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This past weekend, I finally got to see the tallest point here in the Lower 48--Mt. Whitney. I didn't want to climb it, just see it. It stands at 14,495 ft. What's cool is that an hour east is the lowest place in the Lower 48--Death Valley. The peak you see here is Lone Pine Peak, which I thought was Mt. Whitney, but one of you kindly corrected me in a DM. So, Mt. Whitney is behind the Mobius Arch and you can't see it, but it's there! Lol. Read your map carefully, kids. Do you think I can find some connection with Mt. Whitney to our Catholic Faith? Why sure I can. Have I ever let you down? 😉 On September 12, 1934, Father John Crowley, the Padre of the Desert, was the first priest to celebrate Mass on the summit of Mt. Whitney. Up on the summit is a hut, or at least there used to be, called the Smithsonian hut, which was a place for scientific study. Fr. Crowley set up an altar out beside the hut and said Mass with the help of a deacon, Harry Clinch. Father Crowley worked in the Death Valley area and the eastern side of the Sierras and he was home-based out of Lone Pine, CA. Lone Pine is where you go to hike up to Whitney or around it. We spent the day hiking in the Alabama Hills which is in the Owen Valley and is where TONS of scenes from movies have been shot to include--Ironman, Man of Steel, Gladiator, Tremors, and oodles and oodles of Westerns. It's a beautiful place to visit. So, if you ever pass by Mt. Whitney, Catholic Pilgrims, you can smile, knowing that a Catholic priest hiked up there on a donkey to say Mass. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Monday.
Continue ReadingRecently, I saw a post from a Baptist/Evangelical (their description, not mine), who said that he was interested in learning about Catholicism. Not to become Catholic, but he just wanted to learn. Good. I love it. In a comment on the post, he said that he felt that what weakened the cause of Catholicism was that people were just culturally Catholic and just have it as a label and not a belief. I agree. To just be culturally anything when it comes to faith is not inspiring. Kind of like salt that has lost its taste. What is bland salt good for? "It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out." However, in fairness, all faiths struggle with this, not just Catholicism. To say it weakens the cause of Catholicism is to ignore that it happens everywhere and in every religion. But, I do agree that Catholics that are Catholic in name only do a lot of damage and cause a lot of scandal. Mostly because they just believe whatever it is they want to believe, but yet, cross themselves with the Sign of the Cross periodically. Since this is a problem in every faith, I would challenge this guy to look to those Catholics that were/are "the light of the world"--the Saints. In all places, and since Christ ascended, numerous Catholics have heard the call to holiness and aspired to live it out and they are who you should look to for examples of what it means to be Catholic. The Saints' lives are not uninspiring and are full of examples of sacrifice, dedication, obedience, service, and unwavering love for Christ and His Church. The thing is, all those that are culturally Catholic could be Saints, and maybe they will be once they figure out that their "light must shine before others." We are all called to Sainthood. So, don't be bland salt, Catholic Pilgrims. Have a blessed Sunday. *Salt Flats of Death Valley where the salt is very salty.
Continue ReadingOh, how my hubby knows me so well. Two days ago, I received my birthday present in the mail from him. It is an authentic Byzantine Empire Bronze Cross forged sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries. It's at least over a 1,000 years old. He got it for me for many reasons: 1. Because we lived in Turkey. 2. I love old things. 3. My Faith means everything to me. Before moving to Turkey, I was so incredibly ignorant on how important Asia Minor was/is to our Catholic Faith. Literally everywhere you go, some Saint had been there: St. John, Mary, St. Paul, St. Timothy, St. Polycarp, St. Justin, St. Blaise, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, St. Nicholas, and I could go on and on. There are so many places there that are important our Christian Faith. I compare it to living in Virginia where everywhere you turn, there is a historical marker, even in parking lots, telling you about some important event. This cross was forged by some Christian long, long ago. The five circles are representative of the five wounds of Christ. What I love to think about is who wore it. What Catholic wore this around their neck in another country, another time, with another language, and a drastically different life than mine? Did they ever wonder about who would wear it after them? Could they even imagine it would be an American woman half a world away, over 1,000 years later? Probably not, because they didn't even know about the continent of North America. Jesus sent out the Apostles after His Ascension and their effort is why someone forged this cross and I'm wearing it today. The faith has been passed on. This is why, Catholic Pilgrims, it is so important for us to continue to carry the light of Christ and keep the Faith--A thousand years from now, someone will trace their faith back to us. So, be sure today, to live the Faith boldly and travel well.
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