“Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:6.
Archbishop Chaput asked three things from the Community: do something for families, share the beauty of the liturgy and teach on the Jewish roots of our faith.

Christian and I took the first one to heart: do something for families.

Christine Meert's picture

“Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God.  Do all that you do with love!”  

This is one of my favorite quotes of one of my most favorite saints…St. Thérèse of Lisieux.  I would be amiss if I did not take some time to reflect on this beautiful saint during the week in which we celebrate her feast day, on October 1.   

As you know, I promised going on a little journey with Mary and some of my favorite mysteries of the Rosary.  This week I want to take us into my favorite mystery of the sorrowful mysteries.  I certainly do not want to overlook the importance of any of the mysteries, but there is certainly one that speaks most clearly to me and allows me to enter in more deeply.  

As a Catholic, I have gotten a lot of questions from non-Catholics revolving around my personal relationship with Mary, Queen of Heaven.  There is a great misunderstanding of who Mary, Jesus’ mother, and mine, is in the Christian world outside of the Catholic faith.  If I dare say so, I feel there is a huge, missed opportunity from those of other religions who do not take advantage of the beautiful relationship Jesus invites each of us to while He was on the cross. 

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog on being ready for battle, the spiritual battle.  This is a topic that I feel we cannot talk too much about.  This topic cannot be ignored as we seem to do in the world today.  Evil is everywhere and evil seeks to destroy us little by little every day. 

I remember very clearly sitting with my husband in my Pre-Marriage Seminar, listening to a beautiful couple give a testimony on the use of Natural Family Planning (NFP) in their marriage.  They had five children and a sixth due any day.  My then, soon to be husband, looked at me and said, very clearly, "I will NEVER consider using NFP until you show me a couple that has used NFP effectively and has three children or less." 

Last week’s blog was about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Specifically, how it changes us, sets us free and thus changes the world and influences our neighbors and families. Making the journey to the confessional, to seek Jesus in this beautiful and intimate sacrament is often scary and can be a bit intimidating. Today, I’m going to share some resources and ideas for helping to prepare our hearts, minds and souls to jump back into Confession.