And That Too...

Alright, I'm too the point where I'm feeling sick when I hear a swear word. I'm sick of negativity. I'm sick of complaints about things that are wonderful. I'm sick of sexual humor- sick of hearing about people I love getting drunk. DOWN WITH APATHY!

Today in my "Jesus in Scripture and Tradition" class the teacher was talking about the gospel of Mark (and how COOL it is!), and how Jesus demands that we, as Christians, need to operate so differently than how the world operates. He talked about how if we are followers of Christ, we will suffer because Christ suffered- and if for some reason we aren't suffering- we may want to ask why. I could hardly believe that those words were spoken in that classroom. He said it hurts to follow Jesus because it hurts to be different. How it hurts more to see others suffer without Christ though! These poor people feed on complains only to find that complaints only cause the soul to become bitter and helpless. It's just like eating too much fast food. The negativity here has pressed on me ever since I got here at the beginning of the year. It's horrible to witness- and sometimes in my own sorrows I wish I could just complain- but my taste for fast food has waned in the past few years and I know the consequences of living that way. The thing is, God wants our whole selves. He wants us to question how things are done, he wants us to realize that his laws were revealed to us for us. He wants us to have undivided hearts. Oh yes- and he wants that too- whatever that may be for you. Swearing for some odd satisfaction, getting drunk because thats what you do in college, telling a sex joke so that you can futher pervert and turn into a killing machine one of the most holy and beautiful acts God has entrusted to us. Down with apathy, down with mediocrity, down with not loving, down with holding things back from God. Let yourself be opened and let the light of Christ purify you! Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God!

Saturday Awesomeness

So, I'm sitting in the music library trying to do homework and I look out the window only to see two kids, a brother and sister, walking cheerfully on the sidewalk below with brown bags over their heads.

Do I need to say more?

Love! Only Love!

"On our way to Rome we crossed Switzerland and saw its mountains with their snow covered summits lost in clouds, it's waterfalls, it's deep valleys thick with huge ferns and purple heather. It was wonderfully good for me to see all the richness of this natural loveliness. My soul soared up to Him who delights to scatter such masterpieces over the place where we spend our brief time of exile. Sometimes we were carried up to the mountain peaks, and precipices, whose depths our eyes could not plumb, opened at our feet as if to engulf us. Then we passed through a charming village, with it's chalets and graceful church spire over which wisps of cloud were drifting. Later the blue waters of a great lake, calm and clear, would catch the glory of the setting sun.

"But how can I describe what I felt before the wonder and the poetry of these scenes? They were a foretaste of the splendors of heaven. I saw life in a convent as it really is, with all it's restrictions and it's little daily hidden sacrifices. I realized how easy it would be to become wrapped up in oneself and forget the sublime purpose of our vocation. I said: "Later, in the hour of trial, when I am imprisoned in Carmel and able to see only a small patch of sky, I shall recall today and it will give me strength. All my trifling affairs will be lost in the power and majesty of God. I shall love only Him and I shall escape the misfortune of attaching myself to trifles, now that I have glimpsed what He has in store for those who love Him.""

-St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul

Bath Night

Me: Do you want a Spiderman towel or a fluffy towel?

Benjamin: Um... fluffy... (muttering to himself) I wish they made towels out of silk...

Benjamin's Evening

I heard the legos going in his room while I sewed tonight. He ran in later and showed us what he was bound to make sooner or later- a lego google. In the background of this picture is the single piece of cherry pie he wanted for a bedtime snack tonight. He insisted that I make him one piece- not a whole pie or a half pie- one piece shaped like one piece. And that's what we did. Oh how we spoil him! But how can your resist spoiling someone who looks at you like that?

Silk Stockings

I love being a Christian because you get used to having small things thrill you. My most recent thrill is this pair of socks. They aren't just any socks- to me they are silky, cream colored knee highs that bring me into all my dreams about silk stockings that I got in my mind from reading all those Lucy Maud Montgomery novels. You can't tell from the picture but they're shiny from the silkiness- they are now my Sunday socks and will be a secret delight for the dark winter months at school.

"I wish I could have a pair- just one pair- of silk stockings. Ilse has three. Her father gives her everything she wants, now that he has learned to love her. But Aunt Elizabeth says silk stockings are immoral. I wonder why- any more than silk dresses."

L.M. Montgomery, Emily Climbs

Christian Culture

"He demonstrates nothing, He doesn't try to justify himself, He doesn't argue. He teaches. His authority imposes itself because the wisdom that emanates from him is irresistible."

In Conversation with God, 526

I had a long discussion tonight with some family members about Catholic culture and education. It was sparked by a conversation earlier in the day with an individual who had the notion that weekly mass at my dear old Catholic high school should be made optional for students. The school has always had it's foot down on the matter and the discussion tonight revolved around why they would do that. Why would a school not run whole heartedly to have people choosing to go to a weekly mass instead of having it required of them? Doesn't requiring something make a bunch of people who aren't Catholic or just plain don't care to go to mass more than once a week create the danger of seeing mass in a negative light? What do we really want of these kids? Isn't it always better to choose to pray on your own whims instead of having someone dictate a time, place, and way of praying for you? Isn't it more honest? More sincere...?

The question that really sparked my interest was "what do we want of these kids?" The simple answer I think is that we want them to be saved- to know, love, and serve God. The school doesn't exactly put that in the mission statement but they do profess to be Catholic, and that is in the mission of every Christian- indeed, every human! The question that follows though, is how are we going to help them do that? This school has decided to do it by creating a Catholic culture in which the students can abide. People need to know what being a Christian is all about- even if they're not Christians. It's such a huge piece of the world and it's history (and it's future!) that it's worth at least to be educated in it. But since we are a Catholic school we have not only the opportunity to educate people about the faith, but also to encourage them to love it, live it, to love God- and where is the best place to go to experience God? What is the heart of the Church? What is the fount of life, grace, and holiness?

It is the Eucharist!

'If you do not eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall not have life within you'! So why would experiencing the Eucharist in Holy Mass not be part of the education at a Catholic school? How can we understand religion class if our souls are dead- if we are not animated by the Holy Spirit through the grace received in the Eucharist? A mind can only go so far for a person because a person is made up of more than a mind. We have emotions, physical bodies, a soul. We baptize our infants so they can get started on a life of grace as soon as possible. We raise our children in families that are meant to support the child in growing in love for Jesus. A Catholic culture cannot be separated from the Eucharist. A Catholic school, a Catholic family, a religious community- these should all be places where a person's soul, mind, and heart can expand and breathe. Why do we need to live in the world as if we were of the world? Why do we need to suffocate ourselves and cripple others in the name of "free choice"? Through the education in the school, those that don't care or know anything of Mass will gain the knowledge. If God wills, he will open their hearts to know and love him in the Eucharist. We must not fail to give them every opportunity to grow!

We need more Red Cardigan Societies and little ideas that will give us room to breathe in this confused world of ours. Tea party anyone?