Catholic By Grace

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Blessed Octave of Easter!

There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
Illustration by Jennifer Bossert 4/29/11

Divine Mercy or Blessed Assurance?

The prayer is not what I was used to.

It is a not-very-evangelical-kind-of-prayer. I'm not 100% sure why that is so, but I think it is because it doesn't proclaim Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine, Oh what a foretaste of Glory Divine theology. The prayer is grounded in Divine Mercy.

Jesus, the merciful Son of God.

And my reliance on His mercy and His promises. Nothing less.

Yes, there's assurance in Divine Mercy and Divine Promises. It's different from presumption and an assurance that I know that I know that I know I'm heavenbound. That sense of "done-ness" is set aside and Lord, have mercy takes its place.

And that's not evangelical. It's Catholic. It's "2000 years" Catholic. But it's not evangelical theology at all.

Everything depends on the mercy of our God. Everything.

I trust in His mercy. I cling to His promises. But I have not forgotten how weak I am. How needy I am before the Throne of Grace.

No. I don't know that I will shoot to heaven like an arrow if I die tonight. And I wouldn't trade my adherence to trust for a take-it-to-the-bank-confidence that I'm as good as there already.

I think I am closer to salvation than I was yesterday. Or last year. Or twenty years ago.

Why? Because I have abandoned my assumptions and presumptions. I have exchanged them for the word Trust.

Jesus, I trust in You.

I don't trust in a prayer I said in second grade. I don't trust that Jesus simply made me appear holy before the Heavenly Father even though I'm not yet altogether holy.

Jesus, I trust You. I trust in your Divine Mercy. Your love. Your Precious Blood.

I believe that you are grafting me into Your Body. It's a present-progressive kind of transformation. Not a past-tense prayer that was said.

Jesus, I trust that You will not abandon me. That You will help me to run the race to the finish line. Because everything doesn't rest on what I did in the first lap of this race.

I cling to mercy. Merciful Father, Merciful Son. Merciful Spirit.

It's a promise of mercy. And promise is not the same thing as assurance. The Promise is from Christ. It requires trust. Hope. Faith. Grace. Things that come from God.

It does not assume that I am signed, sealed, and as-good-as delivered to the Gates of Heaven.

And so, I pray...

Oh, my Jesus, forgive me of my sins. Save me from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.

Knowing all too well that I'm that one. Most in need of mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

(Divine Mercy, 2011)

Friday, April 29, 2011

Great Article on "Pope John Paul II Priests" by Archbishop Dolan

http://www.headlinebistro.com/hb/en/columnists/jpii/dolan.html

Entering into the Joy of Beatification

"There are people and nations, Mother, that I would like to say to you by name. I entrust them to you in silence, I entrust them to you in the way that you know best." -John Paul II

Thursday, April 28, 2011

St. Louis de Montfort - Today's His Feast Day!

True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort was a spiritual culture shock. I think the only reason I was able to give St. Louis de Montfort the benefit of the doubt is because I knew that our beloved John Paul II had embraced this devotion.

The most difficult part was in learning how to say, “Mary, I give everything to you, and I trust that you will make it a good and perfect gift for your Son.” What, then, do I have to offer when I am called to stand before the Lord of all creation and give an accounting for my life? Will I be standing there empty-handed, I wondered.

But then I remembered the three Magi who offered their gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. I could see them in my mind, placing the gifts at Our Lady’s feet. They had no difficulty in believing that she would take those gifts and offer them to her Son at the right moment for the right purpose.

If the Magi could entrust their gifts to the mother of an infant king, then maybe I could entrust her with my gifts as well.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Facebook - to give it up or not to give it up... that is the question

Sometimes, I wonder if Facebook is more trouble than it's worth.

Young Woman with Laptop
by Petr Kratochvil
at PublicDomainPictures.com

A few years ago, I was so saddened by the language two former students were using in status posts that I had to remove the poor things from my feed.

It balanced out a little when another former student shared her daily faith journey with FB friends. When I heard she was considering religious life, I couldn't help praising God and recognizing what a great grace it has been to watch and listen as she grew.

Facebook shows our full humanity. Weakness and strength. Disobedience and obedience. Sinfulness and sanctification.

I'm thinking today about St. Monica. Goodness, what would it have been like for her to have a Facebook page and a feed that listed all of Augustine's flaws and foibles before his conversion.

This "mother of so many tears" would have surely been tempted to despair.

I think of the Blessed Mother. I'm not schooled enough in apparitions to remember where and when She said it, but I do seem to remember that she practically begged us to repent and be spared whatever it was She saw coming. She knew what we were up to and She knew where it was all leading.

From Her seat in heaven, I can just about imagine the "feed" she has to endure.

It makes me want to cringe for Her.

But back to the Facebook cross... What do you do? We've been asked to get out there and enter the high speed highways and byways of the social media - that new mission field we call the digital continent.

What do you do when you ache like this? When you have a St. Monica moment and you down right hurt? When you long for your dear ones (children, students, friends) to choose blessings, not curses. Life, not death. Sanctification, not sin. Holy living, not hellbent pursuits.

It's a New Age alright.

It's a whole new view. Where there is nothing new under the sun, but all the old godless living is paraded and hailed.

As the St. Monicas of the world cry harder.

I'm still trying to decide if I want to go back to this thing I gave up for Lent. Facebook. Is it really worth it?

This little light of mine...I'm going to let it shine...this little light of mine...I'm going to let it shine...let it shine...

For now, anyway.

And I hope you are strong enough to do it too.

What Were They Singing in the 4th Century?

At the Lamb's high feast we sing.

Last Supper - public domain

Praise to our victorious King,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from his pierced side;
Praise we him, whose love divine
Gives his sacred blood for wine,
Gives his body for the feast,
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.

Where the Paschal blood is poured,
Death's dark angel sheaths his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, Paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we Manna from above.

(4th century hymn translated from Latin - public domain)

Even the music of the Early Church speaks of the Real Presence. Consider the words ... and believe.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Our Last Easter with JPII and Divine Mercy

I have a habit of hanging on to old emails - especially emails I've exchanged with the people who keep me going in the Faith. I was looking back through these emails. Way back. Back to Easter 2005. It was my first Easter Vigil, only I wasn't able to enter the Church that evening because I was still waiting on word from the Metropolitan Tribunal on the status of my first marriage. Valid or invalid? Sacramental or not. I didn't enter the Church until August 14, 2005 - when everything was ironed out with my "obstacle". But I went to Easter Vigil that year because my RCIA brothers and sisters were entering Mother Church, and I was thrilled for them.That night, I had a dream. The dream was captured in an email that I sent to my Spiritual Mentor. Here's what I wrote to Mary Beth Kremski:

Easter 2005

He is risen!

Last night’s Easter Vigil was holy and beautiful. It was so affirming, even though I wasn’t able to receive. I am so hungry to receive, but I sensed that I still am not ready. The Lord has much to do in me.

Last night I had a dream—clearly a grace—but I don’t know what it means. A woman was dressed in a brown robe - like a nun's habit. A priest lay on a bed, or table, or mat. And she stretched across him. It was something like Elisha laying across the widow's dead child. Only, she was not giving. She needed strength, an infusion of power to do something...

This is what I wrote a week later:

I have EWTN on and realized the connection between what I’m seeing and what I dreamed Easter Vigil night.

I only know that the man on the (mat/table/bed) was John Paul II. I knew it when I saw him on EWTN. It was exactly the same—only in a small, private room. He lay there, still, as though dead. The garment she wore was important—brown. It was very reminiscent of Elisha and the widow’s son—but in sort of a reverse order—the woman receiving life through the one laying as though dead.

In the years that have passed, I have wondered about this dream. This week, I'm thinking about it all once again.

And I'm excited. "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much" - Sacred Scripture tells us. And I believe that John Paul II is interceding.

For youth.

For the new evangelization.

For full and visible unity of all believers.

For the dignity of women and the feminine genius.

For the faithful witness of husbands and wives.

For the Church.

When I remember the dream, I always turn to John Paul II and ask for his intercession. This is a joy-filled week. Easter Resurrection. Anniversary of a Holy Father's passing. Beatification. Divine Mercy Sunday. All rolled up together. Honestly, how can we contain the joy? The Church is bursting with the joy of it all.

The news we've been waiting for.

He's going to be beatified. And we are the beneficiaries of a great gift: the prayers of a righteous man availeth much.

The Church, the woman dressed in brown, will receive an outpouring of God's Divine Power, through the intercession of a priest, a bishop, a blessed holy father. And, God willing, one day a saint.

John Paul II, pray for us!

This from Mary in STL: In response to your " JPII and Divine Mercy, I wanted to post:

The words from a song: "I scarce can take it in" apply. :-) but not knowing how to sign up for an ID/URL,I couldn’t get it to post. For those of us who are computer-challenged... we need more help in order to sign up to post. Thanks Denise, love your columns in St Louis Review and your program with Marcus on EWTN.

Mary

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter People - and alleluia is our song!

Under the Old Covenant, God's People observed Passover each year - and fifty days later, they celebrated Pentecost. (50=Pente).

It is no coincidence that Good Friday coincides with Passover. As Jesus was dying on the cross, the sacrificial lambs were being slaughtered at the Temple in Jerusalem. (How's that for timing?!)

It is no coincidence that the Descent of the Holy Spirit (on Pentecost) coincides with the Jewish Feast of Seven Weeks - Pentecost. There were Jews from every country in Jerusalem that day, speaking different languages, and all celebrating the Old Covenant feast. (How's that for timing?!)

And so, the Early Church set aside fifty days between the Resurrection and Pentecost as a special liturgical season. This period of time is called the Easter Season.

In the Early Church, it was not a time of Penitential practice. It was a time to "exult in God's goodness" (according to the Little White Book published by the Diocese of Saginaw).

And so, here's the question I have for you...

How will you be spending the 50 days of Easter?

Live them deliberately.

Exult in the goodness of Our God.

He has turned death into New Life.

He has broken the chains of sin.

Go ahead. Celebrate.

As Pope John Paul II said, "We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song."

(It's okay to leave a note in the comment box, sharing how you are living out your 50 days of Easter.)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

He is Risen!

Women at the Tomb
William Bouguereau
public domain

He is risen, indeed!

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Good Friday and Catholic Things

(Reprinted from article in 2009)

It may not seem strange to you, but I am still getting used to it. On Good Friday, after the Liturgy of the Word, we go forward and venerate the Cross.

There aren't very many times when I still feel like a neophyte, but this night is one of them. I feel my Catholicity fully this night, as though for the first time ever.

I am glad to be part of this strange and unfamiliar faith tradition. It is an awesome thing to see each person kneel and kiss the Cross of Christ. The beautiful and youthful ones. The aged. The littlest child. My husband and daughter. The priest. The altar servers. My friend. A student from my confirmation class.

It is a sacred moment, and as far as I know, no other faith tradition does this. It is Catholic. So very Catholic.

Then, we receive the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I would imagine that this is a very special night for those who suffer, and most especially those with terminal illness. First, we venerate the Cross and then the Eucharist comes to us on this night, the night of his death.

All of us are on this journey to Easter promises, but we realize that Easter Morning only comes by way of the Cross.

It is almost too much. My heart is full, and when I see them all kneeling to kiss the Cross, then all moving as one to receive the Body of Christ on this night when He gave up His own Body, I am blessed to be Catholic – and to receive Christ, by way of the cross.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Where Mary Walks

Too long, I have imagined

an office, cluttered with books-

dedicated to my dear ones.

Or a gathering space where people wait to hear

words, forged in the soul-

expressing Easter Vigil joy.

But today,

right now in this holiest week of the year,

I have a thought

and it makes me smile a little

because I can almost imagine

saving those words

for the littlest sheep

on some ridge

where a school bell rings-

and bells & words echo over hills

where Mary walks.

-D.E.B.

Seinfeld Comedy & a Catholic Conversion

http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-just-cant-make-it-alone-tom-leopolds.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsccbMediaBlog+%28USCCB+Media+Blog%29

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me - the Anointing

Today, dioceses across the world will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Chrism.

The holy oils will be blessed. Three holy oils. The oil for anointing catechumens. The oil for anointing the sick. And the oil that confers the gift of the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Confirmation.

I remember the Holy Chrism Oil. How it smelled when I was Confirmed. What it was like to be anointed. To sense the Presence of the Holy Spirit. To be sealed in Him, with Him, for Him.

I'm discerning things now. I'm at a bend in the road. Waiting for next things.

It's not unsettling, though. I know that God has ordered all things well. He has anointed me with the Holy Spirit and the calling on my life is for His glory.

Whether that is writing and speaking.

Or teaching.

Or mostly one and some of the other.

For there is one thing I know, one thing I sense deeply. I have been anointed with holy Chrism and Confirmed. Isaiah spoke of it. Luke repeats it. My soul demands it, and my spirit says yes to it.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

Little Steps Along The Way: Sanctifying My Suffering, Holy Week

Little Steps Along The Way: Sanctifying My Suffering, Holy Week: "I had an opportunity to begin the way of the Cross with Jesus in my own little way. I had an arthrogram MRI, which means that first they inj..."

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Facebook Ignited the Journey Home for This 51 yr-old Pentecostal Christian

http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/facebook-discussion-got-him-started.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsccbMediaBlog+%28USCCB+Media+Blog%29

At the very hour of darkness...

It is precisely in the Passion, when the mercy of Christ is about to vanquish it, that sin most clearly manifests its violence and its many forms: unbelief, murderous hatred, shunning and mockery by the leaders and the people, Pilate's cowardice and the cruelty of the soldiers, Judas' betrayal - so bitter to Jesus, Peter's denial and the disciples' flight. However, at the very hour of darkness, the hour of the prince of this world, The sacrifice of Christ secretly becomes the source from which the forgiveness of our sins will pour forth inexhaustibly. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1851)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Who said it?

"Keep me, O God, from pettiness. Let us be large in thought, word, and deed. Let us be done with faultfinding and self-seeking. May we put away all pretense and meet each other without self-pity. And, O Lord, let us not forget to be kind."

(You can find out who said it by clicking on the comment box.)