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Well, it’s a sad house for our family. Yesterday, our Mittens passed away and after 16 years with her, the house feels strange. She wasn’t here to sit with me during my prayer time this morning. Take it from a military spouse, all the bad things happen when the active duty member is TDY. She just got old. For the past few days, we’ve basically been doing kitty hospice here at home. She still purred right up to the last day. She was just the best kitty—a snuggler extraordinaire, a sweetie tooth, and opinionated as all get out. We got her back in 2009 when we were stationed in Florida. My huband’s co-worker had found her out wandering around and she was pregnant. The co-worker had too many pets already, so she couldn’t keep her. We took her and her little kitten in and they’ve both been with us ever since. She lived in eight different states, some twice, and she made the overseas trip to be a Turkish kitty for one year. Five of her moves were cross country. She was a true blue military cat. I’m not one that puts pets at the level of people. Pets are pets, but they are special parts of the family. Their different personalities and the joy they bring are, for me, signs that point to God. I’m grateful He gave us animals to enjoy. We are going to miss our Mee-Mee, our Mitters, our Mittens Aurelius. We’ll love her always to the tippity top! Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Tuesday, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingI was telling my OCIA class this morning that there is no sin that you could bring to the confessional that would shock the priest or cause him to condemn you. The confessional is where we go to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Some of the sins from my past are so awful. I tell you all a lot of things about the wrong I’ve done, but somethings I don’t. In fact, if I were to write out these sins, many of you wouldn’t believe I committed such things. The graces I have received since my first confession have transformed me. I’m not perfect, but I am changed for the better. You wouldn’t be able to believe that I once was so sunk, but I was. I hear sometimes about a famous person that has come to Christ. They had some big, monumental sins, but they’ve changed. And, yet, people will not accept their inner conversion. The pharacitical mob (if that’s a word) trounces on them, condemning them to hell. We often don’t give people the space to change for the better. Too many refuse to accept a true conversion. In their minds, Christ doesn’t get to decide who is forgiven and who isn’t, they decide. Everybody’s gets stoned except them. We must have hope, though, that people can change; that people can give their life over to God after being the biggest sinner. Otherwise, what the heck are we hoping and praying for when we want people to turn from their sinful ways? I’m living proof that God’s grace and mercy can transform a heart. I’m a work in progress, just like you, humbly coming to Christ for renewal everyday. Have a blessed fifth Sunday of Lent.
Continue ReadingBack when we lived in Alabama, my son decided for us that we needed to go to daily Mass. We lived really close to the church, we homeschool, and why not? So, we started going and it became life to me. Watching my son assist as altar server at daily Mass was truly a joy. Once we moved on base in Cali, we attended daily Mass when it was available. But, in November, our priest retired and Mass was only available on Sundays. Daily Mass was gone. I felt the loss of it. Maybe with a bit of unconscious hope in my heart, my son, my daughter, and I went and cleaned up our tiny Blessed Sacrament chapel. We dusted, vacuumed, and put out new flowers. We came to visit Jesus and I prayed fervently for a new priest. Maybe I was preparing for him to come. Then, on the Feast of the Annunciation, my friend, who works at the chapel, texted me and wrote, "Good morning, Amy! Father Joe is here and we will be having daily Mass." I was so happy to get that text. So, we got a new priest and we got daily Mass back. Our new priest is Father Joseph and, later, I want to share with you all how St. Joseph has been showing up in my life a lot lately. Anyway, this is a reminder that even in this season of Lent, when things can be a bit stark and dry, God still provides great gifts. Even in a desert, sometimes the cup truly does runneth over. Have a blessed Fourth Friday of Lent, Catholic Pilgrims.
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