O my God, Thou knowest I have never desired but to love Thee alone. I seek no other glory. Thy Love has gone before me from my childhood, it has grown with my growth, and now it is an abyss the depths of which I cannot fathom. -St. Therese
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Preacher's Daughter Caught Fighting in School
I created an event on my FaceBook page. I do it every year.
Please join me in praying for Christian Unity during the Week of Christian Unity, which begins January 18, 2012.
I clicked on most of my FaceBook friends and sent out the invitations.
The "Accepts Invitations" started rolling in.
I just checked how many have agreed to pray. I had a personalized note from Penny. She said that she would pray throughout the week, even though she has to work.
Penny made me smile.
A few decades ago, Penny and I were in 8th grade together in a little middle school in Riceville, Iowa. I remember the day we were in art class. She was standing with her friends and I was sitting with my friends. Our friends were not the same. She was from McIntire, and I was from rural Riceville. She was a bit rowdy. I was a goody two shoes.
For some reason, she thought I was talking about her that day. I wasn't. But she thought I was, and that created a chemical reaction. When we lined up to leave art class that day, she accused me of talking about her to my friends. I told her I hadn't been talking about her at all.
She didn't believe me.
Really, I wasn't.
Yes, you were. (shove)
Without thinking, I shoved back, and wham. Preacher's daughter and McIntire girl fight in the doorway of the art room.
The two of us keep swinging until the short, overweight English teacher came out of her room and yelled, "That's enough!"
We stop fighting immediately. I burst into tears. Penny runs out of the school and holes up at her grandmother's house a block away. I don't remember very much after that.
Fastforward through a few decades, and there I am, sitting at my computer, smiling.
Penny has agreed to pray that the Christian world will be one. At peace. In accord. Strife ended. All on the same page. No misunderstandings.
Let the past be the past.
This is the kind of irony I love.
God, you have such a great sense of humor.
Penny, God bless you for praying - and for inviting me to be your Facebook friend. Blessed are the peacemakers. That's you, Penny!
And that's every one of us that says count me in. I'll pray. "Father, make us one. As you and the Son are one... so that the world will know that You have sent the Son of God to a crazy, mixed-up world."
But a world that is certainly worth redeeming. Now, go and invite everyone to join us in prayer, even the kid you fought with in 8th grade!
Amen, and amen!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Journal Your Way to God in 2012
That one unanswered prayer was not God's will. While there are probably many reasons why it was not God's will, one reason was that his death was the catalyst for my eventual conversion and journey to the Catholic Church.
Quite simply, if Dad hadn't died, I wouldn't have become a seeker. And Jeremiah is right when he speaks for the Lord, saying: Seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart.
Before that moment, I didn't truly seek God. Why? Because I thought I already had it all put together. Strange how the death of a loved one changes all that.
Prayer has been a part of my life for many years. I know that God answers prayer. I know that He does not answer prayers in the way we hope He would answer them - sometimes anyway. When that happens, it is because God has something far greater for us than our limited minds can conceive.
Like conversion.
Like eternity.
This blog is a reflection of my journey, a window into that precious daily journal that holds the full story of how I became Catholic by grace.
It has also become something of a prayer journal because prayer is essential in this faith journey. I read recently that St. Teresa of Avila said, "I am certain of it that Our Lord will eventually bring to the harbor of salvation, the one who gives himself to prayer."
There are many reasons why we should pray. This may be the most important one of all.
May you discover the joy of sacred writing in 2012.
Blessings!
*We ought to be persuaded that what God refuses to our prayer, He grants to our salvation.– St. Augustine
Journal Your Way to God in 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
2012 Goodbye Laziness; Hello God's Plan
It was a long road to this vacation - metaphorically and literally. I just finished a semester teaching ten different classes every day to four different levels of students. On the side, I tutored a fourth grader in Spanish. Oh, and I write for diocesan newspapers.
And I am a penpal via email to a number of potential converts.
And I am a mother and grandmother.
But I will let you in on a secret. I used to be very lazy.
I watched soap operas almost daily. Yes, it's true. (I gave this up about three years ago.)
I considered my day a busy one if I had one event on the calendar. Grocery shopping was an event - in my old life.
So, how did I go from being lazy to being crazy-busy and happy with that?
I have never felt more certain that I am in the center of God's plan than I do right now. And there's more than enough energy to go around when one can say that. I love what I do because I have the sense that this is what God has called me to do.
Miraculously, there is enough energy for all of it
Here's what I did (in case you are lazy and you want to lose that vice during the new year):
1. Be converted. Completely. Totally. Radically. (Try daily Mass attendance and reading the Liturgy of the Hours).
2. Pray.
3. Pray.
4. Pray some more.
5. Wait on the Lord. (What are you waiting for? Peace. Our Mother's gentle nudge. Our Lord's voice.)
6. Be ready to say yes.
7. And pray some more.
Then, the doors will open. You will feel the nudge. You will say yes to the invitations. And you will find that there is more energy. His grace is really, truly, actually, incredibly, mysteriously, miraculously sufficient for every good work.
Go ahead. Say the words. Goodbye Laziness. Hello Divine Plan. You have my full and complete yes.
2012 Goodbye Laziness; Hello God's Plan
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Once upon a time, when I didn't believe in the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe...
In January of 2005, while nearing the end of my conversion to the Catholic faith, I received one of many “care packages” from Randy and Mary Hill, a married couple in the Archdiocese of St. Louis that had taken me under their wings when they discovered that I was converting. The box they sent to me contained a book on Marian apparitions entitled A Woman Clothed with the Sun by John J. Delaney. While reading a chapter on Our Lady of Guadalupe, I came across something that would take that little story out of the realm of legend and into the realm of absolute reality for me.
Once upon a time, when I didn't believe in the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe...
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Immaculate Conception? From total disbelief to utter amazement!
I had been fascinated by Mrs. Kremski because she was a Third Order Carmelite – or at least that’s what the tag line at the bottom of the television screen said. I didn’t know what Third Order meant, but I knew that the authors of the books I had recently read were Carmelites. St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila – only they lived in the 1500s. I had no idea that there were Carmelites living and breathing today! What luck! I had to write her. I had so many questions.
We exchanged just one set of letters in August, and then the communication ended. I turned my attention to the local Catholic Church and decided to try RCIA class and see what would happen from there.
In December of 2004, the RCIA leader at my parish introduced the class to the Church’s teaching on the Immaculate Conception. I’ve come to the conclusion that our Blessed Mother was gently guiding me through this part of my journey, but at that moment in time, she seemed to be nothing more than one major stumbling block for me.
I announced to the entire class that I couldn’t accept that Mary was conceived without sin. I was willing to admit that Protestants had let the pendulum swing too far in the opposite direction, relegating Mary to a minor role in the Christmas story, but I felt that was in response to excessive Catholic Mariology. I explained that, while I believed the Lord could do that for Mary, I was convinced it was highly unlikely that he did do it. At that moment, I didn’t even have enough faith to say, I believe, Lord help my unbelief.
The terrible thought hit me then. Where does one go when she believes in Apostolic Succession, the Papacy, Purgatory, the Communion of Saints, and all Catholic Teaching, except the Immaculate Conception? What was the name of that denomination? I felt like Peter when he said, where else can we go? This is a difficult teaching, Lord, but I’ve nowhere else to turn.
After many attempts to help me understand, my RCIA instructor mentioned that I had the option of placing a petition before the Blessed Mother. If I had sincerely given myself to the task of understanding and I still couldn’t embrace this teaching, he told me that I could always ask Mary to show me the Truth.
As an Evangelical, I had placed many petitions before the Lord. That was not a new concept. And I didn’t have a problem with asking Mary to answer my petition. I just didn’t think she would do it.
I knew a lot was riding on this petition. The Immaculate Conception was the one obstacle that stood between my father (a Presbyterian minister) and the Catholic Church. In fact, if he could have resolved this issue, I’m convinced he would have converted to the Catholic Church thirty years ago. Before I made my petition to Mary, I prayed, “Lord, I will follow you wherever you lead, even if it is down a road my father could not take. I just want to get this right. And so, I beg You NOT to answer the petition I place before Your Mother if this teaching shouldn’t be embraced.” Then I turned my heart to Mary and laid it on the line:
Mary,
If you are as the Catholic Church says and if you love me, please answer this petition. I want someone to communicate with me by your inspiration. I need the communication to encourage me in the faith, and I don’t want it to be from Catholic friends at the school where I used to teach or my Catholic in-laws. I don’t want it to be from anyone in my parish. All of them—well, I have shared this struggle with some of them, and they may know through earthly tongues that I need to be propped up. Mary, I want the message to come from you to the ears of one who could know no other way. Please choose someone who, for me, would represent the Universal Catholic Church. Then I will know I am right where I am supposed to be and that the Church’s Teachings are ALL correct, terra firma, especially the Teachings about you. Please answer my petition before the end of the year—I know, that’s just two weeks.
This petition is rewritten word-for-word from my journal entry for December 12, 2004, the day I said the prayer. I knew it was unlikely I would receive a response. Almost as unlikely as the Immaculate Conception, I thought.
Our Lady didn’t make me wait very long. In the mailbox the next day was a letter from the woman who had appeared on The Journey Home the previous July. I had not heard from her since August when her one and only letter arrived. BUT, in December of 2004 she decided to write me a second time to encourage me in the Faith and let me know she was praying for me. Her letter was dated December 8, 2004. Above the date, she had hand-written The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. With tears streaming down my face, I read her two-page, single-spaced letter.
I had been ready to abandon the journey. I knew it would drive me crazy to teeter on the fence for very long. That’s why I had put a time restriction on the Blessed Virgin. That letter sealed everything for me. Like Thomas when he touched the wounds of Our Lord, all my doubts were gone instantly.
Mary is my Mother! And like the truest mother, she loves me and knows me better than I know myself. After all, she knew the very thing I would ask of her before I even asked it. Mary Beth Kremski’s letter had been dated four days before I made the petition, arriving less than twenty-four hours after my request for help. Our Lady proved herself to be the Immaculate Conception and a Mother with impeccable timing.
The Immaculate Conception? From total disbelief to utter amazement!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Catholics and Their Endless Rituals
Our little morning ritual is full of lessons for the convert.
Rituals matter.
They make us what we are.
We become what we say. We remember what we do repetitively. These things build community and they bind us together.
As Americans, we get a little misty-eyed when we hear the very young say the Pledge. When we look at them and see that right hand resting on a little beating heart, we hear those words fall from a little mouth, we see their eyes firmly fixed on the Stars and Stripes.
The entire ritual moves us. We are glad we have passed these things on to them.
On Friday morning, after the prayers and the pledge, one 7th grade boy picked up the flag and stand and carried it to the church for our Veteran's Day Mass.
This is where my worlds converge. I am American. I completely embrace the Pledge, the patriotic ritual, the repetition of the words and gestures we hold dear. They make us who we are.
How much more so those things we do and say as Catholic Christians. It is right to have rituals. They make us who we are. It is right to pray our prayers, so familiar that we can say them without stumbling at all. Our Father, who art in heaven...
It is right to fix our eyes on the cross - on the body that is suffering on that cross.
And we pass these things on to them.
There was a time I did not see the value in spiritual repetition. I did not understand the purpose for faith rituals. I thought these things stifled the creative inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
I was wrong.
If the pledge and the flag and a hand over one's heart can make us patriotic and help us to remember that we are proud to be American...
...then a prayer and crucifix and a hand making the Sign of the Cross can help us to remember whose we are... and why Our Lord died and rose again.
Rituals.
Repeated prayers.
They help us to remember. And then, we go out to be what we proclaim.
Catholics and Their Endless Rituals
November 2011 Catholic by Grace Article
November 2011 Catholic by Grace Article
October 2011 Catholic by Grace Column
October 2011 Catholic by Grace Column
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Ben's Story
Ben's senior picture |
Ben's Story
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Please Pray
Please Pray
Sunday, October 16, 2011
God Made You
I told the students to form a creature - anything their imagination could think to create.
They went to work right away, and the classroom was abuzz with activity. The students carefully created figures, formed eyes, carved out mouths and showed off their handiwork to one another.
"Now, I want each one of you to look at your creation and imagine that it could suddenly come to life."
Their eyes danced with the mere thought of such a great thing.
"Imagine that you could name your little friend, that your little one could say your name, talk to you - love you back."
"That would be great!" one student said and the rest of the students agreed wholeheartedly.
To order, click here |
"But what if your creature decided to hop off of your desk and run away. What if he picked up the toothpick you've been using and poked you right in the eye, and then jumped to another student's desk and decided to give someone else love and attention? What if he forgot all about you?"
They were ready now for the lesson. The real reason we had spent the entire religion class with clay.
"You are the clay creature, my friends. God made you. He loves you. He wants you to love Him back. But He will not force you to do it. He permits you to turn and go the other way."
Choose this day.
To love Him.
Your Creator.
The One who formed you and knows you by name.
Take your creature home. And every time you look at him-- remember.
We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God has prepared for us in advance, that we should live in them. Ephesians 2:10
God Made You
Saturday, September 10, 2011
His Grace is Sufficient for Every Good Work
His Grace is Sufficient for Every Good Work
Sunday, September 4, 2011
September 2011 Catholic by Grace Column
September 2011 Catholic by Grace Column
Sunday, August 7, 2011
How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Mark Kurowski Lesson Plan
- Click on the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSdfCFgoEEw
- Preview the whole show OR simply view the recommended times. (The minute-segments are the PRECISE segments that I show to my classes.)
- Before the students view the suggested segments, pass out the following handout. You may cut and paste this handout and create your own document. The answers are given in italics. I recommend that you make one ANSWER KEY that contains the italicized answers and then delete the italicized answers and print a STUDENT COPY. Students will use their copies for note-taking while viewing the suggested segments.
Journey Home Show
How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Mark Kurowski Lesson Plan
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Nearing the Assumption
It just made sense to me.
Once I accepted that Mary was conceived without sin, full of every grace from the moment of her conception, the Assumption seemed obvious.
Ah, yes. They are right. But why do we not have the remains of Our Lady's body? It is not a coverup. It is not a clever game. It is really very simple and altogether lovely. Our Lord loved His mother so much that He broke through the great divide and said, "Come."
Nearing the Assumption
How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Mike Carlton Lesson Plan
- Click on the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yRcY9FQ6s0
- Preview the whole show OR simply view the recommended times. (The minute-segments are the PRECISE segments that I show to my classes.)
- Before the students view the suggested segments, pass out the following handout. You may cut and paste this handout and create your own document. The answers are given in italics. I recommend that you make one ANSWER KEY that contains the italicized answers and then delete the italicized answers and print a STUDENT COPY. Students will use their copies for note-taking while viewing the suggested segments.
1. What was this convert's early faith formation? (Answer in First Segment)
Mike Carlton was raised Presbyterian, and his family has a Scottish background. (Note the connection between Presbyterian and the Church of Scotland) Mike was very active in his Presbyterian congregation as a youth. He had some friends who were Catholic, but he never thought he would become Catholic. Mike went on (Presbyterian) youth retreats and enjoyed those. When he was a teen, he heard the word “Protestant” and wondered why his faith heritage was associated with the word “Protest.” He went off to college and attended Presbyterian churches often, but he began to realize that the people he was meeting in college had many different kinds of beliefs, and he began to wonder why one person believes as he does and another believes something different, and so on.
Mike decided it would be okay to raise the children in the Catholic Church, but he would never become Catholic. One day, he was running on the beach and felt the Holy Spirit say “search for truth but be open.”
How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Mike Carlton Lesson Plan
Thursday, August 4, 2011
How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Skylar Testa Lesson Plan
- Click on the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmoEUuT_XQY&feature=player_embedded
- Preview the whole show OR simply view the recommended times. (The minute-segments are the PRECISE segments that I show to my classes.)
- Before the students view the suggested segments, pass out the following handout. You may cut and paste this handout and create your own document. The answers are given in italics. I recommend that you make one ANSWER KEY that contains the italicized answers and then delete the italicized answers and print a STUDENT COPY. Students will use their copies for note-taking while viewing the suggested segments.
How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Skylar Testa Lesson Plan
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
August 2011 Catholic By Grace Diocesan Article
August 2011 Catholic By Grace Diocesan Article