What do you do?

It's Sunday and while I was at Mass this morning I could hear the sounds of children banging their toy trucks on the wooden pews and a couple of crying babies in the background while Fr.Tom gave his homily. The familiar site of a parent whisking their child to the back of the Church to comfort him or her or quiet them down is very typical.

Recently when I was giving a talk to a group of Moms, one of them shared her woes about bringing her children to Church. She told me that her children acted up at Church frequently and that she was embarrassed by their occasional outbursts and sometimes uncontrollable behavior. To make matters worse, the Dad stays home because he doesn't care to attend Church and the Mom is left to fend for herself with the behaviors at Mass while her children beg to stay home with Dad, because after all, "He gets to stay home" they quip.

I encouraged this Mom to bring her children to Mass and to trust that she and her children will receive lots of graces at Mass. Jesus has said, "Let the children come to me." The Mom's and children's example may bring Dad around some day. Additionally, I'd like to encourage Moms who are struggling with overly active children at Mass who may be receiving a stare from someone not particulary appreciating the ruccus, to not shrink down in embarrasment, but to muster up a smile in return for the glare and know in her heart that she is doing her best to bring her children to Jesus.

What do you do? Do you have tips for keeping your children behaving better at Church? Do you sit up front so they can see what's going on, hoping to keep their interest or do you instead fearfully sit in the back? What about the Dads who don't support the idea of Mass? Give me the scoop.

Fr. James's Homily: Trinity Sunday

The Mystery of God
A little child whispered, "God, please speak to me". A little bird began to sing, but the child did not hear the bird. So the child yelled, "God, speak to me!” Thunder rolled across the sky, but the child did not listen.

The child looked around and said, "God let me see you" A star shone brightly, but the child did not notice the star.

The child shouted, "God show me a miracle!" A baby was born.
But the child did not know it.

So the child cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are there!" Whereupon God reached down and touched the child. But the child brushed the butterfly away and walked away. (http://www.inspirationalstories.com)

For the entire homily click here.

The Feast of the Visitation

The Blessed Mother Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.

Dear Lord, Jesus, help me to put my needs aside to "go in haste" to help others. Amen.

Give me the Scoop!

Hello Moms,

I will be a guest on a monthly radio show for Moms with Teresa Tomeo on the "Catholic Connection" show on Ave Maria Radio. What would you like us to talk about? What kinds of tasks in your mothering present challenges? What tips about parenting would you like to share with other Moms? Why is it important for you to pass on your Catholic faith to your children? Feel free to leave comments below and perhaps your suggestion will be used for the show! You will also be able to call in to the show to present a question or comment.

I will give you some more details about this soon. I hope you'll take a moment to leave a comment for me. May God bless your day!

The HPV Vaccine: Should Your Daughter Receive It?

Read Heidi Hess Saxton's article, "The HPV Vaccine: Should Your Daughter Receive It?" at Catholic Exchange today. It is a very informative article that will give you something to ponder.

"A New Day" TV show

Last night I was taped for three segments of a TV show. I was interviewed by TV host, Daphne Clarke Hudson. When I get the information about times and dates for the shows, I will pass it on to you.

Have a BLESSED day!
God bless,

Prayerfully Expecting!

My new book,Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers-To-Be is out! It was a busy week end launching it at the Borders book signing and then at my parish, doing book signings after all of the Masses. I pray that this book will serve expectant mothers well. It is now available through this weblog and also my website and here. It will be available in stores and on the Web in a few weeks.

Pope Benedict reminds the Church of her origins and mission

From Catholic News Service:
ROME, May 27, 2007 / 11:44 am (CNA).- On an overcast, humid Pentecost Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI met with thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square to give the last Regina Coeli address of the year.

The Pope began by calling to mind that, "today we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost." This feast is especially important for the Church since "we can say that the Church had its solemn beginning with the descent of the Holy Spirit."

Moreover, Benedict explained that "in this extraordinary event, we find the essential characteristics and qualifications of the Church." First, "the Church is One, like the community at Pentecost, united in prayer." Second, "the Church is Holy, not by her merits, but because, animated by the Holy Spirit, she keeps her eyes fixed on Christ."

The Church is also Catholic "because the Gospel is destined for all people and for this reason, from the very beginning, the Holy Spirit makes it so that she speaks all languages." Lastly, "the Church is Apostolic because she was raised on the foundation of the Apostles and faithfully guards their teachings through the uninterrupted chain of Apostolic Succession."

Read full article which also speaks of about the evangelization of all peoples.

Fr. James's Homily: Pentecost Sunday

Every time we pray together the Profession of Faith we proclaim that “we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life...”.

It is the Lord, the giver of life who “hovered over the water” at the beginning of creation (Genesis 1: 2). It is the Lord, the giver of life who on Easter Sunday filled the Apostles with the power to bring back to life the spiritually dead through the forgiveness of sin (John 20: 22-23). It is the Lord, the giver of life who gave birth to the Church born on Pentecost (Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-13).

However, the greatest act of the giver of life was when the Word was made flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Again, in the Profession of Faith we proclaim: “...by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man”. This man is the Lord Jesus. He is the Incarnate Word. He is true God and true Man. He is the way, the truth and the life.

Pope John Paul II in his courageous encyclical letter “Evangelium Vitae” affirms that there is a “conspiracy against life”. He wrote that “we are in fact faced with an objective conspiracy against life, involving even international institutions engaged in encouraging and carrying out actual campaigns to make contraception, sterilization and abortion widely available” (Evangelium Vitae, 17.2).

See entire homily here.

Two days and counting...

I will be launching my newest book, Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers-To-Be this Saturday, May 26th at Borders (details at "Appearances")! I wrote this book while on complete bed rest during a high risk pregnancy with my fifth child, Mary-Catherine. Blessed Mother Teresa whom I knew at that time, gave me a foreword for the book. Pope John Paul II blessed it. It is a book to celebrate pregnancy as a wonderful time of anticipation as mothers await childbirth and it offers the expectant Mom the opportunity to transform her pregnancy into a novena of prayer to God. It's a "baby book" for the unborn baby! An expectant Mom will be able to follow her baby's progress and record her thoughts and prayers as well as save her ultrasound pictures to cherish in years to come.

Watch this video!

Suzanne posted this on her blog. Watch it!

Temper tantrums, outbursts and tips to handle them while training your child

Mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers may want to visit Lissa over at HERE AT THE BONNY GLEN to see how she helps her children to handle anger and outbursts...very clever!

Pope Benedict insists that Evangelization did not destroy native cultures

From Catholic News Service:

Vatican City, May 23, 2007 / 12:42 pm (CNA).- During his weekly general audience, Pope Benedict reflected on his recent apostolic trip to Brazil and insisted that, despite the shadows in the process of announcing the Gospel in the new world, the Evangelization did not destroy but instead ennobled the native cultures.

Speaking before more than 25,000 people on a sunny day, the Pontiff said that his journey to Latin America, where he inaugurated the 5th General Conference of Latin American Bishops, "was primarily an act of praise to God for the 'wonders' worked among the people of Latin America, and for the faith that has animated their lives and culture over more than 500 years."

The Holy Father acknowledged that the "remembrance of a glorious past cannot ignore the shadows that accompanied the work of evangelization on the Latin American continent: ... the suffering and injustices inflicted by the colonizers on the indigenous peoples whose fundamental human rights were often trampled underfoot."

Read entire story here.

US bishops respond

From Catholic News Service:

Washington DC, May 23, 2007 / 03:58 pm (CNA).- The 18 Democrats who recently criticized Pope Benedict XVI when he answered questions about Mexico City’s legalization of abortion, both misrepresented the Pope’s remarks and defied freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement in response to the allegations of the 18 Democrats who attempted to correct the Pope.

“In an unfortunate May 10 statement, 18 of the 88 Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives criticized Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks concerning Mexican lawmakers legalizing abortion. The Representatives’ statement misrepresents the Holy Father’s remarks and implies that the Church does not have a right to voice its teaching in the public square.”

see entire story here.

What's your vocation?

Read a post from Bishop William Lori's blog about the ordination of four new priests and a call to young people to pray to discern their own vocation.

He said, "Every member of the Church has a vocation – to priesthood, marriage and family, or consecrated life. I appeal to our young people to pray seriously – to ask for the grace to discern their God-given vocations and then to respond affirmatively – with trust in the Lord’s love."

Our Blessed Mother and Juan Diego

"Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my Arms? Do you need anything more?"

Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego

Do WE need anything more? Don't you just love these words?
Have a BLESSED day!

A reflection from Fr. Tom, a Fransciscan Friar I know

Click here for a beautiful reflection on Sunday's Gospel.. This is not OLD NEWS, it's worthy of reading today!

Pope Benedict speaks about his trip to Brazil, the media and the Ascension

From Catholic News Service:

ROME, May 20, 2007 / 04:31 pm (CNA).- Thousands of pilgrims flocked to St. Peter's square to hear the Pope's first public address since his trip to Brazil last week. Benedict speech was filled with relevant topics—his trip to Brazil, the annual World Day of Social Communications, and the celebration of the Ascension.

The Holy Father wasted no time in mentioning his desire to "renew my thanksgiving to the Lord for the apostolic trip to Brazil." He also added his thanks to "those who accompanied me with their prayer."

The Pope then reminded everybody that "the reason for my pastoral visit . . . was the inauguration of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops." However, "before this great ecclesiastical event, I had the chance to meet with the Brazilian Catholic community."

Read entire story here.

Our Lord tells us to take courage...

In today's Gospel: Jn 16:29-33 we read:

The disciples said to Jesus,
“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

What wonderful words to ponder today...we WILL have trouble in this world but we should TAKE COURAGE and we can have PEACE because our dear Lord has CONQUERED THE WORLD!

Fr. James's homily

The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven is the completion of the Paschal Mystery. He shows us that where he has gone, we are to follow. His physical presence in eternity shows us that the new heavens and the new earth will be a physical reality where "He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness" (Revelation 21: 4).

For the past seven weeks we have been celebrating the most joyous season of the Catholic liturgical year. The Easter season has filled us with immense joy and profound hope. The barriers of time and space no longer apply to the Lord. He appears and disappears with shocking suddenness. He continually demonstrates his physical reality. The Apostles and the disciples see him, hear him, and eat with him. Thomas is told to touch his wounds. The stone rolled away from the entrance, and the carefully folded burial cloths direct our gaze to the physical. He has truly risen.

Read entire homily here.

A Radio interview with Teresa Tomeo at "Catholic Connection"

You may listen to an earlier radio interview with Teresa Tomeo at "Catholic Connection" on Ave Maria radio by clicking here.

Calling all skywatchers...

See Venus Next to the Crescent Moon on May 19

It will be quite a sight: Don't miss Venus and the crescent moon when they pair up on the evening of May 19.
Get details, a chart and a timetable for North America here.

A "Breath of Divine Power..".

"She is a breath of divine power, a most pure effusion of the Most High; hence nothing sullied can ever contaminate her. She is a reflection of the eternal light, a spotless mirror of God's activity, an image of his excellence. She is indeed more beautiful than the sun, surpasses all the constellations, and compared to light itself, she is more brilliant."
St. Maximilian Kolbe on the Blessed Virgin

Catholic Democrats chide Pope based on wrong information, says Catholic League

From Catholic news Service:
New York, May 17, 2007 / 10:16 am (CNA).- Catholic League president Bill Donohue said the 18 House Democrats, who chided Pope Benedict XVI, “are twice a disgrace.” The Democrats took it upon themselves to correct the Holy Father for allegedly saying he agreed with the Mexican bishop who reportedly invoked excommunication against the Catholic lawmakers who voted to legalize abortion in Mexico City.

The Democrats wrote: "Religious sanction in the political arena directly conflicts with our fundamental beliefs about the role of democratic representatives in a pluralistic America -- it clashes with freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution. Such notions offend the very nature of the American experiment and do a great disservice to the centuries of good work the church has done."

The problem for the Democrats is that they got their facts wrong, thus disgracing them for the first time, said Donohue.

“What happened was at first confusing, but was quickly clarified,” Donohue acknowledged. First, no Mexican bishop ever invoked excommunication against any lawmaker for legalizing abortion. In fact, the Mexican bishop in question merely noted that support for abortion is incompatible with receiving Communion, and politicians who have done so should not attempt to receive it.

Read entire story by clicking here.

Honduran cardinal clarifies interview on Communion and pro-abortion politicians

From Catholic News Service:
Tegucigalpa, May 17, 2007 / 06:27 pm (CNA).- In statements to Carlos Polo, director for Latin America of the Population Research Institute, Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, said he agrees that Communion should be denied to politicians who publicly support abortion.

In an interview with Time magazine, Cardinal Maradiaga was asked, “Do you agree with the Pope’s statement that pro-choice Catholic politicians merit excommunication?” The cardinal responded by saying: “It is canon law that everyone who works for abortion is excommunicated. It’s not something the Pope invented. If you favor abortion, you are outside the communion of the Church. And it was necessary to say that. There are people in Mexico saying I am Catholic and I support abortion rights. This is a contradiction in its very essence. As a teacher of the Church, the Pope has a responsibility of teaching when something happening is wrong.”

Later he was asked: “Do you agree with bishops who deny giving Holy Communion to these politicians?” The cardinal replied: “This is a different point. For who am I to deny Holy Communion to a person? I cannot. It’s in the tradition of moral theology that even if I know a person is living in grave sin, I cannot take a public action against him. It would be giving scandal to the person. Yes, he should not seek [communion], but I cannot deny it from him.”

Read entire article by clicking here.

Ascension Thursday

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage
and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and they were continually in the temple praising God.
(Luke 24: 46-53)

Over the top!

My son, Joseph cleared eleven feet at pole vaulting during his track meet and now goes into the states! It was truly exciting to see him make it over on that very windy day down at the track meet. Some of the best vaulters did not make their goals that day due to the very windy conditions. After I recovered my heart from my throat as my son made it over the pole on his third attempt at 11 feet, the excitement and relief was heightened watching his team mates run over to him afterwards in a big group hug!
(click on photo for better view)

Check out this great website from the Holy See about John Paul the Great!

Check this out from the Holy See about Pope John Paul the Great!

I met Luke's Aunt today. Luke has brain cancer.

I gave a talk this morning to a lovely group of women at a "Women In Faith" Brunch. They were all very welcoming and wonderful. I spoke to them about a "Woman's Call to Prayer." Afterwards, I met with a lot of them personally to inscribe my books to them and to chat. One woman told me through tears about her little nephew, Luke who has brain cancer. She was getting my books for his Mom. She asked me to beseech Blessed Mother Teresa whom I knew to help this boy. I promised my prayers for him and for his Mom. I told her that I would ask all of you for your prayers, too. Please take a few minutes out and pray for Luke. If you'd like to learn more about Luke, you may visit here at a Care page that his parents set up. I visited the page and found that it takes less than a moment to register as a visitor. If you do visit, his full name is: Luke Thomas Gilligan. You will need to put in his full name without spaces to get to his page. If you don't care to visit to see his photos, please offer a prayer for him as he gets another round of chemo and more surgery at his tender little age.

Guess what I got for Mother's Day?

My children gave me the lilacs (with my breakfast in bed) and my husband gave me a handful of dandelions (in lower right corner) that he pulled out from behind his back, presenting them to me with a smile on his face (without knowing about my post about the lilacs and dandelions.)!!