Year of the Priest and our little ones

A good friend gave me this site.....

Great ways to incorporate The Year of Priests and activities for our little ones!

Mass and Kids

Check out this great article about kids and Mass found at Catholic Exchange!

Catholic Child.com

Found a great Internet resource: Catholic Child.com
Check it out!

Great Catholic Book Giveaway

Check out this great giveaway from Frugal Catholic Mom! Frugal Catholic Mom is giving away three Catholic books from Emmaus Road Publishing:

1. Courageous Virtue
2. Courageous Love
3. The Unchanging Heart of the Priesthood

Enter here!

Catholicism in our homes

A few months back I wanted to find out how you amazing moms incorporate Catholicism into your daily lives. I got a great response and wanted to share it here. Bringing Catholicism to the front lines of the family isn't always easy amidst sports events, school requirements, and basic life. But regardless we all know how crucial it is to immerse our kiddos in the faith, now. Check out these great ideas from other moms just like you and implement them into your own lives!

If you would like to contribute any additional ways just blog me and I will post those as well! Thanks!

Sharon from ‘The Birds Nest’ shares:

- Our main way of spreading the Catholic tradition to our kids is in our everyday life.
- In our home we have a crucifix hung in each room.
- They have Catholic children's books. They have a kids' rosary. They see us pray the rosary. - We pray grace before each meal, and attend Mass together (usually ;).
- I am taking my boys to Living Stations for the 1st time.
- My oldest will also be attending out parish school in the fall.I like that because he will gain more friends of the same faith.
- That's probably my biggest thing: surrounding them with other Catholics. Not that it's the ONLY type of people we interact with. But we do have some good Catholic friends in the area, and it's good for our boys to see other kids doing the same thing.

NP from "Coffee Stained Mama" shares:

- We're expecting our first in August, and I've already been thinking about how to share our faith with him. I've been looking online and in Catholic catalogs for good Catholic toys and things, he'll have a Crucifix in his nursery (along with a statue of the Holy Family).
- I think, at least at first, it'll be us living our faith. My husband and I pray together before bed every night, so when Wyatt comes along, we'll make sure he's there, as well, from the very beginning. We attend Mass on the weekends (always together), so when Wyatt is born, he'll be there, too.
- As he gets older, we'll have other ways of incorporating our faith into his life (praying the Rosary as a family, studying Scripture and saints together, etc.), but for now, I think the strongest testimony of our faith will be walking the walk.

Ellen from Thrifty and Chic Mom shares:

- I love the kids CD I have by 'The Rennas' it is Catholic music and we often start the day with the song "Good morning Jesus",
- We color religious pages I print out such as saints.
- Another thing is family bedtime prayers.
- These are just a few simple ones but that book you got is full of great suggestions that I use too.

Andrea from "Momma In Flip Flops 2" shares:

- A lot comes from my FAMILIA which is awesome. I have a 3.5 and a 1.5 year old and a baby on the way.A Few Things We Do! -Prayers before bedtime. 3.5 y/o Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be with intentions. He knows all three now. 1.5 y/o just a simple Sign of the Cross and Thank you Jesus! She's close to knowing her Sign of the Cross.-Catholic Saints Videos (excellent for 3.5 y/o)
- Prayer before Meals Always.
-A great Children's Rosary DVD (I can get you the exact name) both kids LOVE it.
-Simple prayer books, just bought a Find the Saints Book. More Catholic books in the home the better.
-Rosaries to play with.
-Saying a prayer with them when hearing an ambulance or for daddy at work, various times throughout the day.
-Children's Adoration once a month.
-Coloring books!

I shared:

- I just bought 'The Big Book of Catholic Customs and Traditions'. (Review to come soon!) This book provides different activities for teachers or moms to do with their kiddos.
- We do a Rosary playgroup on Fridays. My little one gets to have a playdate and I get to pray the rosary with my girlfriends. The kids definitely get loud during the rosary but I am sure Mother Mary is smiling down on us.
- Holy Baby DVD's! Love them! (Another Holy Baby DVD giveaway to come soon!) They are Catholic DVD's that provide music, mass parts and so much more for your child.

Family Friendly Reality Show... hmmmm

Here is a family friendly REALITY SHOW. Did I just put those words in the same sentence? Yes! Read on:

CatholicTV launches reality series about Catholic familiesWASHINGTON (CNS) --

CatholicTV, a television ministry of the Boston Archdiocese, is venturing into the realm of reality programming. In September, the network will launch its new series, "House+Home." Hosted by Father Robert Reed, director of CatholicTV, the show profiles Catholic families. Each episode of the show features a different family and offers a glimpse into their everyday life. The families share with Father Reed their personal stories and their expressions of faith. Although the series is slated to begin in September, CatholicTV aired the pilot episode of "House+Home" June 1. The episode featured the Massachusetts family of Michael and Laura Richard. The Richards have four children, including a set of triplets.

In a July 1 interview with Catholic News Service, Laura Richard said her family was asked to appear in the show by Father Reed, who periodically celebrates Mass at St. Bonaventure Parish in Manomet, Mass., where the Richards' oldest daughter is an altar server. Richard said there was a "very long list of reasons" why her family agreed to be featured in the show's pilot. "We really loved the idea of the show, the idea that it showed Catholic families," she stated.

Taken from Catholic News Service

Fulton Sheen

My mom asked for some DVD's by Fulton Sheen for Mothers Day this past year. With that I was introduced to the amazing world of Bishop Sheen. First spoken in 1953 through a radio show now his words are written in many books. One of those books is 'Life is Worth Living'.

I have been reading it for a few days now and I really love it.

Some of the awesome quotes from the book:

" The most bored people in life are not the underprivileged but the overprivileged." Hmmmm.

"Man wants three things; life, knowledge and love".

"When are we most happy? When we do that for which we are made.... then there is thrill and romance to life" What is it that you were made to do? Does it make you happy?

"By meditating on how God humbled Himself to become a man and then died to save us, we become like little children in the spiritual sense, and the world becomes so big, so romantic, so full of mystery."

"When a child is given to his parents, a crown is made for that child in Heaven, and woe to the parents who raise a child without consciousness of that eternal crown!" Wow.... that is such an amazing statement!

In regard to Communism "The revolution must begin in man before it begins in society".

I just love the Bishops keen sense of humor and the agelessness of his comments. He captures the heart of man and explains how to grow closer to God through our humanness. He recognizes human weakness and shares how we are made strong in the Lord. He calls a spade a spade and doesn't dance around fact or fiction. He is aware of the rules of Mother Church and calls each one of us to respond with open hearts and arms.

More to come!

Bishop Sheen, pray for us!

Something to think about

I got this from http://mommaf8.stblogs.com/. Definitely makes you think. Definitely makes me sad. Pray!!

'Spirit and Life' Book Review

I had the opportunity to review 'Spirit and Life' by Scott Hahn through the Catholic Company Review program.

“Spirit and Life” by Scott Hahn is a reader friendly book that will help any reader to interpret Scripture. We all know Scott Hahn is an amazing theologian and author. With that being said, “Spirit and Life” is yet another book that allows the layperson to enter into the next level of his or her spirituality through reading Scripture.

In the opening chapter Hahn writes about the Word of God as a symphony. Originally coined by Cardinal Ratzinger, now our Pope, the imagery sets the tone for the chapters ahead. The following chapters provide insight to Scriptures relationship with Tradition, the Mass, Jesus as a person, Mother Church, the end times, and the Gospel of Matthew.

Throughout nine different chapters set up as essays Hahn expands on the relationship Scripture has with all aspects of the Catholic faith. Hahn truly brings Scripture to life by highlighting that Christ IS the LIVING WORD! We are fully encountering Christ when we read Scripture.

“Spirit and Life” is a book that should be read over time so that the reader is able to truly enter into the depth that Hahn intends. One of the ways I like to read books of this nature is by picking one chapter that is speaking to my heart. What is nice about "Spirit and Life" is that you do not have to necessarily read the chapters in order. You can read a chapter that is speaking to your heart and stop there.

In true Hahn form, "Spirit and Life" will be a spiritual books that draws you deeper into a relationship with Christ. Check it out here.

End of life issues

I was talking with a certain doctor I know about my dads death in 2007. He died of lung cancer and is greatly missed. While on his death bed he received sugar water and pain medications. Unfortunately our physician, who attends our church offered us the option to decrease his food and water to nothing in order to expedite his death because his quality of life was so poor.

We were appalled. Besides the fact that we were dealing with a hard death, now we had to fight for our dying father to receive basic food and water. What a learning experience this situation was for all of us. Hospice was also pushing for us to decrease and end the food and water. It was such an interesting conflict. I could almost hear them in the hallway saying, 'How sad. Why won't this family just let him go? It is selfish.'

How far from the Truth!

As Catholics we place the utmost value of human life in all forms. From the earliest moment of conception to the last breath of the dying we know that we are made in the image and likeness of God. This alone warrants that human life be treated well. What our world has done through abortion and euthanasia is a direct offense against the beauty of our Father in Heaven. As listed below the Catechism of the Catholic Church plainly specifies that any form of euthanasia is undeniably wrong and not acceptable.

So where is the line? The line lies here.

All human beings, regardless of their state of life, deserve the following:

Food
Water
Pain control

So my doctor that I am talking to talks about the patients right to decide. Example, an elderly patient with advanced lung cancer, in his last days... if he and his family decide its okay to remove the food and water element of his care, is that acceptable? And when do we cross the line from food and water to 'pulling the plug'?

D0es the physician have a duty to the patient? And their needs and wants?

The duty is to God and then the patient. All life is to be treated respectfully. All human life is required to receive basic life sustaining treatment including food, water and pain medication.

What are your thoughts??



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

Check here to read what the Vatican wrote regarding Euthanasia.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2324 Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

Pro-life warriors

THIS IS SUPER EASY- TAKES THREE MINUTES

Here is the latest:

With last night’s 26-33 defeat of an amendment to ban your tax dollars for paying for abortions in the District of Columbia, pro-lifers across the country must rally to defeat the Financial Services Appropriations bill.

If this bill is allowed to pass, YOU will be paying for all abortions in Washington, D.C. starting on October 1st.

Conservative estimates say allowing for taxpayer funded abortions in the D.C. will result in 1,000 more abortions each year.

Please click here to contact your Representative and tell them to oppose taxpayer-funded abortions!

Why does this matter? Because laws save lives. When the government isn’t subsidizing abortion on-demand, we see fewer abortions.

Taxpayer-funded abortion on-demand is not common ground and it certainly doesn’t reduce abortions.

This is why it is so important that you act now to oppose this bill. We can still save the lives of precious unborn children in the District of Columbia.

Click here to contact your Representative and tell them to vote no on the Financial Service Appropriations bill. Tell them you oppose taxpayer-funded abortions!

I urge you to consider forwarding this e-mail to as many friends and family members you can. Now is not the time to give up. We must continue to fight for the lives of the innocent unborn and the consciences of millions of pro-life Americans who do not want to participate in their deaths.

Thank you all that you do for the unborn boys and girls!

For Life,
Marjorie DannenfelserSusan B. Anthony List President703-875-3370www.sba-list.org

P.S. Please consider supporting the work of the Susan B. Anthony List with a donation today. Click here to help us fight for Life on Capitol Hill!

P.P.S. For the latest in Pro-Life News follow the SBA List on Twitter twitter.com/SbaList and on YouTube www.youtube.com/user/sbalist.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!

Thank you to all our military who have served past and present to keep our country safe and free. Without you we could not celebrate this holiday of freedom!

Year for priests

June 19, 2009 through June 19, 2010 marks the 'Year for priests'. EWTN has a great post about this year and information regarding a special indulgence during this time. It can be found here.

The Plenary Indulgence is granted to all the faithful who are:

-truly repentant
-who, in church or in chapel, devoutly attend the divine Sacrifice of Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, for the priests of the Church, and any other good work which they have done on that day, so that he may sanctify them and form them in accordance with His Heart,
-as long as they have made expiation for their sins through sacramental confession and prayed in accordance with the Supreme Pontiff's intentions:

-on the days in which the Year for Priests begins and ends,
-on the day of the 150th anniversary of the pious passing of St John Mary Vianney,
-on the first Thursday of the month or on any other day established by the local Ordinaries for the benefit of the faithful.

Year of St. Paul

St. Paul the Apostle

As the year of St. Paul comes to a close (6/28/2008-6/29/2009) I thought it was important to recognize his vital role in the Church. June 29th also marks the Feast Day of St. Paul and St. Peter.

St.Paul is known as 'Founder of the Christian Church'. In light of this profound title it is only fitting that this disciple would also write in Galatians 2:20 ' It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me'. St. Paul went out of his way to preach the Gospel and did not fear death. His martyrdom secured his eternity with our Beloved.

Pope Benedict XVI says, " From [St. Paul] we draw a very important lesson: what counts is to place Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, so that our identity is marked essentially by the encounter, by communion with Christ and with his Word".



Our Sunday Visitor put out a great pamphlet about St. Paul that provides a few facts about his life:

Paul was born in 8 A.D. in what is now Turkey.

Paul was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee.

Saul was his Jewish name; Paul was his Roman name.

Paul was a tentmaker by profession.

The letters, or epistles, of St. Paul make up one third of the New Testament.

They include: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phillippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Paul was beheaded outside the walls of Rome during the reign of Nero, probably between A.D. 65 and 67.

Paul is buried where the Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls now stands.

A Prayer to the Apostle Paul:

Glorious St. Paul,
Most zealous Apostle,
Martyr for the love of Christ,
Give us a deep faith,
A steadfast hope,
A burning love for our Lord;
So that we can proclaim with you,
"It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me".

Help us to become apostles,
Serving the Church with a pure heart,
Witnesses to her truth and beauty
Amidst the darkness of our days.
With you we praise God, our Father:
"To Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ, now and forever."

Amen

The Love Dare

By now I am sure most of us have heard about the movie ‘Fireproof’. I personally have not seen it yet (for no real reason) but it is on my list of things to do this summer. From the movie also came a book called ‘The Love Dare’.

After several opportunities to buy the book and never actually committing to owning it I have finally found myself a copy from the library sale pile. This book serves as a 40 day quest to strengthen your marriage. It is a journal based book that allows you to record thoughts, actions and outcomes. Every day begins with Scripture and there is a one or two page excerpt talking about the meaning of that Scripture. At the end of the excerpt the couple has a ‘dare’ or challenge that will serve to strengthen the marriage. While this book is not predominately Catholic it is a beautiful Christian reference for any marriage.

I look forward to getting through our 40 day quest and pray that God blesses our marriage for our valiant attempt!