Last Updated on June 12, 2025 by Editor
JUNE 15, 2025: Daughter’s tribute to ‘a great man’
Happy Fathers’ Day! The following letter is so appropriate for today – a daughter’s tribute to her dad.
A great man died today. He wasn’t a world leader or a famous doctor, or a war hero, or a sports figure, or a business tycoon. But he was a great man. He was my father.
He didn’t get his picture in the paper for heading up committees. I guess you might say he was a person who never cared for credit or honors. He did corny things such as pay his bills on time, go to church on Sunday, hold an office in the PTA. He helped his kids with their homework and drove his wife to the shopping center to do the grocery shopping on Thursday night.
He enjoyed hauling his kids and their friends to and from football games. He enjoyed simple things — a picnic in the park, country music, mowing the grass and running with the dog.
Tonight is the first night of my life without him. I don’t know what to do with myself, so I am writing to you. I am sorry now for the times I didn’t show him the proper respect.
But I am thankful for many things. I am thankful because God let me have him for 15 years. And I am thankful that I was able to let him know how much I loved him. He died with a smile on his face. He knew he was a success as a husband and father, a son, a brother and a friend. I wonder how many millionaires can say that.
JUNE 8, 2025: There’s no perfect family; deal with differences
The following comes from a speech by the late Pope Francis at a World Communications Day event:
“More than anywhere else, the family is where we daily experience our own limits and those of others, the problems great and small entailed in living peacefully with others.
“A perfect family does not exist. We should not be fearful of imperfections, weakness or even conflict, but rather learn how to deal with them constructively. The family, where we keep loving one another despite our limits and sins, thus becomes a school of forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is itself a process of communication. When contrition is expressed and accepted, it becomes possible to restore and rebuild the communication which broke down. A child who has learned in the family to listen to others, to speak respectfully, and to express his or her view without negating that of others, will be a force for dialogue and reconciliation in society.”
JUNE 1, 2025: Our sense of humor is a lifeline from God
Let’s face it — just getting through an ordinary day with ordinary irritations can put us in a “bad humor.”
Other circumstances — such as serious illness, the loss of someone dear, distressing change or bitter disappointment — cut much more deeply into our capacity for feeling joy.
Laughter is a refuge against life’s hurts and indignities. Granted, we cannot just laugh away all life’s problems. Laughter is not a way to avoid our problems or deny their seriousness. It can be a way to release our anxiety and to balance our distress with healthy, positive feelings.
When a person loses his or her sense of humor, Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote in “Lift Up Your Heart,” he or she “ceases to see the point of the universe, which is that all things are revelations, symbols — reminders of God who made them. To take things seriously as ends in themselves is to overrate them, to treat them with a solemnity that is not warranted.”
When we feel as though we are drowning in misery, our God throws us rope — our sense of humor. With our sense of humor in hand, we can get a better grip on life.
And the otherwise …
A young man fell into a coma but recovered before his friends had buried him. One of them asked what it felt like to be dead.
“Dead!” he exclaimed. “I wasn’t dead. And I knew I wasn’t because my feet were cold and I was hungry.”
“But how did that make you sure?”
“Well, I knew that if I were in heaven, I shouldn’t be hungry, and if I was in the other place, my feet wouldn’t be cold.”
MAY 25, 2025: Being Catholic more than showing up occasionally
A pastor was calling on parishioners who were somewhat lax in practicing their faith, especially weekend Mass.
One fellow gave this nasty answer to the invitation to come back to church:
“Father, when I was a baby, you poured water all over me, and when I grew up you tied me to a woman I’ve had to support all these years. I’m miserable.”
The pastor said, “Oh, yes, and the next time you have anything to do with the church, I’ll probably be throwing a bit of dirt on you.”
The man’s involvement with church was limited to baptism, marriage and burial.
Our communion with church is characterized by prayer, hearing the same word of God proclaimed at Mass, sharing in the Bread of Life and partaking of the Cup of Blessing — also our service of others and the world and finding Jesus in the disguise of the needy, as St. Mother Teresa said.
Our Catholic love for the gift of life and our pledge to defend life from conception to dying, devotion for the saints and sacramental view of seasons and creation is paramount. All this keeps us in lively communion with what being church is all about.
Sounds like much more than only baptism, marriage and burial, doesn’t it?
MAY 18, 2025: What kind of boat do you sail?
It’s always a splendid sight is to see a gathering of the “tall ships” — old style sailing ships with white sails billowing in the winds.
This calls to mind this reflection.
Disciples come in three varieties of boats when it comes to following the Lord. First, the tugboats follow Jesus, not only in sunny weather but also when stormy. They follow even when the wind and waves oppose them. They love the Lord al-ways, day in and day out.
Second are the disciples who come in sailboats. They follow on sunny days, they go in His direction when the wind and waves serve them. If stormy weather comes, they only go in the direction they are blown.
Finally, there are the barge disciples. They are not really willing followers of Jesus. They go in His direction only because others tug at them or even have to pull them there? They need a push, like any barge, to get them going.
Does this make us think?
MAY 11, 2025: Look to this sign in times of trouble
As we enjoy the spirit and melody of this Eastertime and the sound of alleluia, we also know it is not easy to follow the Risen Lord in our daily lives. Even though we journey in faith under the banner of the cross and the victory of Resurrection, it isn’t easy — is it?
A young man is unwilling to forgive his father for years of neglect and bitter feelings. A widow cannot forgive herself for the torment she caused to her daughter. A middle-aged man blames God for the loss of his business and the breakup of his family, though he knows in his heart the true cause of it all.
Despite setbacks and things that frustrate us in life, we still sign our bodies with the mark of salvation — the sign of the cross — over and over again. Even when we are walking in the pastures of anger or the meadows of jealousy, the sign of the cross is a sign of the hope that tells us we live within the embrace of the Blessed Trinity, with a hope for the Risen Life, and our bodies and lives are part of the larger body of Christ the Church on Earth, the assembly of the baptized.
Make the sign of the cross over your very body, your life.
MAY 4, 2025: It’s up to all of us to spread the good news
This could serve as an Eastertime thought:
When the brilliant opera “Turandot” opened in Milan, Italy, in 1926, the composer, Puccini, had died before he could finish writing the final notes for it. So, when the conductor, Arturo Toscanini, came to that last note composed by Puccini, he announced: “Here is where the composer ended, but this is where his friends began to take up the notes.”
Friends of the composer had finished writing the beautiful ending of the opera.
Easter’s message to those who believe in the Risen Lord is that it is left up to us to take up the song “alleluia” of faith, the work and the living presence of Christ. To complete the Lord’s own ministry, we are His voice, hands, feet and loving heart. The purpose and mission of Easter is even more profound than the loveliest opera.
And the otherwise …
Did you know?
- A bicycle can’t stand alone; it is two tired.
- A will is a dead giveaway.
- When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
- If you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen a mall.
APRIL 27, 2025: Be happy and spread the joyful message
Have you ever told something exciting to a young child and watched his or her reaction to it? They can’t wait to tell somebody else, even a stranger happening to walk by.
The Eastertime gospels send us a message to be like little children and share the joy of the Lord’s risen life with others, to spread the word about faith and enjoying life within the sacramental church and God’s people.
It’s not that our faith is found wanting or lacking for anything, it’s just that so often the news has not yet leaked out. Too many, even in the Easter season, still walk among the dead, like the Mary Magdalene, or wait and crouch in fear behind closed doors, like the disciples.
Remember, if the basis of Christianity were anything else than a God who came from a tomb, we’d have nothing to shout about.
Peace be with you.
And the otherwise …
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
“If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’”
One of them turned to the other and said, “You be Jesus!”
APRIL 20, 2025: Easter has a personal message for all
In a chamber of the catacomb tunnels under ancient Rome, where pagans buried their own during Caesar’s time, sayings engraved upon the walls are of gloom and despair. The pagans left epitaphs of bitterness for the “gods” and cynical remarks.
Nearby are other chambers where the early Christians entombed their dead, including men, women and children who were martyrs to their faith. In these catacombs we find on the walls etched sayings that proclaim joy, peace and victory with Christ. Because of Easter’s message, those Christians decked out their underground cemetery with signs of gladness, not despair.
A saint once said Easter’s message is deeply personal because it has to do with the new life and resurrection of your body, it doesn’t get much more personal than that. Your response is to be just as personal, to put your faith and deepest trust in a personal Lord, not following just a spoken Creed or set of rules, but relationship with the person of the Risen Christ.
May Easter and the entire season of Easter’s 50 days reaching to Pentecost bring to you and those who mean much to you, blessings and renewed hope and faith.
Thank you
We’re fortunate here at Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament to have talented, faithful parishioners and staff who are so willing to spend many hours planning and preparing our liturgical celebrations. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Easter so joyful.
APRIL 13, 2025: We, too, sometimes betray Jesus
There is so much to reflect upon today as we hear the account of Jesus’ passion and death.
Our gospel passage includes so much that it can become overwhelming. Perhaps we can reflect upon what set things in motion — Judas’ betrayal.
Judas took something that was supposed to be a sign of intimacy — a kiss — and made this the signal for turning over Jesus to the authorities. Imagine how Jesus must have felt. Judas was a trusted companion, part of the inner circle of His beloved friends. He and Jesus had just shared a meal together. Now Judas hands Him over to be killed.
Our reading of the Passion can make us ask, “How could Judas do that? I would never do such a thing!”
But is this so?
We experience great intimacy with the Lord at the altar, receiving His body and blood in the Eucharist. We freely share the sign (that is, the Kiss of Peace) with others. And yet, we sin.
Thinking that Judas, or the Roman authorities, or the Jewish leaders are the only ones that played a role in Jesus’ death keeps each of us conveniently removed from the situation. The fact is that we all contributed to the situation on Good Friday.
Reflecting upon the ways that we have betrayed Jesus isn’t done to beat up ourselves. Rather, acknowledging our own role in the suffering of Christ helps us to rejoice all the more on Easter Sunday.
Now we cross the threshold and enter the life-giving days of Holy Week, we do this not separated as individuals but as a parish and faith community together. Of the three great days — the Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening — Holy Thursday has a special solemnity and evening peacefulness about it that makes it so spiritually rewarding.
The Mass of Thursday night recalls the origins of the Eucharist and inspires us to serve and care gently for others as Jesus did when he washed the feet of the Twelve.
APRIL 6, 2025: Try to lift up someone this week
I’ve read many things over the years about the famous author Franz Kafka, but I never have read that much by him. His stories are filled with such gloom and distress they didn’t appeal to me.
But there must have been something very special about that man who could do what he did during the final months of his life when he was dying of tuberculosis.
It seems that Kafka met a child in the street, crying because she lost her doll. He told her that even though the doll was gone, he had met the doll and the doll promised to write the little girl once a week.
In the following weeks, the final days of the great author’s life, he wrote letters to the girl in which the doll told of travels and everyday life. This brought sweet magic into that child’s life. (Not to mention the value of those letters years later!)
If our faith is all about lifting up life and the Lord, wouldn’t it be wondrous to think of something like Franz Kafka did to lift someone or something to the glory of God. Think about it. Use your imagination.
And the otherwise …
A new priest gives his first homily at Mass. Later, the old pastor asks a good parishioner how it went.
“It was bad — no story, no substance.”
Just then the young priest walks in. The pastor confronts him and says, “I hear your homily wasn’t good!”
The new guy says, “I got too busy the last few days, so I just read one of your old ones.”
MARCH 30, 2025: Lent strengthens our relationship with Christ
Lent began almost two millennia ago as a preparation for Easter.
Christians believed that they shared in Christ’s Resurrection through baptism, and so they chose the Vigil of Easter to baptize their new converts.
They prepared the neophytes over many months, but the preparation became intense in the weeks before Easter. Thus, Lent became a community retreat. Converts prepared for baptism; baptized Christians recalled their own baptismal experience. Through baptism, we share Christ’s divine life.
It may help to understand this if we recall that human life essentially is relational. We are who we are because of our relationship to our grandparents and parents, our siblings, children and grandchildren.
We know that God’s life, too, essentially is relational — the intimate relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Baptism introduces us into the divine community by giving us a new, incredibly intimate relationship to the Son of God.
How close?
Listen to the words of Christ: “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.”
MARCH 23, 2025: Look deep within yourself during Lent
A good Lent begins within yourself first.
A troubled mother one day came to Gandhi along with her daughter and explained to him that her daughter was in the habit of eating far more sweet food than was good for her.
Please, she asked, would Gandhi speak to the girl and persuade her to give up this harmful habit?
Gandhi sat for a while in silence and then said, “Bring your daughter back in three weeks’ time and I will speak to her.”
The mother went away as she was told and then came back after three weeks. This time, Gandhi quietly took the daughter aside and in a few simple words pointed out to her the harmful effects of indulging in sweet food. He urged her to abandon the habit.
Thanking Gandhi for giving her daughter such good advice, the mother then asked him in a puzzled voice, “Why did you not just say these words to my daughter three weeks ago”?
“Three weeks ago,” Gandhi replied, “I myself was still addicted to eating sweet foods.”
And the otherwise …
An elderly lady was known for her faith and for her boldness and talking about it. She would stand on her front porch and shout, “Praise the Lord!”
Next door to her lived an atheist who would get so angry at her proclamations he would shout, “There ain’t no Lord!”
Hard times set in on the elderly lady and she prayed for God to send her some assistance. She stood on her porch and shouted, “Praise the Lord! God, I need food. I am having a hard time. Please, Lord, send me some groceries!”
The next morning, the lady went out on her porch and saw a large bag of groceries and shouted, “Praise the Lord!”
The neighbor jumped from behind a bush and said, “Ah ha! I told you there was no Lord. I bought those groceries. God didn’t.”
The lady started jumping up and down and clapping her hands and saying, “Praise the Lord! He not only sent me groceries, but He made the devil pay for them!”
MARCH 16, 2025: Lent a reminder we are all in this together
Lent is a journey toward Easter that calls for the refreshing of our understanding of the power and beauty of baptism.
Baptism assures us that we don’t make the Christian journey alone — that would be foolhardy. We make it in and with the whole Church, those living and those gone before us, keeping stride and holding hands.
When we falter, the Church picks us up. It’s the Church that asks, “What name do you give to your child?” It is the Church that calls the child by name and welcomes with great joy. It is the Church that claims the baptized for Christ and offers a sign to make belonging to Christ and the Church.
A cloud of witnesses and sponsors pledge to walk with the newly baptized and share the hearing of the story of our faith, one that is heartbreaking and glorious. The baptized is anointed and bathed in blessed water, anointed as a king to meet his people or an athlete for the race — clothed in white, given a lighted candle and given promises to keep the flame of faith alive.
May the Lent we share and walk through together in this year of the Lord be the best of all, for some the first, for others the final one, for everyone another chance to renew and hold close to our heart the precious treasure that baptism and faith is.
And the otherwise …
The new young priest was calling on the elderly who no longer could go to church. His first call was to Aunt Sally, who was quite old and in a nursing home. He was somewhat nervous, and he kept eating peanuts from a bowl beside her bed. When he got up to leave, he noticed he had eaten all of the peanuts.
“I’m sorry, I ate up all of your peanuts,” he stammered.
“Oh, that’s all right,” Aunt Sally said. “I’d already gummed all of the chocolate off of them anyhow.”
MARCH 9, 2025: Lenten fasting not limited to food
In the rhythm of family life, there is periodic need for the renewal of Lent.
We can get so caught up in “business-as-usual” that we fail to notice how we may have grown away from one another, away from the Christian community and consequently away from God. Lent is a time to reverse that separation.
Lent is a time of retreat in the real sense of that term: a time of turning back, of turning away from that which is dangerous to our spiritual growth, a time of returning to the Lord.
Lent is a time for the entire family to make a wholehearted effort to be more attentive to one another and to the Lord. It is a time to treat ourselves to the good of God and in one another, to the new life that can be ours.
But fasting is more than doing without food. Our Lenten fast can mean doing without other things as well. For example:
- Do without a little sleep: use the time to read or pray.
- Do without anger, impatience or whatever really hinders you from living the gospel message of love.
- Do without the radio or music for a time each day; treat yourself and those around you to the joy of a little silence.
- Limit TV to one hour a day.
- Take fewer drugs (from aspirin to alcohol).
- If you are a night owl, let go of the day’s activities and go to bed an hour earlier each night. (If you can’t sleep, use the time for meditation.)
- Take some time from something you usually do for yourself, such as reading a good novel, to write to a neglected family member or friend.
Many of these actions mean fasting from selfishness and the status-seeking of our own egos and allowing ourselves to be a bit more vulnerable. They might be more difficult than eating less food, but they are forms of fasting nonetheless and can treat us to the Christian values of love and joy.
MARCH 2, 2025: Lent a time of fasting, prayer and giving of yourself
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday this week and ends on Holy Thursday evening.
It begins with the grim but honest ashes, the solemn reminder of all our limits and the church’s call to conversion. Its 40 days are for remembering and becoming what baptism made us. It is thoroughly personal, this Lenten time, but only because we are people of the church, and it is the church that embraces and is embraced by Lent.
From its earliest days, the Church has urged the baptized and catechumens to observe the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving and prayer to prepare for Easter. Failure to observe individual days of penance is not considered serious, but failure to observe any penitential days or a substantial number of such days must be considered serious.
During Lent, the Church encourages attendance at daily Mass, self-imposed times of fasting and generosity to local, national and worldwide programs of sharing.
To give alms is part of Lent.
What are “alms” today?
Let the imagination go to work on what we must share. It isn’t limited to money, though money can be important. For many, time is the alms that is hardest to give whether it is a parent giving that alms to a child generously and regularly, or a person tutoring in a literacy program, or a citizen writing elected officials on behalf of the needs of justice.
Time and money are then two sorts of alms, but there are many others. Almsgiving is a year-round habit, but being who we are, we need a Lent to put ourselves into such a habit.
Lenten regulations
Abstinence: All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.
Fasting: All Catholics between their 18th and 59th birthdays also are bound to observe the Laws of Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
FEB. 23, 2025: Reflect on your motivation in your faith
The story is told about a hunting dog who was very proud as a great runner.
One day, a rabbit he was chasing got away. It brought on a lot of ridicule from the other dogs in the kennel because of all his previous boasting. Still, the hunting dog had an answer.
“Remember, the rabbit was running for his life while I was only running for my dinner,” the dog said.
That reminds us that motivation is so important as to why we do what we do. Some folks, good people, come to weekend Mass motivated by their upbringing and habit — also, the clear commandment to give God His hour once a week — the Sabbath.
Probably an even richer and more blessed motive to gather with others for the Mass would be to know that we really anoint one another by being together — you just don’t get to heaven on your own.
As Jesus accepted the anointing of His feet in the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, so we receive from each other the ointment of love and affection and the peace and securing of community. The presence of the Savior is given eyes and voice and hands and heart through the presence of those brought together for weekend Mass. If you’re not there, you’re missed.
FEB. 16, 2025: ‘Playing house’ doesn’t usually work out
With more than 50 percent of couples living together unmarried now, the uncertainty of commitment — the open-ended nature of vows and rings never exchanged, children born out of wedlock — all add to more heartache instead of the resolution and holiness that can come from blessed marriage.
The reason to pretend being married without vows expressed is to allow a “trying-out” period — making sure he, or she, is the right one.
Does it work?
It seems not.
First marriages ending within five years are 20 percent, but unmarried cohabitations ending within five years is 49 percent and within 10 years is 62 percent. Living together has replaced marriage as the norm in the U.S., but divorce, separation and children living apart from their fathers is higher than ever.
Has the experiment of pretending to be married failed?
It seems so, and the results are a disaster.
Participants at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship conference on the Future of Marriage heard that children born out of wedlock were more likely to see their parents split than children born into marriages. Also, all clergy in the U.S were informed that couples who “played house” for more than one year, then were married, experienced a separation and divorce rate three times higher than couples who wait until marriage to move in together.
Heartache versus holy.
FEB. 9, 2025: Make your retirement relevant for you, others
What is retirement for you?
Maybe it’s a long way off, or a challenging time that is here now and can last many years.
Whatever it is, retirement means change.
People can live longer now, well beyond the magic “65” or “70.” Using that time to grow socially, spiritually, to contribute to life and community, to uncover new possibilities can bring such satisfaction and fulfillment.
The hope of good health, physically and mentally, is every family’s hope and prayer for loved ones.
The late Rev. Charles Fahey, a noted expert on gerontology and senior citizen issues who died last year, said that feelings of isolation and a lack of worth make newly retired persons concentrate on their losses. Instead. highlight the new chances and extra time afforded by retirement.
A sample help-wanted ad teaches many good points for those in retirement:
“Man or woman with years of experience living and willing to share with others. Position requirements: time, interest, enthusiasm, generosity, flexibility and wisdom. Needed to: tutor a young person, get involved with political issues and campaigns, work on a neighborhood watch, teach your skill to another volunteer at local library, hospital or church. Friendly visits to homebound persons.”
And the otherwise …
A soul awakened in a beautiful place, everything was provided — food, entertainment, drinks and beautiful clothes. The soul got bored, day after day just watching TV and eating and drinking and wearing different outfits. Finally, the soul asked the winged spirit, “I’m bored doing nothing, is this really all there is? If so, I’d rather go to Hell.” The spirit replied, “That’s exactly where you are!”
FEB. 2, 2025: Go all-in on your faith; stakes are high
Gambling is popular — and brings a lot of stories with it.
A tourist in Las Vegas didn’t have any money left, so he just watched the games and only bet mentally. In no time at all he LOST HIS MIND.
How about the very devout Catholic woman who always went to church and begged God to let her win the big lottery jackpot. But the next day she heard nothing from God.
“Why don’t you give me a break, Lord?” she asked.
A voice came from above and was heard to say, “Why don’t you at least buy a ticket!”
Poker on TV is very popular. The game “Texas Hold-Em” occupies the hours of probably too many people, especially college students who should be studying.
In “Texas Hold-Em,” you have the option to “go all in” — the moment when you bet everything, the final chance. If you win, you win it all; if you lose, it’s all over for you.
Jesus tells us, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it for the sake of the Kingdom of God.”
In other words, the Lord invites us to “go all in” and not hold back. Living our faith is really a high-stakes game when you consider what there is to win and what there is to lose. All eternity is riding on our desire and willingness to bet our life on Christ, faith, the church and our ability to reflect the goodness of Jesus in our thoughts, words and deeds.
And the otherwise …
A little girl sat on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would reach up and touch his wrinkled cheek. Then she would touch her own cheek thoughtfully. Finally, she spoke.
“Grandpa, did God make you?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” he answered. “God made me a long time ago.”
“God make me, too?” she asked.
“Yes, indeed, honey,” he answered. “God made you just a little while ago.”
She touched his face again, and then her own, and then came to a conclusion.
“He’s getting better at it, isn’t He?”
JAN. 26, 2025: Big difference between maturity, immaturity
Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction.
Maturity is patience, the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of long-term gain.
Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation despite opposition or discouraging setbacks.
Maturity is unselfishness responding to the needs of others, often at the expense of one’s own desires and wishes.
Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat without complaint or collapse.
Maturity is humility. It is big enough to say I was wrong. And when right, the mature person need not say I told you so.
Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities, then do nothing.
Maturity means dependability, keeping one’s word, coming through in the crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi, confused and disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions which never materialize.
Maturity — is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change.
JAN. 19, 2025: Grandparents are very special people
Someone has said, “Older folks like to give good advice as solace for no longer being able to provide bad example.”
That might be true for some; however, most grandparents give wisdom and good advice to their younger loved ones because they love them.
Grandparents enjoy a unique relationship with grandchildren — they can give them gifts for no special reason, feed them treats normally forbidden by parents, and spoil the kids by letting them stay up a little later.
One grandparent said, “I really enjoy the grand part of grandparenting.”
There can be found amid the younger ones and their grandparents a kind of openness, freedom and sincerity that doesn’t even exist between parents and the same young people.
Grandparents can be such good and fortunate guides in terms of Catholic and Christian spiritual growth, values and traditions — the spiritual stuff that gives meaning to our lives. Faith does run in the family, like eye color or good cooking, especially when faithful grandparents share the treasures of their wisdom.
A Grandparent’s Prayer to St. Joachim
St. Joachim, you and St. Anne were the grandparents of Jesus Christ, who is the Redeemer of the world and the joy of our hearts. Help me to be an example to my grandchildren that they will look to Jesus as the Savior of the world, rather than to power, riches or material pleasures. Let them see in me an inner joy and peace found only in your Grandson. Help me to make prudent and wise decisions in dealing with my grandchildren, so they may not be spoiled, but know that I have a love for them founded on the truth of their dignity as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father with your Grandson Jesus in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
JAN. 12, 2025: Guidelines for sane living in the new year
- Strike a balance between work and play, between seriousness and laughter.
- Go to church regularly — and also to the ballgame.
- Stick with the truth, even if it makes you look or feel bad. Falsehoods are like wandering ghosts.
- Forgive your enemies as part of the price you pay for the privilege of being forgiven.
- Realize you sometimes are a pain in the neck.
- Walk. Get lots of air and sunshine, and occasionally get some rain or snow in your face, some dirt on your hands.
- Talk through your troubles and mistakes with someone you trust — and your dreams, too.
- Don’t underestimate the ability of God to straighten out a situation even when you can’t — and give God a little time!
- Discriminate among your fears. Learn to tell which ones are useful and which ones are destructive.
- Remember that the ultimate death rate is 100 percent. You would be getting short-changed if everyone got to die and you didn’t.
- When you can’t sleep, say, “Aha! Here’s a chance for a little privacy and creative thinking. All day I’ve been too busy to pray, and now I can get around to thanking God.”
- Fall in love with life, with children, older people, middle-agers, sports cars, the theater, music, books, cities, hills, the sea, the Bible — with everything except money.
JAN. 5, 2025: Make better use of opportunities this year
The first month of a new year always brings thoughts, hopes and even resolutions about how to be a better person, to enjoy a better year.
One suggestion might be to strive to make better use of the opportunities, gifts and days God gives us. Our choices can make a big difference not only for ourselves, but for the world around us.
Back in 2004, two people won large lottery prizes — but each used their opportunity in different ways.
A man won $315 million on a Powerball lottery, spending much of it on luxury items for himself. Eventually, he was ordered into substance-abuse treatment in West Virginia after his second drunken-driving arrest within a few months.
Debi Faris-Cifelli of California won that state’s Super Lotto Jackpot of $27 million. She provided funerals for abandoned babies and she has helped to inspire a law to save unwanted newborns. Her deep religious faith prompts her to spend a large amount of her winnings in giving simple but prayerful funerals for the little ones and she continues to finance ongoing projects to change laws and enact new ones to save those abandoned.
I saw a bumper sticker a long time ago that read, “Do not follow me — I am lost.” This thought made me think, “Am I one of those people going in circles without any set destination in mind? Am I living a life of quiet desperation because I have lost my goal of living? I may have given up on being good, religious, hardworking, and now I am running bored and blind and baffled. Did I lose my way?”
Christianity is not a system of human philosophy, nor a religious ritual, nor a code of ethics; but it is a life imparted to us through Christ.
Jesus Christ is the way, the life and the truth. It is only in Christ, we can know the way of our going, the joy of our life, and the understanding of our living.