Last year around this time, I wasn't doing a blog or reading them...so I have really enjoyed seeing ideas and getting suggestions from others about how they celebrated the Liturgical Year. Even my husband has ideas about this...and yes, I would love to have twins!!!
By no means do I judge others on the way they celebrate with their families...I have a hard enough time getting my own family to heaven, so I can't tell you how to get yours there!!! We all need to pray for wisdom for each other!!!
When my husband and I make decisions we try to accomplish the following:
*To make it fun being catholic
*What works best for our family as a whole
*Do we spend as much time celebrating the true holiday or feast as opposed to the secular way?
When we first got married we were in a community of Catholics who were trying to find alternatives to celebrating Halloween. They would sponsor and support All Saints Day parties, so that is where we hung out.
Then when we moved down the road...we started going to our friends house for pizza and fun with the little guys...as our family grew...we started having friends at our house. We didn't give out candy at that house because the street we lived on was a huge target for teenagers who just wanted candy and who were usually dressed in disgusting costumes. We have some very sensitive children and seeing something like that would of really scared them...
We now live in another neighborhood where the kids who come to trick or treat are so cute and usually dressed like Cinderella or firemen...so we have no problem giving out treats with holy cards attached...We don't let the kids trick or treat...it really wouldn't be a family event...mom would have to stay home with the babies...dad would have to drag out the others in the cold...and be watchful for who opens the door...is it a nice old lady or a person dressed in a scary witch costume that would freak out some of my kids?
We still have groups of people who come here to our house...everyone brings candy and the kids play games, have fun, and the best time of the night is the great trade off...this is where all the kids get their goody bags and set up shop...they find a spot to dump out their candy and trade...it is so funny to hear the kids..."I give you 2 dum dums for your snickers!!!"
We have a great time...and even thou, this neighborhood would be safe for my kids to trick or treat...at this time we stick with our original party...supporting other families who don't have this kind of neighborhood...
So, Have great Feast Day!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
Friday, October 31, 2008
daily meditation...
I am meditating on the words the Monsignor said as I left mass this morning...may you strive for the perfection from the graces you have just received!!!!
Oh Lord...I try to live to be the person you created me to be...
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
Oh Lord...I try to live to be the person you created me to be...
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
Thursday, October 30, 2008
people say the funniest things...
After my funny post on my daughter...I realized that most people want to hear my funny stories!!! Although, my "rule" for blogging is meditation first!!! So I try to journal my daily meditation. As of now, it is the IMITATION OF CHRIST.
Since that is done...I thought I would share some funny stories from this week:
5 year old daughter:
We watched Your Mine and Ours...Not the original, which isn't as great as the book, but the new one. We bought Clean films for a couple of years before they closed down due to trying to find movies for a family with old and young kids!!! One of the scenes they didn't cut out, was when the dad was on a blind date in the restaurant and his date said she was going to "hit the head". I really didn't notice that the kids got it...my dad always said it growing up. Well, little princess heard it and announced to me days later that she told our very sweet, quite, conservative neighbors daughter that she was going to hit the head!!! Then I looked at her and said that wasn't very proper and the neighbors probably wouldn't like her saying that...I just rolled in laughter and called my hubby!!!
Christian Lady from a soccer game:"So how many kids do you have now?"
Me: "we have eleven."
Lady: "wow, you don't have incontinence?"
Me with a shocked look on my face: "well, actually I am doing quit fine...my midwife says I am very strong."
Lady: "wow, do you think you will have more?"
Me: "we hope to!!!"
Lady: "well, that is great." and she leaves with a strange look on her face...either inconceivable or admiration...I'm going for inconceivable !!!
My kids try to get candy for everything...I finished a book, I helped my sister, I did my jobs, I am breathing...especially my 6 year old son...he comes to me about once a day with some new excuse for why he should get a piece of candy...yesterday he tried this one:
6 year old son: "Mom, I'm bored."
Mom: looking at him like...you know "bored" is a bad word in our family...
6 year old son: "can I have candy?"
Mom: "no, but nice try"
6 year old son: walks away with a smirky smile...
Since that is done...I thought I would share some funny stories from this week:
5 year old daughter:
We watched Your Mine and Ours...Not the original, which isn't as great as the book, but the new one. We bought Clean films for a couple of years before they closed down due to trying to find movies for a family with old and young kids!!! One of the scenes they didn't cut out, was when the dad was on a blind date in the restaurant and his date said she was going to "hit the head". I really didn't notice that the kids got it...my dad always said it growing up. Well, little princess heard it and announced to me days later that she told our very sweet, quite, conservative neighbors daughter that she was going to hit the head!!! Then I looked at her and said that wasn't very proper and the neighbors probably wouldn't like her saying that...I just rolled in laughter and called my hubby!!!
Christian Lady from a soccer game:"So how many kids do you have now?"
Me: "we have eleven."
Lady: "wow, you don't have incontinence?"
Me with a shocked look on my face: "well, actually I am doing quit fine...my midwife says I am very strong."
Lady: "wow, do you think you will have more?"
Me: "we hope to!!!"
Lady: "well, that is great." and she leaves with a strange look on her face...either inconceivable or admiration...I'm going for inconceivable !!!
My kids try to get candy for everything...I finished a book, I helped my sister, I did my jobs, I am breathing...especially my 6 year old son...he comes to me about once a day with some new excuse for why he should get a piece of candy...yesterday he tried this one:
6 year old son: "Mom, I'm bored."
Mom: looking at him like...you know "bored" is a bad word in our family...
6 year old son: "can I have candy?"
Mom: "no, but nice try"
6 year old son: walks away with a smirky smile...
IMITATION OF CHRIST: Meditation of the day...
The Seventh Chapter
Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility
The Voice of Christ (part three)
He who gives himself up entirely to enjoyment acts very unwisely, for he forgets his former helplessness and that chastened fear of the Lord (respect) which dreads to lose a proffered grace. Nor is he very brave or wise who becomes too despondent in times of adversity and difficulty and thinks less confidently of Me than he should. He who wishes to be too secure in time of peace will often become too dejected and fearful in time of trial. (find balance!!!)
If you were wise enough to remain always humble and small in your own eyes, and to restrain and rule your spirit well, you would not fall so quickly into danger and offense. (what is a danger in our lives? food, wasted time, pride, insensitivity, clutter...)
Dearest Lord, my savior and best friend. Please grant me an abundance of wisdom, purity, and self control. Let me see when I am falling and hold on to the many graces you have showered on me.
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility
The Voice of Christ (part three)
He who gives himself up entirely to enjoyment acts very unwisely, for he forgets his former helplessness and that chastened fear of the Lord (respect) which dreads to lose a proffered grace. Nor is he very brave or wise who becomes too despondent in times of adversity and difficulty and thinks less confidently of Me than he should. He who wishes to be too secure in time of peace will often become too dejected and fearful in time of trial. (find balance!!!)
If you were wise enough to remain always humble and small in your own eyes, and to restrain and rule your spirit well, you would not fall so quickly into danger and offense. (what is a danger in our lives? food, wasted time, pride, insensitivity, clutter...)
Dearest Lord, my savior and best friend. Please grant me an abundance of wisdom, purity, and self control. Let me see when I am falling and hold on to the many graces you have showered on me.
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Guest Blogger: Rachel Watkins...
Some thoughts from Rachel:
"Long time ago, the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last king of Gondor to come to his aid to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire they fled vanishing into the darkness of the mountain. So Islidur cursed them never to rest until they fulfilled their pledge." - Legolas. The Return of the King, as they enter Dwimorberg, the Haunted Mountains to gain the help of the Army of the Dead.
Our family has a great devotion to the Holy Souls of Purgatory, and as we pass any cemetery we always say, "Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine on their souls and all the souls of the faithfully departed. May the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace, especially those that have no one to pray for them and those that have been forgotten."
With the upcoming election on my mind, it struck me that these souls, the souls in Purgatory know better than we the power of one vote. They know from their lives already lived, the result of their action - or inaction. I wondered to myself if any of them are waiting to see God, fulfilling their obligation in Purgatory due to a vote they did or did not cast.
I then thought of them as an army of souls waiting for a mission - much like the Men of the Mountain from The Return of the King. They would welcome a chance to fulfill their oath, see the face of God, given a new mission to fulfill. So, I recruited them.
With the Feast of All Souls (and Saints) coinciding with this most important election I thought that we might storm the gates of heaven with the soul of purgatory for this election. Perhaps they will tip the balance, so to speak, just as they did in the movie. Perhaps they will be able to clear the path to the White House just as they cleared the White City. With this army of believers, together with our own efforts, may God's will be done.
Perhaps our family's could join in praying the following:
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus "
"Long time ago, the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last king of Gondor to come to his aid to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire they fled vanishing into the darkness of the mountain. So Islidur cursed them never to rest until they fulfilled their pledge." - Legolas. The Return of the King, as they enter Dwimorberg, the Haunted Mountains to gain the help of the Army of the Dead.
Our family has a great devotion to the Holy Souls of Purgatory, and as we pass any cemetery we always say, "Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine on their souls and all the souls of the faithfully departed. May the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace, especially those that have no one to pray for them and those that have been forgotten."
With the upcoming election on my mind, it struck me that these souls, the souls in Purgatory know better than we the power of one vote. They know from their lives already lived, the result of their action - or inaction. I wondered to myself if any of them are waiting to see God, fulfilling their obligation in Purgatory due to a vote they did or did not cast.
I then thought of them as an army of souls waiting for a mission - much like the Men of the Mountain from The Return of the King. They would welcome a chance to fulfill their oath, see the face of God, given a new mission to fulfill. So, I recruited them.
With the Feast of All Souls (and Saints) coinciding with this most important election I thought that we might storm the gates of heaven with the soul of purgatory for this election. Perhaps they will tip the balance, so to speak, just as they did in the movie. Perhaps they will be able to clear the path to the White House just as they cleared the White City. With this army of believers, together with our own efforts, may God's will be done.
Perhaps our family's could join in praying the following:
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus "
IMITATION OF CHRIST: Meditation of the day...
It has been awhile since I did my meditation on the Imitation of Christ. To better understand this (part two) of The Voice of Christ, I needed to reread part one...
IT IS better and safer for you to conceal the grace of devotion, not to be elated by it, not to speak or think much of it, and instead to humble yourself and fear lest it is being given to one unworthy of it. Do not cling too closely to this affection, for it may quickly be changed to its opposite. When you are in grace, think how miserable and needy you are without it. Your progress in spiritual life does not consist in having the grace of consolation, but in enduring its withdrawal with humility, resignation, and patience, so that you neither become listless in prayer nor neglect your other duties in the least; but on the contrary do what you can do as well as you know how, and do not neglect yourself completely because of your dryness or anxiety of mind.
There are many, indeed, who immediately become impatient and lazy when things do not go well with them. The way of man, however, does not always lie in his own power. It is God's prerogative to give grace and to console when He wishes, as much as He wishes, and whom He wishes, as it shall please Him and no more.
The Seventh Chapter
Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility
The Voice of Christ (part two)
Some careless persons, misusing the grace of devotion, have destroyed themselves because they wished to do more than they were able. They failed to take account of their own weakness, and followed the desire of their heart rather than the judgment of their reason. Then, because they presumed to greater things than pleased God they quickly lost His grace. They who had built their homes in heaven became helpless, vile outcasts, humbled and impoverished, that they might learn not to fly with their own wings but to trust in Mine.
They who are still new and inexperienced in the way of the Lord may easily be deceived and overthrown unless they guide themselves by the advice of discreet persons. But if they wish to follow their own notions rather than to trust in others who are more experienced, they will be in danger of a sorry end, at least if they are unwilling to be drawn from their vanity. Seldom do they who are wise in their own conceits bear humbly the guidance of others. Yet a little knowledge humbly and meekly pursued is better than great treasures of learning sought in vain complacency. It is better for you to have little than to have much which may become the source of pride.
I can't reiterate how important it is in finding a spiritual guide, director, or confessor is. Of course a priest is ideal, since you have the option many times to go to confession, but any holy person can do. It is important to pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit on who may be the one to ask. I have had many in the past, priest and lay women (mentors) who have offered to be of help in my spiritual progress. If you don't know where to go after much prayer...ask your pastor.
From part one: Your progress in spiritual life does not consist in having the grace of consolation, but in enduring its withdrawal with humility, resignation, and patience.
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
IT IS better and safer for you to conceal the grace of devotion, not to be elated by it, not to speak or think much of it, and instead to humble yourself and fear lest it is being given to one unworthy of it. Do not cling too closely to this affection, for it may quickly be changed to its opposite. When you are in grace, think how miserable and needy you are without it. Your progress in spiritual life does not consist in having the grace of consolation, but in enduring its withdrawal with humility, resignation, and patience, so that you neither become listless in prayer nor neglect your other duties in the least; but on the contrary do what you can do as well as you know how, and do not neglect yourself completely because of your dryness or anxiety of mind.
There are many, indeed, who immediately become impatient and lazy when things do not go well with them. The way of man, however, does not always lie in his own power. It is God's prerogative to give grace and to console when He wishes, as much as He wishes, and whom He wishes, as it shall please Him and no more.
The Seventh Chapter
Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility
The Voice of Christ (part two)
Some careless persons, misusing the grace of devotion, have destroyed themselves because they wished to do more than they were able. They failed to take account of their own weakness, and followed the desire of their heart rather than the judgment of their reason. Then, because they presumed to greater things than pleased God they quickly lost His grace. They who had built their homes in heaven became helpless, vile outcasts, humbled and impoverished, that they might learn not to fly with their own wings but to trust in Mine.
They who are still new and inexperienced in the way of the Lord may easily be deceived and overthrown unless they guide themselves by the advice of discreet persons. But if they wish to follow their own notions rather than to trust in others who are more experienced, they will be in danger of a sorry end, at least if they are unwilling to be drawn from their vanity. Seldom do they who are wise in their own conceits bear humbly the guidance of others. Yet a little knowledge humbly and meekly pursued is better than great treasures of learning sought in vain complacency. It is better for you to have little than to have much which may become the source of pride.
I can't reiterate how important it is in finding a spiritual guide, director, or confessor is. Of course a priest is ideal, since you have the option many times to go to confession, but any holy person can do. It is important to pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit on who may be the one to ask. I have had many in the past, priest and lay women (mentors) who have offered to be of help in my spiritual progress. If you don't know where to go after much prayer...ask your pastor.
From part one: Your progress in spiritual life does not consist in having the grace of consolation, but in enduring its withdrawal with humility, resignation, and patience.
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
BEFORE YOU VOTE:
I know everyone is getting in over there head with political posts...but:
I have a bunch of really great info in this POST...if necessary...read it in parts!!! I know the woman in the story below!!! She and her family are about the sweetest things created!!! I too am blessed to be alive!!! Born in 1968 and adopted by the best family I could ever had...it scares me to think about Obama's extreme feelings about abortion. I know many plan on voting for him...but, please take time to read this information and pass it on to those who need to read it before they make a decision.
This is just a touch in Obama's extremism. He has promised that "the first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act" (known as FOCA). This proposed legislation would create a federally guaranteed "fundamental right" to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, including, as Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia has noted in a statement condemning the proposed Act, "a right to abort a fully developed child in the final weeks for undefined 'health' reasons." (see Susan's story below...) To read the rest of the article above click here.
"I have called you by name, and you are Mine..." Jesus tells us...let's listen to a true story of the difference one decision can make in the lives of many.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You are my servant, through whom I show my glory… the Lord… formed me as his servant from the womb… I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.” These are the words of the Lord to the prophet Isaiah… and as they are proclaimed through the Liturgy of the Word, they also are in some way meant for us, too. They remind us that as Christians, and as humanity, beings created in the image and likeness of God, we have all have a purpose in life… that life indeed is such a gift.
***This is from a prolife homily:
This week you will read and hear in the media (if you so choose) about the 36th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in our nation. One of the many beautiful things about the Catholic Church is that she has always stood firm in proclaiming that life is a gift – a sacred and precious gift from God – and that all life – from life in the womb to the life of the elderly, no matter what race or culture – is sacred and holy, and demands our love.
I want to segue from this point into a true story that brings this point home. This story (it’s true!) is about a woman named Susan, who at the age of twenty was a self-described “hippie-on-the-run.” She had ran away from home in her late teens, and at 20, became pregnant from her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was abusive toward her, and so she ended up fleeing from him and found herself homeless and alone. The people that Susan did end up “hanging with in the next few months all told her that the “best thing” for her to do was to have an abortion. So finally she became persuaded, and around the end of the first trimester, 3 to 4 months, Susan decided to go to an abortion clinic. So she went… and while she waited in the waiting room for her turn, at some point she said for seemingly no reason that she could remember, she felt an urge to just get up and walk out. And so she left, and later resolved that she was going to bear the child, and bring this child to birth, to life. Well, she remained homeless with nowhere to live, and sometimes went for days without food… and had no pre-natal care during all of this time. Finally at seven months, she had labor pains and went into the hospital one September evening and gave birth to a beautiful, tiny child, James or “Jimmy” born at 10:24 pm, weighing exactly 2 pounds 13 oz.
Well, the story continues… after her child birth, Susan was being wheeled in her bed into another room to be cared for, and an intern was examining her, and found her to be bleeding… and, as he felt her belly, his face turned an ashen gray, and he said “You have another baby… there’s another baby in there!” Susan laughed. “Impossible!” she insisted.
So… Susan was rushed back to the delivery room, and it was determined that the second child in womb was coming out shoulder first, which of course is dangerous… and it got to a point of crisis where the doctor after whom the hospital was named – Dr. Hadley – was called in. After about an hour of the doctor’s work of turning the child… at 12:09 am on September 11, 1965, a beautiful little red-haired, blue-eyed girl was born, 2 pounds 4 ounces. But there was one problem: her lungs weren’t working… she wasn’t breathing.
So Dr. Hadley immediately began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the child. He went for fifteen minutes, a half-hour… still no breathing… and keep in mind that even after mere minutes without breath and life, brain damage and all kinds of problems can set in. Well, he went on… 45 minutes – no breath. Meanwhile, Susan, the mother, is mere feet away, watching all of this in great pain as she is nearly bleeding to death. Dr. Hadley continued for an hour… still no breath. But… he didn’t give up!
He went for an hour and a half… and finally little “Nancy Susan” started to breath. She had life! Susan, her mother, survived the bleeding and was healed – and, thanks to a persistent doctor who breathed life into her little girl and wouldn’t settle for anything less than life, she was suddenly the mother of two brand new twins [both of whom were very tiny but perfectly healthy – even little “Nancy Susan”!] *
The epilogue to this story is that little Jimmy and little Susan were given up by their mother for adoption, and they both grew up in Maryland, out in Frederick County. Jimmy is married and lives in West Virginia now. Little Susan is very happily married and is the mother of nine children. A few years ago, after some reflection, she felt a need to contact her birth mother. When I asked her why, she simply said that she felt that her mother “needed to know… and to be healed.” So with the help of an adoption organization called, ALMA, she was able to find where her grandmother was – she was in California – and call for her. So after some time and taking many deep breaths, she got up the nerve and picked up the phone and called out to her.
Well, her grandmother answered the phone and they chatted but a few minutes. The Grandmother had the best voice ever and it was so easy to talk to her, smiling the whole time – so she left a message for her to give her number to Susan, whom she spoke to each Sunday. (Susan did not tell her who she was…the grandma may not even know she existed?) But after she hung up, she realized that when the woman had asked her name, she had simply told her “Susan” – she went by her middle name – and so she called her back about ten minutes later and told her “My name is Nancy Susan.”
And then there was a pause, and a gasp on the other end of the line… and then her grandmother replied, “I knew it was you! When you called and I heard your voice, I just knew it was you…!” She remembered that her daughter had named her “Nancy Susan… and they talked for quite some time… and then her grandmother told her that she would gladly tell her daughter that she called and she would ask her to call back that weekend.
So that weekend, the grandmother called little Susan and told her that she had given the news to Susan… and that she was “getting herself together” and that she would call her in a few minutes once that happened. And so about ten minutes later, little Nancy Susan’s phone rang. “Hello” she answered…
There was a short pause, and then the voice on the other end of the line said “Susan? It’s your mom…”
And just a few weeks later, they were joyfully reunited at BWI airport when her mother came to the East Coast to visit her.
I shared that story not only because it is a touching one but also because it teaches us a lot. There are a lot of “What if’s?” in this story. For example, what if Susan, the mother, had not left that abortion clinic that day?
What if the intern had not quickly discovered that little Susan was also in the womb and hadn’t called the doctor for help? And… what if Dr. Hadley – who, by the way, himself died less than a month later – what if Dr. Hadley had chosen after about a half an hour or so to just give up? But in each of these instances – they chose life!
And the fruits of their decisions are that Jimmy and little Susan have life, the mother Susan has been healed, (as well as her whole family) and Susan has a husband and a family of nine beautiful children who are brightening up our world. And… this is how all of this has impacted me personally: Susan and her husband were the ones who introduced me to the Catholic faith, the instruments God used to bring me here, and the fruit of it is that now… the Church has gained a priest because of it!
This true story illustrates some very important points:
· Abortion is never the right choice – it is always wrong – and life always is – no matter what the circumstances. We need to take a stand for this truth!
· We are wise to learn what the Church teaches on all life issues – to learn and to live them.
· We need to be like Dr. Hadley – to be persistent, and when the temptations may come to give up, to hang in there – and to not settle for anything less than life.
· Prayer is the first necessary task. Who knows how many “Susan’s” may walk out of an abortion office because of our prayers.
· And lastly, we need to be agents of Christ’s mercy. If you know someone who has had an abortion, this person needs to know: God forgives. He is so willing to forgive and give you healing, of hearts and consciences. He wants to heal you. So come… come to the Church, talk to a priest, don’t be afraid, he is here for you and wants you to embrace the mercy of Christ.
As we go forth today, may we remember these beautiful words of Pope John Paul II:
“All human life is precious because it is the gift of a God whose love is infinite – and when God gives life, it is forever!”
I have a bunch of really great info in this POST...if necessary...read it in parts!!! I know the woman in the story below!!! She and her family are about the sweetest things created!!! I too am blessed to be alive!!! Born in 1968 and adopted by the best family I could ever had...it scares me to think about Obama's extreme feelings about abortion. I know many plan on voting for him...but, please take time to read this information and pass it on to those who need to read it before they make a decision.
This is just a touch in Obama's extremism. He has promised that "the first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act" (known as FOCA). This proposed legislation would create a federally guaranteed "fundamental right" to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, including, as Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia has noted in a statement condemning the proposed Act, "a right to abort a fully developed child in the final weeks for undefined 'health' reasons." (see Susan's story below...) To read the rest of the article above click here.
"I have called you by name, and you are Mine..." Jesus tells us...let's listen to a true story of the difference one decision can make in the lives of many.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You are my servant, through whom I show my glory… the Lord… formed me as his servant from the womb… I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.” These are the words of the Lord to the prophet Isaiah… and as they are proclaimed through the Liturgy of the Word, they also are in some way meant for us, too. They remind us that as Christians, and as humanity, beings created in the image and likeness of God, we have all have a purpose in life… that life indeed is such a gift.
***This is from a prolife homily:
This week you will read and hear in the media (if you so choose) about the 36th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in our nation. One of the many beautiful things about the Catholic Church is that she has always stood firm in proclaiming that life is a gift – a sacred and precious gift from God – and that all life – from life in the womb to the life of the elderly, no matter what race or culture – is sacred and holy, and demands our love.
I want to segue from this point into a true story that brings this point home. This story (it’s true!) is about a woman named Susan, who at the age of twenty was a self-described “hippie-on-the-run.” She had ran away from home in her late teens, and at 20, became pregnant from her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was abusive toward her, and so she ended up fleeing from him and found herself homeless and alone. The people that Susan did end up “hanging with in the next few months all told her that the “best thing” for her to do was to have an abortion. So finally she became persuaded, and around the end of the first trimester, 3 to 4 months, Susan decided to go to an abortion clinic. So she went… and while she waited in the waiting room for her turn, at some point she said for seemingly no reason that she could remember, she felt an urge to just get up and walk out. And so she left, and later resolved that she was going to bear the child, and bring this child to birth, to life. Well, she remained homeless with nowhere to live, and sometimes went for days without food… and had no pre-natal care during all of this time. Finally at seven months, she had labor pains and went into the hospital one September evening and gave birth to a beautiful, tiny child, James or “Jimmy” born at 10:24 pm, weighing exactly 2 pounds 13 oz.
Well, the story continues… after her child birth, Susan was being wheeled in her bed into another room to be cared for, and an intern was examining her, and found her to be bleeding… and, as he felt her belly, his face turned an ashen gray, and he said “You have another baby… there’s another baby in there!” Susan laughed. “Impossible!” she insisted.
So… Susan was rushed back to the delivery room, and it was determined that the second child in womb was coming out shoulder first, which of course is dangerous… and it got to a point of crisis where the doctor after whom the hospital was named – Dr. Hadley – was called in. After about an hour of the doctor’s work of turning the child… at 12:09 am on September 11, 1965, a beautiful little red-haired, blue-eyed girl was born, 2 pounds 4 ounces. But there was one problem: her lungs weren’t working… she wasn’t breathing.
So Dr. Hadley immediately began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the child. He went for fifteen minutes, a half-hour… still no breathing… and keep in mind that even after mere minutes without breath and life, brain damage and all kinds of problems can set in. Well, he went on… 45 minutes – no breath. Meanwhile, Susan, the mother, is mere feet away, watching all of this in great pain as she is nearly bleeding to death. Dr. Hadley continued for an hour… still no breath. But… he didn’t give up!
He went for an hour and a half… and finally little “Nancy Susan” started to breath. She had life! Susan, her mother, survived the bleeding and was healed – and, thanks to a persistent doctor who breathed life into her little girl and wouldn’t settle for anything less than life, she was suddenly the mother of two brand new twins [both of whom were very tiny but perfectly healthy – even little “Nancy Susan”!] *
The epilogue to this story is that little Jimmy and little Susan were given up by their mother for adoption, and they both grew up in Maryland, out in Frederick County. Jimmy is married and lives in West Virginia now. Little Susan is very happily married and is the mother of nine children. A few years ago, after some reflection, she felt a need to contact her birth mother. When I asked her why, she simply said that she felt that her mother “needed to know… and to be healed.” So with the help of an adoption organization called, ALMA, she was able to find where her grandmother was – she was in California – and call for her. So after some time and taking many deep breaths, she got up the nerve and picked up the phone and called out to her.
Well, her grandmother answered the phone and they chatted but a few minutes. The Grandmother had the best voice ever and it was so easy to talk to her, smiling the whole time – so she left a message for her to give her number to Susan, whom she spoke to each Sunday. (Susan did not tell her who she was…the grandma may not even know she existed?) But after she hung up, she realized that when the woman had asked her name, she had simply told her “Susan” – she went by her middle name – and so she called her back about ten minutes later and told her “My name is Nancy Susan.”
And then there was a pause, and a gasp on the other end of the line… and then her grandmother replied, “I knew it was you! When you called and I heard your voice, I just knew it was you…!” She remembered that her daughter had named her “Nancy Susan… and they talked for quite some time… and then her grandmother told her that she would gladly tell her daughter that she called and she would ask her to call back that weekend.
So that weekend, the grandmother called little Susan and told her that she had given the news to Susan… and that she was “getting herself together” and that she would call her in a few minutes once that happened. And so about ten minutes later, little Nancy Susan’s phone rang. “Hello” she answered…
There was a short pause, and then the voice on the other end of the line said “Susan? It’s your mom…”
And just a few weeks later, they were joyfully reunited at BWI airport when her mother came to the East Coast to visit her.
I shared that story not only because it is a touching one but also because it teaches us a lot. There are a lot of “What if’s?” in this story. For example, what if Susan, the mother, had not left that abortion clinic that day?
What if the intern had not quickly discovered that little Susan was also in the womb and hadn’t called the doctor for help? And… what if Dr. Hadley – who, by the way, himself died less than a month later – what if Dr. Hadley had chosen after about a half an hour or so to just give up? But in each of these instances – they chose life!
And the fruits of their decisions are that Jimmy and little Susan have life, the mother Susan has been healed, (as well as her whole family) and Susan has a husband and a family of nine beautiful children who are brightening up our world. And… this is how all of this has impacted me personally: Susan and her husband were the ones who introduced me to the Catholic faith, the instruments God used to bring me here, and the fruit of it is that now… the Church has gained a priest because of it!
This true story illustrates some very important points:
· Abortion is never the right choice – it is always wrong – and life always is – no matter what the circumstances. We need to take a stand for this truth!
· We are wise to learn what the Church teaches on all life issues – to learn and to live them.
· We need to be like Dr. Hadley – to be persistent, and when the temptations may come to give up, to hang in there – and to not settle for anything less than life.
· Prayer is the first necessary task. Who knows how many “Susan’s” may walk out of an abortion office because of our prayers.
· And lastly, we need to be agents of Christ’s mercy. If you know someone who has had an abortion, this person needs to know: God forgives. He is so willing to forgive and give you healing, of hearts and consciences. He wants to heal you. So come… come to the Church, talk to a priest, don’t be afraid, he is here for you and wants you to embrace the mercy of Christ.
As we go forth today, may we remember these beautiful words of Pope John Paul II:
“All human life is precious because it is the gift of a God whose love is infinite – and when God gives life, it is forever!”
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