP THE CHILD INVOLVED.


When I facilitate a session on child abuse awareness, I tell everyone present that some of us are state-mandated to report abuse; but, ALL of us are morally mandated to do so. If you can't make the call yourself then go to a teacher, guidance counselor, principal, pastor, deacon, dre, or anyone else you trust and bring your concerns to them so they can make the call.


THE SAFETY AND QUITE POSSIBLY THE VERY LIFE OF A CHILD MAY DEPEND ON IT!!

How Christians Are Like Superman

There is a scene in the movie "Superman Returns" that I find truly inspirational. In the movie, Lex Luthor is intent on killing Superman once and for all. He destroys Superman’s hideaway and lures him there to kill him. At one point Luthor takes a jagged piece of kryptonite and plunges it into Superman’s back. Immediately Superman begins to grow weak and staggers backward over a cliff into the water below. He is sinking fast. Lois Lane and her family are on a hovercraft searching for Superman. They see him below the surface of the water and Lois gets out and pulls Superman onto the craft. He is almost dead. Things look nearly hopeless.

Soon, Lois sees the jagged piece of kryptonite sticking out of Superman’s back and with much pain for our weakening hero pulls it out and tosses it into the sea. Superman struggles to his feet and goes out the open hatch. The next scene shows him flying up to the sun to reenergize and heal. This scene was just amazing. Weak and barely able to fly Superman makes it to the sun where a great transformation occurs. We see his back get straighter; his muscles expand, after a few minutes with the sun even his knuckles seemed to have grown muscles. Superman is revived…re-invigorated…healed. Superman is sun-powered. S-u-n-powered.

Our kryptonite is the excesses and temptations of the world. But, through Jesus Christ, we are re-energized…. re-invigorated… healed! As Catholic Christians, we have no need to fly up to the sun, we find Jesus right where we are: in each other, in Holy Scripture, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in the Sacrifice of the Mass, and at our source and summit: The Eucharist. And, we are re-energized...re-invigorated...healed!

Just as Superman is sun-powered, so too are we: S-O-N-powered!

Perfect Love

It is a gorgeous day on Long Island.
There is just a hint of the promise of spring in the air
even while piles of snow are still scattered around here and there.

As I was driving my younger son to class this morning I began to ponder the concept of Perfect Love. Of course, Christ showed us Perfect Love on the cross. As a mother, I think the closest I have ever come to Perfect Love was when my boys exited my womb and were placed in my arms at birth; even though, they had had my heart even before the doctor confirmed I was expecting.

But, Perfect Love for my neighbor - that is more of a struggle for me. It is easy as mom to say: "I give all I have and all I am to you, my sons: my life, my love, my heart, my soul - they are yours now and forever." It is much more difficult to say to the stranger, or those neighbors who strain my patience to its painfully short limit. Yet, that is exactly what Christ did and expects me to do as well.

Jesus did not just prick his finger and spill a few drops of blood so that only his closet friends would be saved. Rather, Christ allowed his whole body to be ravaged, his hands and feet pierced with rusty nails, his head bloodied and torn by the crown of thorns, his side savagely ripped by the soldier's sword...His blood flowed freely not for the select few gathered at the cross that fateful day but, for all sinners then, now and into eternity. His blood flowed for you and me, for our friends, our loved ones, AND those who challenge us in whatever way that might be.

Perfect Love...it is a challenge for me. Jesus showed me the way. I know it is the way I must follow. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will obey.