A couple of weeks ago, my oldest son, Noah, who is in the third grade, was showing us around his classroom and showing some of his work during the open house at Christ the King School.
The event is a scene you'd pretty much expect: tons of LOUD kids, dazed, tired parents (it was in the evening, so most looked haggard from work), and scurrying about with shouts of "look at this, look at this."
In the midst of this, Noah showed us an assignment that he had completed for the big event. The piece of paper had several panels, each with a headline, like, "Favorite Food," "Most Important Event in My Life, So Far," etc. In each panel, he had drawn his personal answer to the headlined.
Under "My Hero" he had drawn a picture of me. I have not been able to discuss this since that evening. Looking at that drawing, all the hubbub was quieted, and I was left the most humble person at that school.
How many times have I known I am not his hero and should not be any hero? But I can tell you, I have never been more committed to earning the honor he has already given me: His Hero.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
20 minutes
Today, I found a church in Memphis that offers confessions by appointment or for 20 minutes once each week. WOW. 20 minutes!
My thought is this: What every practicing American Catholic went to confession only once each month? What would the impact be on the Church here? What would the impact be on our parishes? How dramatically would our nation change? The culture of our nation?
More importantly, how would each of us be changed in Christ?
Just the thought I had today, and may not have had it at all, if the church I looked up had offered 30 minutes for confessions each week...
My thought is this: What every practicing American Catholic went to confession only once each month? What would the impact be on the Church here? What would the impact be on our parishes? How dramatically would our nation change? The culture of our nation?
More importantly, how would each of us be changed in Christ?
Just the thought I had today, and may not have had it at all, if the church I looked up had offered 30 minutes for confessions each week...
Monday, March 24, 2008
sorry for the delay in posting
Busy busy.
At any rate, no pictures to post of St. Joseph's Cathedral, but I can tell you, it's a beautiful church and if you are ever in downtown San Diego, it certainly is worth the time to pop in. Daily Mass at 7 in the morning, which is a nice service, and confession on Tuesday afternoon in the chapel.
OK, all Catholics should go to confession. It had been so long between confessions for me that I left wondering why in the world had not taken advantage of this wonderful sacrament sooner. Please, I pray for all Catholics to submit themselves to this blessed sacrament regularly. What peace there is in it for us all.
My favorite moment from confession was when the priest told me that God had forgiven me of my sins; then he asked me if I had forgiven myself. I responded that I was working on it and he said: "God forgives you, and if you can't forgive yourself, you are putting yourself above God. Don't do that."
What a peaceful, pre-Easter thought. What a peaceful thought anytime. Go!
At any rate, no pictures to post of St. Joseph's Cathedral, but I can tell you, it's a beautiful church and if you are ever in downtown San Diego, it certainly is worth the time to pop in. Daily Mass at 7 in the morning, which is a nice service, and confession on Tuesday afternoon in the chapel.
OK, all Catholics should go to confession. It had been so long between confessions for me that I left wondering why in the world had not taken advantage of this wonderful sacrament sooner. Please, I pray for all Catholics to submit themselves to this blessed sacrament regularly. What peace there is in it for us all.
My favorite moment from confession was when the priest told me that God had forgiven me of my sins; then he asked me if I had forgiven myself. I responded that I was working on it and he said: "God forgives you, and if you can't forgive yourself, you are putting yourself above God. Don't do that."
What a peaceful, pre-Easter thought. What a peaceful thought anytime. Go!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Always Good Advice
This is from Pope Benedict the 16th's homily from Palm Sunday, 2008.
In his homily, Benedict urged the faithful to follow God with the innocence and purity of a child's heart.
"To recognize God, we must abandon the pride that dazzles us, that seeks to push us away from God," he said. To find God, he said, "we must learn to see with a young heart, one which isn't blocked by prejudice and dazzled by interests."
Sound and simple advice, but so hard to follow. Why is that?
In his homily, Benedict urged the faithful to follow God with the innocence and purity of a child's heart.
"To recognize God, we must abandon the pride that dazzles us, that seeks to push us away from God," he said. To find God, he said, "we must learn to see with a young heart, one which isn't blocked by prejudice and dazzled by interests."
Sound and simple advice, but so hard to follow. Why is that?
This week's book suggestions
Just wanted to post an update today and let you all know that I will be posting "reviews" this week of three books that I am reading or have recently read for your consideration.
Tomorrow I head to San Diego for a couple of days of work and am looking forward to attending morning mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral (http://www.sdcathedral.org/). It will be the first time for me to see this church, so I will report here and post pics, if I take any.
Tomorrow I head to San Diego for a couple of days of work and am looking forward to attending morning mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral (http://www.sdcathedral.org/). It will be the first time for me to see this church, so I will report here and post pics, if I take any.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Hymn for the week!
This is one of my all-time favorites. Hope you all like it, too!
Were You There
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were You There
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Interesting article on study from Britain
March 16, 2008
Royal college warns abortions can lead to mental illness
Sarah-Kate Templeton, Health Editor
Women may be at risk of mental health breakdowns if they have abortions, a medical royal college has warned. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says women should not be allowed to have an abortion until they are counselled on the possible risk to their mental health.
This overturns the consensus that has stood for decades that the risk to mental health of continuing with an unwanted pregnancy outweighs the risks of living with the possible regrets of having an abortion.
MPs will shortly vote on a proposal to reduce the upper time limit for abortions “for social reasons” from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, a move not backed by the government. A Sunday Times poll today shows 59% of women would support such a reduction, with only 28% backing the status quo. Taken together, just under half (48%) of men and women want a reduction to 20 weeks, while 35% want to retain 24 weeks.
Some MPs also want women to have a “cooling off” period in which they would be made aware of the possible consequences of the abortion, including the impact on their mental health, before they could go ahead.
More than 90% of the 200,000 terminations in Britain every year are believed to be carried out because doctors believe that continuing with the pregnancy would cause greater mental strain.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends updating abortion information leaflets to include details of the risks of depression. “Consent cannot be informed without the provision of adequate and appropriate information,” it says.
Several studies, including research published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in 2006, concluded that abortion in young women might be associated with risks of mental health problems.
The controversy intensified earlier this year when an inquest in Cornwall heard that a talented artist hanged herself because she was overcome with grief after aborting her twins. Emma Beck, 30, left a note saying: “Living is hell for me. I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum. I want to be with my babies; they need me, no one else does.”
The college’s revised stance was welcomed by Nadine Dorries, a Conservative MP campaigning for a statutory cooling-off period: “For doctors to process a woman’s request for an abortion without providing the support, information and help women need at this time of crisis I regard almost as a form of abuse,” she said.
Dawn Primarolo, the health minister, will this week appeal to MPs to ignore attempts to reduce the time limit on abortion when new laws on fertility treatment and embryo research come before parliament.
Dr Peter Saunders, general secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: “How can a doctor now justify an abortion [on mental health grounds] if psychiatrists are questioning whether there is any clear evidence that continuing with the pregnancy leads to mental health problems.”
Royal college warns abortions can lead to mental illness
Sarah-Kate Templeton, Health Editor
Women may be at risk of mental health breakdowns if they have abortions, a medical royal college has warned. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says women should not be allowed to have an abortion until they are counselled on the possible risk to their mental health.
This overturns the consensus that has stood for decades that the risk to mental health of continuing with an unwanted pregnancy outweighs the risks of living with the possible regrets of having an abortion.
MPs will shortly vote on a proposal to reduce the upper time limit for abortions “for social reasons” from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, a move not backed by the government. A Sunday Times poll today shows 59% of women would support such a reduction, with only 28% backing the status quo. Taken together, just under half (48%) of men and women want a reduction to 20 weeks, while 35% want to retain 24 weeks.
Some MPs also want women to have a “cooling off” period in which they would be made aware of the possible consequences of the abortion, including the impact on their mental health, before they could go ahead.
More than 90% of the 200,000 terminations in Britain every year are believed to be carried out because doctors believe that continuing with the pregnancy would cause greater mental strain.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends updating abortion information leaflets to include details of the risks of depression. “Consent cannot be informed without the provision of adequate and appropriate information,” it says.
Several studies, including research published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in 2006, concluded that abortion in young women might be associated with risks of mental health problems.
The controversy intensified earlier this year when an inquest in Cornwall heard that a talented artist hanged herself because she was overcome with grief after aborting her twins. Emma Beck, 30, left a note saying: “Living is hell for me. I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum. I want to be with my babies; they need me, no one else does.”
The college’s revised stance was welcomed by Nadine Dorries, a Conservative MP campaigning for a statutory cooling-off period: “For doctors to process a woman’s request for an abortion without providing the support, information and help women need at this time of crisis I regard almost as a form of abuse,” she said.
Dawn Primarolo, the health minister, will this week appeal to MPs to ignore attempts to reduce the time limit on abortion when new laws on fertility treatment and embryo research come before parliament.
Dr Peter Saunders, general secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: “How can a doctor now justify an abortion [on mental health grounds] if psychiatrists are questioning whether there is any clear evidence that continuing with the pregnancy leads to mental health problems.”
Friday, March 14, 2008
Touching Scenes
This week has brought to me several moments of being touched by the Spirit, and I want to set one of them here.
The first was this past Sunday, March 9, 2008 at my parish church, Christ the King. As we move closer to Easter, the group of those converting to Catholicism move closer to joining the Church. There is, every year, a nice-sized group becoming members the Church from our parish, and this year is no different.
When I scan the faces of those who are nearing their full membership into the faith I hold, I am so moved. They each have a story to share, I know. Each journey is special, no doubt.
However, one person I saw stood out to me, an old man. As he walked to the front to recieve a blessing from our parish priest, I wondered what his story is, and why, this late in his life, he has been drawn to the Catholic Church.
What an example for me this man is, I thought. Learning, yearning and bringing himself to a deeper understanding of faith and to a more meaningful experience and life in the love of Christ, at any age, in any time. His act of presenting himself before the Church inspires me.
That glance at him in a crowded church sanctuary, reminded me: Someone is looking at my face; may they be inspired toward God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit by what they see.
This I pray.
The first was this past Sunday, March 9, 2008 at my parish church, Christ the King. As we move closer to Easter, the group of those converting to Catholicism move closer to joining the Church. There is, every year, a nice-sized group becoming members the Church from our parish, and this year is no different.
When I scan the faces of those who are nearing their full membership into the faith I hold, I am so moved. They each have a story to share, I know. Each journey is special, no doubt.
However, one person I saw stood out to me, an old man. As he walked to the front to recieve a blessing from our parish priest, I wondered what his story is, and why, this late in his life, he has been drawn to the Catholic Church.
What an example for me this man is, I thought. Learning, yearning and bringing himself to a deeper understanding of faith and to a more meaningful experience and life in the love of Christ, at any age, in any time. His act of presenting himself before the Church inspires me.
That glance at him in a crowded church sanctuary, reminded me: Someone is looking at my face; may they be inspired toward God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit by what they see.
This I pray.
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