.png)
I commented the other day on a reel that showed an elderly woman vehemently yelling about how “we aren’t going back” in reference to Roe being overturned. She was so angry, so bitter. Her advocacy for killing unborn babies had manifested itself externally and there was not an ounce of joy within her. I was so sad for her. To be so near the end of her life and to still be so determined to advocate for killing unborn babies is tragic. Where she should be cuddling and spoiling sweet babies, it is a tragedy to see grandma-aged women so hateful over babies in the womb. I was compelled to pray for her all day yesterday as I can’t imagine the grip around her heart. Anyway, under my comment, I was lashed out at by many people. One guy told me that he was going to “destroy as many embryos as he could so that I can’t make a difference.” Another lady expressed that “a fetus isn’t a human” and that’d she kill any fetus if she got pregnant. One lady told me to “pray to get a backbone so that you stop unholding a patriarchy that hates you.” When my husband and I were dating, we lived together and I—surprise, surprise—became pregnant. Neither one of us were living out our faith. I was scared to death. It was my senior year of college, we weren’t married, I was embarrassed, we had no money and I wasn’t ready to be a mom. Sobbing through tears, I showed Dustin the pregnancy test and he smiled. “Why are you smiling?!” I exasperatedly asked. “I’m sorry, I know you’re scared, but I just can’t be sad about a baby.” And then he hugged me and told me we’d figure it all out. The patriarchy that the woman speaks of is real and abortion is a dream for the bad men that comprise it. Abortion allows bad men to use women for sex, get them pregnant, and then force/demand/encourage getting an abortion so that they have no responsibilities. Then they go on to scar another woman. It’s also a rapist’s and incestual predator’s dream: Get rid of the “evidence.” Sadly, this woman thinks she’s fighting against the patriarchy, but she’s actually helping them through her support of abortion. A good man doesn’t even see abortion as an option, but instead loves the baby he has helped create and vows to take care of the woman. I regret my response to finding out about my oldest’s life, but I’m grateful her father smiled at hearing about her. Twenty-three years later and she continues to be a joy to our lives. May we welcome new life, Catholic Pilgrims, even when we are scared and unsure of what the future may bring. Live the Faith boldly and travel well.
Continue ReadingA few weeks ago, I was in Berkeley and during the homily, the priest said that when he used to teach at a Catholic high school, he’d ask his students if they wanted to be saints. The overwhelming majority said, “No.” When the priest pressed as to why, they said they didn’t believe they could truly be themselves if they were saints. Isn’t that interesting and devastatingly sad? What an incredible job Satan and the world has done in convincing us that holiness is boring, lame, and strips us of our true selves. Holiness is the exact opposite, though. It helps us to transform into who God truly meant us to be. Why is it that we think a life of sin is better? Why do we think this and then at the same time try to think ourselves better than “big-time” sinners? Nobody is inspired by a life that was/is steeped in sin. We are inspired by saints, even if we won’t admit it. The truth of the matter all comes down to trust and faith. I know, because I used to think like those high school teens. Too many people don’t trust that a life of holiness will be fulfilling and too many people lack faith that Heaven is better than any pleasure we experience here on earth. We are not impressive when we sin. Sinning is easy and asks nothing of us other than to give in. Striving for holiness is not easy. It asks a lot of us, which isn’t a bad thing. St. Paul encourages the Thessalonians, and ultimately us, to “be blameless in holiness before Our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.” You were made to be a saint. We were all born to be saints. There is nothing boring, lame, or stifling about striving for holiness, Catholic Pilgrims, no matter what the world tells you. Have a beautiful first Sunday of Advent.
Continue ReadingThe other day, I got an email from a guy who started off overly cheery. He stated that he was so glad he’d found my site, he loved learning the truth, and was encouraged by how much I loved Jesus. His tone then took a quick turn and he dove into a litany of reasons that the Catholic Church was diabolical. He told me that I was deceived and was going to go to Hell. I appreciated this guy’s concern, but I had to laugh a bit, because all his arguments were things I once believed about the Church. I once said the same things, just not quite so manically. I believed the Church was a small cult. I believed that Catholics thought the pope couldn’t sin. I believed the Catholic Church was a relatively new institution. I believed that Catholics thought Mary was a goddess. I had all these preconceived notions, but I never asked a Catholic about any of it, until I married my cradle Catholic husband. I had been deceived. Everything I had been told was wrong. That was really hard for me because I hate being wrong. Jesus says in today’s Gospel reading, “See that you not be deceived.” I am eternally grateful that God gave me the graces to not remain stubborn and cling to my preconceived notions. I am the type that can really dig in my heels. God knew that the person who would open my eyes would be a man I deeply respect and fully love…and who is as sharp as a tack. He gave me my husband to stand against my attacks and blows and calmly swat each one of them down. I didn’t respond to the guy who sent me the email. He was disingenuous in his approach to me and I could tell, having once been there myself, that he was not going to receive anything I had to counter with. How do we not be deceived, Catholic Pilgrims? We pray, we weigh, we ask questions, we seek out people who know more than us, we don’t make hasty decisions, and we don’t let emotions guide our judgment. It’s hard to do all these things, but it’s worth it. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Tuesday.
Continue Reading.png)
.png)
.png)