War on Women

A great video about the Democrat's real war on women:

Article: Vatican to the UN: all parents have the right to homeschool

See whole article here.

“The State should respect the choices that parents make for their children and avoid attempts at ideological indoctrination,” the permanent observer mission of the Holy See to the United Nations wrote in a statement released last Tuesday. 

Parents “have the right and duty to choose schools inclusive of homeschooling, and they must possess the freedom to do so, which in turn, must be respected and facilitated by the State.”

Conversations with Madge Pie

The other day in the bathroom, I had a cute and touching conversation with our Madge Pie. She remarked:

Dad, you're the queen's knight. Mom's the queen, and you're the knight that keeps her safe and protects her. You're also our family's knight, since you watch over us and keep us safe.

Her comment brought tears to my eyes, since this is truly what I aspire to do, though I know too well how often I fall short in the midst of the trials of everyday. I told her, "Madge, thank you. I do try." She responded emphatically, "No, Dad. You are the queen's knight and our family's knight." Thanks, Maddy. Thanks for your encouragement and reminding me of my vocation. We love you.

Pita: When I become a Mom, I am Going to Cook Meat

Our Little Pita loves her food. Just like me when I was a little boy, she hums when she eats her food. You can hear audible sighs of satisfaction as she confronts her plate.

Apparently she particularly loves meat. The other day, she remarked, "When I become a Mom, I am going to cook meat." Three cheers for meat! I didn't really know how to respond, so I just nodded my head in assent and said okay. She is a funny girl, ever the charmer, always cute, and quite the carnivore!

UPDATE (5/10/2012):A couple days ago, we were getting breakfast ready. We asked Pita what she wanted for breakfast: toast, yogurt, or cereal? Her response as she jumped up and down with a big smile on her face: I want meat, I want meat, I want meat! She made us laugh.

Sharing Oped: Jesus has no place in budget conflict

A priest in inner Pennsylvania wrote an Oped in the Republican Herald. I found the piece to be extremely cogent and insightful. All too frequently the WWJD (what would Jesus do) expression is co-opted for manipulative purposes. Would Jesus oppose the Ryan budget?

The only human being who is authorized to command the consciences of all Catholics or of any particular group of Catholics is the pope. ... The sitting pope is the only human being authorized to command the consciences of all Catholics, whether all Catholics in the world or all in the USA or elsewhere. Popes command consciences only infrequently and only in matters of utter moral clarity. The pope has not made nor will he make any explicit pronouncements that are specific to our national budget. Even if, to be hypothetical, he were to overreach and make such a pronouncement, it would not and could not be binding on consciences.

Your editorial concludes with this sentence: "As House Republicans continue to appeal to religious conservatives, it's pretty clear that their budget is not what Jesus would do."

Well, it might be clear to you what Jesus would do, but it sure isn't clear to me! I think it borders on sacrilege to presume you know exactly what Jesus would do in regard to the national budget. Pope Benedict doesn't know. I don't know. Quite frankly, you don't know either! We work it out via the political process, take a deep breath and hope for the best.

It's an excellent article in clarifying the role of the Church in commanding the consciences of the Catholic faithful and the ingenuous tactic of  framing a contrarian opinion as immoral when the standard setter is completely arbitrary!

Movie Night and Yummy Caramel Corn

On Friday night we enjoyed our weekly "Movie Night" with the musical Annie. But, to top off a night of family fun, we enjoyed one of our favorite sweet-savory treats: Caramel Corn, in "movie-atmosphere-style" with parchment cones. It is funny what a simple little thing does to a sweet treat. The girls and Little Mr. Caleb love having their own little cone to enjoy their popcorn from.

Celebrating Love: St. Gianna Beretta Molla

"Love and sacrifice are closely linked, like the sun and the light. We cannot love without suffering and we cannot suffer without love." - St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

"Every meal should be prepared with love and eaten in peace, because its purpose is to strengthen us for the service of love."- Catherine Doherty

On Saturday evening we enjoyed a beautiful celebration of St. Gianna Beretta Molla with a family dinner: garlic chicken salad, with toasted ramen noodles, red onion and red-wine vinaigrette dressing, bruschetta with freshly-cut basil, and a Brazilian dessert of coconut custard and fresh fruit salad; bright sun-burnt-colored roses made the table shine.   Madge and Mommy made place cards for the table, and in honor of St. Gianna they colored Italian flags on them. The underlying adjective of the meal, fresh, reminds me of new life, and in St. Gianna we are given a beautiful example of sacrifice through death, which brought forth freshness, new life: for her eternal life and for her baby girl Gianna Emannuela, an opportunity to walk an earthly life and share God's gifts and graces through herself, thanks to her mom's sacrifice in laying down her own so as to give life, God's gift, to her daughter. 

 

As I think about the life of St. Gianna I am reminded of how closely related are St. Gianna's quote and Blessed Mother Teresa's quote on our daily duties. Mother Teresa says that we ought o be faithful in the small things for it is in them that our strength lies, and St. Gianna says that our sanctity, the real stuff, that will help us get to heaven is in the daily tasks, the dishes, the cleaning, the conversations, the hidden acts of love, straightening drawers, filling soap dispensers, sweeping, all of the "necessities" that are hidden. Hidden was Our Lady's life and so bright was her faithfulness, her love, her humility. These three lives are so worth contemplating, but more than that, their actions are so worth mirroring.