Theresa Thomas: Everyday Catholic

Tomorrow, December 28, is the feast of the Holy Innocents. It also happens to be my brother John's birthday. John is no longer with us, having been taken from this life in a car accident nearly two years ago when he was just 20. I would like to briefly share a few things about my brother's short life, and reflect on the feast.

Traditionally, the feast of Holy Innocents commemorates the day that King Herod sought to find and kill Christ. Since the sixth century, Decemeber 28 is set aside to remember the memory of those children killed because of Herod's rage against Christ.  (Mt. 2: 16-17) The Church recognizes these children as martyrs. Much religious artwork depicts the horror of the commemoration as infants are taken from their mother's arms to be murdered.

This feast is one befitting for my brother John to have been born on. You see, he was conceived when his birth mother was just a teenager, and he could have easily been "disposed of" through abortion. He could have been an innocent murdered. But his mother chose life. And my mother chose him. The "coincidence" of the day is striking.

John's life taught me that sibling love is not borne of blood and genes, but of growing hearts large enough to encompass those that God has chosen for us. When he joined our family, first as a foster child, he was just three weeks old. He was cute and skinny and as he grew we learned that he loved to be held and rocked, which we all obliged in doing, of course.  He was a gift to our family as our family was to him.

John's life also taught me that there is a social aspect to even the most private of sins--that despite the very real and good gift of life that John's birth mother gave him, he suffered much on account of the circumstances surrounding his conception. He knew he was not planned, not willed, not initially wanted. He was pained by having come into the world under these circumstances. I suspect it troubled him especially as he became a teenager and was growing into a young man.  Despite this, he knew he was loved by the family that chose him, and I hope that made up, in some small way, for the other suffering.

On this day, I remember John. I remember the innocent lives lost through abortion, the suffering children who are abused, neglected, starving--some for food and others for attention--or perhaps forgotten in an orphanage far away from America's wealth and prosperity. And I ask God to help me know how to alleviate another's pain and to welcome the children He may send into my life--those borne of me, those I encounter briefly, and those He wants me to pray for because that's the most I can do for them.

On this feast of the Holy Innocents I ask God to show us how we can welcome Jesus in the face of suffering children, and to overcome the worst in the world with simple love.

Happy Birthday, John. Your life was a gift to us.

What kind of Christmas Ornament are You?

Ok, this is a little silly and a lot bit whimsical but it's Christmas....

You Are an Angel

A truly giving soul, you understand the spirit of Christmas.

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

Getting what you asked for

       One day, in a moment of self-realization my dad prayed for humility. It wasn't long before he got what he asked for and scared us all off from praying for spiritual virtues. I'm only half joking of course, but God did answer Dad's prayer and pronto. This answer to Dad's prayer really made me think about knowing what to ask for and praying with an open heart.

     Let me explain.  My parents were in the process of building a home and this was the late '70s when interest rates were high, incomes were not, and gas lines wrapped around street blocks like ribbons on a gift. Still, Dad had a stable job and his responsibility to provide led he and Mom to the decision to move our 12 person family out of our four bedroom, 1900 square foot home with a dinky yard into a home with two more bedrooms with a much larger yard and a kitchen that could accomodate everyone sitting together at meal time. They were working with an architect designing an efficient house that was simple but large, practical people that they were. (And still are, by the way.)

     So Dad, in a moment of prayer, felt the compulsion to pray for humility. He got it. Within a very short period of time, with his resources committed to the new home, gas prices rose even more, interest rates sky-rocketed to all time highs and the housing market quickly became a buyers market only. He could not sell our old house.

     With some savings in the bank and faith in his heart he made payments on two homes, working aggressively to sell the old one. It didn't work. For a year and a half he watched his savings dwindle, to the point where he and Mom had nothing left. He had been granted his humility.

     Eventually he did sell the home (way below value) and he and Mom got their feet back on the ground (although never returning to that "safety net" nest egg in the bank). Other events occurred and some personal family crises gave Dad (and Mom) the gift of humility again and again.

      Why did Dad feel compelled to tell us what he had prayed for when he did and how he had received it? I suspect it was God's gentle urging, knowing there was a lesson for our whole family in there. I do know that we all watched Dad's faith in asking, his faith in receiving, and God's answer, in God's time. I learned we can't control God, and that  challenges and struggles bestowed upon (or just allowed) are so often the instruments of the virtues we seek.

       God is a generous Father. He loves to give to His children. What are the gifts you seek and how is He bestowing those gifts in your life? A trouble or concern that emerges today could be the answer that bestows your gift or saves your soul. God is so good at giving us what we ask for, and more.

Sign found on Mother Teresa's Wall

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

            If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

-- Mother Teresa
[Agnes Gonxha Beiaxhiu] (1910-1997)
Humanitarian, Nobel Peace Prize 1979

"If you pray, you will have faith. And if you have faith, you will love. And if you love, you will serve, and if you serve, you will have peace" Mother Teresa

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. Mother Teresa

A Radical Pro-Life Move to Consider

  I don't know if this has been on anyone's heart, but I felt compelled to write to you tonight. My sister Mary is a consecrated lay person/missionary who has worked in Siberia, Russia in, among other places, the orphanages. The system for care in Russia, as you can imagine, is nothing like the system in the United States. While our system has its flaws, Russia's is almost primitive. Unwanted children are housed in institutions and labeled as *disabled* simply for showing the effects of isolation and depression--lack of response to one's surroundings, blank faces and sadness. An estimated 600,000 children live "without parental care" in Russia. Many of these children have no problems other than not being loved. Typically these babies are housed in orphanages by overworked Russian women until they are two, then shipped off to larger orphanages.  You can imagine the lack of attachment that occurs in such situations over a prolonged period of time.

Sometimes American parents come to adopt a child, but often the prospective parents are misinformed, are scared off by the deplorable conditions in which they find the children, or they are put off by the child's lack of response to them. Many times there is nothing physically or emotionally *wrong* with these children, they just lack maternal love and care. They are rejected because they have been rejected. Adoptive families reassure that with normal love and attention their children thrive and often make up for deficiencies quickly.

    When my sister first told me stories of these children, I almost didn't believe her. Here we are in the 21st century. Our society drives cars that have video entertainment for the people in the back seat. We think nothing of spending $400 for an entertainment system and fill stadiums (that are the equivalent populations of cities) to watch sports events and have, at our fingertips, any type of food we wish in almost any grocery store nationwide. Even the "poor"  in our country often at minimum have the basic necessities, even luxuries perceived as necessities like TV . Most children who suffer here do not experience complete and total abandonment as the government at least tries to advocate for the children. (not always successful, but tries) There are organizations here dedicated to improving children's lives. In Russia there is none of that.

    I write tonight here to suggest a radical pro-life move, one that generous loving souls that I know (and I'm sure you know some too) have leapt forward in faith to embrace--adoption of one of God's children in need to love as their own. Mary Ann and her husband Jamie adopted two little Russian brothers to bring their family to a full 6 members; Stephanie and Dave added a son to their family of two daughters. Renee and Joe added two daughters....all internationally, and all say that the blessings their children bring to them far outweighs any sacrifices and expense they have had to make for them.....While couples who wish for a healthy white infant in America wait often years for a placement, there are many children ready for international adoption now. They may be babies or older children. All need families, open loving arms that will hold them close and show God's love to them. 

     Happily married infertile couples naturally look towards adoption to share their love and lives with little people. Many families that have been blessed with biological children also look into this option.

    Just for the record, couples that qualify are those that have been married at least one year. Mothers must be no more than 45 years older than any child placed. One, sometimes two trips to Russia are required to pick up the child. More information can be found at these agencies sites.

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/russia_adoption.php

http://www.frua.org/considering/things_consider.shtml

http://www.frankadopt.org/cgi-bin/index/13

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/russia_adoption.php

http://www.wacap.org/Adoption-Domestic-International.asp

About the state of adoption in Russia

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Won't you please consider this radical pro-life move?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------  Mother Teresa at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. 1994  http://catholicgirl.faithweb.com/mother_teresa.htm

"Whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" John 3:17 Jesus said, "Whatever you have done to the least of these my brothers, you have done unto me." Matt. 25:40 Ps. The photo at the beginning of this post is Mary with Russian children and a very relaxed Polish priest, Fr. Lucasz.

Catholic Homeschooling Blog 'Carnival'

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas on Campus at U of Dayton

Our son is a freshman at the University of Dayton (OH) this year. UD is a Catholic university founded by the Marianist fathers and full of rich, Marianist tradition. In fact, UD boasts the largest library on the Blessed Mother in the world. (We did not know this until actually stepping foot on campus--a comforting fact to know as we dropped off our first-born--"Dear Blessed Mother, watch over our son....") The campus is dotted with beautiful statues of Our Lady, and the UD Chapel of the Immaculate Conception is an attractive church, known for its trademark (Mary blue) dome. Because of the great devotion to the Blessed Mother on this campus at UD, there is no wonder that the feast of the Immaculate Conception is a “big deal” on campus. Every year on December 8 the administration buildings close down in honor of the feast day, and the “Christmas on Campus” begins.

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According to the Dayton archives,the first "Christmas on Campus" began in 1964 with students, faculty, and staff members having a candlelight procession towards a live Nativity scene on campus, which was made up of members of the Dayton community. Over the years, the day has come to include the larger Dayton community as swarms of children are invited and descend upon UD to be met and greeted by Dayton students, faculty and administrators to see not only the live Nativity scene but also to enjoy other festivities before the students go home on break. (so enthusiastic are the students in doing this for the children that it is not uncommon for them to *run out of kids* topair with the students. My own son didn't get a child this year.) There is a 40 foot tree lighting ceremony, Christmas arts and crafts in the University center, a petting zoo of Christmas animals (I'm guessing sheep and cows, but I'm not sure), and a candlelight procession to the Convocation Center where a Mass of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated. Planning for this event begins months ahead of time, and excitement descends beginning the first of December. 

In addition, the UD library houses a collection of more than 1,300 nativity scenes (creches) to celebrate Christmas, many of which are from around the world.

             In a day and age when many Catholic institutions have lost their Catholic identity, it was nice to see such a pleasant surprise occurring at the school our son chose, and it solidified our decision to support his choice in continuing his post-high school education there.

I just thought you would like to see some hope for college campuses. There are bright lights flickering around. I have a feeling this generation of college students, yearning for traditional devotions, is making an impact everywhere in this country, quietly and in a small way. Some day we will completely see its fruits.

God bless ! Theresa

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Good morning, everybody! I've chosen a less known depiction of the Blessed Mother in honor of her feast today, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This painting is by Italian Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione. It is called "The Immaculate Conception with Saints Francis and Anthony of Padua". It is oil on canvas and painted between the years 1649 and 1650. According to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts,

"This dramatic and exuberant composition conformed in both style and subject with the artistic principles ordained by the Catholic Church for Counter-Reformation art, which called for large-scale creations that evoke intense emotional response from the viewer. Light, color and movement are combined to create the illusion of a celestial vision. Installed on the main altar of the church, this towering altarpiece would have been the focal point of the visitor's experience. The heavens seem literally to open, revealing the Virgin Mary who, as the mediator of the heavenly and earthly realms, invites the viewer to participate in the mystical occurrence."

All I know is that it beautifully depicts our Mama Mary.

I have several thoughts as the sun is beginning to come up and the day is beginning to unfold. The first is TIMING. God has graced us with perfect timing in the events of our lives. An unexpected kindess when we need it most, consolation that a decision was the right one, a raise or promotion on a feast day which confirms God's care and providence..... When I was in the 7th grade there was a young man in 8th grade battling leukemia. Today leukemia patients survive at a high rate compared to in the 1970s. "Jim" was in the class ahead of me and I will never forget the morning that Sister Gerald Francis came in to tell us, "James went to God this morning." The day was Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Although I did not know Jim well, his death affected me deeply.  Even then I recognized God's timing in this. And while I know it was a terrible cross for his family and friends to bear, losing him, God seemed to be saying, "There there, I take him on my Mother's feast. Be comforted. He is in her arms...."

Yesterday a college friend traveled first to Moscow, Russia and then took a hours long train ride deep into the Arctic Circle to bring home a daughter. When she and her husband got there she could not bring the child home. I am sure her heart is breaking. In the body of Christ when one mourns we all do. So please remember her, her husband and the little child in your prayers, and ask the Blessed Mother to wrap her mantle around them all and say, "There, there. I am with you, even if you cannot be together."

I did not mean for this to be a sad post. In fact, today, someone will be born. (Actually, many). Someone will receive great news of some sort, a gift from the Blessed Mother, and it may or may not go unnoticed that it is from her....It's a happy day, a day of celebration, and I'm not going to forget that when life's imperfections and troubles punctuate my life (which they will, of course, because this is not heaven), She is always there, to say, "There, there. God is good. He will be with you." and she will wrap us in her love, like the good mother that she is, and she will point us towards her Son, as she always does.

REMINDER TO SELF:

Be wise as a serpent, gentle as a dove,
Copy her by wrapping others in His love...