A Grown Up Conversation...

WOW!  SO I just came across this "draft" entry from TWO YEARS ago that I never sent out to you all to read.  I re-read it & it brought me RIGHT back to the moment when I had this discussion with my daughter.  It brought tears to my eyes remembering her hurt & horrified reaction. It was such an impactful event in my life, I retell this story to friends & family every so often. Seeing her face, hearing her words of horror at the concept of abortion is how EVERY human should react at the concept yet we have all become so desensitized by it that when we discuss it, even myself, it is not a topic that repulses me enough to respond appropriately. I obviously did not finish this entry but there is enough here to get the gist of it...read on & learn from an average 7 year old (as I do everyday...)

 So my seven year old is a typical kid (I think.) Currently, she is very inquisitive & wants to know everything about everything.  I find it hard at times to determine where the "line" is when it comes to sharing with her about alot of the "tough" topics in life.  Up until now, when she has asked me "What do you do at your 'meetings' Mommy?" (in regard to my monthly Pro-Life meeting I prepare & run), I have usually answered by saying "Mommy loves babies very much & wants to try very hard to keep them safe.  My meetings discuss the best way to try to make that happen."
This answer was good up until this year...this year, there were all the follow up questions like "But Mommy, doesn't EVERYONE love babies?  Who wouldn't want to keep babies safe??"  Then when I attended the March for Life this year in D.C. the questions didn't stop.  "I don't understand...so you want the law to change?  Why?  What is wrong with this law you don't like?"
So I decided it was time I do some explaining.  So I made the call to be honest without being brutal.  I said "Well, there are many people who do not believe that the baby growing inside a Mother is actually just a small human.  They believe it is something else something before it becomes human I guess. They do not believe that the life growing inside a Mommy was created by God nor does he or she have a soul.  So some Mother's actually have the baby removed from their belly (or womb) by a doctors before it is ready to be born.  Sadly, this is called an abortion." It was as if I could actually see the electrical explosion of synapses in my childs brain.  Her mouth hung open, she shook her head incredulously "W-A-I-T!!" she yelled.  "So what happens to the baby after it is taken out the Mommy's belly?"  I quickly tried to think of the best way to describe it & there was no other way other than to just say it.."Honey, these babies die.  They are not big enough yet to live outside a Mommy's womb just like if you opened a cacoon before the caterpillar was finished his transformation into a butterfly, it could not survive." her eyes filled up "Who could EVER do that?  It's a BABY??!!  It's a gift from GOD!" She yelled.  "I know, I know...this is why Mommy takes her voluteer work so seriously. This is a very serious, important, topic that I wish I never even had to share with you. Some people have forgotten about God or have decided that when it comes to this topic, God is not a part of this issue."  She exclaimed "WHAT?  How could you!!  Doesn't everyone believe that God made us?"            
 

It's Been Over a Year and...

I have thought about writing here so many times over the course of this past year. There is so much to say, so many thoughts, so many topics, so many stories to share.  Much has transpired & it is going to take me awhile to collect my thoughts & coherently write them down.

I love to write and when my son & I spent countless hours and days in the hospital together, it was the perfect time for me to reflect, pray and research our faith.  I loved sharing with you all the great topics I read about or saw.  That is why my posts were more frequent during his illness.  Unfortunately, after being deemed "in remission" and celebrating his MIRACULOUS defeat of stage 4 cancer, in June 2012 we were given the news that not only was the cancer back BUT he was terminal.  Almost 6 moths to the day, on 12/10/2012 Owen Francis passed peacefully and became our family's personal saint. 

During those last 6 months of his life so many amazing things happened. I was gifted with so much insight, so much peace...my family & I were able to rely so completely on our perfect and amazing faith that is only by the grace of God I can be writing to you today. 

As I felt so strongly during my son's illness I was witness to miracles...looking back now, I can see the fabric that wove all those experiences together which led to the day of his passing.  I am so very BLESSED that the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin bestowed on me the GIFT of discernment because what my family experienced...no HUMAN has the strength to survive with true sanity or peace in tact without the understanding of our faith.

Even in death there is true hope.  I will share more later.  God bless good people.  Say the rosary...it's Lent!

Hello World...

Hello good people.  I have not written or posted in a very long time, I know.  Sadly, I must report that my six year son has lost his battle with cancer on December 10, 2013.  I will write more at a later date at what transpired but I have finally gotten to a place where my mind, emotions and life have allowed me to refocus on my passions.

But I share today with you this:  "The Seven Sorrows of Mary" a contemplative prayer that was shared with me during these past 6 months.  

The Seven Sorrows of Mary-Say one Our Father and a Hail Mary after each & contemplate on each sorrow.

The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35) –Purity of Intention

The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)-For Protection

The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:43-45)-Trust

Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary-Devotion to Mary

Jesus Dies on the Cross (John 19:25)-Resigned to the Will of God

Mary Receives the Body of Jesus in Her Arms. (Matthew 27:57-59)-Happy Death

The Body of Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb. (John 19:40-42)-Souls in Purgatory

 

This prayer was one that I said daily during my sons last leg of his earthly journey...God bless you.

Purgatory

I came across this series of short videos of the Catholic understanding of Purgatory and where we find this understanding in the Bible &cross referenced to our Catechism.  If you just start listening to the 1st one, it will roll right into the 2nd an so on.  I felt it was well done & solid explaination of the teaching.  If you have the time this video series is well worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL251BBFD9E8D450D9

Also, if you want to know more, try looking on You Tube (I think it's there) for Scott Hahn's talk on Purgatory as well...he is such a gifted speaker & a WONDERFUL resource to the Catholic Church.  If you want to know more about any tenat of the Catholic Church search for him...he was a Protestant preacher before his conversion to Catholicism.  Enjoy!

Enjoy Being Catholic!

If any of you are Facebooker's ....check out "Catholic Study Fellowship" and LIKE it if youhaven't already.  What a wonderful & uplifting group of people with so much information.  They posted THIS today & I thought I'd share. THANK YOU "Catholic Study Fellowship" for helping to spread the TRUTH!

 

 

Spanning 2000 years of Apostolic Tradion, we are the Catholic Church!
2 Thess 2:15 "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter."

Other quotes by Saint Athanasius:

... "Thus it is that sinners, and all those who are aliens from the Catholic Church, heretics, and schismatics, since they are excluded from glorifying (God) with the saints, cannot properly even continue observers of the feast."
Festal Letters VII, 335 A.D.

"Who then is so negligent, or who so disobedient to the divine voice, as not to leave everything, and run to the general and common assembly of the feast? which is not in one place only, for not one place alone keeps the feast; but 'into all the earth their song has gone forth, and to the ends of the world their words.' And the sacrifice is not offered in one place, but 'in every nation, incense and a pure sacrifice is offered unto God'. So when in like manner from all in every place, praise and prayer shall ascend to the gracious and good Father, when the whole Catholic Church which is in every place, with gladness and rejoicing, celebrates together the same worship to God, when all men in common send up a song of praise and say, Amen."
Festal Letters XI,11, 339 A.D.

"For the faith which the Council confessed in writings is the faith of the Catholic Church."
Letter on the Council of Nicaea, 27, 350 A.D.

"Let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian."
St. Athanasius, Letter to Serapion of Thmuis, 359 A.D..

"Again it is not tedious to speak of the [books] of the New Testament. These are, the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Afterwards, the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles (called Catholic), seven, viz. of James, one; of Peter, two; of John, three; after these, one of Jude. In addition, there are fourteen Epistles of Paul, written in this order. The first, to the Romans; then two to the Corinthians; after these, to the Galatians; next, to the Ephesians; then to the Philippians; then to the Colossians; after these, two to the Thessalonians, and that to the Hebrews; and again, two to Timothy; one to Titus; and lastly, that to Philemon. And besides, the Revelation of John."
Festal Letters XXXIX, 5, 367 A.D.

WE ARE CATHOLIC, THE ORIGINAL!!!

How I LoveOur Holy Father

Way to go B16!! 

CatholicCulture.org reporting the Pope's newest appointment to Archbishop of San Fran!

Keep turning up the heat!

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=15061

Fatima & Mother Mary's Warning

Wow...talk about scaring the HELL outta someone...check out this video found on You Tube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2VOoOES6-8&feature=share