Regarding "Celebrity" Priests, Michael Voris, and Tone of "Professional Catholics"

My thoughts have been focused on the situation with Fr. Corapi. It's difficult to think of him as simply "John Corapi," although I know that is what he is to be called, now that he left the priesthood.

This development is something I never thought I'd witness within the Catholic Church. Believe me, I've seen plenty of Christian "celebrity" ministers fall as a result of sexual sin -- everything from inappropriate touching to full-blown affairs to cavorting with male prostitutes. It's never pretty and always devastating to the minister's followers.

Michael Voris from Real Catholic TV had an excellent admonition to all of us: Watch the tone when weighing in on the Corapi story.

I was grateful when I saw this video. Grateful, because too often those who usually exercise caution and wisdom are suddenly bewildered by such events and quickly rush to point fingers. The fact is, no one knows exactly what has transpired behind the scenes regarding Fr. Corapi, his accuser, and certain key players in the Church. No one has walked in this man's shoes except Fr. Corapi himself.

So you have those who are his followers who are upset, those who really don't like him but are now trying to act like judge and jury, and finally those who really don't care for "celebrity" pastors.

Serving the Church is one of the most difficult jobs around. Priests especially are called into a sacrificial lifestyle, and now I am looking at their life as a wider expression of our Savior's life. You cannot call anywhere your home. Your time is not your own. You have few belongings. You are expected to respond to requests that occur at the most inconvenient times. But again, a priest understands that he took vows to do this very thing -- to be in persona Christi for the faithful.

With the non-denominational churches, the same dynamic exists except without the Sacraments. I remember talking to a man who shared that when growing up, his pastor father never took the family on a vacation in 17 years. I couldn't even imagine what that would be like, blessed to have a father who took our family on annual vacations all over the place.

Here's the thing: when you have a teaching gift, people hunger for your words. Yes, the Holy Spirit inspires the one with this gift to speak the truth, but the words are coming out of someone's mouth. And that "someone" is pursued by a multitude. Think of Jesus' reputation as He journeyed from town to town. Once it is discovered that someone has a powerful gift for preaching and teaching, believe me, crowds will come.

Fr. Corapi has such a gift. It isn't something he asked for. It is something that was given to him by God and he was called into service. It is a blessing for the Church overall that he was obedient. But I'm sure he realized the truth about this particular gift. Personally, I think it is one of the heavier burdens to carry. And here's why:

The person who has the gift of teaching cannot rest, deciding to do something else like work in a soup kitchen. The gift burns in his heart like a fire. He digs deep into scripture reading and prayer as he seeks God. The revelations he receives as a result of this constant study is the fruit that is given to audiences who seek truth and encouragement.

It is a beautiful gift and when it flows from heaven, it can provide miracles. As Proverbs 25:11 says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." We all know the feeling we get when someone says a word of encouragement to us that comes at the perfect moment. We feel as though God has stepped into our lives to let us know we're not alone, that He is present and sending us His love.

But as much as people crave to hear someone who has this gift, they also fear it. Many fear the power it can bring. Some are jealous of the attention it gives to the teacher. And some mistakenly believe that if only they can win the approval of a minister with a teaching gift, then his gifting may be imparted to them.

The teaching gift is a very "out there" gift that overall, attracts a lot of attention.

So, on one hand you have people clamoring for a gifted teacher, but then when that very teacher runs into trouble, they abandon him.

Much like the disciples abandoned Jesus Christ.

I'm not comparing Fr. Corapi to Christ, per se, just pointing out the patterns I've noticed over the years as I've observed ministries rise and fall. What is hurtful to me is not so much what Fr. Corapi decided to do, but how those who see themselves as faithful Catholics are acting. I think there is such little understanding and compassion because few Catholics know the pressure that someone like Fr. Corapi was under for most of the last twenty years of his life.

Christians have a tendency to place their leaders on pedestals. And then when one of them makes a mistake, there is an outcry. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot build someone up as being perfect and then outraged when that person proves that they are not. No one is perfect. We are all sinners. And each one of us are trying to find our way home to be with our Holy Family.

Fr. Corapi needs our love and compassion during this incredibly difficult time in his life. God knows the situation and as far as I'm concerned, is the only one who can rightly judge it. We can take lessons learned from this experience and apply it to future gifted teachers. Maybe we can learn to appreciate the gift without idolizing the giver. Maybe we can learn to cut someone some slack when the expectations we have of him fall short of our desires.

I remember one of the conferences we had at my former non-denominational ministry. The ministers who were asked to speak had incredible pressure to deliver powerful teachings. Imagine standing in front of thousands of people, who are there to hear what you have to say, and who have been following you for the past decade or so, buying your books, your tapes; and now are there beaming at you, filled with great expectation that you're going to be like Moses coming down from the mountain with a divine revelation.

What would you do? How would you act? What emotions would go through your mind as you stood before those people?

Most likely, you'd be praying your heart out.

Those who are called into such a ministry actually experience a "dying to self" every time they get up to speak. Imagine it: if they speak and it's a "dud," those who follow them will chatter about the mediocrity of the teaching. But if their teaching rocks the socks off the crowd, they'll be metaphorically hoisted upon their shoulders as countless faces rush up to tell the teacher how "anointed" he is and how "blessed" they are because of him.

It's a dangerous mixture of embarrassment and pride for the teacher. And it goes on, and on, and on.

The speakers at the conferences I served at had a remedy for all of that. They didn't talk much to the attendees.

There was a special room for the speakers where they could hang out, because if they even dared to spend ten minutes in the main halls of the conference venue, they'd be overrun in seconds by needy people. People who wanted to be prayed for, people who had stories to tell, people who wanted to ask for a job within their ministry.

A few of the teachers I saw behind the scenes were actually depressed. The demands and expectations of crowds of people would weary them. It was another reason why they needed that private space so they could rest. Again, as Jesus had to remove Himself from the crowds to have communion with His Father, so too, do spiritually gifted teachers need to spend time alone to be restored.

All I ask is that some who have quickly judged what has happened with Fr. Corapi, have a bit of mercy. A gifted teacher's life is far more difficult than you can imagine. I think the devil especially hates such a gift because God uses it to convey His truth. Knock down the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.

Please continue to keep the situation in prayer and ask all the angels and saints that God's truth will prevail. I have hope that it will. It's just that I also am praying for the least amount of collateral damage, as possible. Mercy, oh God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, amen.

My Heart Is Saddened, But I Understand: Fr. Corapi Leaving Priesthood

When I first saw the story on Pew Sitter, I immediately gasped. There are almost no words for the injustice that has been foisted upon many good priests and now, it looks like we can add Fr. John Corapi to that unfortunate group.

From the blog, The Black Sheep Dog:

All things change, only God stays the same, so I have to tell you about a major change in my life. I am not going to be involved in public ministry as a priest any longer. There are certain persons in authority in the Church that want me gone, and I shall be gone. I have been guilty of many things in the course of my life, and could easily and justifiably be considered unfit to engage in public ministry as a priest. The present complaint that you have heard about is, as far as I know, from the one person that I can honestly say I did more to help and support than any human being in my entire life. I forgive her and hope only good things for her. I am not going to get into a back and forth or argument with the Church or anyone else about this matter.

There are many reasons why this issue saddens me.

First, there is little recourse a priest has when he has been accused of any wrong-doing. Immediately, in our "post-abuse" culture, the priest seems to be seen as guilty. Whether he is or not doesn't matter. He's been accused and for many, the assumption is "where there's smoke, there's fire."

Second, the Roman Catholic Church is a highly politicized organization, as far as organized religion goes. And within that organization, there is a high amount of scheming, strategery, and spin that would make a hardened Washington D.C. lobbyist blush. It's no surprise to anyone that Fr. Corapi was loathed by many in the Catholic Church because of his traditionalism and stubborn obedience to the Magisterium.

Third, and this is a truth I discovered myself when I was more heavily involved with ministry - the ones who are the enemies of the truth are often sitting right next to you in the pew. When the Bible talks about them, I used to think it referred to unbelievers in the world. Now I think it mostly pertains to other believers in the Church.

Many don't think of themselves as opposed to truth. Some do. But how I've finally found my peace about this is to realize that all of us, especially me, are on a journey toward holiness. That journey takes our entire lifetime.

Fr. Corapi is a man whose heart burns for the truth. If you've heard his homilies and teachings, you can quickly see that he is not about to lie down and let people deny the truth or mock it. At least not on his watch.

I remember one of the things he often would say, "I'm not going to hell for any of you!" And you know what? I felt loved and protected when he said it. Because that's why we need our priests. To tell us the truth. To keep us on the straight and narrow. To let us know when we're on the edge of a cliff and about to fall off of it. They keep us headed toward heaven.

I have no idea what his ministry will look like, but I believe Fr. Corapi is a very gifted man and one way or the other, God is going to continue to use him.

So, a goodbye to you, Fr. Corapi. My heart is breaking but I understand why you're making this decision. All I can say is that there are still going to be plenty of Catholics who will follow you and I'm sure you're going to be preaching the same things to encourage them.

For those who love Fr. Corapi, please add his new blog to your RSS feeds and websites: The Black Sheep Dog. God bless you.

An Open Letter To "Ethel" And Every 17 Year Old Girl Who Thinks Andrew Weiner Is Cool

Dear Intelligent Young Woman,

I'm typing this late on a Saturday night because I can't get to sleep.

I can't get to sleep because I'm thinking of you. I'm thinking of the anonymous junior-high girl who was drawn into this mess with New York Democrat Rep. Anthony Weiner and his slimy ways. I can't get to sleep because I'm thinking of how many young women (and older women), still think Rep. Weiner is "cool."

Newsflash: He is not.

A 46-year-old married man (who married a smart, accomplished woman just last July), who sends lewd photos of himself in his underwear and talks dirty to women he's met over the Internet, and, who deliberately follows high school girls on Twitter - is not a nice guy.

He is not admirable. He is not trustworthy. He is, in fact, the equivalent of pond scum -- and I may have just insulted pond scum.

Feminism has failed you. You may have been taught in high school that women are so "empowered" that they can now dress like tramps if they want but men aren't allowed to make obnoxious remarks about them but I'm here to tell you the truth.

Men will always think obnoxious thoughts about a woman who obviously has no respect for herself and parades her body as a piece of meat. Because that's what wildly immodest clothing will do. It marks you as someone to be used.

Sadly, when women are then treated disrespectfully by men, when they are seen as nothing more than sexual playthings, they act surprised.

It's no surprise. Men are wired to respond to a woman sexually and if a woman makes it easy by talking dirty and dressing provocatively, then it shouldn't be a surprise when scumbags like Anthony Weiner show up on the front page news because a bunch of women thought it was "cool" to act that way.

When I was a young girl in high school, I will never forget my Italian grandmother, who could only speak broken English, giving me her version of the "birds and the bees." I was talking to her while sitting on my bed and she was next to me. Suddenly, she took her hand and very quickly and lightly, patted my legs in the middle. She said, "This? This is for marriage. You no-a give this-a to a boy-a, unless he-a marry you."

I couldn't help but smile and slightly felt embarrassed. But I loved my great-grandmother and assured her I would "keep myself" until I was married. I also felt enormously blessed to have a matriarch in our family who cared about my well-being so much.

Our world needs more women like my great-grandmother.

Young woman, if you're still reading, I have this to add: Even if your father isn't around as much as you'd like, you still deserve a man who will love you and treat you with respect.

As tempting as it is to get attention from men by dressing provocatively or swearing like a sailor -- it will not, I repeat, NOT give you what you truly desire. Which is a man who will love and cherish you.

Men do not love and cherish women who post updates on their Twitter that sounds like they're a p0rn queen. They do not respect a woman who wears clothing that makes them look like a streetwalker. These are time-tested truths that have endured throughout the ages. Feminism has not, can not, and will not change this truth. Believe me. I've seen how feminism has tried to make a woman "equal" in the bedroom.

It doesn't work.

I've seen women try to "date like a man," meaning they sleep with whomever they want, as much as they want. But they quickly find there's a little problem with that approach.

No matter how casual a woman may view sex, a man will always think even less of it when he's with a woman who doesn't care. So that means a woman will sleep with some strange guy but if she tries to do it again, chances are the guy won't want anything to do with her. Again, I've seen it happen.

And the "enlightened and empowered" women are in total befuddlement as to why, even though they're offering themselves to a man "with no strings attached," that still, he won't call her back.

You are worth more.

But in order to find a man who will love and cherish you, you need to first respect yourself and start saying "no."

No to looking cheap. No to loud, obnoxious talk. No to swearing. No to putting overtly-sexual updates on Twitter and Facebook. No. No. No.

Will you be popular? Decidedly not. Will you be respected? Absolutely.

Think feminism has backbone? It's a lie.

A woman with backbone will tell a man like Anthony Weiner to get away from them and go trolling under a bridge. A woman with backbone will instantly delete any man who sends lewd photos of himself to her on Twitter or Facebook.

A woman with backbone will stand strong in the face of mockery and derision from the (idiotic) "cool" people because she values herself and knows she was created for a truly special relationship with a man that doesn't involve being a part of his personal brothel.

I'll close with another story. When I was 27, I worked with a married man who flirted with me constantly. He also was amazed that I wasn't partying hard like most women my age and sleeping around. One day, he sputtered, "What do you think, that it's made of gold?!!" (Referring to my sexual organ.)

I shot back, "As a matter of fact, it is."

I didn't get married until I was 39 but I will tell you this. God gave me a man who totally adores me. He will do anything for me. He would give up his life for me. And I totally adore him right back.

That, my dear young woman, is the kind of love you were built for.

Don't settle for anything less.

Google's #EPICFAIL With Memorial Day (Switch to Bing!)

It's Memorial Day and I have been thinking about our brave men and women veterans who gave up their lives for freedom. It's a big deal to me and should be for every American. Unfortunately, Google doesn't think so.

Google has become more creative with their home page design. If you take a look at this, you'll see all sorts of Google logos, celebrating various country holidays (depending on the country), along with innovative animation. (Like the Particle Logo on September 6, 2010 and the Charlie Chaplin Logo that was a clever video.)

It really is amazing to me. We're given Google doodles that celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Flintstones, the 117th birthday of dancer and choreographer Martha Graham (animated doodle), and Will Eisner's 94th birthday (who?!).

But Memorial Day? Doesn't seem to register with them. I remembered that in 2007, many noticed that Google didn't do ANYTHING to recognize Memorial Day. No special icons or designs to be found. So in retrospect, perhaps we're lucky they even gave us a tiny flag and yellow ribbon.

Surprisingly, Google does recognize Veteran's Day.

But why not Memorial Day?

Bing, who I will now be using as my home search engine page, did acknowledge today's special meaning.

You may ask what the difference is between recognizing Veteran's Day but not Memorial Day? I'll give you my take.

Veteran's Day is to honor the living. Memorial Day is to honor the dead.

Those who gave their life to defend and preserve freedom are dangerous. It's a stark reminder to the world that Americans are willing to die for something, over and over, and over again because it matters.

We honor our dead by setting aside one day to remember the ultimate sacrifice they gave. We honor them by setting aside one day to remember their families, who still mourn, who have lost a son, a father, a brother, and uncle, a nephew, a daughter, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a cousin, and a grandparent or great-grandparent.

When we remember, something happens inside of us. Our backbone straightens up. Our will becomes steel. We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that freedom requires a price and often, that price is blood.

Whenever we, as a nation, remember these things, it creates in us a resolve that few can conquer.

Is it any wonder that a global conglomerate like Google spits upon the graves of our honorable dead?

Yes, spits. It's one thing to totally ignore it. But it's quite another to honor the independence of the world but yet give such pittance of acknowledgement to the brave men and women of the United States of America who often paved the way for those other countries to be independent. I will never forget the purple fingers held up by Iraqi people after participating in their first election that wasn't bought by street thugs.

Freedom rings. Freedom is the cry of every man, woman, and child.

But unfortunately, Google doesn't understand what freedom means. Most likely because the bulk of their art departments are filled with young "twentysomethings" who learned to hate America in their colleges and universities.

Am I making too much out of this? I don't think so.

Because in the course of history, throughout all the wars and battles for the control of nations, corruption did not happen in a day. It happened over time, drip... by.... drip.

Frankly, I'm fed up with Google. Let them play with their computers all they want, hoisting the honored holidays of other countries while stomping on the American citizen's sensibilities. We know who the bad guy is.

I'm bookmarking Bing.

Update on Prayer Request, and Thank You for Praying!

Stephen's condition has improved and I know he had reconstructive surgery yesterday. Before he did, he had remarkable improvement with his condition. So much so that his nurse who first saw him was amazed that he was standing with help and eating pureed foods. He seems to have a little short-term memory loss. He can see out of his left eye but his right eye is still swollen and that may last 3-4 weeks. He said he can see the outline of things.

So prayers are being answered! Thank you for the prayers offered and if you could, continue to keep Stephen and his family in your heart. God bless you richly. :-)

Prayer Request

I will be back soon but have been focused on developing my side business website, which I'll share with you in another post. Meanwhile, I'm asking if you could keep in your prayers Stephen Metzel, the brother of a beautiful couple in my parish. My heart goes out to Stephen and his family after he suffered a terrible accident this past Monday, when a pipe exploded and hit him full-force in the face. He'll be undergoing surgery for reconstruction of his skull. His frontal lobe has been affected.

Please pray that no permanent damage would remain and he would be able to recover to be the father and husband he was before. Divine Mercy Sunday is this weekend and I pray that graces would flow to all.

Here is a news article about the accident: Worker Injured at Denison Lab

Thanks much and God bless you for your prayers.

Help "The Crescat" Get to the Vatican!

Graphic by Mary Rose - use on your own site if you'd like :-)

I just found out about this today. "Carolina Cannonball" and her blog, The Crescat, have been invited by the Vatican to take part in a special blogger meet-up where they will learn about using this new-fangled stuff called social media for the good of the Church. (I think that's the gist of it...)

There were 750 submissions (!) and only 150 invitations issued. Obviously, the Vatican has touched a chord with wanting to meet Catholic bloggers because boy howdy, did the bloggers want to meet the Vatican! And I say it's about time. I know the Vatican moves slowly with progress (and I actually love that) but yet it is good to see that they want to communicate more with bloggers. That to me is just downright awesome.

So, among the 150 names, I only recognized three and The Crescat was one of them. However, The Cannonball needs a little help getting there. If you could consider donating, she has posted a PayPal button on her blog where you can do so.

All I know is I want lots of pictures, and a few of the Swiss Guard wouldn't hurt, either. :-)

Inspirational Video: The Tide Is Turning - Pro-life Students Standing Strong

I'm reading Abby Johnson's story, Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line. (It is well written and an amazing story.)

I've also heard stories from pro-life old-timers who wondered who they would pass the torch to regarding this issue. Well, they need not wonder anymore. The college students are more than willing to take the torch and are making a difference. As this video says, 1/3rd of their peers were aborted.

I wonder if the pro-choice folks back in the 60's and 70's factored that little bit of information in their quest for abortion-on-demand across the nation? This current generation of "Millennials" are not only more politically active than previous generations after the volatile sixties, they've made this issue personal. To them they are active, have grown with the Internet and know how to use it to mobilize. Read it and weep, NOW members.

This generation is not only ticked off that abortion killed 1/3rd of them, they're willing to put it on the line and do more than just wish abortion was a thing of the past. They're committed to making sure it is a thing of the past.

God bless these students. They are amazing. This video shows it. (mantilla nod to Catholic Vote and Thomas Peters.)

Feast Day of St. Joseph - And Remembering Mom

I'll be visiting my mother's grave today, to remember her and also thank St. Joseph for his continued intercession. It's been four years now, since my mother passed away, and I still think of her everyday. Losing someone you love is never easy. But losing your mother is especially difficult. She was the one who brought you into the world, created a sense of security, and nurtured you as you grew up. You are blessed if you have such a mother in your life and really blessed if you had one as loving as mine.

My family has a special connection to St. Joseph. Several family members on my mother's side have passed away on the feast day of St. Joseph. My mother's name is Josephine. She is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Cincinnati, on St. Joseph's Way. My brother's middle name is Joseph. So it isn't a surprise that when my mother passed away on the feast day of St. Joseph, I'd start looking into him.

What I didn't realize, until I was watching an EWTN program that explained it, is that St. Joseph is the patron saint of the "Happy Death." This is because by tradition, it is said he died with Jesus on one side and Mary on the other. How much better could it get?! I also discovered that St. Joseph prayers are powerful for those who are grieving the death of a loved one.

The day after my mother passed away, I visited a nearby Catholic gift shop and found a St. Joseph necklace. I bought two, one for me and one for my brother. My brother, who is away from the Catholic Church, didn't think much of it but did take it. I wore mine everyday for two years.

There have been many times when I cried out, "St. Joseph, pray for me!" as I felt overwhelmed with grief. And within minutes, I would feel comforted. His prayers still mean the world to me and when I ask for his intercession, I receive comfort and also, warm memories of my mother.

So today is a special day. I'll spend some time with my brother and we'll both be thinking warm and loving thoughts about the incredible woman who nurtured us and scolded us when we acted like jerks. She raised us better, after all. :-)

Pope Benedict XVI: No to Christianity 'a la carte' #Catholic

One of the many reasons I love our dear Papa, is for exhortations like this:

Priests must not preach “Christianity 'a la carte'” and should be willing to approach even uncomfortable aspects of the Gospel, Pope Benedict said in a meeting with priests last week.

In a meeting with priests and religious from the Diocese of Rome on March 10, the pope led a Scripture meditation as the “pastor of the pastors.”

Full article

Can I get a huge AMEN from the pews?!

I know I'm not the only one asking for fidelity to our faith. Many good Catholics who have been at it longer than me have written reams of letters to their local bishops to point out times when their pastors were unresponsive to their concerns regarding the doctrine of our faith. It was good to read this article because it shows that Pope Benedict XVI is well aware of the problem and in pastoral love, admonishing priests to not go the route of being a "Cafeteria Catholic."

There are hard truths and the Catholic Church is one of the few I know willing to say them. Our position on life, death, and marriage is what makes us villified, mocked, and hated in the world. Being pro-life, for instance, means being willing to suffer the consequences. (As so poignantly expressed by Fr. Frank Pavone.)

Emphasizing that Catholic marriage is a sacrament and not a right, is also increasingly unpopular in world that wants to destroy the sacred.

And death with dignity, not death for convenience, is another uncomfortable truth as more Catholics attempt to remind society that the least among us still deserve an opportunity to live and die according to the wishes of loved ones, and not by governmental decree.

Without a strong moral compass, founded on the principles that Jesus Christ gave us, our world is plunged even deeper into darkness. It is by proclaiming the entire, full Gospel of Jesus Christ that we are truly a light to world, and salt to preserve it.

Praise God that He has given us such a wise and loving Pope! Continue to hold Pope Benedict XVI in prayer as he preaches the full Gospel, and the hard truths of our faith.

Cool #Catholic Site: Why I'm Catholic

So this is how Twitter can work...

My blog posts are automatically "tweeted" on Twitter with an auto-feed I set up, which is why I usually am adding the hashtag #Catholic to my titles. (Just in case you were wondering.) Whenever I can improve a process or automate it, I'll do it. Since there are times when I schedule the publishing of a post, having an auto-feed do it for me while I'm off driving to work or doing something else is of great value. I use Twitterfeed for this purpose.

Yesterday, CathTechTalk "re-tweeted" my blog post tweet, which caused me to check out their Twitter account and read through some of their recent tweets. That's how I found out about the excellent site, "Why I'm Catholic."

It is so hard to keep up with all of the wonderful, powerful, beautiful Catholic websites and blogs, but when I find them, I try to highlight them. At this site are stories from all types of people who converted to Catholicism as well as some revert stories. I also saw The Curt Jester's Jeff Miller featured, which should be a good interview for anyone unfamiliar with Jeff's story. (Even if you are familiar, it's still a good read.)

This is a roundabout way of saying why I still love Twitter although I'm not on it as often as I used to be. (Which may change. Or not. I have several Twitter accounts I work on.) Twitter is still a great tool that allows me to reach out to others with my message and also, discover fantastic resources such as the "Why I'm Catholic" site.

So check it out! I'll be adding it to my blogroll on the side. And if you'd like to follow me on Twitter, please do. I'm CathPrdDaughter. :-)

I'm Over Flash Mobs But They've Managed to Infiltrate Mass #Catholic

Just when I think I've heard and seen just about everything...

Flash Mob Appears at Ash Wednesday Mass

No. I'm not making it up. I wish I were.

Of Men, Knighthood, and Fighting to Protect #Catholic

The reason that we became warriors in the first place was to protect the people we love.

- My husband

I was touched by a New York Times story I found through "Auntie Seraphic's" wonderful blog, Seraphic Singles. Her Sunday entry, Love in the New York Times, was a sad tale of a young woman's quest to find real men to date -- and not "guys." Her definition of "guys" were young men who wanted nothing to do with committing themselves to a relationship, instead preferring a cloudy haze of hanging out and occasional casual sex.

I was both saddened and angered by the article. Saddened that so many young women now have this to deal with, and angered by the seemingly never-ending consequences of radical feminism in our country.

I had a very long discussion with my husband regarding the topic. Basically, I wanted to know how he developed his respect for women. Did it begin when he was younger? What influenced him?

His answers were a mixture of his upbringing, his involvement with Japanese martial arts, and his desire to follow the Biblical pattern for a marriage. My husband had a father who modeled to his sons how to treat women. One time, my husband's older brother back-talked his mother and received a quick slap from his father as he said, "I don't ever want to hear you disrespect your mother like that again." The point was made. You respected your parents and especially didn't mouth off to your mother.

My husband was raised in an era when men usually helped women with heavy burdens like grocery bags and luggage. When he was 20 years old, he became involved with martial arts and was especially intrigued by the Samurai warriors. The Samurai have a code called bushido, translated as "the way of the warrior." Part of the code is treating others with respect and honor. This extended to how the warriors treated women, especially their wives.

I asked my husband if knighthood was similar to the bushido. He said yes. I found it interesting that long ago, throughout the world, there could be found a certain elite class of men who fought for justice, defended the defenseless, and showed respect and honor to women.

When he said the quote I posted above, suddenly I had a revelation of how much we have lost when we started to raise boys who were forbidden to fight.

Feminism destroyed this natural inclination in men by claiming it was wrong to fight, under the guise that "two wrongs don't make a right." Suddenly, fighting either in a battle or simply fighting to defend a woman's honor was attacked. The concept of a righteous battle faded as more and more young boys were scolded for fighting and older young men were belittled for wanting to join the military.

In essence -- the natural desire of men to want to find something worth defending; and then doing it, has been ripped away. In its place, we now have a generation of young men who not only don't know how to fight, but wouldn't know what to fight for if given the opportunity. Aside from our brave men and women in the military, fire departments, and police -- most younger men avoid confrontation of an enemy like the plague.

I grew up with the wise words, "It's always better to use your head than use your hands." However, my father and the men of my family realized that there were times when defending those you loved meant taking a stand. I won't ever forget the time when some teenagers decided to vandalize our home because my father placed a fence on our property, which covered an entrance to a wooded area. One night a big rock was thrown through my window as I was sleeping. (It landed on my bed, thankfully, not on my head.) The next week, a matic (a gardening tool) was thrown through the window again, this time narrowly missing my head.

What did my father do? For one week, he camped outside with his rifle. Of course we called the police, but my father decided he'd do what most normal men would do. He was defending his family from any further attacks.

I remember when the Virginia Tech murders happened. A deranged student nonchalantly walked through the classrooms, lined up the students, and then shot them methodically -- all this while not one man rose up to attack him. After the horrific massacre, I cried out to my husband, "Where were the men?! Could not a small group of them rushed this nutjob and tackled him to the floor where they could have disarmed him?" Obviously the answer to my question was a tragic "no." This generation of young men had the fight bred out of them long before they arrived at college. It was ironic that one of the bravest men during that long ordeal was a Holocaust survivor, who physically prevented the killer from entering his classroom until almost all of the students had escaped through the classroom window.

When men are not clear on what they should defend and why; they become disillusioned and directionless. They have no understanding of honor, let alone knowing how to responsibly conduct themselves in a relationship.

One of the things I deeply desired before I married was to find a man who would fight for me. I meant this on several levels. I wanted a man who would put forth an effort to win my affections and also, a man who would defend me if I was in danger. I will never forget my second date with my husband. We attended the huge Labor Day festival in Cincinnati at the riverfront, to watch the spectacular fireworks show in the evening. The crowd at this annual event is massive, and we finally found a small empty piece of land to stretch out a blanket. After awhile, I got up, saying I needed to find a restroom. My future husband also stood up.

I looked at him, slightly surprised. "Oh, do you need to visit the restroom also?"

He smiled. "No. But I'm going to accompany you. It's a big crowd here and I don't want you to be alone and unescorted."

Can you imagine how shocked I was at the time? I had never had a man say such a thing to me and of course, I was immediately smitten. If I had thought highly of this gentleman before, at that moment he was placed on a very high pedestal!

I know I am old-fashioned in many ways, but I really don't think I'm that different from most women. Most women yearn to be cherished by a man in a relationship and treated with respect. I'm hoping such men aren't completely gone. Our young women are still looking for them.

Wives, Submit to Your Husbands... #Catholic

Old Woman Praying by Jacob Cornelisz Van Oostsanen

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. - Ephesians 5:22 (NKJV)

Few Biblical subjects are more controversial with women than Ephesians 5:22. The concept of submission is almost foreign to the American individualist mindset. Submit? Tell that to the American revolutionists who courageously stood up to King George III and told him to pound sand. Tell that to those who fought for the end of slavery. Tell that to the brave men and women who fought in World War I and II. Submit? In the words of a wise man, "In a pig's eye..."

Although it is admirable to fight against injustice, St. Paul's admonition to women and men (in Ephesians 5) does not pertain to righteous battles but toward the battle of the flesh. This battle is one that all of us are locked into until the day we die. We have come before God to surrender ourselves, to declare that we are sick and in need of the Great Physician, and in doing so, submit ourselves to His will as Jesus Christ did during that very difficult night in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I remember my first confrontation with submission. It was 1982. I was 20 years old and had just joined an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter on campus. I was excited to discover students who, like me, wanted to dig into the Bible. It was during one Bible study that started my journey toward the topic of submission.

One of the Bible study's leader was a strong young woman who was only a few years older than myself. We were engaged in some type of Biblical exercise but for some reason, I didn't want to play along. She insisted. I resisted. We went back and forth until finally I did what she wanted but I was digging in my heels every step of the way. Afterward, I started to ponder the concept of submission. When was it required? How were we to respond? What did we do when every fiber of our being was shouting, "No!" to what was being asked?

Looking back, I still hold the view that the leader was slightly heavy-handed. However, it did start my journey. One of the things I've learned about submission is that if the Biblical pattern holds, we are to submit in spite of the conditions. For example: we are to trust our leaders and submit to them, even when we see their weaknesses. Unless they are asking us to do something that goes against our conscience or is in direct disobedience to Scripture and the Church, then we must prayerfully ask for God's grace to submit.

My favorite teacher for submission is Elisabeth Elliot, a beautiful Protestant woman who was one of the few brave enough to talk about submission. I used to listen to her radio program years ago and she would discuss this topic on occasion. One of her books, Let Me Be a Woman, tackled it but she'd mention it in other books, too. She would often say that a wife was to submit to a husband but to remember that his authority was not earned but received from appointment. She also was the first woman I heard say that the woman actually had the easier job. A woman is to submit to her husband but it is her husband who is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church, sacrificing Himself for her.

Submission is trust. Again, this is a difficult concept for many women who were raised in a culture of "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan..." Women of my generation grew up with feminists telling us there was nothing we couldn't do once we freed ourselves from the "oppressive" chains of men. So there is a very real perception that if one "submitted," she would be exploited and used. The defiant stance of feminism therefore provided a strong wall that promised to protect women. But for many, it only made them suspicious of men and untrusting in relationships.

It took me some time to trust people in general. I went through a difficult time in grade school where I was teased and mocked. Although it was not the most enjoyable time of my life, I learned many lessons. Because of the teasing, I withdrew but explored my own interests, which at the time were reading and drawing. Many of us have similar stories where we thought we could trust someone and they disappointed us, sometimes hurting us deeply. It is always a challenge to forgive and move past such experiences, but through Christ, we are called to do so.

And, we are called to submit to the leadership in our lives, despite having flawed leaders. This is probably one of the most difficult callings of the Christian. Because I was single for so long and did not have a husband, I found myself praying often for God's wisdom in submitting myself to the leadership of my church. One incident in particular stands out.

I was the main intercessor for my small church and had a few other women join me during scheduled times of prayer. One day, I was praying alone in my apartment and felt very strongly that God was giving me a very specific message for my pastor. I felt such a strong sense of urgency about it that I wrote it down in a letter, got on my bicycle and rode to the pastor's home, which was nearby. I arrived breathless and talked to him briefly. Then I gave him the letter. During the prayer time, I sensed that I was to give the letter to my pastor but not talk to him directly about it. I also got to very clear impression from God that after I did this, I was to "let it go." No follow-up. No asking my pastor what he thought. Nothing. I was to completely let it go. And I did.

This definitely was not my usual mode of communication. I was a leader in the church at the time and often would offer my views on various topics and church developments. Along with a small group of six leaders, we would gather frequently to discuss the vision and mission of the church. So this kind of approach was not a usual one for me.

I think the entire episode was an exercise of submission to both God and my pastor. I submitted to what I believed God was calling me to do and also submitted to my pastor's leadership. My pastor never spoke to me about the letter and I never brought it up, even though what the letter addressed was a potential powder keg at the time within our church. For reasons I will never know, my pastor did not diffuse a divisive situation and eventually, the keg blew up and some people left the church. I could see all of this clearly but yet felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to not speak of it at the time to anyone. It was hard-core submission for me, and one that broke my heart. My only consolation was knowing that I had obeyed God to the best of my ability and if I my heart was broken, what of His? I prayed for His grace for the rest of that week.

In Ephesians, the Greek word for "submit" is hypotassō, and it means "to submit one's control, to yield to one's admonition or advice." When I look at the verse about wives submitting to their husbands, my eyes are immediately drawn to the following words: as to the Lord. It's a two-parter. As wives, submission isn't supposed to be a foreign concept. We already are called to submit to the Lord - both women and men. Yielding is not easy for anyone. However, when we do yield to God's will and obey His commandments; when we yield to the Church and the Magisterium, when we yield to our priests and bishops -- something miraculous occurs. Our hearts are softened and God now has a pliable soul to shape and mold for His purposes, not ours.

We wives may never fully understand what it means to our husbands when we show such trust. However, I think one of the benefits can be seen over time. This type of submission leads to a peaceful home. As a wife places her trust first in God and then in her husband, she is saying that God is in control. And when we accept that truth, we find rest.

I do not say such things without a bit of a tug-of-war still playing in my heart. I know such things are not easy but yet there is a blessing to obtain that overcomes my resistance. Doing the will of God will reap enormous rewards in our lives and in my opinion, the greater the reward, the greater the opposition to it. Jesus Christ submitted His own will to His Father's because He could see the glory that awaited Him. As Hebrews 12:2 says: "...looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

That is what I hope to focus upon during this Lent. Whatever I am asked to submit to, may I see ahead to the "joy that is set before me." Submission, in the vast scheme of things, seems to be wildly disproportionate to the reward we'll receive when we trust and yield. Praise God He has given us His Son to show us the way.

What I Love About the Catholic Church: The Strategy Is Already Set #Catholic

Occasionally, I'll visit one of my old non-denominational church websites to check on their latest venture. It never fails to amaze me how the scene changes constantly. If it's not the addition of a new building, or a new service, it's the addition of a new approach or strategy. Some of you already know the gist of what I will say, based on some of my previous posts.

But I can't help but repeat it: I am so glad I am a part of the Catholic Church. So, so, sooo glad.

One of the things I love about the Catholic Church is that our "strategy," (to use a modern church term) was determined centuries ago, by the words of Jesus Christ: Go out into all the world and make disciples. He didn't say, "Create new programs that will need to be totally overhauled every year and tweaked into perpetuity." He also didn't say, "Keep everyone's calendars as busy as possible because I'd rather have you burned out than rusted out!"

The non-denominational church and recently, the trendy "Emerging Church" are both needlessly expending effort where none is really required. Church should be simple. You gather in one spot to sing hymns, meditate on the Gospel, share Communion, fellowship a bit and then leave -- to go into the world to be a witness for Christ.

If you've never been a part of a non-denominational church, I can attest to the this rock-solid fact: you have no idea how busy life is until you join such a church and then "become active." That phrase, "becoming active" is actually deceiving. It's more "allow the church to consume your life to the point where you have no other life." Sure, there are some who have placed very firm boundaries and told various department heads "Thanks, but no thanks. I am unable to lead the choir/Bible study group/children's ministry," but most people, when they get involved, feel it is their duty to do such things; much to the detriment of their own home life and sanity. Being active is good, but allowing oneself to say "yes" to every need in a church is not.

It has been twenty years since my old non-denominational church began and it is still in its "development" phase. It is still planning and changing for the umpteenth time the way they "do church." It is still working on yet another strategy for reaching out to the neighborhood. The small home groups are still struggling, not one of them seeming to last more than two or three years before another leader needs to be found and more members recruited.

Some Christians wonder what the appeal is of the Catholic Church. Apart from the historical precedence, some may look at it and think, "What do they really do? They attend Mass and that seems to be about it." But there is so much more. For instance, many Catholics enjoy a rich interior life because we're not running around from one high-speed event to the another.

The other aspect of the Catholic devotional life is that we have daily prayers to ground us. We have the Divine Office, where there are set prayers for morning, afternoon, and evening. We have special prayers for special occasions. These types of devotions have existed for a long, long time and give many Catholics a strong foundation. We don't have to re-invent the wheel because Jesus Christ, the Apostles, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints already did it. We don't have to create a new strategy with every passing season because we have the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Canon Law, and the Magisterium; who already have done it.

All of that history leaves Catholics the opportunity to follow tradition and not spend incredible amounts of time in "planning sessions" to come up with the next new approach for "doing church."

If you're someone who can relate to this, and you've not thought seriously about Catholicism, I ask you to really consider it. You may be amazed by the depth of spirituality you will experience without all the hyper-activity. It truly is a blessing.

Book Review: The Gargoyle Code by Fr. Dwight Longenecker

(Click here, not image, to learn more)

I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis, and remember well reading his fictional book, The Screwtape Letters, where a senior demon was "instructing" his nephew demon on the darker art of tempting, deceiving, and ultimately pulling into hell their charges.

It's not the type of book you could apply the word "enjoy," as though describing a pleasant Sunday drive on a spring day. Lewis' book put many Christians on notice that temptation is not always obvious but the intent is always deadly. The goal of the devil and all his minions is the same: destruction of God's beloved creatures, the objects of His love, mercy, and grace.

The Gargoyle Code is written in a similar vein. The book opens with an introduction by an angel who greets the reader by saying, "All blessings to you from the Lord of Light and the Fire of Love. May you know the powerful purity of the most Blessed Lady, and the radiant goodness of all your brothers and sisters in glory. Alleluia! Amen!" The angel reveals that what is being shared are discovered pieces of correspondence between servants of the Dark Lord; namely, Slubgrip, a proud and manipulative demon and Dogwart, who is still young and inexperienced in the realm of temptation.

What is different is that this fictional book of temptation is written from a Catholic perspective. I liked how the book was written with the Lenten season as the backdrop, complete with the sections divided by the weeks of liturgical year. (Starting with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, and ending with Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.) The book is meant to accompany spiritual reading during this time of year and could be used as a springboard for meditation on examining one's conscience.

Indeed, the "angel" introducing the book says this:

"And now I must urge you to something which may not be pleasant for you. Please know that I make this request out of the great and radiant love for your soul. I must urge you with all the power and grace within me to read this correspondence as you would read a mirror. As the fiends discuss the poor souls in their charge, see yourself. Do not read in a detached manner as if you are reading about someone else, but engage your heart. Ask for the light to see how you are like the poor souls in these pages. Only then will you be able to spot the fiend's activity in your own life."

It didn't take long for me to become convicted. Slubgrip walks his apprentice through various types of temptations, making it clear how anything not done in moderation has the ability to distract us and pull us away from our relationship with God. Slubgrip's "patient" (the one he is supposed to tempt and eventually drag to hell) is a traditional Catholic man who has a serious illness. Dogwart's "patient" is a young Catholic man who struggles with knowing what to do with his life and if his faith really means anything.

I don't want to spoil the revelations that each of these "patients" experience, or the diabolical scheming that each demon employs in order to steal them from God; but suffice it to say, the storyline is very well-written and kept my attention. In fact, I finished the book (just over 100 pages) in a few days. I would silently cheer the patients as they went through a maze of trials, happy when they found peace and disappointed when they took the enemy's bait.

I've not read any other books by Fr. Dwight Longenecker, but truly enjoyed this one. It gave me pause for thought on several occasions. Catholic stereotypes are tweaked, and readers of Fr. Longenecker's blog, Standing On My Head, will recognize them: the traditional Catholic who is actually a snob, the modern architecture parish that brings shudders to those who love cathedrals, the young idealistic Catholic woman who acts like a "puritanical, prissy, prima-donna." It's tempting to think such characters are in no way close to how we act, but after careful prayer, we may be surprised to see the truth.

The "hierarchy" of the underworld is also explored, revealing how traits such as selflessness and loyalty are non-existent although sacrifice does make an appearance, albeit in a devilish way. It made me realize just how blessed we are, how beautiful Jesus Christ is, how loving our God is and how kindly and mercifully He treats His children. Whatever honesty we have, whatever fidelity we may show, whatever is good and honorable and noble -- all have their origin in God. As Fr. Longenecker's book shows, the enemy's kingdom is dark, evil, and hateful. The book is a strong warning against anyone who feels that "once saved, always saved" is the way to live one's faith. Each day we are presented with the question: Who will you believe and obey?

I highly recommend reading this book during Lent. In fact, I'll be re-reading it again, more slowly and prayerfully, according to the book's Lenten schedule. I have a feeling I'll be frustrating whatever demon has been assigned to me, as I do.

Abby Johnson, Former Planned Parenthood Director, To Enter #Catholic Church #prolife

Welcome home, Abby!

I still have not read her book, Unplanned, which is the story of how Abby, a Planned Parenthood director, had a soul-rocking revelation the day she was asked to help with an abortion. Before, Abby was passionately a pro-choice woman. But after witnessing an abortion (by watching it all unfold on the ultra-sound screen), Abby was sickened by what was truly happening.

Today Abby is one of the growing voices in the pro-life movement. I think it's interesting how many in the pro-life movement eventually convert to Catholicism if they weren't Catholic already. I know Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of the infamous Roe vs. Wade trial that led to legalized abortion, became a Christian and eventually converted to Catholicism. And Lila Rose (of the controversial Live Action group and fiery pro-life activist) converted to Catholicism in 2009. (Here's a link to a video that features Lila Rose sharing her story. Fast forward to the 1:57 mark.)

The Catholic Church is truly the defender of the defenseless. The pro-life stance is a testimony to Jesus Christ and a continuation of His command to "go out into the world and preach the gospel." God bless all who will be entering the Catholic Church this Easter Sunday. There are many spiritual treasures that await. :-)

Catholics Killed by Somali Pirates - R.I.P. #Catholic

I was greatly saddened to hear the news that the four Americans who were taken hostage by the Somalian pirates, had been killed.

After reading more about the story, I discovered that the married couple, Scott and Jean Adam, had been sailing around the world on their yacht, "Quest" and had been spreading the gospel everywhere they could. They had Bibles on board.

There were concerns when their friends and families found out they would be sailing near the Somali coast. The Adams and the other couple, Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle, reassured everyone that they would be too far out from the dangerous coastline to be at risk. They were wrong.

My heart goes out to the families. It has raised serious questions within me regarding the wisdom of entering any area that is predominately Muslim. We are witnessing fiercer and more common attacks on Christians all throughout the world. Is it right to assume that "God will take care of us" and enter into a potentially life-threatening scenario?

All I know is that four people, who had intentions to bring God's love to the world, were senselessly killed. It made no sense to kill them if the pirates wanted money. The only reason I can see these two couples being killed was that the Bibles on board were discovered and proselytizing in an Islamic country is a huge "no-no." The penalty is often jail and sometimes, death.

O God, Whose property it is ever to have mercy and to spare, we beseech Thee on behalf of the soul of Thy servant whom Thou hast called out of this world; look upon him with pity and let him be conducted by the holy angels to paradise, her true country. Grant that he who believed in Thee and hoped in Thee may not be left to suffer the pains of the purgatorial fire, but may be admitted to eternal joys. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.

Pray an Our Father followed by a Hail Mary.

Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord;

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

My Pastor on EWTN with Fr. Mitch Pacwa! The Jubilee Museum #Catholic

I've been meaning to post this for awhile. I was so excited when I heard that Fr. Kevin Lutz, pastor of Holy Family, would be featured on EWTN Live to talk about the Jubilee Museum in Columbus, Ohio.

This museum really is inspirational on so many levels. For someone who was hungering for Catholic history and Catholic identity, this museum was the perfect way to nourish me! It is full of beautiful Catholic artifacts, altars, vestments, sacred vessels, and more. The video below is from the program and is almost an hour long.

If you'd like to learn more, please visit their website: Jubilee Museum and Catholic Cultural Center

Enjoy the video!

My Husband's Video: "I Am a Cancer Survivor"

After my husband was declared cancer-free after the removal of a tumor in his colon, he told me he wanted to make a video about his experience. It's not long, but a good reminder to all of us as we grow older that certain medical tests and screenings really are a good idea.

When my husband turned 50, I remember asking him to get a colonoscopy. He brushed it off, saying he felt fine. I would have arguments with him over it. As much as he loves me, he would not go, even for me. It took a serious occurrence of rectal bleeding for him to finally relent and go the emergency room, where they kept him for observation, did a colonoscopy, and then, found a tumor.

We've been told that it was "lucky" that he bled, because usually this tumor was located was in a spot that typically didn't make itself known until it was much larger. I thank God because I know He showed mercy to us.

So, if you have a reluctant, stubborn man (or woman!) in your life who would rather sit through an entire season watching "Desperate Housewives" than visit a doctor and get a colonoscopy, please show him this video. I know my husband is really hoping it will change minds and save lives. God bless you. :-)