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When I was maybe nine years old, I was watching TV late one evening in our family room. As I was sitting there, I noticed the shadow of a man move across the window and go around the side of our house.
Scared to death, I ran into my mom and told her. My dad was working nights, so he wasn’t home. I saw my mom muster up courage to go and investigate but I could tell she was nervous. Bravely, she went and made sure all the doors were locked and she tried to reassure me and my siblings that everything was fine. But, we all felt uneasy.
More than anything, we just wanted my dad there.
There have been many times in my life when I’ve had to call on my father’s protection and his willingness to go the distance. It is one of the greatest comforts in life to know that your father will always come when you need him—at the drop of a hat.
Not that my mother wouldn’t do her best to protect, but a mother cannot give what a father can.
As a mother myself, I know my kids feel more safe and secure with their father home. He is our protector and it brings us all peace knowing that my husband takes that role seriously.
God gave St. Joseph the great honor of being the foster father of Our Lord. He was the provider and protector of The Holy Family, a role that shows the immense value of fatherhood and being a good husband. He is an excellent model of what it means to be a good man: Lovingly protect those entrusted to your care and be willing to go the distance for them.
A man is to be a father in some capacity, Catholic Pilgrims—to give of himself for the good of others in the ways only a man can do. Today, we honor St. Joseph who continues from Heaven to be a guide and protector for us all. We can always ask for his fatherly prayers.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Day Nine of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Today's Location: US NAVAL ACADEMY I've realized that I'm a mid-sized town gal and Annapolis definitely appealed to me. Annapolis is home to the Naval Academy, which I got to visit in 2022. We have two Catholic connections. 1. This gate that you see here is named after Commodore John Barry who was a devout Irish Catholic. He died long before the Academy came around, but he was personally chosen by George Washington to be the very first commissioned officer and first flag officer of the permanent U.S. Navy. 2. If you visit the Naval Academy Chapel there is a basement where you will find a Blessed Sacrament room. It is in honor of Servant of God Father Capodonna, the "Grunt" padre that was killed in Vietnam on September 4, 1967. Every September there is a Mass said in his honor in the chapel. Even though my hubby is an Airman, I am the granddaughter of a WWII Navy vet. While my grandfather did not attend here, it was still special for me to visit. I highly recommend Annapolis, Catholic Pilgrims, and if you are able to be cleared onto the Academy, I would encourage you visit. The grounds are beautiful. Live the Faith boldly and travel well!
Continue ReadingDay Seven of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Our feature for today: NIAGRA FALLS Anybody wanna hop back and forth between borders? The Falls are nearly almost divided in half between Canada and the US. Now, I've never been, so this isn't my photo, but I'm guessing this was taken from the Canadian side. Maybe? But what, Amy, is the Catholic connection, you ask? Well, these Falls were first documented in the 17th century by a Belgium monk named Father Louis Hennepin. He was a Franciscan missionary and his documentation really was his claim to fame. He explored lots of other territory in what would become the United States, but he often embellished his stories and this got him into some trouble. However, he did make an "engraving of the Falls of Niagara. It is out of proportion, but its general features give an accurate idea of the appearance of the Falls at his time." I do hope to go to the Falls someday and apparently in the surrounding area, both in Canada and Buffalo, NY, there are some excellent Catholic Churches to visit. Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims!
Continue ReadingDay Five of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Today's landmark: CENTRAL PARK Why does my picture from 2005 look ancient? In 2005 my family visited NY after attending a graduation for my husband's cousin in Connecticut. This is me with my oldest (now 24 years old) at the famous Bethesda Terrace with the Angel of the Waters Fountain. The Pool of Bethesda, if you'll recall from the Bible, was a famous healing site in Jerusalem. The Jews believed that an angel stirred up the water and when it was stirred up, whoever got in first would be healed. So, we have a Biblical connection here. Another one is that Pope John Paul II said Mass on the Great Lawn on October 7th, 1995 for a crowd of over 125,000. Also, one of our most visited Catholic Churches sits just south of Central Park and that is, you guessed it, St. Patrick's Cathedral. Archbishop John Hughes (1797–1864), was one of the most famous Catholics in NY history. He was around when Central Park was being created. He was the first archbishop of NY, when it became elevated to an archdiocese. So, there's your Monday morning Catholic history lesson! Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims.
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