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Hello, fellow pilgrims! My name is Amy Thomas. In 2009, I converted to Catholicism and I started writing to share the Faith. I’m a military spouse and my lifestyle has afforded me the opportunity to travel all over, exploring Catholic places. I have since expanded my writing to include a podcast and videos. My goal is to travel with fellow pilgrims and help them to discover the richness of the Catholic Church and grow closer to Christ. If interested in having me speak at your event or ask me a question, please click below.
Welcome to our small town church showcase for this week. Here we have Our Lady of Consolation in Vattman, Texas. This church has a very cool story. Vattman is probably the smallest town in our show case and quite possibly the only town named after a Catholic priest. Today, its population is about 160. "So, back in 1907, a land developer, Mr. Theodore Koch, came and purchased a large swath of land and established the town of Riviera. Well, he needed people to come and live on the land, so he approached a Catholic priest, Father Vattman, about finding Catholic families to come and settle on the land. Father Vattman came to look at the area, liked it, and went back home and started encouraging Catholic families to move to the area and purchase land. A German Catholic family came first from Westphalia, Texas in 1908. After that, several other families followed. This church was built in 1916 and was the center of the community. Never a big community, the church is noted for its traditional Thanksgiving dinner where everyone comes to celebrate." Vattman is not far from the east coast of Texas, in fact, it's a straight shot west from Padre Island. Our Lady of Consolation is a small, simple church which sounds like it has been the heart and soul of a community for over 100 years. If ever in south Texas, maybe make time to stop by this church and the area that was built by Catholic families. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Wednesday, Catholic Pilgrims. *Information was sourced from About South Texas Facebook Page
Continue ReadingOne time, many years back, a fellow non-Catholic friend of mine made the comment, "All baptized are priests, so there doesn't need to be the distinction between Catholic priests and the baptized." This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the priesthood. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were to "be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for me." Exodus 19:6 But, as we know, while all the people were called to make sacrifice, the Levites (the priestly clan) were the ones to offer those sacrifices to God. That's what priests do--they offer prayers and sacrifice. There was a distinct office just for the ordained priests from the tribe of Levi. There is the same thing today in the Catholic Church. All baptized people are called to be priests, prophets, and kings. What does that mean exactly? All baptized are called to into the common priesthood, not a distinct office, like ordained men who receive Holy Orders. This means that we are to offer prayers and spiritual sacrifices united to Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. As the baptized, we become apart of the Body of Christ. This means that throughout the day, we can pray for others, and offer up our sufferings as a sacrifice for the good of others, participating in Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross for the good of all. Only ordained men with Holy Orders can offer the Sacrifice of the Mass. That is for them alone. We are to assist and participate with our prayers and reception of Jesus in the Eucharist. As prophets, we are called to declare the Gospel--the Good News of Christ. "Baptized individuals are called to witness to the truth of Christ in their daily lives, evangelizing, sharing faith, and adhering to the faith "delivered to the saints." CCC 785 As kings, we are called to be servant rulers. We are to use our talents and influence to bring justice, peace, and God's love to the world, serving God by serving others. We are to lead, in charity, others to Christ.--Catholic Answers. What beautiful roles we are called to, Catholic Pilgrims. May we live each role out well to build up the Kingdom of God. Have a blessed 5th Sunday of Easter.
Continue ReadingI'm back from Dayton after attending the wedding of my best friend's daughter, a young woman who I have known since she was three. It was truly a beautiful, special day to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. During the priest's homily, he said something very important to the couple and really to all listening. He said, "Your married life is not to be just for yourselves. You aren't to collapse in on yourselves and only live for yourselves. You are meant to be a light to the world." So very true. A husband and wife are never meant to just live for themselves. The love my husband and I have for each other is meant to be an example of Christ's sacrificial love. We are called to be not just husband and wife, but mother and father in some capacity given the circumstances of our situation. Our married life is not about traveling, comfort, material gain, or the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want free of any responsibility to anyone but ourselves. Quite the contrary, the married couple is called to sacrifice, give, and help be a light to their children and to those in their communities, so that others might know the joy of Christ's love. Have a blessed Monday, Catholic Pilgrims.
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