He Is Risen! Indeed He Is Risen!

Happy Easter!  My family went to Easter Vigil for the first time with all six of us.  My youngest will be receiving his First Communion in May, so he wanted to be there to see the three candidates receive Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.  We had a surprise, too!  One of the candidates, after being confirmed, renewed his marriage vows with his wife since their marriage could now be fully blessed as a sacrament in the Church.  I'm so glad we went tonight.

This is the night....

This night begins the wonderful, joyous season of Easter.  Father mentioned that we Catholics fast for 40 days, then celebrate for 50!  Celebrate this Easter season!

Father's homily also reminded us to live up to the potential of the gifts God has given us.  If all Catholics live the love of Christ, how much can we change the world?

He Is Risen!  Indeed He Is Risen!

Alleluia!

The Rainy Seasons of Life

When one thinks of the seasons of life, they may consider childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.  That simple list of four seasons, like spring, summer, fall, and winter, doesn't really capture the variety of the "weather" that makes our lives.  Just as "springtime" in New England can mean everything from blizzards to thunderstorms and sunshine to clouds with temperatures ranging from the teens to the eighties, each big season of our lives includes a variety of weather patterns.

My adult life has included a variety of weather already.  I just noticed that tomorrow marks 20 years since I earned my bachelor's degree.  It seems like just a few years ago I was a young, single recent college grad at her first full-time job, then a young wife and mother.  Where did the time go?  Now I'm the mother of four children ranging in age from 7 to almost 16 years old.  The season of mothering teens is much different than mothering infants and toddlers.

I spent this afternoon with my daughter at a mini orientation for "out of district" children who will be attending the rather large (2000+ students) public high school this fall.  The group of about 20 eighth graders included children from parochial and charter schools as well as homeschoolers (not sure if we were the only ones in that category).  The guidance counselors and principal gave us information about academics, clubs, and more.  The students took a language arts placement test while the parents went to another room with the counselors.  The counselors spoke about a variety of services and topics, including academic ineligibility for sports and summer school for those who fail classes.  This concept is somewhat foreign to me.  As an educator, I know that not everyone passes every course.  However, I wondered just how may kids have to take summer school classes--how many students fail one or more classes or have a GPA too low to participate in sports.

The counselors spoke about cyber bullying and emotional issues with which guidance can help.  They spoke highly of the principal and his zero tolerance for bullying, violence, or gang activity at the school.  They recognized that the school is not perfect--it's populated with human teenagers after all--but they gave me a sense that their priority is the success of every student who walks through their doors.  Their enthusiasm (in March, no less!) gave me the sense that they are dedicated to their work and that my daughter will be in the right place next fall to help her achieve her goals for high school.

The thing I liked most about this meeting was the guidance counselors' emphasis on the role of the parent in the child's success.  They encouraged all of the parents to contact the school whenever we had a concern.  One of my hesitations about public education was the idea that I was "giving my kids to the system."  I did not get that sense from the staff at the high school.  I see them as partners in the next season of my parenting journey--letting my only daughter venture into the big world of high school and not holding her hand.  Yes, my heart will be with her, and I'm likely to cry when she heads to the corner to catch the bus in August.  But, my children will tell you, everything makes me cry--mostly the good stuff!  I'll also cry when she runs her first high school cross country meet, when she brings home an art project, or when she acts in a play.  My happiest seasons are notoriously "rainy."

Honestly, I'm pretty confident in my daughter's ability to avoid trouble, succeed academically, and to adjust to this big change next fall.  I'm excited to see how much she will grow and change from a girl into a young woman over the next four years.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NAB)

^*There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to give birth, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

Three Stations of Discipleship

Palm Sunday is this weekend, and it's hard to believe that in another week we will celebrate Easter.  The past few weeks have gone by so quickly with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's resignation, the conclave, and the election of Pope Francis.  Though this Lent has been prayerful, it seemed perhaps less penitential with all of the joy of the Papal election and installation over the past two weeks.

Praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent is one of the most beautiful devotions in our Catholic tradition outside of the Mass and the Sacraments.  This particular devotion helps the faithful to deeply ponder what Christ did for us that Friday.  He submitted and opened not his mouth.  He paid the ultimate price, though he was without sin.  He gave himself as the sacrifice to cleanse us that we may share eternal life with him.

I just got home from our parish youth group's presentation of their iWitness Stations.  This beautiful presentation on our Lord's Passion includes a reflection on each of the traditional Stations of the Cross accompanied by a video and songs performed by the music ministry.  The images include various statues and paintings depicting each of the stations, as well as still shots of scenes from The Passion of the Christ.  The reflections for each station, composed by members of the youth group, help those in attendance to deeply contemplate Christ's love for us.

Three stations in particular tug at my heart along the Way of the Cross--Jesus Meets His Mother, Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross, and Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.  These three come between the first and second times that Jesus falls.  Tonight in church, I sat with my youngest son near the pictures of those particular stations.  Jesus bore the weight of our sins alone, but he wasn't all alone.  Three individuals in particular are chosen to represent love and friendship to Jesus during his journey to Calvary.

First, of course, is our Blessed Mother.  She stays near to her son through his anguish.  She suffers with him--her "Yes" from the Annunciation carries her through to this moment.  She suffers, yet she trusts her Lord.  The look between mother and son in that moment would have been one of understanding, anguish, but mostly love.  Words wouldn't have been necessary, but her presence was most necessary.

Next, Simon is called upon to help Jesus carry the cross.  The soldiers no doubt feared he would die on the way to Calvary, as he'd already fallen once.  Simon didn't want to be there, but he helped Jesus when the soldiers pressed him into service.  The reflection on the station described Simon as having a change of heart and speaking to Jesus along the road.  We could envision his conversion under the weight of the wood.  Jesus bore our sins upon that cross.  When Simon helps to carry the cross, it seems to represent repentance--our willingness to own and carry our own sins, and then to repent from those sins, in order to walk with Christ.

Third, we see Veronica wipe the face of Jesus.  "None but she would flaunt the Roman."  This station has impressed me since I was a child.  Who was this woman?  Did she know Jesus?  Was she one of the "women and children" who weren't counted among the 5000 men who were fed by the 5 loaves and 2 fish after hearing the Sermon on the Mount?  Veronica is moved to pity for Jesus.  His face was bloodied and swollen.  He carried the cross like a common criminal as he was paraded through the streets, scorned, and mocked.  Yet she loved him and wiped his face tenderly, and he left his beautiful countenance upon her veil and a gift for her love.

Mary, Simon, and Veronica are true disciples.  They all point us to Christ by being Christ-like.  Their role in his Passion teaches us how to love and to serve.  Just as Jesus told the apostles at the last supper that they would be called to serve, these stations teach us how to serve.

Ringing Phones, Snow Day, and Pope Francis on Network TV

We've known since the weekend that Monday into Tuesday would be a March snowstorm.  In light of that information, I should have taken the phone into my room before I went to sleep last night.  Right on cue, the first automated "Cancellation Alert" call rang at 5:40 a.m., so I bolted out of bed across the hall to grab the phone on my office desk. I received five automated calls this morning before 10:30.  Not one person talking with me--just recordings.

Several of the calls gave me useful information.  However, the frequent ringing and the lack of a friendly conversation to follow the "Hello," on my end was somewhat annoying and disappointing. In general, I don't much like talking on the phone.  Modern phones are miserably uncomfortable against my ear.  The children wander in and out asking questions that they wouldn't think about if I were simply looking out the window at the falling snow.  The sight of me holding a phone and speaking into it, somehow, triggers their thoughts and propels them to beseech answers to their pressing questions RIGHT NOW (translated: only when Mom is talking on the phone)!  Needless to say, I didn't speak into the phone this morning after my initial "Hello," so the children paid me no heed.

The best thing about the first call was that it reminded me about Pope Francis' installation Mass, which I caught toward the end of the consecration.  The announcers were quiet and the Latin was beautiful.  Unfortunately, I watched the Mass on network television.  UGH!   Just after the Pater Noster, the commentating resumed.  All through communion and during part of the prayers after communion, the announcer and "a priest with an agenda" rambled incessantly about how this pope just might change the stance on women clergy and condoms.  Are you kidding me?  People were receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, and all they could talk about was sex and throwing Catholic tradition to the wind.  I was repulsed.  According to Wikipedia, there are approximately 41,000 Christian denominations worldwide.  So, if people want gay "marriage," contraception, female clergy, and acceptance of abortion, I imagine one of those denominations fits their needs.  We don't hear a constant plea from the media regarding Muslim beliefs or Hindu beliefs or Buddhist beliefs and how the time has come for these religions to throw caution to the wind and conform to the world.  

Jesus said:

If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)

Therefore, any Catholic, especially any Catholic priest should respond, "No, of course the Pope will not be changing 2000 years of teaching and tradition."  Instead, the media seeks Catholic representatives who will be likely to twist and turn and speculate so convincingly that uniformed viewers will perceive the misconstrued message as an official Vatican announcement.

Yes, the world hates what does not belong to the world.  The world expects alignment to the arrow on its twisted moral compass.  But Jesus has chosen us out of the world, and has sent the Holy Spirit to guide the Cardinals in electing the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis to lead His Church.

I trust the Holy Spirit will guide Pope Francis' pontificate.  I trust that his teaching will conform with Catholic tradition and the he will help Rebuild the Church.  As we continue our Lenten journey toward Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter, and Mercy Sunday, I am hopeful.  Jesus, I Trust in You.

Habemus Papam, Pope Francis I!

I have already seen one tweet to our new Holy Father that referenced his name--Pope Francis I: Rebuild Our Church!  A Jesuit with a Franciscan name.  Love it!  Initially, I thought perhaps he selected the name for St. Francis Xavier, but when I heard more about Pope Francis, I recognized that the "Poor Man of Assisi" was an obvious name choice for our humble Holy Father, an Argentinian of Italian descent who lived in a simple apartment, taking public transportation, rather than riding in a limo and living in the palace that was at the Cardinal's disposal.  He chooses to live among and for the poor.  I imagine he's honoring both saints with the name choice.

The Holy Spirit prompted me to change my radio station in the car just a moment after the white smoke went up.  I heard the bells pealing at St. Peter's in Rome on the way home from the grocery store.  Generally, I wouldn't have the television on in the afternoon, but as soon as we got home, I told the children to turn on the news.  We watched for the hour after the smoke went up, waiting to meet our new Papa!  We were so excited to learn that our new pope is from the Americas.

What grace and humility Pope Francis I showed as he asked all the faithful to bless and pray for him before he gave his first blessing to all of us, the Universal Church.  

St. Francis, pray for our Holy Father as he begins his Pontificate.  Holy Spirit, guide and protect Pope Francis I as he works to evangelize Rome! Amen.

Irish Dancing in the Month of March

Rainy Tuesday.

Rainy day project, done.  Elizabeth's beautiful purple velvet Irish dance dress no longer fit, so I sewed a new princess blue-colored dress for her last month.  Today, I finally completed the shawl.  We've been to two shows this "St. Patrick's Day Season" but we have three more this week, so I'm happy that her dance costume is finished in time for performances and the recital later this spring.  I had that shawl listed on three or four different to-do lists.  My goal was to finish it today, since my midterm grades were due today.  I planned to finish the grading last night and sew today.  And, surprisingly enough, things went according to schedule.  Now, things didn't go perfectly or smoothly, but that's okay.  The bobbin thread ran out when I was 2/3 of the way done.  Then the tension was off when I re-threaded the machine, three times.  I sighed, but didn't get too frustrated.  All in all, I'm happy that it's done and that I get to see Elizabeth wear it to dance.

At one of the recent shows, I saw a woman at the nursing home whom I had been wondering about recently.  We used to see her regularly at weekday Mass, but she hasn't been there in a while.  I was so excited to see her when we were dancing!  After the final bow, I went over to greet her.  I had been grinning at her while I was dancing, but I knew she didn't recognize me.  She's used to seeing me at Mass in my "homeschooling mommy" role.  She didn't know me as an Irish dancer!  When I went over to talk to her,  I told her that when I saw her, I danced for her.

I am always so happy to go perform at the nursing homes for St. Patrick's Day.  The residents love the music and seeing the children (and adults!) dance.  Our teacher, the owner of the school, gives a beautiful introduction, describes the dresses with their embroidery representing designs from the Book of Kells, and tells a little about the different types of dances.  She is always so gracious, thanking the audience for welcoming us to perform for them and "share our Irish heritage during the month of March."

I'm so grateful for the gift of dance.  I  thank God for inspiring my dance teacher to arrange all of the shows and for the hard work she does to bring joy to the "home-bound" for whom we perform.

St. Patrick...Pray for us!

Impetuous Me

Sometimes my filter falls off and I blurt out comments at the most inopportune moments.  It used to happen a lot more frequently, but God in His Mercy has gifted me with Wisdom and Self Control which usually keeps me in check.  Once in a while, though, I still taste that shoe leather. That's the problem with words.  Once they're out, they can't come back in and be forgotten. Those words must be owned, and sometimes eaten.

Yesterday I said, "You changed it!" And she had.  But she didn't realize it until I blurted.  I wasn't saying anything bad or mean, but the blurt sounded almost accusatory.  My impetuous nature, in the excitement of noticing the changed dance step, lead me to an exclamation in the wrong tone of voice in the middle of the dance.  I had hoped she would change it, and had planned to ask her to change it just the way she had.  But I certainly could have waited until the music stopped to calmly mention the change.  I don't think my comment was taken as an offense, but it was jarring and certainly not at the right moment. I quickly apologized (when the music stopped) because I hadn't intended to be disruptive.

I received a different gift in that moment--Humility.  He gives me that one a lot.

Dear Lord, 
Thank you for the gifts you so lavishly pour forth on your children.  Help me to use those gifts to honor you in my brothers and sisters.  Thank you for the nature you've given me that makes me impetuous at times.  Help me to keep it in check when it could hurt, offend, or annoy others.  I love you Lord!
Amen.