To Care for the Orphans and Widows

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. - James 1:27

I feel like I should be doing something with the girls outside the house. I thought of doing a co-op strictly for the opportunity to socialize with others. There are a few that I've considered but for some reason, I'm just not getting any peace with any of those options. I've really been struggling with hearing God's word in the direction that we should be going.

Earlier when I read today's first reading, the line about caring for the orphans and widows stood out to me as unique. Then this evening while cleaning, I was thinking how it would be nice to help out various people I know if only I had the time. Right then, I had an "aha" moment. Perhaps that is what I am to do with the girls. Perhaps, I am to show the girls that visiting those who are sick, in need of help or lonely is important. What a wonderful way to socialize as well! I will keep this idea in prayer and see where the Lord leads me.

St. Valentine's Day

If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated,

it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

For we know partially and we prophesy partially,

but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things.

At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

Making Choices with My Time

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
- Philippians 4:8

The Lord has put this verse upon my heart these last few days. I've been meditating on how this verse applies to my life. Since the new year started, I've been paring down activities and reevaluating how I spend time. I've been able to read scripture and the saint of the day on a daily basis. I've also added in a bit of time to read a biography or a history book. (Fiction consumes me as I have a hard time putting a book down once I get involved with a character. I tend to save that for the summer.)

I've been reading "spiritual" books for the last 6 weeks or so now. I think that is why this scripture quote is standing out to me. I should be spending my time and energy only on things that are "excellent" and "worthy of praise." Wow! Now that is a good filtering system for books, television, movies, conversations, music and time online.

St. Scholastica

Being a mom of multiples, I was thrilled when I realized that there are twins that became saints - St. Benedict and his sister St. Scholastica. Today is the feast day of St. Scholastica. Here is a brief glimpse of what their life was like as siblings in religious life:

Scholastica, the sister of Saint Benedict, had been consecrated to God from her earliest years. She was accustomed to visiting her brother once a year. He would come down to meet her at a place on the monastery property, not far outside the gate.

One day she came as usual and her saintly brother went with some of his disciples; they spent the whole day praising God and talking of sacred things. As night fell they had supper together.

Their spiritual conversation went on and the hour grew late. The holy nun said to her brother, "Please do not leave me tonight; let us go on until morning talking about the delights of the spiritual life."

"Sister," he replied, "What are you saying? I simply cannot stay outside my cell."

When she heard her brother refuse her request, the holy woman joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them and began to pray. As she raised her head from the table, there were such brilliant flashes of lightning, such great peals of thunder and such a heavy downpour of rain that neither Benedict nor his brethren could stir across the threshold of the place where they had been seated. Sadly, he began to complain.

"May God forgive you, sister. What have you done?"

"Well, she answered, "I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery."

So it came about that they stayed awake the whole night, engrossed in their conversation about the spiritual life.

Three days later, Benedict was in his cell. Looking up to the sky, he saw his sister's soul leave her body in the form of a dove, and fly up to the secret places of heaven. Rejoicing in her great glory, he thanked almighty God with hymns and words of praise. He then sent his brethren to bring her body to the monastery and lay it in the tomb he had prepared for himself.

from Dialogues by Pope Saint Gregory the Great

The Most Important Person on Earth

The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral – a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.

The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation.
What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?
-Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

When my oldest was a baby, my mom gave me a gold picture frame with a drawing of Mary holding the Infant Jesus in her arms. Below the picture was this quote. I now have the picture frame hanging in my bedroom. It is a wonderful quote to read first thing in the morning.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of motherhood. Help me to treasure my mom and my own motherhood daily.

St. Josephine Bakhita

If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today… - St. Josephine Bakhita

I read that today was the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita (1868-1947). I had never heard of her before. I decide to do a little research and discovered that she was kidnapped as a child from her Sudanese home by slave traders. Eventually, she was bought by an Italian man who worked in Sudan. When he returned to Italy, Bakhita, as she was known at the time, accompanied him.

Bakhita was a nanny while in Italy. She attended religious education classes with her charge and soon she was drawn to Catholicism. When she was 22 yrs. of age, she was baptized and confirmed. She took the name Josephine as her confirmation name. Three years later she entered the religious life.

In 1930 a biography was written about her. As a result, she became a well known speaker and fund raiser for missions. She died 17 yrs. later in Italy.

Heavenly Father,

May I see with the eyes of St. Josephine and be thankful during the rough times, knowing that it will make me a better person for it.

Amen.

The Inspiration of God

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like words. Big words. Little words.

I like reading words. Not just books but dictionaries and thesauruses.

I like learning the meaning of words too.

I looked up enthusiasm in the dictionary. It comes from the Latin word enthusiasmus which is derived from the Greek word enthousiasmos “to be inspired by a god.” We can break it down even further to entheos “having the god within”

Here’s my take on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote –

“Nothing great was ever achieved without “the inspiration of God.”

Cultivating Healthy Habits

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. "
- Corinthians 10:13

Cultivating healthy habits has never been a strength of mine. I think that is why I find strength in this quote. For me, the way of escape is fleeing into Our Lord's arms, hearing Him say "It's ok," and knowing that tomorrow is a brand new day!

Nicolae Moldoveanu

I read another letter from Scribbling in the Sand. Once again, I was touched with a statement that was made. It reminded me of the moment Jesus was on the cross being tormented by the guards.

When we see things from our perspective, we make mistakes. But when we evaluate something, taking into consideration God's perspective described in the Word of God, we cannot fail.
- Nicolae Moldoveanu

Nicolae Moldoveanu was a Romanian born musician who, in 1959, was sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp for writing Christian music. He was denied food, beatened and tortured for being a Christian. Although he didn't have access to paper and pens, he still composed music during this time. He would compose music by writing in dirt with his finger or scratch the music inot a piece of glass. He would study the music he wrote and memorize it. After his release, he wrote down all the music he memorized. The total amount of musical pieces during those 12 years was well over 300.

Scribbling in the Sand

I'm reading Scribbling in the Sand - Christ and Creativity by Michael Card. Towards the end of the book, he asked a number of people to write a letter to artists. One of the letters I read last night was by Harold Best author of Music through the Eyes of Faith.

"Let the little children thrive in the wonder of being made in the image of God; lead them to Jesus by whose powerful word and from whose endless imagination a thousand shapes, textures, colors and sounds erupted in those first days of creation. In one of the most exciting of all of education's paradoxes, try to keep up with them even as you lead them, and don't be surprised if their faith and their frankness outstep yours. Above all, take the same care of them that Christ-in-you would take if he and you were to change places." - Harold Best

I felt those words were written to me!

Proclaiming the Gospel to My Family

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed. Mark 5: 18-20

Today’s gospel and the story of St. Bathildis seem to go hand in hand. I was so struck with the pleading of the formerly possessed man to stay with Jesus. I’ve been there with the pleading. I know the feeling. But it wasn’t the time for me to be with God nor was it the time for that man to be with God. God had something else in mind. God wanted the man to go back to his family and tell of all the good that Jesus had done for him.

I often want to spend more time with Jesus than I am doing now. However, God calls me to proclaim the good news to my family instead. Yes, I need to sit at His feet and listen to Him speak in the silence of my heart but that is to refresh me for what I am called to do. I am called to share the gospel and the stories of the saints and acts of charity to my family.

St. Bathildis also wanted to spend more and more time with Jesus but it was not what God called her to do at that time. He called her to be a mother and a queen. It was being a queen that allowed her to be generous to the less fortunate and to set up religious hospitals and monastery. It wasn’t until her children were older that she was called into the religious life.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for calling me to share you with others when it would be easier to stay with you always. Help me to proclaim and live the gospel as you have called me to do with my family.

Amen.

Times of Refreshment

Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again." (Acts 3:19-20)

I had 2 unexpected gifts of time with our Lord over the weekend. The first one was Friday night. Our parish held a family hour of adoration. We sang songs of prayer and praise and had times of silence. It was so nice.

Then Saturday morning, I was able to get to Mass with other moms. I thought Mass started at 8 am but when I got there, I found out that Mass started at 8:30 am. So I got in more quiet time! I just feel so refreshed now!

I've been reading through our Holy Father's encyclical Deus Caritas Est. There are some wonderful thoughts there. I'd like to share two that have hit me so far as a homeschooling mom.

"Anyone who wishes to give love must also receive love as a gift. Certainly, as the Lord tells us, one can become a source from which rivers of living water flow (cf. Jn 7:37-38). Yet to become such a source, one must constantly drink anew from the original source, which is Jesus Christ, from whose pierced heart flows the love of God (cf. Jn 19:34)."

"Pope Gregory the Great in his Pastoral Rule. He tells us that the good pastor must be rooted in contemplation. Only in this way will he be able to take upon himself the needs of others and make them his own: “per pietatis viscera in se infirmitatem caeterorum transferat”.[4] Saint Gregory speaks in this context of Saint Paul, who was borne aloft to the most exalted mysteries of God, and hence, having descended once more, he was able to become all things to all men (cf. 2 Cor 12:2-4; 1 Cor 9:22). He also points to the example of Moses, who entered the tabernacle time and again, remaining in dialogue with God, so that when he emerged he could be at the service of his people. “Within [the tent] he is borne aloft through contemplation, while without he is completely engaged in helping those who suffer: intus in contemplationem rapitur, foris infirmantium negotiis urgetur.”[5] "

In order for me to be the woman God has called me to be, I really need to spend more time with Him. By spending the time, I receive His love, peace and joy which in turns refreshes me. When I am refreshed and fill with His love, peace and joy, then I can give my family the same.

Thank you, Lord, for your unexpected gifts of time. May I continue to open my eyes and my heart to your presence.