Anticipating Lent

March 7, 2011 By 1 Comment

Part of the Mary Moment Monday series

Finally! Lent! This week!

I have REALLY been feeling my need for Lent. And it’s made me think about why that is: Lent is, after all, usually very difficult. In that difficulty, though, I so often find fruit and, if I cooperate, grace to grow spiritually.

In the Pope’s Lenten message for this year (which I listened to via Father Z), I was struck by a few things, including this:

The Lenten journey finds its fulfillment in the Paschal Triduum, especially in the Great Vigil of the Holy Night: renewing our baptismal promises, we reaffirm that Christ is the Lord of our life, that life which God bestowed upon us when we were reborn of “water and Holy Spirit”, and we profess again our firm commitment to respond to the action of the Grace in order to be his disciples. (emphasis mine)

Then there’s the Lenten focus on almsgiving, which Papa explains so beautifully:

In our journey, we are often faced with the temptation of accumulating and love of money that undermine God’s primacy in our lives. The greed of possession leads to violence, exploitation and death; for this, the Church, especially during the Lenten period, reminds us to practice almsgiving – which is the capacity to share. The idolatry of goods, on the other hand, not only causes us to drift away from others, but divests man, making him unhappy, deceiving him, deluding him without fulfilling its promises, since it puts materialistic goods in the place of God, the only source of life. How can we understand God’s paternal goodness, if our heart is full of egoism and our own projects, deceiving us that our future is guaranteed? … The practice of almsgiving is a reminder of God’s primacy and turns our attention towards others, so that we may rediscover how good our Father is, and receive his mercy. (emphasis mine)

Almsgiving is a fancy word for sharing, that concept my girls, ages six and three, are struggling with as much as their 34-year-old mother does. It’s easy to tell them to share, but how easy is it to share of my own abundance? How often do I neglect to share myself, even if it’s a simple sharing of time with a child or relative who’s lonely? Sharing doesn’t have to mean I do more; it can direct me, instead, to let go of my attachment to things and focus on the better part, the priorities that so easily fall out of focus in my life.

This spirit of generosity that seems to pervade Lent is what my miserly, exhausted soul needs in the spring. Something about leaving winter, about being cooped up and sick and in the dark, begs for this kind of mandate: share what you have. Give what you can. And maybe, just maybe, give and trust.

Prayer is another focus of Lent, and an area where I always seem to find help in the upcoming 40 days. First, from Benedict:

During the entire Lenten period, the Church offers us God’s Word with particular abundance. By meditating and internalizing the Word in order to live it every day, we learn a precious and irreplaceable form of prayer; by attentively listening to God, who continues to speak to our hearts, we nourish the itinerary of faith initiated on the day of our Baptism. Prayer also allows us to gain a new concept of time: without the perspective of eternity and transcendence, in fact, time simply directs our steps towards a horizon without a future. Instead, when we pray, we find time for God, to understand that his “words will not pass away” (cf. Mk 13: 31), to enter into that intimate communion with Him “that no one shall take from you” (Jn 16: 22), opening us to the hope that does not disappoint, eternal life. (emphasis mine)

Ah, prayer. It’s an ongoing struggle, balancing a realistic prayer life with the hurdles and challenges of life. It doesn’t seem to matter what state of life I’m in; I always have an excuse for why I do (or don’t) what I do.

This year, I’m feeling Mary close by my side. As I consider my plan for Lent, I can’t help but glance at her.

She sort of set the bar for generosity and prayer, offering her very life for God’s will to be done and for the Word of God to become flesh. She’s the perfect person to guide me, to lead me, to hold my hand as I stumble along on the road to Ash Wednesday.

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Inspired to Listen

February 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

First, there were the words of the Pope (via BenedictEveryday.com):

At times there is a sort of fear of silence, of recollection, of thinking of one’s own actions, of the profound meaning of one’s life. All too often people prefer to live only the fleeting moment, deceiving themselves that it will bring lasting happiness; they prefer to live superficially, without thinking, because it seems easier; they are afraid to seek the Truth or perhaps afraid that the Truth will find us, will take hold of us and change our life. Creatures must be silent, leaving space for the silence in which God can speak.

And then there was the reminder of the three things St. Louis de Montfort asked of Our Lady (via my Mary Vitamin the other day):

The only grace I beg Thee, for me, is that every moment of the day, and every moment of my life, I may say, “Amen, so be it, to all that Thou art doing in Heaven. Amen, so be it, to all Thou didst do while on earth. Amen, so be it, to all Thou art doing in my soul,” so that Thou alone mayest fully glorify JESUS in me for time and eternity. Amen.

Somehow, these spoke to me of my yearly resolve to listen. There’s a lot of noise that needs to be cut out before I can listen to what’s really important, and then there’s the whole determining-what’s-important side of things.

Silence is a place to start, and it’s where I try to start my days.

And how can I not think of Mary and look to her as an example of listening?

How do these quotes inspire you?

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The Daybook of White

February 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Outside my window: The black is giving way to gray, which will soon burst into some sort of pink. I love sitting at my desk this time of day, watching the miracle of another day begin. Today, though, I’m in my kitchen, so I’m seeing the start of day from my sunset view.

Around the house: My three-year-old is up and tucked on the couch with a movie. Someone’s making noises upstairs, though I’m not sure yet if it’s my six-year-old or my husband. The baby still sleeps. (I bet he won’t still be asleep by the time I’m done with this post, though!)

In my kitchen: There are baskets of laundry to be folded and dishes by the sink and a full carafe of coffee, freshly brewed.

In my thoughts: I have a lot that didn’t get done last week. I’ve also noticed that I am terribly out of shape. I need to address that. (Sigh.)

In my plans: This week, a very dear, wonderful friend is coming to visit. We are all excited (my kids have been asking about her kids for at least a year, and she reports that her kids have done the same). I also have a pile of things that need done, though I’ve been very clear with God that this work that needs done needs some intervention.

(Baby’s up!)

In thanksgiving: For infectious baby smiles. For shared laughter. For good books.

In my prayers: I’m thinking of two dear friends who are carrying the weight of their grief, and I’m holding them close to Mary each morning in my rosary.

Nose inserted: I have three different reads, and that’s too many: I’m torn every time I can read. First, Orthodoxy, by G.K. Chesterton, which I’m blogging about on Tuesdays–”The Maniac” this week. Next, another Chesterton-related work, G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense, by Dale Ahlquist. And my current fiction is The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, by Jerome Charyn.

Recent reads: Neeta Lyffe: Zombie Exterminator, by Karina Fabian: Though this is a book filled with humor, it also explores some deeper themes, which I appreciated. I’m not usually one to read horror anymore (did plenty of that in my youth, enough to last a lifetime), but though this has “zombie” in the title, I’d argue that it’s a book more about human nature than it is about zombies. I’ll be in line to read the next book, if there is one. Really enjoyed this one!

A favorite thing: Secretariat, which is just as good on DVD as it was in the theater. Maybe it’s better, because I get to share it with my girls, whose pronunciation has been (sadly?) corrected from “Secretariad” and “Sequetarian” and other variations I just can’t capture. I have the book on my to-read shelf, but though my husband whipped through it the week after we saw the movie together, I don’t think I’ll be able to work it in for a month or two.

Food for thought: “Every day we have to choose to love, and this requires help, the help that comes from Christ, from prayer and from the wisdom found in his word, and from the grace which he bestows on us in the sacraments of his Church.” -Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Youth, Westminster Cathedral, London, England, September 18, 2010 (via BenedictEveryday.com last week)

Worth a thousand words:

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New Horizons

January 29, 2011 By 2 Comments

Last year, some of my favorite reading of the Pope’s was his message for World Communications Day. This year I found it thanks to Lisa’s post.

In a word: WOW. After reading it, I get the impression that Benedict must actually pay attention to all this new-fangled cool stuff we’re all using…not just the internet, but the different venues available on and because of the web.

(In the excerpts I post below, all emphasis is mine.)

New horizons are now open that were until recently unimaginable; they stir our wonder at the possibilities offered by these new media and, at the same time, urgently demand a serious reflection on the significance of communication in the digital age. This is particularly evident when we are confronted with the extraordinary potential of the internet and the complexity of its uses. As with every other fruit of human ingenuity, the new communications technologies must be placed at the service of the integral good of the individual and of the whole of humanity. If used wisely, they can contribute to the satisfaction of the desire for meaning, truth and unity which remain the most profound aspirations of each human being.

I love the image of new horizons. Instead of viewing all of this technology as something to fight, he’s starting out and suggesting that we harness it, use it, embrace it and allow it to open us to the wonder of the world.

The clear distinction between the producer and consumer of information is relativized and communication appears not only as an exchange of data, but also as a form of sharing. This dynamic has contributed to a new appreciation of communication itself, which is seen first of all as dialogue, exchange, solidarity and the creation of positive relations. On the other hand, this is contrasted with the limits typical of digital communication: the one-sidedness of the interaction, the tendency to communicate only some parts of one’s interior world, the risk of constructing a false image of oneself, which can become a form of self-indulgence.

This is what I love about blogging, for example. It’s not just me putting information out there; there’s also sharing that happens, from the comments to the conversations I’ll have later. I find this to be true on Facebook and Twitter, too, and on the days when I’m struggling, I can find great support, encouragement, and even prayers in those places.

However, that last bit about the risk of making yourself into someone you’re not is too true. I fight that: keepin’ it real without being too crusty. It’s a fine line and a challenge. No one should think I’m saint material (except that we all are, right?) and yet, maybe I can be positive without seeming to be too Pollyanna-ish. More on that:

Entering cyberspace can be a sign of an authentic search for personal encounters with others, provided that attention is paid to avoiding dangers such as enclosing oneself in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world. In the search for sharing, for “friends”, there is the challenge to be authentic and faithful, and not give in to the illusion of constructing an artificial public profile for oneself.

{snip}

Who is my “neighbour” in this new world? Does the danger exist that we may be less present to those whom we encounter in our everyday life? Is there is a risk of being more distracted because our attention is fragmented and absorbed in a world “other” than the one in which we live? Do we have time to reflect critically on our choices and to foster human relationships which are truly deep and lasting? It is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact with people at every level of our lives.

I started blogging because I wanted to share; I hadn’t been successful finding an in-person venue for my desire to write and express myself. However, blogging doesn’t replace real relationships, though it has helped me form new, wonderful friendships. Real friendships. People I call on the phone, see in person, send Christmas cards and baby announcements to. Other forms of social media have also helped me to connect with like-minded people and stay in touch with others.

But–and this is important!–they don’t take the place of the people in front of me and in my home. They are in addition to not in place of. This seems to be something we all need to keep front and center.

To proclaim the Gospel through the new media means not only to insert expressly religious content into different media platforms, but also to witness consistently, in one’s own digital profile and in the way one communicates choices, preferences and judgements that are fully consistent with the Gospel, even when it is not spoken of specifically. Furthermore, it is also true in the digital world that a message cannot be proclaimed without a consistent witness on the part of the one who proclaims it.

Once again, B16 reminds us that we can’t make up who we are: we have to be REAL. When I post on Facebook that I spent an hour in Adoration, it’s not to brag: it’s to share the beauty of that form of prayer in my life. When I share about an awful day I’m having, maybe it’s just as much a witness (things aren’t any easier for us Christian-types than they are for the non-Christian-types) as when I post about how my morning rosary started my day on the right foot.

…we must be aware that the truth which we long to share does not derive its worth from its “popularity” or from the amount of attention it receives. We must make it known in its integrity, instead of seeking to make it acceptable or diluting it. It must become daily nourishment and not a fleeting attraction. The truth of the Gospel is not something to be consumed or used superficially; rather it is a gift that calls for a free response.

{snip}

Believers who bear witness to their most profound convictions greatly help prevent the web from becoming an instrument which depersonalizes people, attempts to manipulate them emotionally or allows those who are powerful to monopolize the opinions of others.

The web can and does depersonalize life, but in the Catholic circles I’ve come to love as much as I love my small town parish, it doesn’t: it builds me up as a Catholic, it helps me to be part of a larger Catholic world, it grows my faith deeper and wider.

It’s well worth your time to read this year’s message for World Communications Day. I also highly recommend last year’s and the one from the year before as well.

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Seven, Quickly

January 28, 2011 By 8 Comments

1. Catholics in business

Last week, someone stumbled on my blog while searching for Catholic business resources. They emailed me, asking if I knew of any more. This is something that’s been on my mind since the  business book post I did a while back, but which hasn’t hit my priority list because of a whole host of other things. It’s a priority now, though, in part because I’m curious.

I’m pulling together a listing of Catholic business resources, including blogs, podcasts, websites, books, and other things that can be used to help Catholics thrive in the business world. Do you know of or use any great Catholic business resources? What would you recommend?

2. Another great conversation

My love of the Among Women podcast is well documented in this space, but I would be remiss not to rave and direct you to listen, if you’re not already, and especially to episode 85, which is a conversation with Elizabeth Scalia (aka The Anchoress) and Pat Gohn (aka The Hostess with the Mostest).

I have never re-listened to a podcast, in three years’ of listening to all sorts. But…I think I may have another listen to this one. And I may give in to the urge I felt to take notes. I’ve not paid as close attention to Elizabeth Scalia as many others do, for various reasons, but hearing her talk (perhaps especially after revisiting her blog over the last month or so) made me a full-fledged fan. Her passion is evident, but it has a great streak of…well, I don’t know how to describe it. She just seemed more like a real person suddenly, listening to her describe some things that just seemed harrowing to me, instead of like an inaccessible Catholic superstar.

I’m trying to explain–and maybe I shouldn’t–some of the ways this was such a phenomenal conversation, and I’m failing. Just go listen. You won’t be sorry…not only will you have the usual dose of Pat’s smooth voice and incomparable wisdom, you’ll have this amazing interview with a woman who I’m only just discovering.

3. From a dad’s perspective

A couple of months ago, I started listening to Just Another Catholic Dad, a podcast that is superbly produced by Sean McCarney, a Catholic dad in the UK who is hilarious and passionate (and an air traffic controller, which, if it doesn’t have your curiosity piqued yet, should). I just finished episode 26, and I think I’m going to have to record some voice feedback.

Here’s why. From my mom perspective (and wife perspective too, I suppose), listening to Sean talk about the two hours he spent watching a fairy movie with his three-year-old cutie patootie daughter, Caitie (who does the show intro and who I can’t help but just love) gave me a warm glow. I know that men have these feelings and insights, and it makes me pump my hand in the air and cheer to hear them expressed so beautifully.

But then, in addition to sharing this lovely, intimate dad moment, which wasn’t sappy or even that unusual, he tackled a big topic near and dear to my heart. Sean also does a bang-up job exploring matters of faith without being overbearing or preachy: he’s just a Catholic and a dad and a guy, struggling along the same as so many of the rest of us (moms included). Oh, and he uses the most delightful phrases. (Anyone who’s heard me bless their cotton socks lately can attest to that.)

4. I love B16!

Lisa Hendey brought the Pope’s message for this year’s Word Communications Day to my attention a few days ago, and after reading it, I have plenty to say. But not today. Tomorrow. I did, though, want to share this gem:

…[W]e must be aware that the truth which we long to share does not derive its worth from its “popularity” or from the amount of attention it receives. We must make it known in its integrity, instead of seeking to make it acceptable or diluting it. It must become daily nourishment and not a fleeting attraction. The truth of the Gospel is not something to be consumed or used superficially; rather it is a gift that calls for a free response.

I’ll be posting more tomorrow, but don’t wait for that to go and read it for yourself. It’s not long, and it’s overflowing with great stuff!

5. What’s hot here

The iPad has lost its appeal for my six-year-old, and here’s why:

Yes, pixiehollow.com. She plays, and while she plays, she has entire conversations (with herself? with the characters? I’m not sure…). They’re quite interesting. (More than 140 characters, though, so I don’t capture them on Twitter…yet, anyway.)

6. I think I have a new favorite author

His name is Chesterton. I picked up–and put back down–a book of his late last year, so I had some trepidation when a friend suggested we read Orthodoxy together. But I’m really enjoying it. And, though I usually let things gather a lot of dust before re-reading them, I have read the first chapter twice…and enjoyed it quite a bit both times.

I’m finding Dale Ahlquist’s book The Apostle of Common Sense helpful. Granted, I’ve only read the first chapter so far, since it goes with Orthodoxy, but I’m planning to finish it and, probably, devour more of the Chesterton works it covers.

7. Because this post would NOT be complete without it

A taste of style, a la three-year-old:

There are always a lot of Quick Takes to enjoy at Conversion Diary, so go on over and check it out!

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Taking a Break from the Serious

August 12, 2010 By 8 Comments

I’ve been in a funk for two days. And then, this morning, I realized that the nifty blog email I had set up (you know, the one in the SIDEBAR, here, ON MY BLOG?) was NOT, in fact, actually BEING CHECKED. (In other words, it was going to an inbox in the sky, not the one on my gmail.)

Well, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.

And feel at least a little bit of love at the emails that started rolling in ONCE I WAS CHECKING THEM.

I can’t resist sharing this, which is priceless and pretty much summarizes what I consider a PERFECT outfit for my Holy Papa:

This picture was emailed to me in, oh, SEPTEMBER, as an eBay item I might want to bid on…and I thought it was GREAT (still do).

So. There you go. Not one, but TWO reasons to laugh WITH me (or at me, I don’t care).

And if you email my blog email, rest assured that I will get to it. Eventually. I promise. :)

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7 Things You Never Knew About the Pope, by Melissa Tamura

June 8, 2010 By 4 Comments

Melissa Tamura writes about online degree programs for the Zen College Life blog. She most recently ranked the top criminal justice schools in the USA. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her cats, much like His Excellency.

–

Pope Benedict XVI is a very gentle and erudite man who has unique talents and tastes just like the rest of us. In fact, he has many special traits that make him a very human and very unique individual. Here is a look at seven things about Pope Benedict XVI that you may have never known that demonstrate this point very well.

Did you know that Pope Benedict XVI love of cats was a gift from his mother?
The Holy See has loved cats since he was a little boy growing up in Germany. This fondness for cats stems from his mother’s own adoration for the creatures. She taught him that they can love people unconditionally and that they only ask for the simplest things in return. This special gift has followed Pope Benedict XVI wherever he has gone.

Did you know that Pope Benedict XVI cannot drive a car?
In fact, Pope Benedict XVI has never learned how to drive a car in his life. He has never seen the need for driving around in a car because he grew up in areas where cars could not be used so well. As a result, he has always relied on other people to drive him.

However, Pope Benedict XVI is a licensed pilot who can legally fly small-engine planes or helicopters.
In fact, he is one of the oldest licensed pilots in the world. He puts this license to good use because he has been known to fly the Vatican’s official helicopter to fly to official functions and official residences.

Pope Benedict XVI also has a very whimsical sense of humor that is not seen often by the public.
The best example of this sense of humor is an authorized children’s biography that is called Joseph and Chico: the Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat. This book chronicles his life from his boyhood up to his time as a Cardinal. It was produced with Benedict’s help and it demonstrates a side of him that many people do not often get to see.

Pope Benedict XVI is one of the few sitting popes to release an album for commercial sale.
Pope Benedict XVI has a great fondness for classical music that started when he was a young boy and a teenager. This love of classical music inspired him to learn to play the piano.

This hobby was turned into a charitable proposition when he became one of the first popes to release a record album during his reign. He released Alma Mater: Music from the Vatican to celebrate the 2009 Christmas season and to provide income for music programs for underprivileged children.

Pope Benedict XVI is an erudite scholar who has published 40 books on spiritual matters.
Many people tend to forget that Pope Benedict XVI holds a doctorate degree and a habilitation qualification in theology studies that demonstrate his ability to do serious scholarly research. This scholarly ability made him very popular in among European religious scholars. It has allowed the Holy See to publish at least 40 books on several aspects of the Catholic Church.

Finally, Pope Benedict XVI enjoys engaging in friendly debates about many subjects.
This is another side of Pope Benedict XVI that is hardly ever seen in public. However, many staff members seem to enjoy talking about his debating skills and his desire to reach out to people who have different points of view about religious subjects.

As you can see, Pope Benedict XVI has many interests and talents that most people don’t know much about. Perhaps you can learn more about Pope Benedict XVI’s personality and talents to see for yourself what a dynamic human being he is. It would be well the worth the effort to do so.

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