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Almost one year ago, I did Fiat90 with a group of ladies. It’s a 90-day, intense focus on your relationship with God. It’s the women’s equivalent to the guys’ Exodus90.
One of the things you have to do is incorporate going to daily Mass once a week. So, my kids and I started attending daily Mass at noon on Fridays in Old Town Alexandria at St. Mary’s, the oldest Catholic Church in Virginia.
It really became something I looked forward to and it became a part of our lives. We knew on Fridays that we would be going to Mass.
As with any move, you have to adjust and work out the kinks, so I was unsure if we would be able to continue our tradition of going on Friday.
In our new spot in Alabama, we are very close to a Catholic Church but the daily Mass is at 8:15 in the morning. Not an ideal time for me.
But, this past weekend, my son said to me, “Are we going to go to daily Mass on Fridays still?”
I responded back, “Well, I’m not sure yet.”
He said back, “We need to go because it’s like a thing we do now.”
I said to him, “Well, it’s early in the morning and you like to sleep in. You would be okay with getting up early and going?”
“Yeah, I haven’t been sleeping in as late anymore anyway.”
This surprised me, as he is my sleepyhead kid.
Internally, though, it was me that was making excuses.
Then, as I was praying, I remembered the meaning of my son’s name, Jeremiah—God will make him great.
I thought to myself, “Here is my young son asking to go to daily Mass and being willing to forgo sleep and, yet, I’m making excuses? Good grief.”
So, I changed my mindset. I asked him if he would be willing to go with me everyday to Mass and he said he would.
So, this week we started going to daily Mass and he’s the youngest person there, but, it’s because of him that we are there.
Sometimes, God blesses you in the most unexpected and extraordinary ways, Catholic Pilgrims.
Have a blessed Wednesday.
This was probably the coolest picture that was sent to me for the small-town showcase back in February. It's also probably the most remote church. It doesn't even really sit in a town, from what I can tell. Mt. Carmel Catholic Church is in North Dakota and it sits nearly on the border of the US and Canada. Information is hard to find on this church, but it looks like it was dedicated and completed in 1953. It also looks to be not in use anymore because of structural concerns, though there is a historical society fighting for its preservation. I've never been to North Dakota, but last year I read a book called, "Giants of the Earth" and I gained a new appreciation for the pioneers that settled in the Dakotas. It took a special kind of person to brave that part of the country and try to tame it. I'm not sure I'm that special kind of person. I can handle Kansas winters, but I'm pretty sure I'd wimp out if I was enduring a North Dakota winter. I'd say if you are ever up at the tippity-top of the country stop in, but I don't think that's possible anymore. It's kind of out there and not operational. I do hope that the historical society is able to find a way to preserve this building. It's an important part of our country's history. Have a great day, Catholic Pilgrims, and live the faith boldly and travel well.
Continue ReadingIf you are off today on this Labor Day, Catholic Pilgrims, may I offer a movie suggestion? Yesterday, my family watched, "Going My Way," starring Bing Crosby as Father Chuck O'Malley and Barry Fitzgerald as Father Fitzgibbon. This movie was made in 1938 by Universal. Can you imagine that? Father Fitzgibbon is an older priest struggling to keep up with all the demands of a parish and, also, to find the funds to clear the church's mortgage. The bishop sends Fr. O'Malley to take over, but Fr. O'Malley doesn't want to just barge in and push the older priest out. At first, Fr. Fitzgibbon wants the bishop to transfer Fr. O'Malley, because they approach issues differently, but over time they develop a heart-warming bond. While this movie is slow-paced and has very little action, it is a story about connections and saving people's dignity. The ending, which I won't give away, is absolutely endearing. Fr. O'Malley is an example of how to go into a place and make changes without bulldozing everyone around you. He does it with cleverness, gentleness, and patience. You will also get some wonderful Bing Crosby singing, as well. My grandmother and mother used to sing "Swinging on a Star" to me when I was young and I sang it to my babies, but I never knew it came from this movie. There is a sequel to this movie, "The Bells of St. Mary's," which we plan to watch. I would definitely recommend this one. Even my 12-year old son liked it and he usually turns his nose up to black and whites. Oh, the ending! 🥹 Have a beautiful Labor Day, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingI got a question yesterday in the comments from someone responding to the post I made on Sunday. The question: "How does one really be transformed?" They commented that they know that they need a change, but not sure what that looks like. So, I thought I would respond in a more general area in case anyone else wants to see what I would say. My answer is by no means the ultimate answer, it simply is what I know from my own life. In my late teens and early twenties, most of you know that I lived a very worldly life. I called myself a Christian, but there was no evidence in how I lived to witness to that...at all. By my own choosing, I had walked away from God because I was mad at Him and I decided that I was going to fix myself and that I didn't need His help. As time went on, I became more and more unhappy. I tried to find happiness in worldly things, but mostly I just ended up more unhappy and disappointed in myself. After many, many years, I found myself giving my general confession right before my conversion to Catholicism. I had finally realized that I couldn't fix myself. I needed God. The first thing you have to do to be transformed by God is identify what it is that you are struggling with? What sins and vices are you clinging to? You must identify what needs to change or you can't change it. For that, I would recommend sitting down in silence and giving at least 15 minutes for reflection. Doing this at church in front of the Tabernacle is best, but regardless, just do it. If you've established what the problem is, you must ask God for help. Grace is Divine help. You will need it. I had to learn that I couldn't fix myself on my own. I needed God's Divine Life within me to help me, but we must ask for it. Lastly, start with small, positive changes. Oftentimes when people think of being transformed, they think they need to drop everything and run off to become a monk who spends 15 hours in prayer in order to be transformed. Very few people on earth can do this. If you haven't worked out your discipline muscle in a long time, you will need to build it up first. So, start small. Read one chapter of one of the Gospels each day. Just one. Set a timer and pray starting at 3 minutes. Go to confession and then commit to going to Mass each Sunday. Start here and then build from there. We are all a work in progress. Somedays we do well, somedays we don't. Each day is a day to get up, ask for the grace we need, and start again. Over time, you will see the effects God makes in your soul. Have a blessed day, Catholic Pilgrims.
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