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Happy Valentine’s Day, Catholic Pilgrims!
I know many “boo hiss” on this day because “it’s commercialized” or because you’re “not going to be forced to celebrate love” or whatever.
But, this day was the start of me and my man, so it will always mean something to me. Twenty-three years ago, we officially started dating. So, yes, I’m gonna talk about luv and all that mushy stuff.
This past weekend, we went to a couple’s dinner at our church to celebrate Valentine’s Day. After dinner, a Catholic marriage therapist gave a brief talk that I thought was very good.
Towards the end of his talk, he said that love is about service and a bond. The most intimate bond we have here on earth with another human being is with our spouse and, yet, it is often the most neglected.
Once kids come, spouses tend to get really good at the service part. “You handle this; I’ll handle that.” “If you pick up the kids, I’ll go to the store.” Amidst all the logistics of raising a family, the bond is neglected.
But the bond has to be tended to. The speaker commented that too often what he sees is spouses that have nailed the service part for years and then the kids grow up and because the bond has been neglected, they don’t know each other and they feel like the love is gone.
He said, “The most important thing, aside from faith you can give your kids, is the gift of them seeing your bond. When they see mom and dad get dressed up to go on a date, when they see you enjoy spending time together, there will be such peace in their hearts. They will trust in their foundation and that is a great gift.”
Serve your spouse in love, Catholic Pilgrims, and focus on your bond with your spouse. You will never regret it and your kids will flourish because of it. Lately, when our 8-year old son sees his dad and I hug and kiss, he loudly sings, “Another romantic moment!”
He notices and it makes him smile. It makes us smile, too.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all you love birds out there.
Since Easter, I think I've read through the journey to Emmaus story three times now. The second time, something really caught my eye. I'm sure I'm not the first to see this. At the very end of the Gospel reading for today, Luke wrote, "Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread." I realized that these disciples were not at the Last Supper, they would not have heard Jesus say to the Apostles, "This is My Body; This is My Blood." The Apostles hadn't yet gone out and celebrated a Mass, because they had thought Jesus was dead, then they were scared, then they were amazed, but still fearful and probably a bit bewildered, to say the least. Nobody had gone out to the disciples and talked about the Eucharist yet. These disciples did not recognize Jesus until He "took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and give it to them." Then they saw Him. I find this such a fascinating, significant clue that we will find Jesus right when the Priest says, "When supper had ended, He took the bread, said the blessing, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, 'TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.'" You and I were not at the Last Supper, just like the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Like them, we will find Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, at the Consecration when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, ordinary bread is changed into Our Lord. That's where we look for Him. That's where He keeps His promise to always be with us, not just spiritually, but physically in the continual offering of His Body to the Father for our eternal benefit. Have a blessed third Sunday of Easter, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingAbout a month ago when I was in Phoenix, my family went out to eat at a sushi restaurant. Our waitress was a young, college-aged looking woman, very sweet and slightly shy. Right as we were about to leave, I noticed her Miraculous Medal necklace and asked her about it. She touched it and shyly said, "Oh, yes, I'm Catholic." I smiled back and said, "Me, too. Look, I have on a Miraculous Medal ring." That completely broke the ice with her and, in like five seconds, she relaxed, almost as if she was around family. As we got up to go, she even said, "God bless." This is one of the reasons why I love our sacramentals. They allow conversations to happen. When people come into my home, I have lots of sacramentals and they always, always start a conversation. People travel around my house like it's a museum. I love it, because it gives me a chance to talk about our faith. "What's this glass bottle of water?" "It's water from the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized." "Where did you get this statue of Jesus and Mary? It looks old." "I found it in a box at a flea market in Turkey and bought it for like $2.00." Often the religious jewelry I wear catches eyes and people will ask about it. It gives me chance to talk about Jesus, Mary, or one of the Saints. I've never had a bad conversation--only opportunities to plant seeds and share the faith in a way that feels unobtrusive. I find, too, that it helps make a connection with other Catholics, just like the waitress. I'm not one to stand on a street corner with a bullhorn shouting about Jesus. I'll probably never hold signs asking people if they are saved. You won't catch me going door-to-door to evangelize. But, I will use sacramentals to my advantage and allow them to naturally draw people in. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Thursday, Catholic Pilgrims. *Church is St. Mary's in Izmir, Turkey
Continue Reading"OKLAHOMA, WHERE THE WIND COMES SWEEPIN' DOWN THE PLAIN." (sang in burly man voice) As much as Kansans get bombarded with "Wizard of Oz" jokes, I imagine Oklahomans get bombarded with this song from the musical "Oklahoma." 😅 It's a great musical, btw. Carrying on, though, my wayward sons, today's small town church showcase is St. Anthony of Padua in Okeene, Oklahoma. (Picture sent in by one of you.) Okeene is a tiny little town with a population of 1,040 and it sits northwest of Oklahoma City. This church was built in 1922. It was built to replace the wooden church before it. That one had been damaged in a tornado and the congregation realized that it was time for brick, instead of wood. Hopefully, a tornado wouldn't be able to blow and blow their brick house down. My husband and I stopped in Oklahoma City on our epic road trip last year and I've been bragging about that city ever since. The downtown was clean, interesting, and felt safe and my husband and I had a great time in The Bricks area. We, also, visited the amazing Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine there which is a must-see. A great day trip would be to go see St. Anthony's in Okeene and then head into Oklahoma City to see the Shrine and enjoy an evening downtown on the riverwalk. The outside of this church is lovely and, looking online, the inside is just what we like to see, too. So, if ever you find yourself sweeping across the plains of Oklahoma and have time to stop, go see St. Anthony's in Okeene, Catholic Pilgrims. Have a blessed Tuesday! St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
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