The Armor of God

Hello Modern Catholic Moms,

It's been awhile since I have written ('awhile' may be an understatement) although I have though a lot about you all in the past few months.  I have moved back to Florida and have left my amazing Catholic moms group.  Oh how I miss it!  Life has become much more challenging when there is not a built in community of Catholic women striving to be saints!

I have had the opportunity to really appreciate that moms group now that I exist in a modern world 'alone'.  How difficult it is to raise a little princess when the culture of relativism is dominant.   There is something so special about being able to raise a child surrounded by like-minded individuals.  Now it is a struggle to surround my daughter with other children who are being raised in a Catholic world.  The world I long for is one where the fruits of the spirit are taught as a model for morality; where Mary is the model of purity and chastity for women (and not Hannah Montana); where families pray the rosary often; and becoming a saint is the goal for all.

I have been blessed in my life to always be surrounded by like minded men and women.  Franciscan University of Steubenville helped to establish amazing relationships centered in Christ.  And my family has been a huge source of strength in the Church.  Currently the people I am surrounded with do not affiliate themselves with any church and have many strong opinions about such topics as sterilization.  I find myself torn between wanting to share my faith and opinions and avoiding these conversations because it can become so that you are almost always hitting a wall.  I think about evangelizing and what the apostles must have gone to to bring Christ to so many parts of the earth and I amazed by their strength and perseverance.   How I need strength and perseverance!

The world seems to come at you full force so that by the end of the day you are spinning from its harsh realities.  Other days it feels like the relativism of our world seeps in slowly so that you almost don't notice it.  I am slowly working through this new phase in life and at this point in my journey as a 'Modern Catholic Mom' I can only hold fast to the Armor of God:

Ephesians 6:10-18


The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 [b]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 [c]With all prayer and petition [d]pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, [e]be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Much love MCM's,

Is a 4 yo too young to go to soup kitchen?

I want to begin a family tradition of bringing my 4 year old to a soup kitchen.  My mom thinks she is too young to be involved in this type of volunteer work.  What do you think?

Electronics at Church

 At Church today there was a five year old sitting next to us playing video games.  I kid you not.  He was literally playing a hand-held video gaming system including the continuous click-click of the keys.  While walking to Communion I noticed another electronic device (unsure what it was.. DVD v. videogame, etc.) sitting on the pew.

Seriously?  I cannot wrap my mind around the idea of letting children play electronics during the one hour a week we go to Mass.  I am not trying to sound hard, I am just dumbfounded.  Has anyone else had this experience during Mass?

Pope's Statement about Condoms

What does the Holy Father really say about condoms in the new book?

By Dr. Janet E. Smith

This week, Light of the World, a book-length interview given by Pope Benedict XVI to journalist Peter Seewald, will be released worldwide. Several of the Holy Father's statements have already started making news, particularly his comments regarding condom usage in the prevention of the spread of HIV.

To the charge that “It is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms,” in the context of an extended answer on the help the Church is giving AIDs victims and the need to fight the banalization of sexuality, Pope Benedict replied:

There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can really lie only in a humanization of sexuality.

Are you saying, then, that the Catholic Church is actually not opposed in principle to the use of condoms?

She of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality.

To read the full article regarind the Pope's statement about condoms and sex workers go here.

Prayers with a 4 year old

My four year old asked me why we had a statue of Jesus' mother, but not Jesus.  Well that prompted me real quick to go out and get a beautiful Divine Mercy statue.  While praying for the first time in front of it she led the prayer like this:

Jesus, I hope we don't have any temptations and here is your invitation.  Amen.

I am pretty sure she was reciting the 'Our Father'.  I guess we'll be working on the 'Our Father' over Thanksgiving break!

Olivia has developed a real awareness of God over the past few weeks.  There is a lot of songs about how much she loves God, mixed in with songs about spooky Halloween.  A child's love for the Lord is just so pure and amazing.  Without knowing any of the theology or catechetics behind some of the most complex issues of the faith she just loves.  How hard it has become for me as an adult to remember to just LOVE the Lord.  Sometimes there are so many facets to the faith that I literally forget to become like a child and fall in love with our Creator.  I know Scripture references to the child-like-faith we are all to have and that the children will lead us to Heaven.  I truly never saw the meaning of this until now. 

I wonder at which point we decide to make our prayer life so complex?  The opportunity to pray comes in so many ways.  My little one is usually on a swing or sitting in the back of a car when she will break into song and ultimately 'pray'.  She is able to drift off into her own world of thought and prayer and even manages to make some rhymes.  (Usually hilarious and unrelated of course).

Leave it to a four year old to bring my faith back to the basics and to remind me that prayer is prompted by the Holy Spirit.  I pray that we are open to the Spirit as Christmas approaches and that prayer through song escapes our lips throughout the day. 

Amazing CATHOLIC outdoor adventure camp!!

Please check out and pass on this info. about an amazing Catholic outdoor Adventure camp!!!

CAMP WOJTYLA

http://www.camp-w.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=232DbS79NFo

Hello all

Hello MCM's,
So many things to share with you!  Time has truly escaped from my grasp.  My little one and I spent a lazy summer in Florida with our family hence my lack of writing.  I will try to be better!  I hope and pray all is well. 

When you get a minute, check out www.catholicfreeshipping.com.  A wonderful site for Catholic resources and the owners are awesome too!

The noise of the little ones

Sometimes when I am at Mass all I can hear are babies crying, toddler babbling and moms letting little bursts of irritation escape their lips. It meshes into one consistent noise that can distract me.



The other day at Mass I listened to the symphony of children's noises and got to thinking. I imagined that the chorus of noises was actually a beautiful symphony of song for the Lord. We hear a cry or babble and he hears glorious music escaping from the lips of his beloved children. They worship Him through their song of praise. And there is probably no prettier song.....

Hope

There is something to be said about adversity. Many will say that it makes one stronger. Many times in my life I have failed to see the 'stronger' part and wallowed in the 'adverse' part.

These past few days have been both emotionally and physically draining. At the worst of it I really thought we might lose my best friend, my mother. We have spent almost every minute in a hospital room praying silently to ourselves and wondering if we were going to be left orphaned. Can grown women be orphaned? I think so.

But now my mom is feeling better and the worst is over. My four year old and my sisters seventh month old have made it through the hospital visits and the hotel room. We have healed from bed bugs, eaten more Tim Hortons then I care to admit and made due with only a few sets of clothing. But the real miracles of this experience have been plenty.

First we can praise God for my mothers recovery. Second my sisters and I have had the chance to reconnect considering we live all over the United States. Third I have had the chance to get to know my nephew and God child. Out family has had the chance to spend precious time in close quarters and take comfort in one another. I am also able to attend my other God Childs first communion as he lives in Steubenville. Friends have offered their time and support by watching the kids and lending us their ears. Some pretty amazing gifts God has provided amidst adversity.

I am grateful for the chance to even see these gifts and hopeful that if He can get us through this He can help us even through the lowest moments.

A True Mothers Day

Right now I am in Steubenville, OH for my sisters graduation from Franciscan University.  She also was proposed to last night by an amazing man who we are proud to bring into our family.  She is on cloud nine as she should be!


Unfortunately my poor mom has just been diagnosed with diverticulitis so I have been with her at the hospital almost the entire time we have been here.  She has been in so much pain and endured the engagement and graduation so gracefully.  Actually I thought I would tell you about the selfless love of a mother.


We were able to be there for the proposal which was so sweet.  My mom was in excruciating pain but kept silent and smiling as we watched my sisters boyfriend go down on one knee to ask her hand in marriage.  He asked on  his baseball field with candles, flowers and a home plate dance set to their fave song on the speakers.  It was awesome.  My mom and I left right after for the ER.  Around 3:30 in the morning I came back to hotel because we received news that my mom was going to be admitted.  At 6a I received a call from the nurse.  My mom was leaving the ER against medical advice.  What?!


Turns out she pleaded with the ER doctor to let her leave and return later in the day.  She desperately wanted to see my sister graduate.  As many of you know my dad died 4 years ago so it has been very important for all of us to support one another as much as possible.


So she sat through most of the graduation and then we came back to the ER and went back through the ER process until we ended up in a room.  I am still amazed at the sacrifices my mom made (even though my sister promised it wasnt a big deal if my mom missed!).  My sister said to me, ' It's okay.  Mom doesnt have to be there... she needs to get better!'  Of which I responded, ' Mom wants to be there for you!  She wants to see yougraduate!'


There's something selfless and crazy about that.  I like to think I would do the same for my little one if I was in the same position but then I would have to say that I learned from the best. 


So we will be spending Mothers day in the hospital room instead of P.F. Chang's.  (Man I love P.F!)  But we will all be together and appreciative of the sacrifices our mom has made for all of us.  And of course the first gift we must recognize is the gift of life!


If you would, please keep my mom in your prayers this weekend as we wait out this painful problem.


I pray you have a wonderful Mothers Day and please know I will be keeping all of you in my prayers.

Dr. Drew and pushing an agenda

I am so upset.  Dr. Drew (from VH1 and MTV) has been a great source of compassion and wisdom in regard to counseling.  Up until now I really thought he was an effective instrument of change in people's lives.

I've been a fan of '16 and Pregnent' mainly because is it touching and truly shows the reality of being a teen and having a baby.   Additionally Dr. Drew is very supportive of adoption.

But I am so upset because Dr. Drew is PUSHING contraceptives... Every teen he talks to he asks what their new means of contraception is for preventing future pregnancies.  And when talking to one of the teen parents he offered the morning after pill as a future option for contraception.  The teen responded that she did not believe in the morning after pill because she believes it is an abortive.  Dr. Drew openly LIED and stated that it is NOT an abortive method.  It truly seemed that is was a 'set-up' question just so he could say that it is not an abortive pill. 

But Dr. Drew.... IT IS AN ABORTIVE METHOD!  I don't understand how he could just openly put that out there.  Am I missing something? 

Plan B (the morning after pill):  If conception has already occurred it prevents the implantation of the fertilized egg.  This is abortion. 

From Catholic.com:

The "morning after" pill is not a contraceptive--it does not prevent conception--its only purpose is to induce the abortion of an already conceived child. 

Ugh.  I am done with Dr. Drew.  And it makes me sad!  But I cannot support someone who is a board certified physician and KNOWS that truth and lies to a completely impressionable population.   I am not asking for Dr. Drew to agree with the Catholic Church.  I just want Truth.  And someone who is in such a powerful position needs to be honest.  :(   I guess we just have to pray for his conversion. 

Explaining the Trinity to a 4 year old:

My 4 year old and I had 'the talk' the other night.  You know, the one that goes something like this....

Me:  And then God gave us his only son... and Jesus did wonderous things on earth and then died on the cross for our sins.  He is our Savior, Our God.

4 yo:  And Jesus is God's son.

Me: Yes

4 yo:  And Jesus is God?

Me: Yes

4 yo:  And God is God?

Me: Yes

4 yo:  But Jesus is God, and God is God, and Jesus is God's son?

Me: Um, yeah. 

Insert perplexed 4 yo look.

Me:  I know its confusing but God loves you very much.

4 yo:  Okay mom :)

Ego and God

A box that is filled with sand cannot be filled with gold; a soul that is bursting with its own ego can never be filled with God.

The Worlds First Love
Bishop Fulton Sheen

You know you're Catholic when....

You know you are Catholic when you are singing along to the local Christian radio station (which I love) and there is a great song about being forgiven....

"I am forgiven....." 
and you add
"when I go to Confession!........"
So your 4 year old knows whats up!  :)

The one whom every man loves

She (Mary) is the one whom every man loves when he loves a woman- whether he knows it or not.  She is what every woman wants to be, when she looks at herself.

The Worlds First Love
Bishop Fulton Sheen