The Date Has Been Set!

I finally asked when they thought that I would finally get confirmed and the answer was......February 7, 2016!  I'm so excited, something I've been waiting for, for such a long time! I guess there are others that are getting confirmed as well.  Once that is done I can take classes to become a Eucharist Minister!  That is something I've wanted to do since I went back to the Catholic church!  I know it would be something my mother would have jumped on!!  She is my motivating factor, I know she would be so proud!

I have been working on my brother and sister to try and get them back to the Catholic church....I'm not really sure if they are up to the challenge or not.  I've invited my brother to my conformation, but most recently I asked him to join us for Christmas Mass, I sure hope he decides to go with us!  Lots of prayers going on for that miracle to happen!

Feast of the Miraculous Medal

Today is the feast day of the Miraculous Medal!  I am so devoted to St. Cathrine Laboure, she is my patron saint!  When I am confirmed I am going to take Cathrine for my Conformation name!  I wear my Miraculous Medal everyday I never take it off.   I am convinced that my hubby converted to Catholicism because of the this medal.  I gave him the medal this last spring and he has since decided to become a Catholic and is in RCIA as we speak!  Actually he request for Christmas he would like a more masculine Miraculous Medal.  He was in the Air Force and I found a Miraculous Medal that would suit him. I'm so glad that my hubby is becoming Catholic, I hope he loves our religion as much as I do!  Here is a picture of the Miraculous Medal I am getting him for Christmas!

Miraculous Medal

RCIA

Today was our first RCIA class with our sponsors.  So far so good.  I really like my sponsor she is older in her 70's and I'm sure I can learn a lot from her!  Her husband is very nice too!  I did hear some scuttlebutt while waiting for Mass to start.  Our music director who is also a candidate to become Catholic said he heard I would be getting confirmed February 7th!  That would be awesome!  Hopefully I will be able to become a Eucharist Minister before my hubby makes his first communion and I might be able to give him his first communion! Not holding my breath for that (oh yes I am!). How cool would that be? We will see how it all plays out.

I hope that my hubby gets his sacraments before Easter, not that I don't like our classes but it will be nice to have Chris become a full Catholic before Easter. I've been working on my brother to try and get him back into the church. I don't know if that will happen but miracles happen everyday!

Holy Water

The deeper I go into my faith the closer I get to God, as it should be!  I've been researching different aspects of the Catholic religion and came across and article that was was posted 2/25/11 (February 25th is my birthday! How approiate!) about Holy Water Fonts in the home.  What a great idea this was!

I read the article and decided to buy a font for my home.  I just got it in the mail a few days ago and was very glad I decided to do this.
In the article is said that St. Teresa of Avila believed that the devil hates Holy Water and they fly more quickly than from Holy Water. They also fly from the Cross, but they return almost immediately.  I thought this was very interesting!  Devil Be Gone!!!!!!

I also found this to be amazing....that Holy Water is sanctified by the blessing of the Church, that it benefits the faithful by obtaining actual grace and the remission of temporal punishment; that it is a most effective aid in all conflicts with the powers of Hell.

I love this.......Whenever the faithful make the Sign of the Cross devoutly with Holy Water and pray: “ In the Name of the Father, etc.” they gain a partial indulgence.

I recently lost my best friend from Catholic grade school all the way through high school and beyond, I new have appreciation of Purgatory, something I have always know but it got shoved to the back burner for quite sometime. Funny how a death can revive things you once knew.  I now pray for the souls in Puratory every day, especially my friend Kim. What I didn't know and learned from the Totus Tuus Family Blog was, when sprinkling Holy Water for your loved ones, your friends, etc.,  In gratitude, you should give them sprinkling of Holy Water several times daily and have Masses offered up for the repose of their souls.  Sprinkle a few drops of Holy Water and pray fervently: “O God, in Your Mercy multiply these drops into as many drops of Holy Water as there are souls in Purgatory, and allow them not to fear the pains of Purgatory, as long as the moisture of Holy Water is present.”

I give credit for most of this post to the Totus Tuus Family Blog.

Grace...What is that?

What is the Catholic concept of grace?


grace [greys]
noun

1.  favor or goodwill. Synonyms: kindness, kindliness, love, benignity; condescension.

2.  a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school. Synonyms: forgiveness, charity, mercifulness. Antonyms: animosity, enmity, disfavor.

3.  mercy; clemency; pardon: He was saved by an act of grace from the governor. Synonyms: lenity, leniency, reprieve. Antonyms: harshness.


There are two kinds of grace:

Actual Grace is a supernatural push or encouragement. It’s transient. It doesn’t live in the soul, but acts on the soul from the outside.  Temporary supernatural intervention by God to enlighten the mind or strengthen the will to perform supernatural actions that lead to heaven. Actual grace is therefore a transient divine assistance to enable man to obtain, retain, or grow in supernatural grace and the life of God.

Sanctifying Grace is grace that stays in the soul. It’s what makes the soul holy.  The supernatural state of being infused by God, which permanently inheres in the soul. It is a vital principle of the supernatural life, as the rational soul is the vital principle of a human being's natural life. It is not a substance but a real quality that becomes part of the soul substance. Although commonly associated with the possession of the virtue of charity, sanctifuing grace is yet distinct from this virtue. Charity, rather, belongs to the will, whereas sanctifying grace belongs to the whole soul, mind, will, and affections. It is called sanctifying grace because it makes holy those who possess the gift by giving them a participation in the divine life.

New Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the people I cannot change,
which is pretty much everyone,
since I’m clearly not you, God.
At least not the last time I checked.

And while you’re at it, God,
please give me the courage
to change what I need to change about myself,
which is frankly a lot, since, once again,
I’m not you, which means I’m not perfect.
It’s better for me to focus on changing myself
than to worry about changing other people,
who, as you’ll no doubt remember me saying,
I can’t change anyway.

Finally, give me the wisdom to just shut up
whenever I think that I’m clearly smarter
than everyone else in the room,
that no one knows what they’re talking about except me,
or that I alone have all the answers.

Basically, God,
grant me the wisdom
to remember that I’m
not you.

Amen

James Martin, SJ
https://thejesuitpost.org/2012/11/a-new-serenity-prayer/

Entering our 10th Week of RCIA

We only have three more weeks before the RCIA Inquiry ends and we actually start the RCIA classes.  We will be paired up with a church member that will be our sponsor, and they will come to class with us. Our leader said that we all will not be together when we actually recieve our sacraments. I should be the first one to get mine since really the course that I would have taken would only last four weeks then I would be eligible to get confirmed and I know that my priest can do the conformation we don't need the archbishop to do it.  I am excited to find out when my hubby makes his first communion he should make that with the rest of the class.  Just patiently waiting!

Gay Marriage Now A Law Of The Land

This Supreme Court ruling has made me so sad.  How can our country survive with laws like this?  Doesn't anyone read their bible?  I certainly don't know how you could read the passage in Leviticus 18:22 and misconstrue what is said.

5th Week of RCIA

We have completed our 5th week of RCIA and both of us love it!  I try not to say a whole lot since I'm already Catholic the things we are going over are thing I already know.  My hubby on the other hand has been speaking up more and more and I really like that.  The class has more men than women in it which surprises me.  I think it's great for my hubby though.

There is another couple in the classes that we really like they of course are younger than us but they seem so nice.  They are getting married in May of 2016. She is Catholic but he is the one who is converting, so we kind of have a lot in common.

I love our teachers, they are so funny, and informative.  Our Deacon is part of the class he is such a great guy he is very soft spoken and is very involved in our church.  Something I am planning to do, get more involved!

Can't wait for classes to end and to finally get confirmed so I can go on to become a Eucharist minister. Something that I've wanted to do for the last three years!

RCIA....It has started!

We started classes for RCIA....my hubby is going to become Catholic! This is so exciting!  I am in the class as well so I can get confirmed.  I was a little nervous going to the first class but everyone was so nice I really think this group is going to be close knit.  We really like everyone there! Next week will be our 3rd class. I can't tell you how good I feel to be there.  I wish we had class more often. It sure beats the heck out of watching TV!

Since I've come back to the Catholic Church I've really started to delve into the faith a lot more.  I want to know everything.  So far any questions that I have had they have been able to answer for me.
I hope my hubby falls in love with the Catholic Church as I have.  Can't imagine being anything but Catholic. I LOVE my religion!!

Prayer To Overcome Bitterness and Resentment

Father, I acknowledge that I've held resentment and bitterness against (name). I confess this as sin and ask You to forgive me. I forgive (name). Remind me, Lord, to not hold any more resentments, but rather to love this person. Father, I ask You to also forgive (name) . Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Gay Marriage....Not A Fan

Well, the Supreme Court has made a huge mistake!  I never thought I would live to see something like this.  I haven't posted before because my post would have been pages and pages.  I have a real problem with this.  Marriage is between a man and a woman.  I don't have anything against gay people as I have one in my family.  I have a problem with gay marriage. It's wrong on so many levels, but what I am up in arms about is all the other things coming down the pike BECAUSE of this decision.

This is what the archdiocese in my area posted:

Iowa Bishops comment on Supreme Court marriage decision

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage saddens us. To make something legal does not mean that it is true or good. Take, for example, the ruling that legalized abortion.

Notwithstanding this ruling, we will continue to lead people to live under the Gospel, which requires us to be humble and loving to all others, regardless.

The Gospel also compels us to defend and share with others Jesus’ teaching on marriage, which re-asserted the original plan of creation, and which no one can rend asunder:

One man and one woman who freely give themselves to each other in a permanent and exclusive partnership, to be helpmates for each other, and to be open to conceiving and bringing up children.

We believe that this understanding of marriage does no harm; on the contrary, it serves the common good of society, as well as the good of family life, and of children.

We still expect that true religious liberty, enshrined in our Constitution, and won at such a dear price, will be honored, allowing us to be guided by a faith-formed conscience in our teaching and practice.

Most Rev. Michael Jackels, Archbishop of  Dubuque
Most Rev. Martin Amos, Bishop of  Davenport
Most Rev. Richard Pates, Bishop of  Des Moines
Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City

I will follow my faith and will do what is right, but I will never accept the Supreme Courts decision on this matter.  One thing that upsets me is that 6 of the 9 justices are Catholic so I don't understand how this even passed.  I guess some Catholics do not follow the faith which is so very sad.  The downfall of the Catholic Church are the lukewarm Catholics....so sad.

Mercy....What is that?

mercy

[mur-see] 

noun

1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence:

Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing:

an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.an act of kindness, compassion, or favor:

She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing:

It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

Mercy, why is this so hard for some people?  I am not sure that I show enough mercy to people that I should.  I can be compasionate, and kind, but there are so many people out there that don't even know what the word means!  I guess it's like forgiveness, so many people have a hard time forgiving.  They must also have a hard time showing mercy to others.  It's kind of funny that we EXPECT mercy and forgiveness from our Creator but we just can't do that for our neighbor!?!  Maybe what needs to happen is more people need to pray and remember that what we expect from God we should be extending to others.  Would just a little bit of kindness hurt anyone?  Maybe we should count our blessings....instead of counting others sins.

The Holy Spirit

The following is part of the Homily Fr. Mark gave on Pentacost.  These two paragraphs really spoke to me, hopefully they will inspire you to seek the Holy Spirit........

The Holy Spirit allows us not only to SEEK God and FIND God but also to REMAIN in God. While God the Father sits on his throne in heaven with God the Son seated at his right hand, it is God the Holy Spirit who works in hearts that are open to him. All we have to do is pray “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your divine love” and the Holy Spirit will REMAIN with us.

Life is too difficult to get through on own. God has given us his Spirit to
help us along the way. Discuss with your family and friends this week the
obstacles in your life that prevents the Spirit from doing so.

Great News!

I talked to Sr. Annette from my church and since my hubby is becoming Catholic, Sr. Annette got permission to let me attend classes so I could be confirmed!  I was so thrilled!  Finally after waiting all these years I will be confirmed!  I'm not sure how long the classes are for but I am sure that I will enjoy the process!

My only fear is that we are supposed to go see my grandson make his first communion about the same time that hubby makes his first communion, and I can't miss that for anything!  Hopefully explaining that to Fr. Mark he can make other arrangements for us to get our first communion/conformation done at another time.  It would be nice to be able to do it before our grandson does it so hubby can take communion!

Only time will tell....

The Holy Spirit Moves In Mysterious Ways

I came home for lunch as I always do and on my keyboard is a pamphlet from my church.....It said....Do you anyone who is interested in becoming Catholic?  I looked at it and turned to my husband and asked him where this came from.  Then I was totally blown out of the water when he opened his mouth.......He said a couple of weeks ago he ran into Sr. Annette and told her he wanted to become Catholic because of the change he witnessed in me returning to the Church, he wanted the joy and happiness I had.  She had him make an appointment and they started the paperwork, he starts RCIA in August!  I am so happy!  I can't believe it!

Kara Tippetts....Gone Home To Jesus

For the last several months I've been following closely to the blog Mundane Faithfulness. The author is Kara Tippetts she is the wife of a pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado who was raising four beautiful children and starting a new church.  She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.  She lived 2 years while fighting it.  Unfortunately she lost her courageous battle yesterday afternoon.

The reason this story touches me so much, is I lived this story 43 years ago as the oldest child of a mother who also died of  cancer, just like Kara's oldest child Ella who was about the same age I was when I lost my mom.  I wish I could reach out to her (Ella) and her siblings and let them know that they will survive this horrible loss and that it will never be the same, but it will get better.  At the time I thought I wouldn't be able to live without my mother but I found strength to battle on until it did get better.  My mother, as Kara, instilled faith, hope, & love of Christ that is what got me through the rough times.

Kids have a way of bouncing back from things.  Even though I miss my mother, always have always will, I know this is the path that God set me on and it may have been rough, it may have been hard, but it was the right path. I was supposed to grow up without my mother....as many children before me and after me will do it's what is supposed to happen, there is a reason for everything God does.  It is for your benefit he allows things to happen they way they do.....embrace what you are going through, there really is a reason you have to go through this and only He knows why.

Faith

Six Practical Steps to Catholic Joy

1.Surrender to Christ. Every day I recommit to putting Him first in all areas of my life.

2.Give up my burdens to Jesus in daily prayer. I can’t do it alone and I need His help!

3.Go to frequent Reconciliation. Unburdening my soul of sin brings me peace and joy.

4.Be thankful for my blessings. I can gripe about my problems or I can focus on all of the incredible blessings in my life and express my gratitude to the Lord in prayer.

5.Stay out of the “Catholic Cafeteria Line.” I fully accept the teachings of the Catholic Church and follow the Magisterium. I don’t follow the parts I like and reject those I do not like. I know that what I may not understand will be revealed to me over time if I have faith.

6.Start with the end in mind. Are my actions each day serving Him? I hope to hear Jesus say at the end of my life on earth, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” My goal is Heaven and I must live a life that leads me there.

I so loved this!!!  I copied it from The Integrated Catholic Life.  With Lent just around the corner it's time to reflect and prepare our hearts for the Resurrection.