Portrait Of My Mother

My mother is the dearest woman I know.  My dad has called her a saint for as long as I can remember.  The older I get, the more correct I know him to be in this assessment of her.  

My mom grew up in Detroit surrounded by love.  Her mom, a widow since my mom was 7, was a strong Irish Catholic woman who took care of everyone around her.  She helped raise her 8 siblings, she raised her own family and she raised her brother's five children after he and his wife tragically died two years apart.  

My mother witnessed all of this and became the same kind of care giver. She is a nurse and in her last job before retirement she worked in hospice. She is entirely suited for the role of caring for the dying and their families.  She raised the seven of us, and showed us great faith in every aspect of her life. The depth of her faith became even more evident after the death of our brother.  Never once did I hear a negative word come out of her mouth. She comforted and supported each of us as we mourned in our own way.  If possible, her faith grew ever more deep. 

Until recently she attended Mass daily and gets there as often as she can these days.  She prays for us constantly and taught us to trust the Lord in all things by her firm, but gentle manner.  

She has taken care of sick neighbors, often sitting by an open window in our home so she could hear if the next door neighbor needed help. She visited the homebound and delivered food with the Meals on Wheels program.

She never puts herself first as we are witnessing as we help her care for our dad.  One big example of this is the $5 she slipped to my brother  the other day, so he could tip the valet when he and I were leaving the hospital during an ER visit with my dad. 

She is heroic in her efforts to keep my dad peaceful and content (and right now that's a pretty big challenge for all of us.)  She has a peaceful countenance and a ready smile.  And always, she is concerned for our needs. 

Those who know her will be nodding and agreeing as they read this. 

I love you mom!  You are my rock!  

Jesus In My Pocket

One of the loveliest things about being Catholic is getting to receive Jesus; Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Mass.

However, there is a special way for the sick, elderly and homebound to receive our Precious Lord even though they are unable to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Eucharistic Ministers, those individuals trained to distribute Communion at Mass, may also take Communion to the homebound.

By means of a pyx, the Eucharist can be properly transported to the people in need.

My parents are, lately, unable to go to Mass.  It is my honor to be able to bring Jesus to them each day.

I don't have a fancy pouch for my pyx so I have to slip it in my pocket.  It's lovely to receive our Lord in Communion and then to carry Him close to me for a few extra minutes until I get to my parents' home.

So grateful for the Church, its Sacraments and the ability to bring Jesus to those in need.

I love having Jesus in the Mass.  It's also kind of neat to have Him in my pocket!

Green Scapular Miracle

As Catholics we use sacramentals as a way to  "prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it." (CCC 1670)

Sacramentals come in many forms, from a blessing, to holy water and the Rosary, to a devotion to a favorite saint.  

They are used as a way to draw us closer to God.

The Rosary is my favorite sacramental. Not only do I have several; under my pillow, in my van, in most of my outerwear pockets, in my kitchen,  I meditate on the mysteries daily.  

Another of Mary's gifts to her children is the Green Scapular.  The green scapular is a piece of cloth with a cord for wearing around one's neck (although your pocket or in your purse or bedroom suffice.)  

On one side of the Scapular is an image of Mary. The other side shows an image of her pierced Immaculate Heart.   The prayer inscribed is "Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death."

On September 8, 1840 the Green Scapular was given for distribution to Sr. Justine Bisqueyburu.  It's main purpose is the conversion of sinners.  However many miraculous physical healing have been attributed to it as well.  www.catholictradition.org/Mary/green-scapular4.htm

My sister, Margaret, passes out Green Scapulars and keeps a record of miracles.  Last week, we got notice of another one.

My dear friend, Sooz, was told she had a brain tumor.  She was going to need a very intense operation that she told me about in graphic detail.  Scary!!  I mailed a Green Scapular to her and began immediately and several times each day to pray the above prayer.   I added to my prayers, "Lord, please let the doctor put her to sleep, do the MRI and find nothing, and wake her back up and send her home." 

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED!!  The tumor had shrunk to a sliver of its original size and the operation was cancelled.  Today she is at work when she would have been in the hospital, with her shaved head bandaged and hurting.  

God is so good.  And Mary's intercession is so powerful before His throne.  Never fear to entrust your needs to the Mother of our Lord and Savior.  

Thank you, Dear Lord, for this miracle. May lives and hearts be changed in light of it. Thank you, Mamma Mary for your devoted intercession for our needs.  

Welcome Home

Thirteen years ago, at the Easter Vigil, my dear one entered the Catholic Church.

This Saturday the Catholic Church will welcome more new members.  I don't know the exact number for the United States but I know our parish has 8 or 9 participants and a neighboring parish has 50!

Some will receive all three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  These individuals are now called the Elect or Catechumens.

Those who have already been baptized are called Candidates.

These catechumens and candidates have been preparing since early Fall in what is known as the RCIA-Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

This months long preparation entails much instruction and reflection on the part of the participants.  There is so much to learn and this is not a step that is taken lightly.

Each catechumen and candidate has a sponsor who walks the journey with them and aids them in their preparation.

Baptism is the first step.  As explained by  Scott P. Richert, About.com Guide

"Baptism has six primary effects, which are all supernatural graces:

1. The removal of the guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have committed ourselves).
2. The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this world and in Purgatory) and eternal (the punishment that we would suffer in hell).
3. The infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace (the life of God within us); the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the three theological virtues.
4. Becoming a part of Christ.
5. Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.
6. Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace."

For  Catholics baptized as infants, the next steps would be Reconciliation and Eucharist at around age 7 and then Confirmation in, or around, 9th grade. 

For RCIA candidates and catechumens, however, the order is reversed.  

After they are baptized, they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Again I turn to Scott P. Richert, About.com Guide

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists five effects of Confirmation:

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation [as sons of God] which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";
• it unites us more firmly to Christ;
• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
• it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
• it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

Because Confirmation perfects our baptism, we are obliged to receive it "in due time." Any Catholic who did not receive Confirmation at baptism or as part of his religious education during grade school or high school should contact a priest and arrange to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation."

These two Sacraments confer on the recipient's soul an indelible mark and are thus never repeated Sacraments.  The Eucharist, on the other hand, is a Sacrament readily available and can be received daily (much to my delight).

"The Sacrament of Holy Communion is the third of the Sacraments of Initiation.  It is called a sacrament of initiation because, like Baptism and Confirmation, it brings us into the fullness of our life in Christ.

In Holy Communion, we are eating the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, without which "you shall not have life in you" (John 6:53).

Receiving Holy Communion worthily brings us graces that affect us both spiritually and physically. Spiritually, our souls become more united to Christ, both through the graces we receive and through the change in our actions that those graces effect. Frequent Communion increases our love for God and for our neighbor, which expresses itself in action, which makes us more like Christ." (Scott P. Richert, About.com Guide)

To all those coming in the Church this Easter, I say, Welcome Home!