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Note: The message of this post is about more than veiling and modest dress. I used to follow this online Catholic group that was all about dressing modestly. Oftentimes, ladies would show what they were wearing to church and, to be honest, it became a bit comical. In an effort to not show their womanly shape or their ankles or anything, some of them would layer so much, they ended up looking like the little brother in “A Christmas Story” when the mom shoves him into the bulky snowsuit. They were strict adherents to veiling, which is fine. I’m not anti-veiling. But, what sealed the deal for me leaving the group was when one lady took a picture of herself going into church with a opened fast-food napkin on her head because she forgot her veil at home. Because she thought this was a rule that had to be enforced, she did something completely undignified and ridiculous. Then in the comments, other ladies were encouraging her “creative use” of keeping the rule.I was done. As Catholics, we take a lot of heat for having too many rules. The truth is, though, the Church doesn’t. There are only six Church Commandments that we are required to follow outside of the 10 Commandments, and obviously, the TwoGreatest Commandments given to us by Christ. 1. Attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation.2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.3. To confess our sins once a year.4. To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.5. To contribute to the support of the church. (There is no set amount)6. Observe the Church’s marriage laws. That’s it, however this is not a pitch for doing the bare minimum. There are many other practices that the Church allows for or encourages, but they are just that—practices. There are also somethings that the Church allows for that you may not like and the good news is, is that you are free to do it in the way you would prefer. If you demand or force people to follow “rules” that the Church does not recognize as binding, you are being like the Pharisees and laying heavy burdens on people. You have set yourself up as the authority and disregarded the teaching authority of the Magisterium of the Church. We don’t want to be so whetted to enforcing what we want to be rules that we come off us joyless, burdensome, or ridiculous, Catholic Pilgrims. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Sunday.*St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Napa, California‍

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It’s a gruesome painting, isn’t it?I first saw this hanging in Thomas Jefferson’s house and I thought it such a strange painting to have in your home.The painting symbolizes two things to me.1. Destruction is what happens when people live for themselves and cannot stand to hear any kind of reprimand. The thing that pricks the conscience must be exterminated for people who want to remain in their sin. Herodias could not stand to have John the Baptist tell her that her marriage to Herod was sinful. Because she wanted to live how she wanted to live, she obsessed over ruining his life. The first chance she got, she took it and it was to silence him forever. Innocence will always be attacked by those that are self-serving and steeped in sin. Why? Because innocence shines a light on their darkness and they don’t want to let it go. 2. This is the reality of a life lived for Christ. Faithful Christians may not suffer the extreme of John the Baptist, but the light of Christ within us will be a problem for those who worship themselves and love their sin. It’s one thing to sin and hate it, it’s another to sin and love it. When you love it, you seek to destroy anything that tries to remind you of your enslavement to it. While this isn’t the most uplifting reality about Christianity, it does create a line in the sand. We either live for Christ or we live for the world. If the world is patting you on the back and leaves you alone, you can be sure that you look more like the world than you do Christ. So, we must have courage to live like John the Baptist, Catholic Pilgrims. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Thursday.St. John the Baptist, pray for us!‍