What's the Big Deal With Cohabitation?

"Cohabitation is bad for men, worse for women, and horrible for children. It is a deadly toxin to marriage, family, and culture..."(read more)


An interesting article discussed by Fr. Rocky on his wonderful show--Go Ask Your Father!

Free Great Saints Coloring Book

Download our special "Great Saints Coloring Book" for your kids and tune in to Relevant Radio for our special radio event "Great Stories about Great Saints"!

Kids can learn about the great Saints of the Catholic Church and have fun coloring. Plus as an added bonus you can listen to a great, faith-filled, radio show! You can even listen online if they aren't on your local radio dial!

From Sunday's Sermon

"Senator Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so called “House of Dying,” where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer
magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily. “How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?” he asked. Mother Teresa replied,

“My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful.”"

What About God's Will?

Did any of you catch Jen's post about God's will? If you didn't head on over and read it--even the comments.

I'll wait.

As a mother, but more specifically as an adoptive mother, the scenario she describes caught my attention immediately. I read it and re-read it while somewhere in the recesses of my mind a thought continued to escape me. Until now.

What I find so interesting is not the question that was posed, but the narrow scope of response to it. I'm beginning to think that the devil straps blinders on to Christians as soon as the waters of Baptism have dried. Not that the responses were narrow-minded, mind you. The comments were categorically in support of the caller. And it is a good thing to see Christians encouraging and supporting one another--looking for the silver lining, as it were, to her dark cloud. There are plenty of Christian circles where the bus doesn't even make that stop.

But still. About midway through the comments I had a feeling that I just couldn't shake. The responses felt lacking. There was a quality of falsehood or impossibility or maybe they were, in my mind, simply inadequate. But why? What was it that continued to nag at me? I attempted to put the thought out of my head, but to no avail. Until finally something clicked. There was a cavernous gorge that refused to be bridged in this situation. In my situation. In any Christian's situation.

The disconnect comes with the presumption of this caller and the subsequent comments that a life lived in line with God's will equals a life void of struggle and suffering. There's the rub, eh? No wonder the woman caller was beside herself with worry about her situation. People mistakenly believe that a Christian life, lived according to God's will, is a cake walk. Particularly Christians.

I won't do anyone the disservice of pointing out the times--especially online-- where people have publicly declared that the unraveling of their lives was a direct result of their not following "God's will". The beautiful scripture from St. Matthew's gospel is often quoted to illustrate their point:

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Matthew 11: 28-30

The conclusion reached by some, then, is that being in accordance with God's will means a life of ease and lighter loads. And if you're not. Well, then, look out.

But does it really?

Have you ever seen a yoke? The kind a farmer might have used to harness a pair of oxen together? The yoke alone might weigh roughly 100 pounds. But compared to the approximately two tons of oxen hitched to it, it seems small--almost insignificant. Its significance, however, is integral to the success of the difficult work the oxen must do.

And right there, in the seemingly irrelevant yoke referenced by St. Matthew , is where those two polar opposites of suffering and joy intersect with God's will.

The farmer yokes his oxen together by virtue of the fact that if they were left to themselves the difficult task at hand would be nearly impossible to accomplish. As a matter of fact, the oxen will be completely dependent on this piece of equipment throughout their work. If it breaks, it could endanger the people with the oxen as well as the oxen themselves. Not to mention that there will be great stress on the yoke as the work progresses and the oxen themselves grow in size and stature. A good farmer (and probably anyone with an 8th grade physics education) knows that a longer yoke is necessary for pulling simple loads while the difficult work of pulling a heavy burden requires a short yoke, where the animals are yoked closely together for greater combined strength.

What would I have told the woman caller?

I think I know now.

I would have offered her encouragement of a different kind, I think. I would have reminded her to pray for God's will and then to yoke herself tightly--with the shortest yoke possible--to God. Because the Christian journey isn't always easy--even when we are following God's will. And it is always in God's will to drawn us ever closer--and yoke us ever tighter--to Him.

From Sunday's Sermon

On the authority of the Church:

It is as with the cemetery worker who once stated, "I've got all these people under me, but none of them will listen."

A Little Something on the Side

In my spare time, (insert maniacal laughter here) I've been helping our local Catholic family network hop on the information superhighway. Stop by and check out our new site. If you live in the Fox Valley area-- check back often. There's quite a bit going on!

Absolutely Advent!

I wanted to let you all know about a resource we're going to be using this Advent for our children. It's called Absolutely Advent and is published by Pflaum Publishing. We use a very short devotions booklet for each day of the year called Living Faith for Kids(which we also love!), but this is a little different. It is a chance for the children to make their own personal journey through the Advent season. In addition to focusing specifically on the gospel reading for the day, there is an age appropriate activity for children to complete on their own. We used their Totally Lent! books last year and were very satisfied with it. If anyone is interested in ordering these for their children (homeschooled or not), let me know. I don't profit from the sale of these books personally, but we all profit (through a group discount rate) the more people who order. You can check out Absolutely Advent here.
My goal would be to place an order by the end of October, so let me know by then if you are interested.

From Sunday's Sermon

"True discipleship requires following the true leader."

From Sunday's Sermon

"So many Christians want to help God out---but only with advice."

Dear Hollywood...

Our children deserve better. We know it and they know it. And now YOU, dear Hollywood, KNOW we know it, too.

From the Project Chase website: "The media today would have us believe that it’s impossible to be abstinent, that we have no control over our passions and desires. It’s “unnatural” to wait for marriage to have sex. We’re nothing but slaves to our hormones. "

Interactive Seven Sorrows Devotion

Here's a helpful link for any day, but especially for The Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Or if you prefer--- a printable version.

From Sunday's Sermon

"Going to church doesn't make you any more a Christian than standing in your garage makes you a car."

James 2: 14-18

Oh how we will miss you, Father George! Your new parish can't even begin to know what a blessing you will be to them!

Simple Truth

Most of you have probably read--or at least heard of--The Purpose Driven Life...
Below is an interview by Paul Bradshaw with the author, Rick Warren. He tells about his wife now having cancer and him having "wealth" from the book sales. He points to some simple truths that are wonderful reminders for us all.
(H/T my MIL via email)

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw, Rick said:


People ask me, what is the purpose of life? I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body - but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity.

This is the warm-up act.

The dress rehearsal.

God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, the you go to the mountain top, back and forth.

I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems; If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder.

For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy...It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before.

I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians and Psalms 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases. Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan, to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation. Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.


We need to ask ourselves:

Am I going to live for possessions?
Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures?
Guilt?
Bitterness?
Materialism?

Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments: Praise God


Difficult moments: Seek God


Quiet moments: Worship God


Painful moments: Trust God


Every moment: Thank God

Free Divine Mercy Materials

Prior to Lent this year, I was mulling about with ideas for enhancing our daily prayer life aboard the Ark. There were a few prayers I really loved, but had not committed to memory. We have a pretty solid weekly scripture memorization routine, but I was hoping to add to it.

The Divine Mercy is such a powerful prayer with such amazing promises, it seemed a perfect fit for us. Plus, the girls (even the little ones) love the tactile sense of smooth rosary beads between their fingers. And even the smallest ones can stay attentive during this much-briefer-than-the-rosary prayer.

And, since we are often on the go during the apres-school hours, it is a blessing (and a convenience!) that Relevant Radio prays the Divine Mercy every day at 3pm! We are gearing up to begin the Divine Mercy Novena this Friday and I was thrilled to hear that Relevant Radio was giving away a FREE packet of information to help people countdown to Easter and to Divine Mercy Sunday.

Easter Logic

Two ladies, dressed to the hilt in their Easter finery, were making slow progress in the crowd trying to get into the entrance to the church...

Finally one of them burst out impatiently, "Now wouldn't you think that these people who do nothing but go to Church Sunday after Sunday would stay home at Easter and leave room for the rest of us."

While this is all in good humor, there is a shred of truth to this little anecdote.

And it doesn't only come from the Creasters. There is impatience on both sides when churches are standing room only on these highest of holy days.

Rather than heeding the advice of the woman in the story and staying home this Easter, why not plan to leave a few minutes early for church? Then you'll be comfortably settled in when the not-so-frequent-fliers arrive. And better able to extend a welcoming hand to the new faces around you. Who knows, the impression you leave may be the only impression that person has of what a "Christian" looks (and more importantly, acts) like over the course of an entire year.

"Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary use words." -- St. Francis of Assisi

Book Review: Graced and Gifted

Sometime last Fall, (yes, last Fall) I received my copy of Kimberly Hahn's new book, Graced and Gifted to review for The Catholic Company. And it sat on my shelf for a while. Some of you might remember it was rather busy around here at that time. I peeked inside once or twice, but was not drawn into the book as I originally thought might happen.

At some point I took the book of the shelf and moved it to a more approachable side table certain that simply seeing the book would make me inclined to read it. Unfortunately, its new location did little more than give me a new spot to rest my nightly cup of tea.

In December, when Baby Girl headed to the hospital, it seemed the perfect time to finally read.that.book! Once the nurses were done poking and prodding at her, I would slip out the book and get to it. Sadly, as soon as Baby Girl was resting comfortably, I would arrange myself on the sofa/bed in her room and cuddle up with my crisp, white hospital sheet to read. And promptly fall asleep. I did manage to read a few pages while I was there, but all in all, the book was not what I had expected.

I should start by saying I love Kimberly Hahn. I have her CD series A Mother's Rule of Life in the Domestic Church and the book Life-Giving Love both of which I couldn't put down.

Then, this February, Kimberly and her husband Scott came to speak at our parish. I wasn't planning to go due to a scheduling conflict, but decided it might be the shot in the arm I needed to get motivated to read this book.

Their talk--especially hers--was wonderful. (Scott Hahn was wonderful, too. I just forgot to finish my doctorate in Theology before attending.) But she was as gracious and spirit-filled and wise as I remembered from her earlier works. The stage was set to finally begin the book! So, for Lent, I promised myself to work through the book little by little until it was finished.

A few chapters in, however, my motivation started to lose steam. The book was more Scott Hahn and less Kimberly Hahn in many places, becoming less a cozy, women's bible study book and more a theology student's text book in parts. Not what I expected, or desired from one of her books.

This is not to say that the book isn't full of wonderful biblical wisdom for women.

It is.

But the style is not what I was expecting. I don't think I would select it for use as a bible study either, as it is quite lengthy. Although, there are wonderful lists of chapter discussion questions (more than you could ever topple in one bible study meeting) in the Appendix.

Most disappointing to me was the lack of "Kimberly-ness" in the book. At times, her vibrant personality shined through, but at other times the book seemed flat. Perhaps it is just that I like listening to Kimberley Hahn more than I like reading her? That being said, there is a Graced and Gifted Book and DVD series also offered by The Catholic Company which promises, "Kimberly Hahn's lively presentation of the Graced and Gifted material to a seminar audience." which is where, in my humble opinion, she does her best and most passionate work.

This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Graced and Gifted-Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker's Heart.

Not Just for the Birds

Don't forget to share the miracle of the swallows at San Juan Capistrano today.

You can find this wonderful story by Leo Politi available here.

The Holy Spirit, The Radio and Catholics Returning Home

I had approximately 9.3 minutes in the car alone this morning.

My alone time was sponsored by a drop-off of a "sample" for Baby Girl at the lab. Lovely thought, huh?

Anyway, I've been taking my alone time in the car either in complete silence (a novelty!) or in prayer (a blessing!) or listening to Relevant Radio without distraction (ditto BOTH above!)

Tuning the dial to 930 AM, I was able to catch just one complete segment before my garage door lifted and little faces peeked out the door to welcome me back. (It wasn't even ten minutes, people!) And when the speaker gave the web address for the organization he represented, I think the Holy Spirit might have smacked me. At least that's what it felt like. I was met with an overwhelming thought to make sure I shared this site here today.

So, I'm sharing it.

Today.

I don't know why.

But maybe one of you visiting here today does.

Praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet Online

Finding yourself stuck at your computer during the day?

Looking for a simple way to follow the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

Want to encourage a tech-saavy kid to give this beautiful prayer a look?

Look no further.

This site is designed to pray the Chaplet right at your desk (or laptop)!

The Passion Companion

Check out this handy little booklet from Circle Press containing a Rosary Guide, Study Guide and Stations of the Cross---just in time for Lent!