Luminous Mysteries

While driving through Georgia last night I listened to a CD created by ‘Children of Mary’ that prayed and explained the Luminous mysteries. (All while listening to my almost three year old yelling ‘Mom, turn this lady off!’).

Although I have had the opportunity to listen to the Luminous mysteries I have not really ‘listened’ to them. They are so beautiful! Honestly when I first heard that there was a new set of mysteries I couldn’t imagine what they would add to the already beautiful Sorrowful, Joyful and Glorious mysteries. Good thing I am not in charge of anything important because these mysteries are awesome. This CD explained each of the mysteries in detail and gave me the opportunity to truly meditate on how lovely these mysteries truly are.

Luminous Mysteries

The Baptism of Jesus:

The first mystery is the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River. Christ, who was born without sin, asks us to be born again of water in the Spirit so we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks to the decision making of Adam and Eve we are all born into sin. It is inevitable. We are stained. But Christ gives us a spiritual and physical sign of renewal through Baptism. What a celebration it is to enter the Church anew. I can remember my best friend’s husband being baptized as an adult. We marveled at the thought of being an adult, having a totally sinful soul and then having the opportunity to have it COMPLETELY washed away. Gone! It would be a moment in our adult lives that we were completely pure and sinless.

St. Teresa once said, ‘The soul in a state of grace is so beautiful that if we could see it we would think we were seeing God himself.’ That definitely says it all.

Changing of water into wine at the wedding Feast of Cana:

We all know the story of the Wedding Feast of Cana. There is a wedding, the wine runs dry and Mary petitions her Son to solve the problem. In our lives Mary petitions on our behalf, Jesus loves Mary so much that we know he is pleased when we love her too. As Christ dies upon the Cross he tells his beloved apostle John to behold His mother. Even during the last moments of His human life he is conscious of his Mother and wanting her to be cared for. We believe that Christ asks us to behold His mother and allow her to petition Him on our behalf. Of the beauty of asking a Jewish mom to intercede on our behalf!

Christ’s presence at this wedding further sanctifies the union of marriage and the union that Christ has with His bride, the Church. And of course we are the Church. We make a union, a covenant that we will be faithful to God and His teachings. And we break that union often through sin yet God remains faithful. We can use this mystery to pray for our families, our marriages, our faithfulness in marriage, and openness of life in marriage.

Teaching of the Kingdom and a call to repentance:

Obtaining the kingdom comes through repentance. When we were baptized we were filled with God’s grace but when we sin we lose that beautiful grace. When we have committed mortal sin there is really nothing that we can do to make it through those pearly gates to Heaven. Truly, if we are with mortal sin we have no hope of resting with God in eternity. What?! At what point do I forget this? Why do I think that maybe there will be exceptions to this rule and I can fudge it a little? Fortunately the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available for cleansing of the soul. Confession requires faith and humility in order to be restored to life. Once we have confessed and repented we actually can leave the confessional with more grace in our lives than we had before we sinned!

Transfiguration:

Jesus revealed the veil of his divinity during the Transfiguration. The Bible tells us that Jesus’ apostles were filled with fear and awe during this time. We see the Transfigured Christ in the Exposition of the Holy Sacrament. Jesus reveals himself through the humble appearance of bread and wine. How amazingly humble is that!?

When we receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist it is a time of an indescribable union with God. He comes to us whether we truly that it is Him we are receiving or whether our sins have been confessed. The good news is Jesus loves us all no matter if we are a sinner or a saint. It is important to receive Christ with a pure heart as Light and darkness cannot mix.

Let us remember that to be a member of the Catholic Church we must make a covenant to live life according to Scripture and Tradition. We must accept the responsibilities asked of us. We must be a faithful member of the church even following the teachings that we have a hard time with.

Institution of the Holy Eucharist:

The first Mass occurred on the night before Christ died. The Holy Mass is the highest form of praise. There is nothing that we can do that surpasses the praise that the Mass exudes. The Mass is infinite, never ending. It is the act of Jesus both sacrifice and meal. Christ is the lamb that was sacrificed and prefigured in the Old Testament. ‘This is my body. This is my blood. Take it and eat it. It will become for you the bread of life.’

If only we could begin to really understand what is happening during Mass. We are given the opportunity to receive Christ both body and blood! If we really were able to understand the Church would be filled everyday! Everyone would want to attend Mass! Only in eternity will we really know the true beauty of the Mass.

During Mass even if the music is dull and the preaching not extraordinary help us to remember that it is You that we seek in the Eucharist!

Let us pray that the Luminous mysteries be a beautiful opportunity to come to know our beloved!

The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse

I had the opportunity to review ‘The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse’ by Art and Laraine Bennett from the Catholic Company.

This book highlights the four temperaments originally coined by Hippocrates some 2000 years ago. The four temperaments: choleric, melancholic, sanguine, and phlegmatic all provide insight into your spouse’s best and worst qualities!

“The ability to appreciate other people’s temperaments is especially important in marriage, because opposite temperaments seem to attract each other…” p. 13

“But what initially attracts can also soon become a source of irritation.” p. 13

WHAT UP!! DID THEY WRITE THIS BOOK FOR ME?

“Temperament affects not only our deepest emotional needs, but also our moods, the way we think and communicate, and even the way we pray. Since marriage is a sacrament, designed to lead spouses to Heaven, temperament’s influence on prayer and the spiritual life cannot be ignored.” p. 15

The choleric spouse is passionate, the melancholic spouse is reticent and doleful, the sanguine spouse is eager and optimistic, and the phlegmatic is calm. After careful analysis of my husband and I we have found that he is choleric and I am sanguine.

Case in point:

“The choleric in love may be suave, fascinating, talkative, attentive, and affectionate- whatever it takes- to win his heart’s desire.” TOTALLY ANTHONY! Ask any of my girlfriends….. Ant was on it! When we were dating he was the perfect boyfriend…..

“Once married, though, a choleric’s priorities may shift- since he will have achieved his goal- and he’ll turn the same energy toward earning a living, raising a family, or keeping up a house.” p. 22

HELLO?!! My husband started medical school a month after we got married and wow did everything change…. All his efforts have turned toward medicine and furthering his career as a physician. Granted the medical field will suck the life out of you anyway…. I digress….

“Choleric’s struggle with the emotional realm: because they are so goal oriented, so capable of fixing their minds and wills on a goal, turning out all distractions and ignoring their own feelings in order to attain it, they tend to put emotion on the back burner. This can make them seem cold, distant, or unaffectionate.” p. 22-23

This one really got to me…. Anthony chose the Emergency Department as his specialty for a number of reasons. One of the reasons is that he can see patients in a quick and efficient manner without having to really sit down and get personal. This was just something that he preferred versus a pediatrician or a family practitioner. I write this to show that Anthony is so choleric! And really for a long time I just thought he was insensitive!

The book explains each temperaments relationship to prayer, parenting and being able to love. As the wife of a choleric it provides me with insight to why my husband may react a certain way to things. And how true that things that were at one time endearing are now straight up annoying! Harsh? Naw, way true….


The latter chapters in the book go into detail about specific temperament relationships. So, there is an entire chapter devoted to Anthony the choleric and my sanguine temperament and how they work together…. Or how they do not work together.


I really enjoyed learning more about our personality traits and how they affect how Anthony and I operate relationally. It softened my heart to different things that I have found frustrating and allowed God to open my eyes to his 'personality'. Granted we are still a work in progress I know we will be referencing this book for many years to come.



You can buy it through the Catholic Company found here. God bless!

The Catholic Company and First Communion Dresses

Announcing First Communion Dresses at THE CATHOLIC COMPANY! Very exciting and beautiful!

Dependency on God

As Lent continues on I am struck by how easily I can become complacent in my faith. There are times when I am so busy trying to tame this whirlwind called my life that I miss the point.... Truly breathing in Christ, letting Him fill my soul and letting go of the world.

I read a quote that is simple in its message yet speaks volumes to my heart at the same time.

It reads:

'Lent is a time given to us during the Liturgical year by the Church to help us learn a greater dependency on God'.

This is where I ask myself where my dependency on God really lies.....

Do I turn to him in times of sorrow? Probably

Do I turn to him in times of joy? Sometimes

Do I turn to him when I am so frustrated with my two year old I could cry? Rarely

I desire that greater dependency on God. Sometimes it's just easier to turn to whatever can be the quickest source of instant gratification... perhaps snacking or sitting in front on the computer. But truly my heart desires to know Him more and for that I must understand what our relationship is based on:

He is the creator and we are his created.

How beautiful is this? We were formed to be dependent on Our Father in Heaven but because of original sin it becomes more difficult to see that relationship. Pride entered the world and told its lies.... Pride said that we could make better decisions then our Father, that we could become more wise than He. I know that my insistence on doing things my way comes directly from the first sin. I also know that Christ came as the new Adam to give us new life and through Him I can learn dependency. I know that Mary came as the new Eve to become the Christ-bearer and give us a chance to learn what dependency really means.

We are completely, 100% dependent on our loving Father who knew us before we were formed in the womb. It is through prayer that we can come to begin to understand what this truly means in our heart.

We pray that this Lent continues to be a time of renewal and that we will truly turn to him in all matters of our life. Lord let us become truly dependent and connect our free will with yours. We know that your way provides the best way possible for us to reach sanctity and we pray that we may unite our heart with yours.

Amen!

More Pro-life help needed

Here is another great way for stay at home moms and all others who have a busy schedule to help support the Pro Life movement. It only took a few minutes to do!


Prolife Warriors,

On March 6, President Obama's administration moved to completely rescind a rule that was designed at the end of the Bush administration to protect the consciences of physicians and health care workers. The ethics committee of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists had issued a paper in which they called on doctors who are opposed to abortion to refer women to abortion providers, claiming that conscience protections shouldn't prevent prolife physicians from referring women to abortion providers.

Federal law has prevented discrimination against health care personnel who refuse to perform or assist in abortions but the Bush administration policy required institutions which receive federal money to certify their compliance with the laws protecting the conscience rights of health care personnel and was intended to prevent federal funds from going to hospitals and other institutions who ignore those rights.

PROLIFE ACTION NEEDED NOW:

The Federal Register will allow 30 days for citizens to comment on the proposal before making a formal decision.

The deadline for comments is April 9.

You may submit electronic comments via email to proposedrescission@hhs.gov or by visiting www.Regulations.gov and typing "rescission proposal" in the center "search
documents" box.

You have to check the box titled "Select to find documents accepting comments or submissions." This search should have 5 results, the first or second one being the proposed rule change. It is titled:

"Rescission of the Regulation entitled "Ensuring That Department of Health and HumanServices Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies orPractices in Violation of Federal Law"

Click on "send a comment of submission". You may type in :

"I oppose the decision to rescind the conscience protections forhealthcare workers."
At the bottom of the page, click "next step", then submit your comment. Submit.

Please take a few minutes to express your support for conscience protection
for doctors and nurses who oppose abortion.

Beautiful picture

Blessed Virgin mary

Daughter of God the Father

Mother of Jesus Christ

Spouse of the Holy Spirit

Lenten Craft Ideas

Attention moms:

I found a great Lent idea here at Kids by the Half Dozen!

It's a Lenten chain! Thanks for the great idea!

And here are some great themed coloring pages for St. Patrick's day and Lent. They can be found at Christian Coloring.

Sample letter

If you are not sure what to write or don't have the time to figure it all out.... (my husband is working nights again so I have ALL the time in the world!) please use all or part of my letter. I just copied and pasted it and sent it to all four people listed in the previous email.


March 13, 2009

Re: Budget cuts

Dear Bishop Frederick F. Campbell Vicar General,

I am writing in regard to the recent information that the Diocese of Columbus has plans to remove the Respect Life Department at the end of 2009. I am saddened and confused by this decision. Although I am mindful of the need for budget cuts due to recent economic problems I do not understand how our Catholic diocese can remove such an important department.

I know that the lives of countless unborn children and their mothers are dependent upon the efforts of the Respect Life Department. As a lay person I look to the Diocese of Columbus to guide my efforts to promote life in this culture of death. I am fearful that without a department specifically working toward ending abortion the effects could be very damaging. Furthermore I know that affirming human life is the cornerstone of the social agenda of Catholicism. I am proud to be a voice for those who cannot speak. By removing this department it would seem that the Respect Life movement is no longer as important. And of course we know that the Pro-Life movement is extremely important for all those unborn children and those affected by the horror of abortion.

I will personally commit to praying that the financial situation may allow the Respect Life Department to remain active. Our society needs the firm commitment of our Catholic Diocese to be the beacon of light leading the laity to respect life in all forms. Thank you for all your continued efforts in our diocese and May God continue to bless you.

Sincerely,

Tara De Lucia

Columbus cuts Respect Life Department

Here it is... Here is that chance to get active from our homes.

I know your first thought: This is terrible!
And then: I should write a letter!
And then: But I just don't have the time...
And then: Someone else will do it....


But will they? We are the pro-life movement. We are the ones who will make a difference. Please read the following letter and lets help end abortion through our grass root efforts!

********************************************************************************

Dear All Prolife Friends,

The Diocese of Columbus announced yesterday they are cutting out the Respect Life Department at the end of 2009 because of a $20,000 deficit. There is only one person running this department as is. After this department is axed there will only be three other remaining staff members slated (not Respect Life staff) to take over some of the duties of the Respect Life Director. However, the remaining staff are not very supportive of some Respect Life issues, mainly abortion.

First we need to pray and fast this decision will be reversed by the end of the year.

Also, we must write the Bishop, the Chancellor, all people in authority in our Diocese, and tell them we feel this is a very bad decision. The Catholic Church has always stood against the world for speaking out against the evils of abortion, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research, cloning, gene manipulation, invitro-fertilization, contraception, FOCA, etc. Most of the time our Church is the only voice that defends and encourages respect for life from conception until natural death. How is our Diocese going to continue this work without a Respect Life Department? How can we stay silent and stand back and do nothing about this poor misguided decision as we live in this present political climate, when human life in all its stages is threatened like never before?

We all have an obligation to do as much as we can to defend life! None of us has any excuse to sit back and say oh well, that's too bad, etc. This is a time when we need to live our faith. We need to take action and speak out against this decision.

We are living through a time when keeping and supporting a Respect Life Department should be a priority for our Diocese, not something that can be cut out of the budget! Our Church needs to be strong and stand tall during this age. We need leaders that will have the courage to be good shepherds. Our shepherds must be willing to teach, guide, and form us. Without a Respect Life Department how will our Diocese do this?

To begin, we would suggest we write letters to the following people:

Bishop Frederick F. Campbell Vicar General: Monsignor Stephan Moloney Chancellor: Fr. Shawn Corcoran Vice Chancellor: Deacon Thomas M. Berg, Jr.

Chancery Address: 198 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215614-224-2251

Chancery Office Email: chomailbox@colsdioc .org

We should send our letters e-mail and also via U.S. mail. We need to tell everyone you know to pray, fast, and at the very least, write letters and send emails to these people. Please, tell everyone you know and beg them to take action!

Giveaways can be found....

I love when there is a whole concise list of giveaways.... my favorite provider of that list can be found here.... Thrifty and Chic Mom; Living Life, Spending Less

Endow and the New Feminism

ENDOW is a Catholic educational program that brings women together to discover their God-given dignity and to understand their role in humanizing and transforming society. ENDOW utilizes small study groups, conferences and retreats to cultivate faith, fellowship and formation.

What an AMAZING study!

It goes through the letter Pope John Paul II wrote to all women thanking them for being women. He addresses woman of every faith and highlights the woman's vital role in the world. JP II specifically thanks woman who are mothers, wives, consecrated, working and every woman. He recognizes the beauty of a woman's very being and the various attributes that make up femininity. In a world where femininity is so confused it is nice to have a documented letter recognizing the many beautiful roles we have.

Foremost, our beloved JP II stresses the importance of human dignity. As stated in the study, 'dignity' is inherent, inalienable, inviolable that exists because of our very being.

Society has no right to minimize dignity as it was not the one to create it.

Dignity is perfectly coupled with the notion that we are created in the image and likeness of God. And consequently, human rights are directly connected to dignity. This can make one question what right any government may have in determining the worth of a human being (e.g. China, etc.).

The study went on to identify Mary, the Mother of God, as an active participant in the saving work of God through Christ's Incarnation. Because she had free will and intellect she essentially had the right to say no to the angel Gabriel's news of her becoming the Christ Bearer. But she said YES and did so with free will. Who better a role model for all women than Mary? I love that her 'fiat' (her yes) was so passionate and humble. And her example shows us a way to open our hearts and minds to Christ in all His glory and proclaim our fiat.

Femininity has really been destroyed by society. Now when I look at my three year old I am reminded that my job to educate will go far beyond the alphabet and numbers. Somewhere along the line I will have to teach her, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that her self worth is not based solely on her sexuality or her titles. Her dignity is rooted in the 'Image and Likeness of God'! I mean I can hardly understand that myself! I want her to know that her femininity is a gift and an opportunity to really change the world for the better.

This 'New Feminism' gets me so pumped up. It is the truth that has always resonated in our hearts but was stifled by the lies of the world. Somewhere I always knew that being a woman was not equal to actually being more masculine but the world tells us it is. Somewhere in my heart I knew that embracing my feminine traits would make me more beautiful even though the world told me that femininity means you are weak. I am so excited to do this study again and can't wait to pass on the wisdom of Pope John Paul the Second!

Works of Mercy

There is no better time to really get to the bottom of these Works of Mercy than now. Cross Roads Initiative provided this list and it really got me thinking. As Catholic moms, how much are we required to truly participate in these? How difficult or easy is it to clothe the naked or feed the hungry? Is God really asking us to be proactive with these works even though we have toddlers? What about the fact that most of the corporal works can actually apply to our toddlers? I mean if you really think about it we are feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to those that are thirsty everyday that we have our children!

But still, the longing of my heart is to go deeper, to do more, to become a more proactive member of our society so that more people may know the love of Christ. After all, isn't that what Christ has asked us to do? Are we stretching ourselves if we volunteer at the homeless shelter once a week or once a month? Are we over committing if we volunteer for the local pregnancy center? Is that pushing it? Sometimes I can truly convince myself that it IS too much. I can barely get my laundry done let alone stand in line to dish out food. Or is it?

If these are the works that we are asked, or even required to do, how can we incorporate these into our daily lives? How do we show our children that these works are not just for some individuals in life but that we are all called to participate?

Our society has become one that promotes isolation. I won't bother you if you don't bother me. Or, it's none of my business. But ultimately we will be judged on whether or not we did make it our business. Our involvement in bettering the world is something that I believe we will have to look at during judgement day. Of course raising beautiful, vibrant and healthy children is AMAZING and so IMPORTANT. But are we called to more? And if so how?


Corporal Works of Mercy


To Feed the Hungry

To Give Drink to the Thirsty

To Cloth the Naked

To Shelter the Homeless

To Visit the Sick

To Ransom Captives

To Bury the Dead


Spiritual Works of Mercy

To Instruct the Ignorant

To Counsel the Doubtful

To Admonish Sinners

To Bear Wrongs Patiently

To Forgive Others Willingly

To Comfort the Afflicted

To Pray for the Living & the Dead

Holy Baby DVD Giveaway

It's that time again.... Modern Catholic Mom is giving away a set of HOLY BABY DVD's.

Holy Baby DVD's are an incredible opportunity for your children to hear Catholic music and prayers through a DVD. There are everyday prayers, prayers in different languages, adorable graphics and pictures of Catholic items.

My three year old loves her Holy Baby DVD. She sings the Holy Baby song ALL THE TIME! Seriously, it is hilarious. I think she relates to the prayers that she hears in Mass and then in these DVD's. This is a great set of DVD's based on the same principles as Baby Einstein yet centered around the Catholic faith.

Volume 1

Seven Prayers in Seven Languages introduces your child to the:

Sign of the Cross

Apostle's Creed

Our Father

Hail Mary

Glory Be

O My Jesus

Hail Holy Queen

All the prayers are said in seven different languages including English, French, Spanish, Latin, Vietnamese, German and Portuguese. It is also full of vivid religious imagery and songs including Jesus Loves The Little Children, The Seven Joys of Mary, A Child's Morning Hymn and the Holy Baby theme song.

Volume 2
Jesus Loves Me , He Is The Bread Of Life is full of upbeat faith filled songs, prayers of the mass and scripture passages.

For more entries do any or all of the following: ( be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and include your email if it is not in your profile)
* Blog about this giveaway with a link back
* Subscribe to our emails
* Twitter about this giveaway with a link back ( leave your twitter name)
* Make a purchase from The Rosary Project website
*Email a friend about this giveaway with a link back ( be sure to CC moderncatholicmom ( at ) gmail ( dot) com )

Giveaway ends 3/27/10 at midnight, open to US residents.

Pro Life Conference

Franciscan University to host student pro-life conference



Franciscan University of Steubenville will host the annual Students for Life Ohio Conference on Saturday, April 4. The conference will gather student pro-life groups from across Ohio as well as portions of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

"Students in some colleges today face harsh opposition from their professors and administration to host pro-life events on campuses," says Emily Espinola, vice president of Students For Life in a press release.

"This conference gives strategies on the best ways to promote the pro-life message and work with administrators," she explained.

The conference will focus on some of the leading threats to human life today— abortion, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, and other human life issues.

Presenters include Catholic pro-life author, Kimberly Hahn; Steve Wagner, the director of Justice for All; Students for Life of America and the Susan B. Anthony List.

For more information e-mail ohiosflconference@gmail.com

Franciscan University of Steubenville is located in Steubenville, Ohio.

Stella Mariae

I had the privilege of attending a ten year reunion for my household (Christian sorority) 'Stella Mariae'. Latin for 'Star of Mary' Stella was formed in 1999 through the prayers of 15 women. The idea is that we are all stars of Mary striving to shine with Christ's love in a darkened world. Through the love of Jesus and Mary we are able to truly enter into a beautiful relationship with our Father in Heaven and one another. We try to exemplify the ten virtues of Mary (by St. Loius de Monfort):

Profound Humility
Continuous Prayer
Universal Mortification
Blind Obedience
Burning Charity
Divine Wisdom
Lively Faith
Angelic Sweetness
Heroic Patience
Divine Purity


We ususally pray for each specific virtue with a Hail Mary. We believe that by imitating the virtues of Mary we will truly be lights of Christ!

We created a covenant to the Lord and one another. It is still one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. Seeing the women from our household this weekend truly cemented the fact that those relationships that are formed with Christ as the center seem to last forever!

One of my girlfriends began talking to a friend with whom she had lost contact. Their lives are totally different and the one friend doesn't have Internet. After they had caught up the girl turned to my friend and said, ' I know that we aren't able to talk much but I do know that one day I will see you again in Heaven.' THAT is what is all about!



Although many things have transpired since I graduated college I am comforted by the fact that I have over 180 women praying for me daily. When crisis rears its head I have instant prayers. I may not keep in touch with many of the women but my heart is forever connected to them in the Eucharist. THAT is FRIENDSHIP.



Our Covenant with One Another:

Christ has called us into a special bond of spiritual sisterhood with one another. By this sisterhood, Christ calls us to LOVE (1 Cor. 13:1-13) Him first and then His Mother. Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment, love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-5)





By striving to truly love Jesus and Mary, we will learn how to love each other. Our love for each other is manifested as we serve, respect, encourage, protect and challenge one another toward holiness. We fight as women warriors, moving in unison with one another. Our battle is one for the triumph of Christ's love in our hearts and in the world. We are here to support each other in the battle, so that when one of us falls, the other women are present to help and protect the one who has fallen.





We call each other to holiness, to imitating the Blessed Mother, in the way we dress, act, and speak, in what we choose to see and hear. We help each other make decisions for the good. In this way we set our lives apart so that we will be used to bring Christ's Light and Love into this world of darkness. In giving our lives and ourselves to Jesus and Mary through interior and communal prayer, we are urged to go forth to evangelize and serve others in the different places God will place us.