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My sophomore year or college, I was still doing the hypocrite thing where I called myself a Christian, but there was really not one thing in my life that would have pointed towards that. One of my roommates ended up having to leave our house because of some poor choices she made and the day she told me and our other roommates, I went absolutely nuclear on her. I screamed at her. Cussed at her. Called her names. Pointed out all her failings. All I wanted to do was make her feel small and terrible, because she was leaving us in a bind. So, "in the name of Jesus," I stood on my comically high soapbox and berated her for being a bad Christian. I just destroyed her. It is a high form of blasphemy to try to destroy people like that "in the name of Jesus." Truth be told, I was more angry with myself because the sins that led her to leave the house were sins that I was committing. However, I just needed to make myself feel better--to feel more righteous. It was not my shining moment. I have since apologized and asked forgiveness from her. But, I say all this because, here on the internet, I see that same behavior in many Catholic/Christian "influencers. If you follow someone who yells, cusses all the time, and who spends more time bashing others all in the "name of Jesus," you are following someone that has lost their way. Side note: Beware those that believe everything is a conspiracy, too. They may have kernels of truth in some things they say, but their hearts are not full of Christ. Instead they are filled with bitterness and I know because I used to be that way. I see my old self in them. It is important to speak truth, but it must be done well. It is important to spread the Gospel, but it must be done joyfully. It is important to call out evil, but we can't be evil ourselves when calling it out. Instead of these "influencers" and, heck, instead of me, read the Bible. Listen to podcasts where the Bible is read. Read the Saints. Or--shameless plug--listen to podcasts like mine where I read the Saints' works. Be influenced by those that were/are filled with joy, love, and hope and show us how to really do things in the name of Jesus and do it well. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Tuesday, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingI was sitting at Mass yesterday thinking about the Saints in Heaven and how important so many of them are to me now. When I need help with forgiveness, I ask my patron saint, St. Maria Goretti, for prayers. When I need help with pride and vanity, I ask for prayers from St. Teresa of Avila. Throughout the day, I think on Venerable Fulton Sheen, St. Faustina, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Francis de Sales. Now that I've read their works, I feel like they are dear friends. St. Joseph has been involved in my life so much lately and, of course, beloved Mary. As I was sitting in church, I thought, "How curious that all Christians understand that we, as sinful, limited humans, here on earth can reach across the veil from natural to supernatural to make contact with Heaven through our prayers, yet, many Christians think that the Saints in Heaven cannot reach across that that veil anymore to receive our requests for prayers. In Heaven, the Saints, who are purified, made perfect, and are no longer limited by space, time, or physical bodies, are seen as having less impact or abilities than those of us here on earth." Most understand that Angels can cross that veil. I least I hope they do, as we see it everywhere in Scripture. Saints, though, for many, are seen as just dead people that have zero influence anymore. People will often say that they can't hear our requests for intercessory prayers because they aren't God. That's right, they aren't God, but is God not capable of giving them that ability? It all comes down to this: It is a misunderstanding of how Catholics view things. I think for so many, they think we see the Saints and Angels as having powers that come from themselves. What so many don't understand is that Catholics are taught that any abilities or special gifts and graces given to Saints and Angels all come from the power of God. He is glorified in them. We are grateful to God for the gift of the Communion of Saints, because it is only by God's power that we have the ability to have the communion in the first place. Everything good points to God's blessings and grace, Catholic Pilgrims. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Monday.
Continue ReadingIn 2015, my family went to the World Meeting of Families in Philly. (Gosh, it's hard to believe that was 10 years ago.) It was such a grace-filled week. I got to see some of my favorite speakers, venerated the relics of my patron saint, St. Maria Goretti, attended Mass every day, saw historic sights, waited for a long time with my best friend to see the pope, and at the end of the week, attended Mass outside with a million of my fellow Catholics. During the day, you could attend different talks. My husband and I always picked different ones from each other so that we could share something new when we meet up for lunch and dinner. One day, I attended a class that I was really looking forward to, though I don't remember the topic now. Ha! It was given by a professor and at one point in her talk, she said, "Don't evangelize Protestants! We all believe in Jesus so leave them alone!" Instantly, I was extremely angry. What a bunch of stupid advice. Here I was, a former Protestant, converted to the Catholic Faith by people who were willing to give me the truth. Yes, we both believe in Jesus, but, what the heck, do you not want to give them the truth of Jesus in the Eucharist???? Yesterday, I had a few people tell me to leave Protestants alone, don't debate with them. They just live in ignorance and believe in heresies, so don't worry about them or waste your time. I understand their intention was good. But, I will never not try to share the truth with Protestants or anybody, for that matter. If other Catholics had written me off and never tried to bring me to the fullness of the truth, I shudder to think about all I would have missed out on. At our baptism, we all are made priest, prophet, and king. As Bishop Barron says, "Priest to give right worship to God, prophet to go out and speak divine truths, and king to advance the kingdom of God." If I love people, it is my Catholic duty to evangelize, using my gifts and talents, to bring people to the fullness of truth found in the Catholic Church. I am called to do it in charity, prudence, and to not be annoying. We all must do that, Catholic Pilgrims, because our Catholic Faith was never meant to be kept to ourselves. Live the Faith boldly and travel well.
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