"Watch What You Pray For," by Liz Gary

Everyone has heard the saying: “Watch what you pray for; you may get it.”  When Liz Gary was was pregnant with her third child,  she prayed that God would take her unborn baby before he was born. Her husband Mike and she had two adorable children; six-year-old Abby-Lynn and four-year-old Cameron. They had room in their hearts for another child...but just not this one, or so Liz thought.  Here is her story.

Amniocentesis revealed that the little boy I carried had Downs Syndrome with a heart defect and other possible major anomalies. The news hit me like a sledge hammer. For some reason, ever since I was a child, I had a deep fear that one day I would have a Down’s child. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I feared Downs children and turned away from them.

"5 Steps to Finding God’s Will for Your Life" by Sarah Christmyer

When I was a kid, we had no problem making choices. We went with our gut, and if someone disagreed, we “shot it out” with Rock, Paper, Scissors or tossed a coin, then threw ourselves into whatever it was.

Somewhere along the line, things got complicated. We read “Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood” and learned that a choice can define a life. Wanting to do God’s will, we began to agonizing over those choices.

What is the will of God for my life, and how can I find it?

Lessons from Charlotte Catholic School

The story of Dominican Sister Jane Dominic Laurel of Nashville, TN has gone viral.  Secular news organizations that did not see fit to report on the trial of Dr. Gosnell’s abortion house of horrors are grabbing this one; thereby proving Lesson #1: News is in the eye of the beholder—or rather in the politics of the beholder.

To recap, Sr. Laurel had presented her talk on "Masculinity and Femininity: Difference and Gift," at Charlotte Catholic High School.  She has a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Her presentation was based on a series of instructional videos created for Aquinas College in Nashville where she is an associate professor.  Sr. Laurel was previously well received at the school. This time, however, comments on the causes and dangers of homosexuality caused  a huge uproar.

Your Essential Guide To Rome and The Vatican by Luke Armstrong

Going to Rome and the Vatican for the canonization this month, or wanting to do some armchair traveling?  My son, Luke, posts this recommendation for travelers. 

     I witnessed history in the making during my pilgrimage to Rome in 2004.  Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass with the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, before an enthusiastic crowd in the Vatican.  It was the first time that a pope and patriarch had celebrated Mass together.
     History will be made again on April 27 this year with the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXII.  It will be the first time two popes are canonized at the same time.  Pilgrims are expected to travel to the Vatican for this in record-breaking numbers.  During Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005, the crowd had chanted, “Santo Subitio! Saint Now!” Less than a decade later, many who chanted for his canonization will return to see John Paul II declared a saint.  Many others will be first time travelers to Rome.
   

Protestors at Charlotte Catholic High Misunderstand True Love

What are you thinking, rebellious Catholics?  Do you imagine you love more than those who follow Church teaching?  Enabling isn’t love. Giving mortal sin a pass isn’t love.  Seeking to make everyone happy rather than holding to truth is not love.  

Love hurts sometimes.  It hurts when friends and family get angry with us because we won’t bend on same-sex marriage.  It hurts when we pray outside abortion clinics for the unborn, refusing to support killing the babies as birth control.  It hurts when fellow Catholics disregard Humanae Vitae in which Pope Paul VI predicted great harm to society if we rejected traditional teaching on married love, parenthood, and contraception.

Tabitha by Jeff Cavins

                        

While a pastor, before his reversion back to the Church, Jeff Cavins became a player in a tragic story involving a 13-year-old and an accidental killing. He had no idea how he could help to her, so he asked Jesus, “What would you do?”

"The Patience of Saints" by Jo Bogner

1. Revelation 14:20 “Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”  What does keeping the commandments and Christ’s testimony have to do with patience? We are all a work in progress and need to be patient with God and ourselves. I’m still learning this. 

My first job out of college was in New York City.  When I first got there I loved it, but as they years wore on it became a very difficult and challenging place to live. People were often very cold; moving around in this great mass of humanity, but withdrawn into themselves. I felt alone. 

Pushing 50 and Pregnant

Out of habit, I still had an extra home pregnancy kit around. When a pink line emerged indicating a positive result, it took my breath away. “Well, okay; here we go,” I thought.  I would be 47 and Mark 48 when the baby was due.  At ages 50 and 51, we would have a 3-year-old.  Our family numbered 11 since we had recently become legal guardians of a boy from Kenya who we considered a son. 

The Pope’s Witness to a Transfiguration

“The transfiguration did not change anything, it revealed what was already there,” our pastor, Msgr. Tom Richter stated during his Sunday homily.  The story of Christ’s transfiguration had been the Gospel reading.  Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus transfigured in magnificent light and glory on Mount Tabor.   Msgr. Richter then proceeded to speak of another transfiguration that occurred in 1996 under Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis.

It was a story I had heard about a few years ago, but at the time, the name "Cardinal Bergoglio" meant nothing to me.  Only after Msgr. Richter’s homily, did I realize that our current Pope was the Cardinal connected to this amazing miracle.

Below is an excerpt of the story reported by Fr. M. Piotrowski SChr Eucharistic Miracle in Buenos Aires.

Lies for Dummies

“These will pay for your kid’s college education,” --Beanie Baby investors.   A pile of beans sewn into animal-shaped fabric lacked long-term value once people started noticing the emperor had no clothes or rather, the beanies had no worth. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21).

“You can have it all,” —Feminists promising that becoming corporate executives need not interfere with motherhood. "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matt 6:24).

Evangelizing at a Nail Salon, by Tom Peterson

         One morning, while praying before Mass, I remembered a priest had suggested that we should pray every day that we might be an instrument to lead someone closer to Christ. That morning, I asked God to use me that day to bring someone-- anyone, I wasn’t picky-- closer to his Son, Jesus. After Mass ended, the little Vietnamese lady seated next to me leaned over and asked if I would help her son.