When my son was three he discovered the Tabernacle.  He asked, “Mommy, what is that gold box?”  To make it understandable to him, I answered, “That’s where Jesus goes night-night.”  That seemed like a good choice of words until the next weekend when my son questioned, “Mommy, who stays with Jesus when He goes night-night?”  […]

Before I begin, please allow me to clarify. I am very thankful to live in a country where I am free to worship and live as I choose. I am infinitely more thankful to be a Catholic person, free to live the teachings of the Church, receive the sacraments, and share in her holiness. The […]

We’ve explored how to leave the door open when the Church says no.  That open door gives us a chance to say yes.  We are, after all, a Church built on yeses. In the Old Testament, those who laid the foundation for our Church said “yes.”  Abraham said “yes” to God when he was called.  […]

When I was in high school, our health education curriculum included a section on refusal skills.  We were taught five steps through which we could refuse peer pressure.  They were: 1) ask questions 2) name the trouble 3) state the consequences 4) suggest an alternative 5) move it, sell, and leave the door open.  To […]

Five years ago, on the Solemnity of Christ the King, we celebrated the baptism of our first child.  When we presented him in the church, we were asked, “What do you ask of God’s Church?”  Our answer was, “Baptism.”  Now, five year later, I’d like to ask something more of the Church and of the […]

Once there was a new mother who sorted her child’s new toys.  Musical instruments went in one basket and cars went into another.  The child grew, and the number of toys grew as well, until all the vehicles no longer fit in one basket.  At that point, the mother separated the vehicles into two baskets, […]