Here are two apps we’ve enjoyed using together recently.

Note: my reviews are based on the iPad version of these apps. I do NOT have iOS 6.0 because I’m still on the original iPad. Both of these apps work just fine on it, which makes me love them even more. I used the screenshots that are available from iTunes, in part because I couldn’t pry my iPad away from the short people on the day I was writing this review.

Patron Saints

By Our Sunday Visitor; Available for iOS (99-cents); Official Website

This came out as one of three saints-related apps Our Sunday Visitor released a few months ago. (The other two are set up similarly to this one and have been reviewed here at Tech Talk.)

I love that this draws from a database of over 1000 saints and is based on The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, Revised. With all the information that’s available, this is information I can trust.

That, and you can do some really cool Catholic geekiness with it.

We went through and found out who the patron saint of horses was (there were at least four!) and then ran through birthdays of people we knew (ourselves included).

When I hear that someone’s having a baby (or their due date), I make sure to check out potential patrons. (I also use the calendar function at Saints.SQPN.com for this purpose.)

And hey, opening the app to a beautiful image of the saint of the day isn’t bad either.

This is one of those Catholic must-have apps, and it’s also an easy way to familiarize yourself with the huge family we have in heaven.

Saint of the Day for Kids

By Cary Molyneux; Available for iOS (99-cents); Official Website

This is an app that has “genius” written all over it. For my love-to-color gang, printing pictures of the saints is a win on a lot of levels. The summary bios are appropriately written, too.

However, this app comes with a warning (and this should be proof that I’m unbiased): there’s some weird in-app purchasing options. I keep meaning to write a rant about that, and I was largely disappointed by that. The developer 

That said, I paid the in-app option to have it unlocked, because my eight-year-old was LOVING IT so much! When you unlock it, you can move around to whatever day you want on the calendar, and that allowed us to print copies of saints for, you know, every day of the year.

Note: the early version I tested had an in-app purchase option, but it turns out I’m not the only one who was disappointed by that. The latest version, which should be available yet this week in iTunes, will cost $2 up-front, instead of 99-cents and then another 99-cents in-app.

You can look for saints alphabetically too:

And if you’re like us, you have favorites you want to be able to find again.

Overall, we’re happy with this app. I highly recommend it and even more now that the “hidden cost” has been updated..

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Sarah Reinhard

“Take Five for Faith” is a new, FREE Android app from Truequest Communications. It provides daily spiritual reflections as well as links to daily scripture readings and social networks.  If you feel your phone is already jam-packed or are looking for a new email devotion – this is also available as an email through the Take Five for Faith website.

I love the tag line on the opening screen: “Daily Renewal for Busy Catholics”!   Almost all of us, at one point or another, can relate with being busy … be it as mom, dad, employee, daughter, Catholic!

The daily reflections are in-depth and spiritually rich but not so long as to feel burdensome. 

Maybe you are like me and share that feeling you get when you open a piece of spiritual reading, and you know it’s going to be wonderful but you just don’t have the time you want to give it, so instead of reading what you can, you just close it or save it ‘for another time’ (which never comes).

When I opened this app, I thought, “Okay, if I’m in a line at the bank or waiting for my kid at dance class, I can so read this!”  Everything at this time in my life is measured by what I can do between doing something for others – and while I do make time for myself, I just feel that in my vocation of mother that more often than not, I put my “doing” on hold to serve others.  I don’t neglect my spiritual well-being, as that would not be prudent, but I have to choose those things that can reasonably fill it in the time I have available.

The main page consists of:

• The Current Date
• A Daily Reflection
• List of Today’s Readings
• Quote from the Readings
• Links to Social Network outlets (Twitter, Facebook) as well as the USCCB

Other features:

Search allows you to navigate through past and present reflections and articles by any keyword.

Buttons existed on the app for “Archive” and “More” but they were not working on the current version for Android.  It is a fairly new release, and I’m sure updates and fixes will be out soon. You can access the archives through the search feature.

Even without all the features in full function, this is a fantastic, worthwhile download.  I highly recommend the “Take Five for Faith” Android app.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Allison Gingras

This month’s Year of Faith is listed on the USCCB Saints for the Year of Faith.

The month of May is dedicated to Saint Josef Damien De Veuster.

St Josef Damien De Veuster was born in Belgium on January 3, 1840. He changed his name to Damien in 1859 when he began his initiative with the congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He prayed every day to be sent on a mission. In 1863 his brother was scheduled to go on a mission to Hawaii, he got sick and couldn’t go. Damien got permission and took his place. He landed in Honolulu on March 19, 1864. Tow days later he was ordained as a priest.

During his mission there was an epidemic of Leprosy. The Hawaiian government thought it was an incurable disease and decided to quarantine anyone infected by deporting them to the neighboring island of Molokai The whole mission was worried about the abandoned lepers. The bishop felt sure that they needed a priest, but didn’t want to send them knowing that it would be a death sentence. So all four brothers volunteered and Damien was the first to go. He left for Kalaupapa on May 10, 1873.

Damien remained on Molokai for 16 years. He died on April 15, 1889. He was 49 years old.

His remains were exhumed in 1936 and sent to a crypt in the Church of the Congregation of the Sacred hearts oat Louvain.

Damien De Veuster was canonized on October 11, 2009.

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs

3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
2 tablespoons sherry
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon ginger
6 boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 2 inch pieces
Bamboo skewers

In a shallow 13 x 9 dish soak skewers in water for about 1/2 hour. Meanwhile in a ziplock bag combine soy, brown sugar, pineapple juice, sherry, oil and ginger. Add chicken breasts and mix well. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours overnight is best.

Preheat broiler to high. Broil chicken for 10-15 minutes turning occasionally until chicken is golden brown and juices run clear.

Peace be with you,

Veronica

Copyright 2013 Veronica Gantley

Man to Man, Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood

I’d like to thank Brian Caulfield, Editor and Author of Man to Man, Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood for sharing the following information about this terrific new book.  With Father’s Day approaching, this seems like the perfect time to pre-order a book for the favorite father in your life! LMH

About this Book:

The identity and purpose of fathers in contemporary society is more uncertain than ever before. Cultural shifts such as rising rates of divorce and single motherhood, conception through sperm donation and in-vitro fertilization, and the educational and professional advancements of women have confused traditional paternal roles and family unit structures. As a result, a perception has been created whereby fatherhood is undervalued…or altogether unnecessary. But this perception is misguided-especially for Catholic fathers who are vital to supporting the structure of the family unit: the “domestic church.”

In this collection of faith-filled reflections by fourteen Catholic men, the value of a Catholic father’s identity and purpose is affirmed in the context of modern society. Acknowledging our workaholic tendencies and the constant struggle to strike a balance between family life and work life, fathers are provided with a realistic approach to making their relationships with God, their wives, and children more involved and fulfilling.

Blending personal anecdotes from Catholic fathers, models of fatherhood in Jesus’ parables, Scriptural passages, references to other publications, and allusions to Church teachings and figures of authority, this guidebook helps Catholic dads find the path to living as faithful family men through three simple steps: pray, love, confess.
Table of Contents:

• Foreword by Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan
• Introduction: Dads in Deed, by Brian Caulfield
• 1: The Prodigal Son Meets the Forgiving Father, by Mike Aquilina
• 2: St. Joseph: A Man’s Man, by Rick Sarkisian
• 3: Balancing Work and Home Life: Insights from the Experts, by Brian Caulfield
• 4: Five Steps for Disciplining Kids, by Ray Guarendi
• 5: Good Sports for Kids, by Gerald Korson
• 6: A Father’s Vital Presence, by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
• 7: The Best Sex You Will Ever Have, by Jonathan Doyle
• 8: Theology of the Body for Fathers, by Damon C. Owens
• 9: Millennials, Morality, and New Evangelization, by Jason Godin
• 10: Superdad: More Than an Action Figure, by Bill Donaghy
• 11: You Can Keep Your Kids Catholic, by Patrick Madrid
• 12: Repairing a Broken Marriage, by Peter Kleponis
• 13: Breaking the Chains of Porn, by Mark Houck
• Conclusion: Three Simple Steps, by Brian Caulfield

Pre-order Man to Man, Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Visit our Book Notes archives

Copyright 2013 Lisa M. Hendey

Prayer for Gifts of the Holy Spirit for Mothers

Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Holy Spirit. These include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. It seems that as mothers, we can use an extra helping of each of these.

Dear Holy Spirit,

Please help me to love my children even when it is hard: when it is 2 a.m. and the baby is crying, or the two-year old is having a tantrum, when the six-year old is telling me he hates me, or when the teenager has just slammed the door for the 167th time.

Please help me to have joy in the little moments. Please help me to appreciate the smiles and fun that my children have, to rejoice in the small gifts that come my day amidst the hard work of parenting.

Please grant me the gift of peace, peace in my heart even when the whole world around me seems to be in turmoil. Help me extend that peace to my children so that they can grow up knowing that peace, not violence, is the answer.

Please help me to have patience, patience, and more patience. I can always use more! And when that supply is used up, please help me to find just a little bit extra.

Please help me to treat my children, and all those whom I meet, with kindness. Let my children know by my example that kindness can change the world.

Please help me to be good. My children’s eyes are always upon me, and my actions speak much louder than my words. Help me to be a good example to help them learn how to live.

Please grant me the gift of trustworthiness. Help me to be a person of my word, to say what I mean and mean what I say. Help me to honor my commitments and keep my children’s confidences.

Please help me to be gentle with my children’s hearts. Help me to remember what it was like to be a child. Help me to offer all the support and healing to them that I can.

Lastly, please assist me with my self-control. Help me to keep my desires and weaknesses in check. Help me to put my children first. Help me to be the best mom that I can be.

I ask this through the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Copyright 2013 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

A

Aren’t we great?

Always running around serving,

Acting like a combination of Martha and Mary.

A+ Mums, right?

Think again.

When we refuse to give up control, we shut out the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact we end up acting just like vacuum cleaners when it is God’s job to purify our family in His power, mercy and grace. He needs us to simply be conduits of his Love. It is by Christ’s suffering that mothers and their families are healed, not by the mother acting like the sacrificial lamb or the scapegoat of the Old Testament.

Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

As a mother, I am wired to work emotionally just like a vacuum cleaner,sucking up all my children’s pain. Likewise, my children are compassionate vacuum cleaners as well, who attract other people’s negative emotions. They are all aware that they learned this dysfunctional behaviour not only from observing Michael and me in action but also because they have inherited this trait from both of us.

This problem, The Vacuum Cleaner Syndrome, is a difficult disease to cure. As my daughter and fellow vacuum cleaner, Katie, asked during a family discussion,

“How can one vacuum cleaner help another vacuum cleaner?”

Four of us around the circle smiled and laughed at the image.

Then I blurted out, “Why, show the other vacuum how to reverse the hose and blow out the dirt, and not suck it in and collect it.”

That comment released waves of uncontrollable laughter that actually did blast clean air through all of us.

Compassion and empathy are vital in close relationships but my tendency is to try to fix my husband and kids by hoarding their pain within my heart.

Do my seemingly selfless reactions weigh me down?

YES.

Is anyone fixed or set free as I sacrifice my peace and happiness to try to help my family?

NO.

Does this Vacuum Cleaner Syndrome destroy every one’s peace and joy?

YES.

The good news is that a silly image that pictures mum as a vacuum cleaner does reverse this self-defeating, addictive pattern because it makes it easier for everyone to understand how ludicrous I have been. The laughter that follows releases the tension used to keep emotional pain locked up inside.

Jesus is the only vacuum cleaner who has the ability to literally suck up every one’s emotional pain, sin etc. and then blow in joy, peace and new life back in. The only prerequisite is to give Him permission. This is the great exchange; surrender dirt and receive the bright, clean breath of God, then laugh at how long it took you to let it happen.

Let’s entrust our kids to God and Mary’s intercession.

Mary is the Queen over all things: “Queen over all things” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 966).

Entrust our cares to Mary: “Holy Mary, Mother of God…we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for us as she prayed for herself: ‘Let it be to me according to your word.’ [Lk 1:38] By entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her: ‘Thy will be done,’ (CCC 2677).

Mary is Advocate, Helper, Mediatrix. “…the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.’” (CCC 969).

Copyright 2013 Melanie Jean Juneau

• Today’s Scriptures
• USCCB Video Reflection
• Saints of the Day

We begin a new ordinary liturgical time today as the readings rapidly change from the great festival and solemnity of Pentecost.  We start with a magnificent deuterocanonical  Wisdom book called Ben Sira or Sirach.  An elderly and venerable priest said in introducing this book:  Read the passages slowly. When finished go outside and take a good look at nature. There you will find its interpretation.  The Wisdom of the Bible is extremely practical and often very sharp and funny.  Sirach, however, is special in that it was used by the Dead Sea Scroll community who had copies of it in Hebrew and Greek. It is not part of the 24 books of the Hebrew Scriptures. Ben Sira or Sirach. His name is Simeon in the Hebrew text and Jesus (Joshua) in the Greek text of the Septuagint.  The book contains many proverbs, liturgical texts, moral instructions for the young and maturing, maxims, and counsels and encourages us to seek wisdom or Sophia, the word for Wisdom in Greek. Observing the wisdom of the Torah is the highest form for it entails doing God’s will and being obedient to the precepts and commandments of God. The Greek version was made by the grandson of Simeon ben Sira.  We will enjoy some liturgical passages for the coming ordinary days in the liturgical calendar and do well by relating it to nature and all of God’s creation.

This year we jump into Mark in the liturgical seventh week of ordinary time in order to regulate the movement toward Advent the beginning of the liturgical year.  Our passage describes an exorcism of Jesus who restores a young man to his father.  Both the crowd and the disciples seem to be arguing over the condition of the boy or young man; only Jesus is able to heal him and cast out the demon.  The scene is vividly described by Mark who brings out the strong character of Jesus as he not only confronts the demon but also chides all who surround him for their lack of faith and trust in the power of God.  Fortunately, the father of the boy does have some faith and Jesus helps him to grow in it.  He, the father, cries out, “I do believe! Help my lack of trust!”

Jesus asks a lot of questions in the Gospel of Mark that are not found in the other Gospels.  We may wish to meditate on them and let them penetrate our own souls to learn from the scene.  How do I respond to Jesus’ questions and some of his stern statements?  What can I take from this powerful healing?  Do I have some addictions that seem to be a little demonic?  Can I cry out as the father of the boy does and ask Jesus to help me grow in trust?  Why does Jesus tell me and those surrounding him that this type of demon can only be cast out by prayer?  Why does this event happen shortly after the Transfiguration of Jesus? The Scripture commentator, Paul J.Achtemeier writes, “That final reference to prayer tells us that the only appropriate response to Jesus is total, trusting reliance on God’s power, which is the attitude of prayer as well as of faith.  Yet the story also assures us that however imperfect our faith may be, Jesus is nevertheless able to overcome the evil forces at work within our lives.” Amen.  P.S.  Welcome to Ordinary Time!

Copyright 2013 Fr. Bertrand Buby, S.M. 

Where I Belong by Stephanie Gulya

After blogging for a year and a half on the topic of being a Catholic woman (and after almost 24 years of actually being a Catholic woman), I have come to the conclusion that the topic of fatherhood is a sore subject for almost every woman. This, of course, is not to say that there aren’t women out there who have great relationships with their earthly fathers and no problem at all relating to God the Father, but through my experiences, I have found that a majority of women (Catholic or not) need healing when it comes to their father.

The root of this goes all the way back to Adam and Eve in the Garden. It’s kind of shame that they keep getting blamed for everything, but Original Sin is quite a hurtle to get past. When Adam and Eve chose to eat of the forbidden fruit, this was a slap in the face to the Fatherhood of God.

Many people will say that the first sin was pride, which I will not dispute, but I have read many other sources which talk about Original Sin and the Father. Adam and Eve were basically saying that they didn’t trust their Father to provide for them. They thought they could do it better themselves (pride). They rejected the love that the Father had for them, and we are now inclined to do the same. We inherit this mistrust of the Father from our first parents. And, in the end, doesn’t every sin have the same root: we are trying to get something for ourselves, to provide for ourselves because we don’t trust the Father to provide?

In addition to all of this, we often find that our relationship with our earthly fathers leaves something to be desired. Our earthly fathers are meant to be an image of our Heavenly Father. Through our human relationships, we are supposed to learn something about our relationship with God. The plan was that earthly fathers would love us in such a way that led us to the Source of that love: God the Father Himself. With Original Sin, our relationship with God the Father was distorted, as was our relationship with our earthly fathers. Many of us have been left with wounds by our fathers or by father figures in our lives. This was not how God intended for us to live.

My insights into fatherhood, both the human and divine side, have led me to one very important conclusion: healing is needed! In the spirit of Easter, we should rejoice because even though sin entered the world and we have been wounded over and over again, the Father sent His only Son to bring us redemption and healing! Brokenness is not the end of the line. We are not meant to live in fear and hurt. We are meant to live in glory! And that live of glory can begin here on earth!

Over the past few months, I have been working on a very special project surrounding all of these insights. The Lord has provided a lot of healing in my life on the topic of fatherhood and I wanted to find a way to share the joy I have found. Tomorrow, Monday, April 15^th, marks the release of my first eBook entitled Where I Belong: 30 Daily Reflections to Lead Catholic Women Closer to the Heart of the Father. This book, in addition to being the fulfillment of a childhood dream to write and publish a book, is my way of sharing all I have learned in a way which I am sure can benefit every woman. Each day, I provide a Scripture passage, a written reflection and a guided prayer exercise to help you to dive deeper into your relationship with God the Father. The normal cost of the eBook is $8.00, but since Lisa Hendey has been such a blessing in helping me with my blogging career, I am offering it to all of you for $5.00. To get the discounted price, all you have to do is enter the code “catholicmom” once you go to the cart to checkout. Click here to learn more about or to order the book.

Whether you buy the book or not, the most important thing I want you to take away from this article is that you are a beloved daughter of the Father. For some of you, this might be an affirmation and reminder of a truth you already live in, and for others, it may hurt your heart to think about this truth. But, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey, the Truth remains the same and there is always more to learn about being His daughter. Rejoice with me that we have a Father who loves us enough to sacrifice everything to bring us back to Him….FOREVER! Rejoice in the message of Easter!

May God be praised!

Where I Belong: 30 Daily Reflections to Lead Catholic Women Closer to the Heart of the Father

Copyright 2013 Stephanie Gulya

He Leadeth Me

I have a group of friends who pick a book to read and discuss together every few months and He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S. J. was our most recent selection.  I had heard about this book and read about this book for quite a few years before I actually read it. It is amazing and one I am sure I will read again and again.

A brief overview:  Fr. Walter Ciszek was a Jesuit who answered the call to go to Russia as he began his priestly formation.  He eventually arrived in Russia though probably not as he or as his superiors expected.  He winds up deep in the Gulag and is presumed dead by his order and family back in the United States.  Upon his release from prison he works for a time in Russia since he cannot leave the country.  After many years he makes contact with his sister and miraculously he is allowed to leave Russia and come home.

This book is a chronicle of his spiritual journey in which he learned to trust God in all things and see him everywhere. So what does this have to do with evangelization?  Everything!  This awesome man of God reached out to people no matter what circumstance.  His overwhelming desire to serve, especially within the sacraments of confession and Eucharist are mind boggling.  The penalty for being found out could have meant his death in some of the situations he when ministered to his fellow man.  Yet the benefits far outweighed the risks for Fr. Ciszek and the other men.

Reading this book reminded me that God can always use us to serve him and bring the Good News to the people who are already in our lives.   We don’t always have to find people or places to go out and evangelize; serve the people in your life with joy and gladness.  Surely that can convert far more people than searching for the big moment to share your faith.  I have come to learn that it truly is all the little moments that matter.

This quote from the book reminds us that all we do is important if done with God:

“No action, however insignificant, if accepted and performed as from God’s hand and in conformity with his will, is anything other than redemptive and a sharing in the great work of salvation begun by Christ’s passion.”

Order He Leadeth Me and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Copyright 2013 Deanna Bartalini

5-tracks available on iTunes, Amazon & CD

With One Heart

Boston, MA – It’s rare when a musical ensemble has the opportunity to perform before the preacher to the Papal Household, but also gets invited as part of the lineup at Blue Flame, an Oklahoma-based Protestant ministry that explores the intersection of worship and the arts. Now, the Boston-based With One Heart, a contemporary Catholic-Christian rock ensemble that can make such a claim, will release a long-anticipated 5-track EP Out of Darkness on iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby.com.

“It’s an exciting step we’re taking,” says Mike McDuffee, the band’s acoustic guitarist, who is no stranger to enhancing worship with music in and around Boston. “The EP allowed us the opportunity to really explore our passion for creating vibrant, life-filled music that helps us praise God.”

The band recorded their work in August of 2012 at Icon Studios with producer David Smith, who has also worked with Contemporary Christian singers and songwriters such as Nick Cardilino. Production finished this past fall and the ensemble has already received requests for the EP from venues where they have performed in the past, including Blue Flame.

“Playing before a largely Evangelical audience and alongside our Protestant brothers and sisters is an amazing experience,” notes lead vocalist Nicholas Hennessey. “When you sing, you pray twice, so maybe when we all play as a group and sing, we’re praying three times,” he says with a chuckle. “But seriously, the idea is to pour our heart into our performances and use the talents God gave us to encourage more prayer—I feel like we’ve really done that on this EP.”

Band Members:

Mike McDuffee-acoustic guitar/vocals
Nick Hennessey-vocals
Brendon McGrath-electric guitar
Patrick Hanafin-drums

Of course we would all like to live in paradise. A place where nature is gentle and giving and people are loving and kind. A place without war, murder, lies, cover ups, guns, violence, anger and abuse. But the truth of the matter is that we live on earth and not in heaven.

God gave each one of us the gift of life. With this gift He also gave us the gift of free will. We can create havoc, violence and chaos. Or we can choose to spread love, beauty and kindness.

I was asked recently “If God is all loving, then why does He allow suffering, abuse, war and all of the hatred? Why didn’t he choose to give us paradise?” I have prayed and thought about this question for quite some time.

I believe that God gives us life, freewill and a good heart. I believe there is chaos and evil in the world.  God tries to guide us in His ways but we don’t always listen. Even those who listen and try to love others and bring good to the world have tragic things occur in their lives. But I believe it is God who gives us the strength to find the good even in the horror of the evil. I believe that suffering builds character and brings us closer to God. Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, He was scourged, whipped, beaten and humiliated; he suffered for us. God allowed His son to endure unbelievable suffering so that we may have an example of how to forgive and love others without condition. I believe there will be a paradise and a heaven where there is nothing but goodness, bliss, color and love. I also believe God asked us to bring some of this heaven to our earth through our actions, attitudes and words.

God is all loving. No matter what we have chosen to do or not do God continues to love us. It is our responsibility to bring heaven to this earth. God gave us that responsibility. Now we need to paint our little part of the earth in the bright colors of kindness, generosity, compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love. The more faith we spread the more colors can be painted.

Copyright 2013 Lori Hadorn-Disselkamp

Here are the Tech Talk highlights from last week.

Catholic’s Companion on Windows

Here’s the Catholic app we found in a recent foray into a Windows smartphone.

New “Missio” App to be Unlocked by Pope Francis on Friday

Pope Francis is unveiling a new smartphone app and our team is jumping up and down in all kinds of excitement.

Pentecost: The  Mission, Method, and Means

What does Pentecost have to do with Tech Talk? We don’t think you’ll be disappointed by this reflection!

More Than Words (Wake Up to the Creed App Review)

How a new app is helping us pray differently (and better?).

Read all of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Sarah Reinhard

Little did I know that once I started blogging and writing just as I was, and just as I am, with no hidden agendas, God would use my little ol’ blog in little and big ways. Starting 2012, He even allowed me to partner with some amazing businesses and brands, all of which have been great blessings to our family.

I was on Blogger for quite a while, and have finally taken the “leap” and moved to my new “home.” :) All in line with my new blogging goals, my blogging “mission” if you will.

In line with the Church’s call to New Evangelization, I hope and pray that by blogging about our Catholic faith and how our family is trying to live it out every day, especially through homeschooling and active community life, God can encourage and inspire others, especially Catholics here in the Philippines and elsewhere, to live truly rich and blessed lives. I know it seems so idealistic, but I just leave everything in God’s hands.

Copyright 2013 Tina Santiago-Rodriguez

This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes

This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes
By Kathleen Basi
2013, Liguori

The forward of Kathleen Basi’s new book, This Little Light of Mine says, “No one can teach well what he or she doesn’t know well. The best way to ensure that religious formation “takes” is for parents to live their faith, to be seekers alongside their children. Then, children see that religion is not something you learn about in childhood and consider finished. Rather, it must grow and change throughout life.”

This sums up the mission of this relevant “little” book, which is a terrific resource, not only for parents but also for children. Each chapter begins with quotes from Scripture, followed by a section aimed at Parents (with occasional references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church), a second section for the children and then “Just Live It” suggestions for how to live the virtue (often including an activity or craft.) Interspersed throughout each chapter, the author shares her own relevant life experiences.

There are many pertinent and inspiring quotes in this book…these are just a few:

On humility: “…means accepting what we don’t want to accept…trusting that God has a plan, even if it makes no sense to us,” and the author stresses that regular confession is important in this regard. Mention is made of St. Therese, the Little Flower, who lived the ordinary and did small things to the best of her ability.

On suffering: “As unpleasant as it is, suffering is good for us. It stretches the soul, offers opportunities to grow in ways we couldn’t without it.”

Under Matrimony, Physical Symbols (from the chapter: Sacraments and Private Devotion): “Though we most often think of rings and a white dress as symbols of marriage, neither of those is essential to the sacrament. What is essential is the physical union of the two becoming one (the vows). The marriage act is where the vows, which promise a complete self-gift, become real. This is why the Church teaches that all sexual acts must be open to the possibility of life, for how can couples claim to give and receive each other fully when such a major part of who they are is off-limits to each other and to God? The Church’s least popular teaching simply acknowledges what human beings were created to be. We are most ourselves when we use our bodies in harmony with the way God created them. (My emphasis). Through marriage, we become one; and as one, we look to the future of the possibility of life (openly and honestly.)“ In simple, easy-to-understand language, Basi explains why contraception and same-sex marriage cannot be “in harmony with the way God created” us.

On persecution (chapter 8): “When discipleship leads us to life practices that others find threatening or strange, like using natural family planning or living simply and less luxuriously than the norm, people may roll their eyes and call us out of touch with the real world, or make any number of other belittling, contemptuous remarks.” This is an excellent point: persecution does not necessarily involve martyrdom. If we are living our Catholicity, it will not be popular. I’ve seen my share of eye rolling and criticisms within our own extended circle of family and friends because of our openness to life (and our refusal to get sterilized), our outspoken pro-life beliefs and our stance against same sex marriage.

On faith (chapter 9): “Each of us is called to serve in unique ways; each of us has gifts and contributions to make that no one else can make, purposes for which God put us on the earth.” It is up to each one of us to discern how we are called to serve. One of the most important ways is to promote and bring the Catholic faith to others. As mentioned in the beginning, we cannot promote or teach a faith we don’t know. This Little Light of Mine is an excellent basic guide to Catholicism and is easy to read for both parent and child. It is a terrific resource that can help each member of the family learn their faith better.

Highly recommend!

Order This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Copyright 2013 Ellen Gable Hrkach

How Will You Respond When Your Teen Asks Why You’re “So Religious?”

As the mother of a teenager, she’s described me in many unexpected ways, from “stalker mom” for checking her social media sites and cell phone, to “out of it” for believing the remakes of my favorite 80s songs are not nearly as great as the originals. I can usually handle it, and most of the time, I try not to take her stinging remarks personally.

So then why when she described me as “so religious,” did it cause me to take a serious pause? Why did I think about it for days and days after our conversation that followed?

Is it because not so many years ago, if someone would’ve told me, I would be viewed as religious, I would’ve laughed out loud in disbelief?

Is it because the word, “religious”, holds negative connotations in today’s society, like “intolerant,” “rigid,” “naïve” and “non-intelligent (stupid)?”

Is it because I actually felt okay with my oldest daughter asking me about being “so religious?” Is it because my teen sees me as “religious” in a curious way, not in the frustrated way she calls me “uncool?”

Weeks later, I still can’t fully answer the questions, but I came to a conclusion: If my teen sees me as religious, it’s a good thing. It means I’m role modeling my Catholic faith, enough for her to ask me questions about it.

And hopefully, it may be enough for her to keep her own faith alive when she leaves home, and she’s not with her “so religious, stalker mom” on a daily basis.

Here’s how the conversation occurred one evening after family dinner. We were making small talk about one her friends that decided to sit with another group that day at lunch.

Then suddenly, “Mom, why are so religious?” The questions come more quickly, unexpectedly, giving me no time to ponder a savvy response. The questions get tougher, as my two daughters get older.

As I shared earlier, my teen asked the question thoughtfully, not accusingly.  She asked me out of pure curiosity.

My first, automatic response: “Because I love God, and I know He loves me.”

Her quick response in turn: “But, I love God. I just don’t know about some of this religious stuff.” She then looked at me a bit hesitant to go on. I purposely didn’t fill the silence. “I mean, I like going to Mass and everything,” she added with assurance.

Wanting to be encouraging, I replied carefully, “Well, if you love God, and you like going to Mass, you’re doing really well on your spiritual path. You’re young and you have a lot to learn yet. When I was your age, I questioned my faith too. It’s normal. Besides, going to Mass is the greatest prayer you can give to God.”

She nodded in agreement, looking relieved. I felt I could’ve talked to her more but then it would’ve turned into a “mom lecture.”

In hindsight, I started considering more thoughtfully that some aspects of our Catholic faith can feel frightening and intimidating to our children – and to adults. As children grow into teens, they begin to consider how their faith fits into their future plans.

I’m learning that the most important thing I can do for my girls, is to practice and to grow in the Church myself, even when I feel frightened and intimidated by my faith and my life. I strive to do this, and it’s not easy. This must be how I earned the “so religious” title when I didn’t try out for it.

My daughters know that I’ll attend weekday Masses whenever I can with my work schedule. I share with them that it gives me strength and peace for my busy days. They see the rosary in my vehicle, and I tell them I can pray the five decades on the way to my daughter’s high school.

Although they’ve seen me recently starting to read during Liturgy of the Word and distribute Holy Communion at Masses, it’s more often the little things like the consistency of prayers before meals – even when their friends are over – and blessings at bedtime that make a bigger impression on my daughters.

As a Mom, there is only so much I can do to help form my daughters in their faith life. I can’t control how God will work in their lives. Yet I’m grateful I’m here to pray for them and with them, to take them to Mass and the sacraments – and to answer their questions and to talk about the faith – unexpectedly or planned. The rest is in God’s hands.

Copyright 2013 Kim Seidel 

Wake Up to the Creed is a simple app that solves a complex problem:  learning—and praying—the new translation of the Nicene Creed.

For the Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI recommended that Catholics pray the Creed daily.

Until I heard that, I didn’t even realize that the Creed was actually a prayer. Sure, I say it every Sunday at Mass, just after the homily, but there’s a big difference between saying the words and praying the prayer.

For the past year and a half, the Creed has been a Near Occasion of Frustration for me, because the words have changed with the new translation of the Mass. I don’t get all bothered by big words like “consubstantial,” but I can’t recite the Creed on autopilot anymore. Not accurately, anyway.

That might be a good thing, because going through Mass on autopilot is way less than ideal.

I keep the “pew cue card” on my music stand and read the Creed from there, but I’ve wanted to learn it by heart. It’s going to take a long time to memorize something that I only say one time on one day a week.

Wake Up to the Creed allows me to set an alarm for any time of day:  a wake-up alarm, or one at midmorning, late afternoon, any time I want. Church bells ring to begin the prayer time, then the Creed is recited. I can learn the Creed in Latin, Polish, Spanish or French, with or without background music.

Right now, I’m sticking to English. Praying the Creed daily is helping me to learn the words—and to remember that the Creed is more than words. It is the affirmation of our Faith. Praying it frequently will help to deepen that faith.

Wake Up to the Creed is easy to use. Set an alarm, select a language, and you’re all set. Or use the “Player” option to listen to the Creed immediately. My only wish is that the text of the Creed is not displayed on the screen during the recitation. I am very visually-oriented, so I like to have the words handy to read along.

This app is 99-cents well-spent; for the price of a song you’ll be tired of in two or three days, you’ve gained a prayer to learn and live for a lifetime.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Barb Szyszkiewicz

Watch this video on YouTube.

Carol’s Lemonade Chicken

Carol’s Lemonade Chicken

Makes 4 servings

4 chicken breasts, skin removed
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate thawed
1/2 cup water
3 teaspoons chicken bouillon
1 green bell pepper small, cut in 1-inch strips
1 red bell pepper small, cut in 1-inch strips
1 yellow pepper small cut in 1-inch strips, or 1 small yellow summer squash, cut in 1/4 -inch slices
2 teaspoons cornstarch

1. Cut chicken into uniform strips, about 2 x 1/2 x 1/2 -inch.* In a 10-inch skillet over medium high heat, sauté chicken and garlic in oil until chicken is no longer pink on the outside. Reduce heat to medium.

2. Add lemonade concentrate, 1/4 cup of the water and bouillon granules. Cook for 10 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.

3. Add peppers. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until peppers are crisp-tender.

4. In a small bowl, stir remaining 1/4 cup water and cornstarch until smooth. Pour into skillet. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute.

Find more great family recipes and meal planning assistance at Dine Without Whine

The Mouth as a Lethal Weapon

We have all done it–said too much or said the wrong thing and regretted it later. Too often, opening our mouths releases gossip, complaints, or destructive words. Our tongue is a concealed weapon—the most lethal. “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28). A gun or knife can wound the body, but inflicts no damage on the soul, yet the tongue can mortally wound it.

In theory, it would seem easy to control our tongue. It’s small and even can be kept locked up simply by shutting our mouths. Yet, for something that weighs so little, it so often weighs us down in sin.

Talking is one of those things that we should quit while we are ahead. “In a multitude of words, sin is not lacking” (Proverbs 10:19). I am often guilty of this so I am not pointing fingers. I think women are especially vulnerable because we tend to be sociable and innately talk more than men—not that men can’t also wag a mean tongue.

Our tongues often seem to have a mind of their own and before we know it, we’ve blurted out too much information or something better left unsaid. Sometimes we mask gossip as concern—I’m really worried about her…. or excuse it as a need to vent or confide in someone.

And yet, in the confessional, we need to acknowledge that we have sinned. I’ve heard some people say that as long as it’s true, it’s not really gossip. Or others know about it anyways, so it’s okay to repeat. But God reads what is in our hearts. If we do not have a valid reason to let someone know about something—information that they need to know to prevent a problem—then spreading scandal or reporting on bad behavior is simply not our God-given task. For me, I use the standard that if I won’t say it in front of the person or want them to know I said it, then I should not say it at all.

The Power of Words

Here are some common ways that our words get us into trouble.

• Detraction – repeating something true without a good reason (Sirach 21).
• Racial jokes that encourage hatred or sexual jokes which use impurity for entertainment (Ephesians 5:3-4).
• Calumny – talking about someone’s faults. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned…” (Luke 6:37).
• Arguing – speaking nasty or using biting remarks
• Criticizing –constant complaining and scolding to vent rather than desire to help another out of love. (Proverbs 21:9).
• Breaking confidences – “Don’t tell anyone else, but…..” (Proverbs 11:13).
• Listening to the words of others can be wrong. “An evildoer listens to wicked lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue” (Proverbs 17:4).

God gave us the gift of speech. We use it to praise and glorify him. Our words can evangelize and lift others up in spirit. But talking can also be a waste of time, empty, frivolous, and gossipy. It can take time away from our family, prayer or tasks we should be tending to.

Instead of talking to God, we often seek comfort through venting and say things against people that should be left unspoken. And once it’s out of our mouth, even trying to take it back does not completely undo bad impressions of those we’ve spoken about and how it reflects on our own character. Through our excessive talking we are also often on the receiving end of listening to gossip and the business of others.

Like any addiction—and talking is an addiction—it’s a day-by-day, ongoing task not to overindulge. For many, the first step is to recognize the times we let words lead to sin. This might mean asking God to reveal these times and asking him to help us use our speech appropriately.

Another way to stop misusing our speech is to avoid situations that often lead to gossip. Going out for coffee, talking on the phone too long, and other socializing occasions might be the times we are most guilty of using our tongue as a weapon. Avoid these situations altogether or cut them short. If those around us begin to gossip, counteract by saying something positive or laying it on the line: “I’m really trying to stay away from gossip,” then change the subject.

We can also pray for the gift of silence. Through confession, our sins of the tongue will be absolved and we will receive graces to avoid them in the future. If additional incentive is needed, here is thought to keep in mind: It is better to remain silent and let people think you are dumb than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Copyright 2013 Patti Maguire Armstrong

Scrubbing the Porch

If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 1 John 1:9

Last week my oldest son helped me power wash the front porch…a job the kids don’t usually line up and beg to help with! The combination of dust from our gravel road and lots of fly’s attracted by the cattle make it a necessary but undesirable task. As I was swirling my scrub brush along the siding and porch rail I figured I should pray for people who were knee-deep in things a whole lot worse than fly specks and road dust! Not long into the scrubbin and prayin I started thinking about how small dust and fly specks really are when you isolate just one. The problem is when they glob together…that’s when true scrubbing is required! Our porch is pretty good sized so I had lots of time to think about how something that started out so tiny could cause such a big mess.

About a third of the way through the project, I looked down at my fingers that were getting shriveled from the scrub water and that’s when it hit me…the mess on my porch was kinda like sin. I realized through this humbling episode of porch scrubbing that I’m nothing but a big ‘ole sinner! Each little sin like impatience or judgmental thinking that plagues my days is like a speck on my porch…one at a time they may not seem like much, but when several glob together, I wind up with a mess that requires scrubbing! We only scrub the porch once a year, not because it isn’t needed more often, but because it’s the minimum requirement…something we do only when we simply can’t stand it any longer. I began to wonder if there was any correlation between the frequency with which I scrubbed my porch and how often I sought a good “soul scrubbing” from my Heavenly Father.

I sweep the porch often, and I began to realize that was much like my nightly examination of conscience. I quickly ask God for forgiveness before I fall asleep but that’s like a quick sweep…it’s not a true scrubbing. I came to the conclusion that sunny afternoon last week that I needed to make some adjustments in my “soul scrubbing” schedule. We are so lucky to be the children of such a loving and mighty God. He knows keeping us from sin completely is as impossible as keeping the dust and fly specks off my porch, but that’s what keeps us running to His loving arms as we beg forgiveness for the mess all our tiny little sins make when they glob together. His forgiveness is there for us. All He asks is that we come to Him with a spirit of repentance and a desire to change. If I approached Him with a TRUE repentant heart and worked harder at avoiding those small sins maybe He wouldn’t have to scrub so hard when I got there!

My ambition was to have a clean porch; the outcome was a reminder of God’s great love and my ever-growing need for Him. Our God is the God of surprises and the God of the ordinary. I am continually amazed at the ways He sends me His messages when I approach things with prayer…He can even turn scrubbin the porch into a lesson!

A seed to plant: Sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper. Make a list of all the tiny little sins that plague your day and glob up to make a mess on your soul. Lift that list up to the Father with a repentant heart asking for His loving forgiveness. Don’t forget to ask for His guidance on how to “keep your porch clean.”

Copyright 2013 Sheri Wohlfert