In Jesus’ time on earth, the prevailing male attitude toward women was patronizing and condescending at best. Unlike most of His contemporaries, however, Jesus did not devalue women or shun them in public; quite the opposite. To discern this, we need only consult Sacred Scripture.
When I came back to the Faith in 1981, one Scripture passage became the rudder of my spiritual life. It is Ephesians 1: 3-4. Through the years, this passage has spoken to me in many ways and has sustained me through many trials.
Verse 4 , however, is particularly relevant for this time of the year, and was echoed by St. John Paul II in a Christmas reflection. It states this, "God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight, to be full of love." Those first five words tell us something about ourselves that is amazing and astounding -- each one of us was distinctively and individually chosen by God to have life.
What wisdom Holy Mother Church has in dedicating the first day of the year to Mary, Mother of God!
Mary is the Mother of God and she is our mother, too. Her fiat is the genesis of every fiat given to God. And every fiat given to God is enriched by hers. The fathers of the Second Vatican Council state it simply, succinctly, and profoundly: she is our Mother in the order of grace.
This poem, written by Giovanni Domini (1356-142), expresses the maternal beatitude we find so dear. May it elevate our hearts in gratitude to God for the gift of the Blessed Virgin. And may it elevate our hearts to the reality of our salvation which comes through the gift of her Son, Jesus Christ Savior of the World.
I find it a bit spiritually amusing that I am replying to a blog about women covering their heads in Church since I only recently have taken up the custom again.
On a recent Women of Grace Live radio program, we discussed the quote below, which came from one of my previous blog posts. It generated a spirit-filled conversation about overcoming fear when we are moving forward in what we believe to be God's will for our lives. I am re-posting the blog below as well as the link to the radio program below. I hope that it provides you inspiration today if you are experiencing fear.
It's only fitting that during this Lenten season, we have the opportunity to celebrate the Feast of St. Katharine Drexel, a woman who lived to the full the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Men of Grace: Warriors for the Kingdom, you MUST all watch this and then read "Into the Breach: An Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men, my Spiritual Sons in the Diocese of Phoenix" by Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix. It's excellent!
After you watch this, download this document and read it....
It’s May! And parishes around the world are a flurry of sacraments. First Holy Communions and Confirmations testify to God’s continuing presence among us and leave us filled with that lasting Easter joy and bursting hearts. It’s that time of the liturgical year when God dishes out graces and gifts with generous hands and more places are set at the banquet table. Our own son Daniel received his first Holy Communion and the sacrament of Confirmation this spring, and although this was our fourth child to be so blessed, I still felt awed at witnessing the young life that’s been entrusted to us be saturated with and transformed by God’s own life.
This morning I received the following email request from Fr. Benedict Groeschel's community, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. They have asked for special prayers, through the intercession of Venerable Solanus Casey, for his recovery and healing. I hope that you will join me in praying.
For many years now I have been speaking about the Kingdom of God on earth and how it is that the Church embodies all the elements of this Kingdom (King-Jesus, Queen Mother-Mary, Prime-Minister-The Pope, Cabinet Members-The Bishops, Commissioned Officers-The Priests, and Knights-Those Baptized and Confirmed.
The Church teaches us that the Christian life on earth is a warfare. And I thought I would share just a small quote from the Catechism of the Council of Trent on Baptism as Enlistment and Confirmation as Strengthening for battle.
"In Baptism man is enlisted into the service, in Confirmation he is equipped for battle; at the baptismal font the Holy Ghost imparts fullness to accomplish innocence, but in Confirmation he ministers perfection to grace; in Baptism we are regenerated unto life, after Baptism we are fortified for the combat; in Baptism we are cleansed, after Baptism we are strengthened; regeneration of itself saves those who receive Baptism in time of peace, Confirmation arms and makes ready for conflicts.
These are truths not only already recorded by other Councils, but specially defined by the holy Council of Trent; so that we are therefore no longer at liberty not only to think otherwise, but even to entertain the least doubt concerning them."
So fellow Warriors for the Kingdom, lets start examining what it is we are part of so we can put into practice the rules of engagement that came with our enlistment into the Kingdom of God. For we are all "Called to Knighthood".
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In Jesus’ time on earth, the prevailing male attitude toward women was patronizing and condescending at best. Unlike most of His contemporaries, however, Jesus did not devalue women or shun them in public; quite the opposite. To discern this, we need only consult Sacred Scripture.
What wisdom Holy Mother Church has in dedicating the first day of the year to Mary, Mother of God!
