It's Party Time Again!!!

I hope you all enjoyed class Sunday, and to those who were unable to make it, we really missed you!!! Well, it is time for another fun, fun, fun Champions of Hope Sunday School Class Social!!  The Allisons have graciously volunteered to host the social this month.  It will be Friday night at their home located at 62 Bluegrass Cove in Cherry Hill Subdivision.  Here is a link to their address using MapQuest.  The social will begin at 6:00 and the Allisons have requested that everyone please bring a dish, and they will provide the meat.  Please email me back at kds786@mac.com ASAP with the following info:

1.  Are you going to be able to come?

2.  If so, how many (including yourself) will be coming?

3.  What dish are you bringing?

If everyone can please get back to me as soon as possible that would be great so that I can let Judy & James know how many to expect!

I hope to see everyone on Friday night!!

In Christ,

Kristy

Friday Evening Social

Hello, everyone!!  I hope you are having a great week so far!  I wanted to remind everyone of our Sunday school social this Friday, the 25th @ 6:30 at the the Geibel's home.  It will be a wine and (heavy) hors d'oeuvres social.  Dave and Stephanie will be supplying the wine and other beverages such as Iced tea and soda. Stephanie will also be making meatballs and some dips.  IF everyone else could please bring some type of hors d'oeuvres, that would be appreciated.  If you can, please email me at kds786@mac.com or call me at (731) 267-3704 if you are coming and what you are bringing so that I can let Stephanie know.  Also, Stephanie wanted me to let you know that you are welcome to invite members of other classes or anyone who might want to join us.  She has invited a few couples from other classes as well as Fr. Favazza, so I hope (and she hopes) that we will have a big crowd!  As Stephanie told me, this will be the day after her last radiation treatment and she will be ready to party!!  I have included the directions that Stephanie gave me at the end of this email.  I hope you are all able to make it.  I will also post this on our blog.  

God bless,

Kristy

87 Poplar Plains Dr., Jackson

554-2139

 

From 45 Bypass N, take left at Oil Well Rd.

Go to third light and turn right onto Pleasant Plains

Go to first light and turn left onto McClellan

Go about ½ mile and turn left onto Keelange Cove

Go about ¼ mile and turn left onto Poplar Plains

Poplar Plains is a dead-end.  We are the third house on the left FROM THE END.  Our name and house # are on the mailbox.

 

Just an update...

+J.M.J.+

Hello, everyone!  I just wanted to update our blog a bit since I've not done so in a while.  I hope everyone had a wonderful summer, and I'm glad that we were still able to meet and have fellowship different times throughout the summer.  I was only able to attend the get together at the park, but it was great!  I know I heard that the others were great as well.  The next get-together to look forward to is the church picnic on August 30th.  Sunday School is back in full swing so I should have some more updates ton the blog soon!  I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!!

Kristy

Summer Sunday School Activities

Hi everyone!!!  Just a reminder about Thursday's event (July 2).  It will be an Ice Cream/Dessert Social at the Rolleris' home.  327 Wiley Parker Road, Jackson.  (Townhouses of Magnolia Village).  Everyone needs to bring toppings for ice cream and meet at 7:00.  Also, Terri said it was fine if we park at the church next to the townhomes.  Please let me or the Rolleris know if you are coming so we can get a final count!  Here is a map to their house.  Thanks!!

Also, here are the rest of our summer activities we have scheduled!

July 5 - Summer Lake Social at Gigi Lui's house at Piney Lake.  290 Hickory Lane, Piney Lake (in Henderson County near Lexington).  Bring a dish and meet at 2:00.

July 18 - Summer Park Picinic at Conger/Highland Park.  Patsy will get there early to hold a spot; we will be eating picnic type food.  Everyone should bring a picnic type dish and meet at 6:00 pm.

July 25 - Cookout at the Allisons' home.  62 Bluegrass Cove, Jackson (Cherry Hill Subdivision).  Everyone bring a dish and meet at 6:00.

I hope everyone can make it!

Have a blessed week!

-Kristy

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

Did you know that the entire month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus?  Yep, it sure is!  Also, tomorrow, June 19 (or actually, the Friday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost) is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Devotion to the Sacred Heart has been around for a long time.  The Institution for the Feast of the Sacred Heart was a result of the appearances of our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675. St. Margaret Mary suffered contempt from many people who refused to believe the authenticity of the visions. In these appearances, Our Lord told her twelve graces that He would give to anyone devoted to His Sacred Heart. Yet, it was not until 1856 that the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was placed officially on the Church calendar. However, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus dates back even to the Middle Ages.

On the Feastday of St. John the Evangelist in 1256 AD, St. Gertrude the Great had a profound vision in which she laid her head near the wound in the side of Jesus and heard the beating of the Sacred Heart. This is especially profound since St. John the Evangelist reclined his head to the heart of the Divine Savior at the Last Supper. When Our Lord later appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1600's, he appeared to her on the feastday of St. John the Evangelist.

Our Lord requested three things: Frequently receiving Holy Communion, receiving Holy Communion especially on the first Friday of each month, and observing a Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

The following are the Promises of Jesus that were made to St. Margaret Mary:

Promises of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

If you can tomorrow, why not try to attend Mass?  If your schedule makes this hard to do, try to say a prayer to the Sacred Heart.  There are many you can say.  Here is a link to EWTN's site on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (which is Saturday!).  Also, on this day or in the month of June, many people consecrate their homes to the Sacred Heart by hanging an image of the Sacred Heart in a prominent place in the house as well as having a short enthronement ceremony that may be performed by a priest or a deacon.  I believe Fr. Kirk and the deacons did this last year sometime if anyone remembers correctly.  It is a wonderful way to honor Jesus and His Most Sacred Heart.  I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I will be getting our summer schedule up soon!  

-Kristy

Corups Christi and the meaning of the Eucharist

The Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ as it is more commonly called today, is celebrated on Sunday, June 14.  Traditionally, this celebration is held on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday; however, in the U.S. as well as some other countries, the feast has been moved to the following Sunday.  This feast day is one that all Catholics should hold dear to their hearts.  It is the day that we celebrate the gift of Jesus truly present in the Eucharist.  As Catholics, this should be the most important part of our faith.  As you have heard me say MANY times in Sunday school, it is the basis and reason for Holy Mass each Sunday and each weekday.  Too many times the Eucharist is focused on as just a part of the Church and it should really be focused on as THE part of the Church.  Because of this loss of focus, I think that the meaning and significance of this truly great gift has been put aside and even lost.  It has just become mixed in with every other teaching.  

I was having a conversation with someone this week concerning receiving communion.  I'm sure we as Catholics all know that only Catholics who are not in a state of mortal sin may receive the Eucharist.  The Catholic Church does not have an "open communion" as some churches do where anyone, including non-baptized persons, can receive communion.  The reason that we do not have an "open communion" is the fact that Catholics believe that the Eucharist is not a symbol of the Lord's Supper but the Eucharist is TRULY the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ.  It is NOT a symbol!!!!!  

Sometimes this is hard for many people to accept, especially Protestant denominations.  Protestants, with the exception of high church Anglicans (sometimes called Anglo-Catholic Anglicans), do not believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.  (I do want to quickly clarify that the Anglican church is NOT in communion with the Catholic Church even though some believe in transubstantiation.  The reason for this is that Apostolic succession was broken when the King of England appointed his own bishops, but that is a whole other topic!)  Also, for this same reason of theological differences, Catholics are not to receive communion in another church other than a Latin Rite Catholic Church or an Orthodox Church (if no Latin Rite is available) because a Protestant church's communion is not a valid communion.

Here are some other points of note regarding how we as Catholics should show our love for the Eucharist.

• Have you ever noticed how different people enter the pews before Mass and how they leave the pew after Mass?  Some genuflect, some bow, some don't do anything.  After researching this a bit (and also thanks to some great teachers in RCIA at St. Mary's) I learned the proper way(s) to enter the pew in a Catholic Church.  If it is physically possible to do so, one should genuflect TOWARDS the tabernacle before entering and after exiting the pew.  For example, if you enter the nave at St. Mary's and you are sitting next to the center aisle on the right (I'm using where I sit as an example), before entering your pew you would turn slightly to the left toward the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and genuflect.  I'm sure you have seen many people genuflect toward the sanctuary and the altar, right?  The reasoning behind this is that traditionally the tabernacle which houses the Blessed Sacrament was kept in the sanctuary front and center, so it is a common habit for people to continue to genuflect toward the front of the church.  But if you wanted to be completely proper regarding it, you would always genuflect or profoundly bow if genuflection is not possible, toward the tabernacle.  However, I have been in some more "modern" Catholic Churches where the tabernacle is kept a good distance from the altar or in an awkward place (such as when the Blessed Sacrament chapel is off to the side of the narthex). (I'll save my opinion of modern architecture in Catholic Churches for later.)  If you ever find yourself in this situation, it is proper to simply give a profound bow (or bow at the waist) to the altar.  Boy, I didn't mean for that to become that long!
• Now on to reception of the Eucharist.  Traditionally, the faithful received the Eucharist kneeling at the altar rail.  However, after Vatican II when the Novus Ordo Mass was introduced, many churches removed the altar rail because communion was now given with the faithful standing in lines as we do at St. Mary's.  However, it is still allowed to receive the Eucharist while kneeling (you'll see some at St. Mary's do this as well as if you watch Mass on EWTN).  One cannot be refused communion while kneeling either.  Also it is proper to give a sign of reverence before receiving communion.  In most cases this is dictated by the local bishop and is usually either a profound bow or a simple bow of the head/sign of the cross.  If it does not interrupt the flow of the faithful to receive communion, then one may also genuflect.  These signs of reverence were indicated in the document Eucharisticum Mysterium on May 25, 1967 and were also reiterated by Pope John Paul II's ordering the document Inaestimabile Donum on April 3, 1980.  Also there are two acceptable ways to receive communion in the United States.  One is the traditional way of on the tongue and the other is in the hand.  It should be noted that communion on the tongue is the Universal Church's way of receiving the Eucharist and in most countries with the exception of the U.S. and some others, it is still done this way.  The USCCB received permission for the faithful in the U.S. to receive in the hand.  A communicant can also not be refused communion for wanting to receive on the tongue.  Most parishes in the U.S. have pretty much adopted the custom of receiving in the hand, but many, like St. Mary's, have parishioners who receive either way.  Just to give you a real life example, I'll use myself.  When I am traveling, I normally ask or observe what the normal custom of reception of the Eucharist is.  At St. Mary's, I sometimes receive on the tongue and sometimes in the hand.  The first time I received communion on the tongue I was at Assumption Catholic Church in Nashville.  This is a very old, beautiful, and VERY traditional Catholic Church.  After entering the church and saying my prayers, I observed the regular parishoners for a bit.  Most were dressed in their Sunday best (suits and ties for the men and almost all the women wore a dress/skirt).  Many of the women wore chapel veils and mantillas or another type of head covering.  So I knew immediately that this was a very traditional parish.  And I was correct, so I felt that it was better that I receive on the tongue.  And to be quite honest, I was REALLY nervous!!  But it turned out fine and in fact, I prefer receiving on the tongue and most of the time when we are traveling, I do.  If I attend a Mass in the Extraordinary Form (aka the Traditional Latin Mass) I make sure that I remember to wear a head covering, a skirt/dress, and to remember that I will be receiving the Eucharist kneeling at the rail and receiving it on the tongue.  But if you are at a Mass in the Ordinary Form/Novus Ordo (like we have at St. Mary's) then either way that you choose to receive communion, whether it is in the hand or on the tongue, is acceptable.   The only thing you need to remember is that you are to receive with reverence. 

I hope that some of this has helped you, and I'm sorry that this particular post happened to be so long but the Eucharist and reverence for it is something that I'm very passionate about.  And most of you probably have noticed that I tend to lean toward really traditional Catholic views (so I apologize if I step on any toes), but I do try to make sure I get you all the correct information on anything I tell you.  But please feel free to ask me about anything I've mentioned in this particular blog or on any blog.  

So here's my challenge for you this week, think about what the Eucharist means to you.  Do you feel you have enough reverence for Christ's True Body & Blood?  Do you feel you don't?  Either way, why don't we try to spend some more time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament or simply say the following prayer after communion or any time we want to feel closer to Jesus in the Eucharist:

The Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me 

Body of Christ, save me 

Blood of Christ, inebriate me 

Water from Christ's side, wash me 

Passion of Christ, strengthen me 

O good Jesus, hear me 

Within Thy wounds hide me 

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee 

From the malicious enemy defend me 

In the hour of my death call me 

And bid me come unto Thee 

That I may praise Thee with Thy saints 

and with Thy angels 

Forever and ever 

Amen 

EWTN Family Celebration

Hi, everyone!  I'm up late due to taking too long of a nap today so I thought I'd post a blog or two.  I just wanted to let everyone know about the upcoming EWTN Family Celebration August 8-9.  It is held at the Birmingham, AL Convention Center and of course is put on by the EWTN television network.  I'm one of the EWTN Media Missionaries and it's part of my duties to spread the word about things like this so I've provided the link if you click on the banner below.  Chip and I made plans to attend the last one but I got the stomach flu and we couldn't go, but we are planning on trying to make it to this one.  It is a free event and I've heard it is a wonderful blessing to attend. They even have activities for kids, too!

Click on the banner for more info!

The Holy Trinity

One of the most mysterious beliefs of Christians, both Catholic & most Protestant Christians, is the Holy Trinity.  Just what do we mean when we say God exists in three persons as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit?  This mystery has been discussed for 2,000 years and it even attributed to the Eastern Schism where the Eastern and Western Churches separated.  To quote the Catholic Answers article on the Trinity:

"The doctrine of the Trinity is encapsulated in Matthew 28:19, where Jesus instructs the apostles: 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' The parallelism of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit is not unique to Matthew’s Gospel, but appears elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g., 2 Cor. 13:14, Heb. 9:14), as well as in the writings of the earliest Christians, who clearly understood them in the sense that we do today—that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are three divine persons who are one divine being (God)."

There are many places in the Scriptures where the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are mentioned in some way.  But does that help most of us understand it?  Probably not, but I'm sure we all still believe in the Trinity.  We have to remember that believing in a mystery, which is what the Trinity is, does not mean that we are believing in something illogical.  We are just believing in something that there is no possible way to understand completely, in this case it is God.  

Jason Evert, host of several EWTN shows and also a Catholic author, explains how the Trinity can be one God in the following way:  "All persons are beings, but not all beings are persons. For example, you are one being and one person. But a dog is one being and zero persons. With regard to the Trinity, there is one being, which is God, yet there are there Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not illogical. If one were to say that there is one God and three Gods, or one Person and three Persons—that would be illogical. But one Being and three Persons is not a contradiction."

If you're like me, you probably still don't fully understand the Trinity, and that's perfectly ok!  We, as human beings, don't have the full capacity to understand everything God puts before us; however, as Catholic Christians we still believe that there is a Trinity and that it is made up of God as the Father, Jesus as the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

If anyone would like more information on the Trinity and some good Catholic articles discussing the Trinity, here is a link to a search of the Catholic Answers website.  It should give you tons of information regarding the Trinity.

Today's Class Announcements

Wasn't today a GREAT class?  I thought it was awesome!  And we had nearly all of our class members in attendance, too!  Even better!  We did have a lot to discuss, however.  We decided to sponsor a child for the Area Relief Ministries Summer Camp.  It is $200 to sponsor a child.  You can bring your money next week and give it to Patsy.  Also we discussed what we wanted to do about canceling class for any particular dates, but it was pretty much a unanimous decision to just follow whatever the main Sunday School schedule was and not cancel for any certain days.  

Also, we discussed what to do during the summer for socials, etc.  I'm going to bring a calendar for everyone to mark days they would not be able to do anything as well as copies of a calendar so we can mark our own and then take them home.  Some things that were mentioned were having an afternoon/evening cookout at someone's house as well as attending the annual pond tour that features the Winstons' home on the 28th.  So be thinking about what you would like to do.  One thing that I thought of was if anyone was willing to drive to Henderson was to have a cookout/get-together at Chickasaw one day.  They have a big pavilion at the lake, and they have playgrounds and things kids would enjoy, too.  I know that could be a long way for some of you but I just wanted to throw it out there since it happens to be only 3 miles from my house and we could make sure to reserve the pavilion if we need to since we are close.

Anyway, please be thinking about what we would like to do this summer!  Have a blessed week!

-Kristy

The 3 Simultaneous Popes & Links in the Chain

Did you know that at one time there were 3 different men who were considered the pope at the same time?  I sure didn't...until today!  Today's class was quite interesting!  The chapter in our book covered a TON of information, and a lot of it was hard to decipher, but we made it through thanks to Dale!  :)  

But we learned a lot, as I said.  So let me mention the 3 popes.  Benedict IX, Gregory VI, and Sylvester II.  Benedict IX was a 20 year old pope who decided that he didn't want to be pope anymore because he wanted to get married, so he SOLD the papacy to John Gratian, who became Gregory VI.  This would be called simony, and it went on quite a bit during this time period.  Well, the people didn't particularly like that this happened so they took it upon themselves to elect a pope, Sylvester II.  THEN, Benedict IX decided that he wanted to be pope AGAIN, so he re-appointed himself.  (Isn't it something what a little power and the loss of it will do to people!?!?!)  So now, there were 3 popes.  To resolve this, Gregory VI, who was the "true" pope decided that he would hold a council to settle this silliness.  To make a long story short, he ended up resigning and Benedict IX was returned to power.  I don't know about you, but I sure would not have wanted to live during this time!

Now to our 2nd part of the class...the links in the chain.  Wondering what that is?  Well, think about this first.  Do we really, truly trust God to handle everything in our lives for us?  I know that there are plenty of times that I've said, "Not now, God.  I can handle this."  But was I able to?  I can't recall a single time that I was able to handle something fully on my own and have it go exactly like I wanted it to.  It's kind of like that saying, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."  Also, think about this...how often do we judge people?  Even if we don't think we are, we are all judgmental at times.  Did you ever see a homeless person and think, "He's probably just a drunk and will take any money I give him and spend it on liquor" or see a person who you can tell doesn't have much money and think, "Well, they are probably just too lazy to get a job."  Now, did you ever think that those thoughts are judgmental?  We all just think them to ourselves and never think about the fact that God still knows we are judging.  We ALL do this!  We don't necessarily do it intentionally, but we still do it.  Humans, by our sinful nature, are independent, judgmental creatures.  So how does this relate to links in a chain?  The weaker a link is in a chain, the more likely the chain is to break eventually.  We are all links in the chain of the Catholic Church and the chain of Christianity.  If we choose not to let God handle every part of our lives or if we choose to judge everyone, we make that chain weaker because we become weak or broken links.  We must become spiritually connected to who we are as Catholic Christians.

To tie this in with our lesson, the Catholic Church is a 2,000 year old chain FULL of links.  Some are weak, but the strong ones have outnumbered the weak ones for 2,000 years, and that is why she has lasted and stood strong throughout this time.  So, do you want to be a weak or a strong link in that 2,000 year old chain?  I think I want to strive to be that strong link.  What do you think?

I hope you all are enjoying the blog.  And remember, if you'd like to make a comment, please go here to the blog's site (champsofhope.blogspot.com) and make a comment.  That way everyone can see them, not just me! 

Have a great week!

Prayer Requests, Other Business, Etc.

Hey everyone. We had a great class today, even though the attendance was slim. I know everyone is busy with Memorial Day so it was expected today. We missed everyone! Here are a couple of prayer requests for this week.

• Stephanie Geibel
• Adam (Geni & Wayne's son-in-law, right?) is in Afghanistan.
• Geni (hoping to get the gift shop manager's position)
• Patsy's sister who recently lost her son
• And I'd like to add Robbie Favazza who will be ordained June 6 and then will be at our parish as assistant priest (yay!) and also for Fr. Kirk & Fr. Carroll who have been doing a great job, too!

Also, don't forget to bring the money for the sisters' bedspreads to class next Sunday!

Have a great week!

Don't Quit

I was cleaning out my e-mail "saved" folder tonight and I came across a meditation that Dale wrote almost exactly one year ago when he was at the Cancer Treatment Center of America.  It touched me then, and it still touches me now.  So for those of you who didn't get the Livin' a Dream meditations a year ago, I wanted to share this with you.  Sometimes everyone needs a little uplifting, and I think this will do the trick!  So for this blog post, I'm giving Dale the full credit.  I hope this touches you as it did me.

This is a special meditation for me, the last three days I have been at The Cancer Treatment Center of America in Zion, IL seeking hope and inspiration for continued good health. While there as it usually happens I met people that were struggling with their own diagnosis, and prognosis. I wanted desperately to reach out and let them know that we are all united in this battle, and Christ will offer comfort to those who seek it. While searching for something uplifting to write about I came across a poem called Don’t Quit, and it became clear that, that was the message I was to convey this week.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit
Life is queer with its twist and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out,
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit

God has a plan for each of us. Never give up the fight, the hope, the dream, remember that today holds a special gift, and tomorrow a brighter light, and Christ our lord is with us through the fight.
Lord you are my rock and my salvation. Grant me peace, wisdom, and courage to live according to your will.
In your holy name


AMEN

Thank you, Dale, for your wonderful insight and leadership! We love you!!!

Christendom, the barbarians, and Pope St. Gregory the Great

+

J.M.J

The first question asked in our class discussions was "What is Christendom?"  Is it just the Christian world? Is it just the hierarchy?  What is it?  It is really easily defined, actually.  Christendom is when the Church, the political parts of the empire, and the social parts of the empire were joined together.  During this time is also when the papacy begin to gain political power which lasted to 1870.  

During this time you also had groups such as the Ostrogoths, the Visigoths, the Vandals, the Franks, and I could go on and on.  These groups were considered the barbarians, or non-Romans.  These groups would go into the cities in the Roman empire and pillage for goods and even sometimes kill the citizens.  In fact, this is where the word "vandalize" comes from!

So what about the papacy during this time of vandalization and even murder?  The "stand-out" figure in the papacy during this time was Pope St. Gregory the Great.  He was the first pope to have true political power and the first one to make the Bishop of Rome a head of state in a sense.  Gregory the Great also somewhat helped form the papacy into what it is today.  He said that the popes were servants of the servants of God, or in other words, the popes serve the people of God (the Church).  He also began the practice of private penance in place of the way it was previously done, which was in public.  So, truly, Pope Gregory was definitely deserving of the title of Great!

Also covered in this chapter was St. Benedict and the monks, especially the Irish monks.  Have you ever given thought to what Christianity would be like if we had never had the monasteries?  To be honest, it wouldn't even be close to what we have today.  The monks, especially the Irish, were missionaries to so many places that had pagan worship.  They were scribes and able to copy the Scriptures down for churches to use.  And they created a way of life that we all sometimes strive for.  

The Benedictines especially gave us a Rule to live by--Balance, Moderation, & Reason.  If we have these things in our life, we will be even closer to God.  We live and work in a secular world that causes us to be out of balance and to constantly be competing with each other in materialistic things.  This, in turn, causes us to lose reason in our lives.  So what would life be like if we were able to balance everything, have everything in moderation, and to know the reason for living?  It would be wonderful!  

Some great points were made in today's discussion.  Often we are told to give 10% to God.  Roughly 10% of our time each week would be about 17 hours.  It was mentioned that most of us probably don't give anywhere near this much to God.  But what if we did?  Think about how much better your life is when you spend even just one hour in prayer?  I don't know about you but I know that I feel so much better when I have spent some time in prayer.  Today's gospel tells us that God is Love.  So why don't we try to strive for that, too?  Why don't we give to God before we do anything else?  The reason for life is God and Love.  So here's my challenge to ALL of us this week.   Try to spend some time with God--at home, at Mass, ANYWHERE! If you drive a lot, why not pray while you're driving?  If you work at a desk and you have a little free time, get on the Internet and go to a website like EWTN and read the daily readings or read some prayers.  Another couple of great websites for those of you who work at a desk and at a place that doesn't mind you having religious things on your computer and such are 2 Hearts Network, which has Catholic wallpaper for your computer, and Virtual Rosary, which is a website where you can download the rosary to your computer desktop.  Those are some easy ways to spend more time with God.

I hope you all enjoy reading this blog and that you get something out of it each week.  Have a blessed week, and I'll see you Sunday!

Prayer Requests, Other Business, Etc.

What a great class today!!  We had several prayer requests today:  

• We need to continue to pray for Stephanie, Dale, Patsy Cole (who's cancer has spread to her brain) and all those who battle with cancer
• Also, Mary Ann's great granddaughter is hoping to get a cornea transplant and is in the hospital
• Also remember the family of Cara Allen who passed away recently
• Geni & Wayne wanted to send a prayer of thanks for their son who passed his tests and is now a paramedic (yay!)
• Finally, I ask that you remember all the high school and college graduates who are having commencement exercises and starting a new life.  Many schools have already had graduation; Chester County's is tomorrow night.  So, please remember these students as they begin a new part of their lives.

We didn't have much business today, but we want to remember that we are going to sponsor a child to send to the Area Relief Ministries Camp this summer.  It costs $200 and Patsy will be getting us more information soon.  Also, next week remember to bring money to help buy the bedspreads for the sisters' new convent.  Each bedspread costs $80 (they need 9) and each Sunday school class is hoping to pitch in to help them buy these.  Finally, lets try to be thinking of what we can do this summer to keep meeting even though the school will be closed.  James Allison recommended meeting a different houses and that is a great idea.  If Sunday morning is too hard to do something like that because of interfering with Mass, maybe we could try Sunday afternoon or even a day or evening during the week.  Another thing I thought of was to maybe have a cookout either at someone's house or if everyone was willing to drive to Henderson, we might be able to use the big pavilion at Chickasaw, too.  It is something to think about, so let me know if you have any other ideas.

I hope you all have a great week and I'll see you Sunday!

Angels & Demons

Most of you remember Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code that came out not too long ago.  It claimed that Jesus had a wife and descendants, which is something most Christians (including Catholics) don't believe in.  While a really good work of FICTION, and an apparently entertaining movie, it still shook the Church and other Christians alike.  I know of many people that took it seriously, and it made them really question their faith.  

Well, tomorrow (5/15) Dan Brown's Angels & Demons comes to the big screen.  To quote the Wikipedia, the book "revolves around the quest of fictional Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon to uncover the mysteries of a secret society called the Illuminati and to unravel a plot to annihilate Vatican City using destructive antimatter. The book uses the idea of a historical conflict between science and religion, particularly that between the Illuminati and the Roman Catholic Church." 

So I just wanted to caution anyone that might go see this movie, read the book, or encounter someone who challenges your Catholic faith.  Just be prepared!  Remember that it is a work of FICTION and that it is just entertainment.  I've already had people question me about the movie and the Church's stance.  

I know the members of our class won't take it as reality, but I wanted to throw this post out there for anyone who reads the blog that might not be strong in his or her faith, or that might not be Catholic.  I read the book before I became Catholic and found it to be just as entertaining as his other books, but I had to keep in mind that it was fiction.  The portrayal of the Church did bother me when reading the book, even though I wasn't Catholic yet, or even thinking about it!

Here is a link to the Catholic Bishops' review of it.  They had a pretty positive review and believe that the movie ends with a pretty good portrayal of the Church today.  I hope that it does.  Here is a short quote of what they said regarding it:

Highly improbable but mindlessly entertaining sequel to “The Da Vinci Code” - adapted from Dan Brown’s prequel written in 2000 -- in which religious symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and a scientist (Ayelet Zurer) join forces with a church official (Ewan McGregor) to try to prevent the destruction of the Vatican and the murder of a quartet of kidnapped cardinals by following a trail of clues left across Rome by the secretive Illuminati cult of anti-Catholic intellectuals. Though director Ron Howard has toned down some of the book’s most egregious elements, the historical church is still portrayed as a relentless and at times violent foe of science, but the film ends on a positive note from a faith perspective and the final image of the Church is relatively positive. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (PG-13) 2009

Reading their review, it sounds like it might not attack the Church bad at all, but you never know.  I do know that the Vatican would NOT let them film inside the walls, so that speaks volumes in my book.   In fact the full review from the USCCB says at the end:  "So see it if you must, for its thriller aspects, or for its highly picturesque Catholic trappings. But seek the truth elsewhere."

Just some of my opinions!!  See you all Sunday!

Prayer Requests, Other Business, Etc.

Hey, everyone!  I'm so sorry that it has been so long since I've posted a blog.  I've been really stressed with getting the students through finals this week, getting research papers graded, and getting my own final done, too!  But, I'm finally done and only 3 more days to go!!  

We had a few prayer requests this week:

• Patsy asked that we pray for her family...her nephew was murdered during a robbery in Memphis.  He was only 22 years old, I believe
• Also, as always, we continue to lift up prayers for Stephanie, Dale, and everyone who has had cancer touch their families
• Also, remember the family of the lady at Dale's work who took her life when she found out she was laid off.
• I ask that you remember all my students and the other students who will be graduating this year (probably in the next couple of days).  It seems like something always happens as far as drunk driving and things are concerned around this time.  Just keep them in your prayers!
• Finally, please pray for me and a few of my students who will be traveling to a color guard clinic on Saturday, that we arrive there and back home safely and that no one is injured during the clinic.  Believe me, it hurts to get hit with a flag or rifle that they toss!! :)

As far as business goes, don't forget about our Open House on Sunday!! We want a full class!!  :)  

Also, we need to think about sponsoring a child for the Area Relief Ministries camp this summer.  It is $200 to send a child to camp.  Patsy is going to get some more info for us.  This would be a GREAT thing for us to do!

I hope that I have not missed any announcements of prayer requests this week.  It's been a crazy week for me!  I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I'll see you Sunday!

-Kristy

St. Augustine

For those of you who missed my riveting lesson (just kidding) on St. Augustine, here are some things you might find interesting.

Augustine was quite an interesting character, to say the least!  Born in Thagaste, Africa, to a Christian mother (St. Monica) and a non-Christian father, he did not immediately become a Christian.  He was a very smart man, and while he was attending school in Carthage, he met a girl and they eventually had a child, who was named Adeodatus.  For 15 years, Augustine stayed with this girl.  

Augustine went through many changes and changed his beliefs many, many times.  Finally, due to the fervent prayers of his mother, Monica, he converted to Christianity.  His conversion experience was sealed when he heard a voice cry out to him saying, "Take up and read!"  He then read one of Paul's letters that showed him the error of his ways.  Augustine was baptized on Holy Saturday in 387 by Bishop Ambrose.  He then became the Bishop of Hippo until his death.

That was just a short few facts about St. Augustine.  Hopefully you learned a little something!  I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I'll see you Sunday!

New Forums!!!!

At the request of several class members, I have set up a forum for us to use!!!  You can find it by following this link:  Champions of Hope Catholic Forums.  And the actual link is http://champsofhope.forumotion.com in case you need that.  I have also added a link to it on the right side of the blog right under where I put the pictures.  You do have to register to post.  I didn't register everyone simply because you pick your own password, user name, etc. so I thought everyone would want to do that.  If you would like me to register you, email me and I will do so.  you can change your password to something you will remember once I register you.

The forums are set up into four categories:  Catholic Life, Apologetics, Liturgy & Sacraments, and The News.  Those are divided into sub-forums.  All you do once you register is to click on a category, then click on a sub-forum, then click "New Topic".  You should be set to go!

Also, please spread the word in the parish and the community about the forum. I have made it a general Catholic discussion forum so I think it would be of interest to many.  

Prayer Requests, Other Business, Etc.

Hello, everyone!  I sincerely apologize for not doing a good job posting new blogs and things this week.  I've been extremely stressed at school with finals coming up, but I promise I'm going to get back on track!  

We had a great and very productive class this week.  Here are some of our prayer requests for this week:

• Sickness in the community & parish:  Continue to pray for Stephanie Geibel and her chemotherapy, Patsy Turner's mother who has cancer, Steve Perkins who also has cancer, the Tousant (sp?) family, & Cara Allen (sp?)
• Also, we tend to forget to pray for our facilitator, Dale Childress, who has battled cancer and who continues to lead us and take an active part in the parish with a HUGE smile on his face all the time!  We love you, Dale!
• Also, let's please pray for Father Kirk.  He is such a wonderful and holy man who gives so much more than he receives.  I know I can speak for everyone when I say how much he means to everyone in our parish.  Please keep him in your prayers.
• Also, Lela's daughter recently lost her job, so please keep her in your prayers.
• Also, I ask that you please pray for my dad's church, Milledgeville United Methodist Church, where he is the pastor.  Some of you know about the ordeal over the man trying to claim their parking lot, tearing down the wall surrounding it, and so much more.  He has also now done something almost indescribably sacrilegious....he has placed a cross inside a toilet with toilet seats surrounding it with a "for sale" sign in front of it next to the church's parking lot.  It is a horrible sight!  WBBJ is doing a follow-up story to their original piece regarding the lawsuit over the parking lot because they found out about the cross he put up.  They are going to film a segment tomorrow (Saturday) at the church.  Please keep them in your prayers, as I fear that this could turn quite ugly and the man who is doing all of this could possibly turn violent as well.

I hope that takes care of the prayer requests for this week.  If I have forgotten anyone, please let me know; it was not intentional!

Now for some business...

• We discussed Sunday that we are going to try to eat together at the next Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast.  Dave is going to check about this to make sure.
• Also, we are discussing setting up a phone call committee to contact members, prospective members, etc.  If you are interested, please email me at kds786@mac.com
• Also, there are talks of having a Sunday School Open House after Mother's day in order to invite the entire parish to see what Sunday School is all about.
• Plus, what would we like to do to recruit some members?  Think of some ideas.
• Also, when you get the emails that have the new blog posts on them, please don't reply to that email because it doesn't always work.  It was set up to just get the posts out there to you.  If you need to contact me personally, just email me at kds786@mac.com.  If you would like to comment on the blog post itself, come to the blog and under the blog you want to comment on, you will see something that says "0 comments" or will have a number and then the word "comments".  Click there and you can comment on the post.  I will try to get a hard copy of the blog and give it to you all on Sunday so you can see what I'm talking about.  
• And finally, don't forget that this is OUR class!! We can arrange it and do it any way we want to!  I've been thinking of having get-togethers during the summer so we wouldn't forget each other.  What do you think?

A reminder...

Hey everyone!  I'm sorry I've not gotten the new blog from Sunday up yet, but I'm going to try to work on that tomorrow.  But I did want to remind everyone of the Sunday School bonfire that is this Saturday evening (April 25) after the 5:30 Mass.  It will be at Chris & Bernadette Faulkner's Pond at 3670 Christmasville Rd in Medina.  There is a map below (I hope!) to get there from St. Mary's for anyone who might not know where it is.  The insert in the bulletin said to bring appitizers, BYOB, kid drinks, folding chairs, flash lights for Kids (Optional).  Also, it will be cancelled if it is raining!  I hope everyone can make it.  Chip and I will hopefully be attending, too.  

View My Saved Places in a larger map

Divine Mercy Novena

I hope everyone is having a blessed Holy Week so far.  If you have been attending the Easter Triduum services, I hope you have been as blessed as I have by them.  I wanted to post a reminder to everyone that the Divine Mercy Novena began on Good Friday.  I meant to post this earlier but it honestly slipped my mind until just now.  Here is the link from EWTN that takes you to their novena page.  I hope you all will pray the novena.  It is a wonderful prayer!  

Divine Mercy Novena

An Update from Dale...

Hey guys! I just talked to Dale over email and he got his test results back and everything was great!! He's very excited! Here's what he emailed me.

I am so blessed my test results were great. My PSA is .02 and my testosterone is 37. Unbelievable that after 21 months I would be doing this good.

I would definitely say he is very blessed! Please keep him in your prayers!! Have a great & blessed weekend!!


-Kristy

Do we make enough time for God?

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J.M.J.

We had an awesome discussion this week!  We talked about some Church history, of course, but what I think was most fulfilling was our spirituality discussion in the last half of class.  Here's a little bit about what we discussed:

Do we make enough time for God?

This is a question that I think we all need to really give some thought to.  Before we can make time for God, we need to put into perspective what we currently see as important in our lives.  Sometimes I believe we get so caught up in the secular, we tend to forget about the spiritual.  We have to give up something before we can truly make time for God.  This is the definition, in my opinion, of Lent.  As Dale said, we must die to ourselves before we can be reborn and devote ourselves to God.  I know that this week, I have really struggled to make time for God.  I won't go into details, but let's just say that I was thinking tonight...if I can sit in front of the TV for an hour watching a show or if I can go run for 30 minutes outside, why can I not devote that hour and a half to God?  So, instead of watching TV right now, I decided to come upstairs to pray and to finish this week's blog (which I see as a type of "mission" that I can do that will hopefully help someone).  And instead of listening to my regular old music on my iPod when I run, I put on a recording of the rosary and of some good Christian music.

This is the time to be "reborn"!  It's Easter!!  We are all seeking the Lord in some way or another, so here are my suggestions...

• Go to confession...this is one of the greatest sacraments we have as Catholics!!  You will feel so much healing and peace!!
  
• Make a new commitment to God and to yourself that you will give up something, not just for Lent, but forever so that you can devote more time to Him in your own way.
  
• When you can, go pray before the Blessed Sacrament.  Our chapel where the tabernacle is located is open from around 7 am to 9 pm each day, plus on first Fridays and first Saturdays we have Eucharistic Adoration, which is a wonderfully peaceful time.  It is a great blessing that we are able to have this at St. Mary's as many churches do not.  I've tried to find first Saturday Adoration in many places we've traveled and have yet to do find a parish that has it.
• Finally, this one thing has truly helped me find peace when I'm at home, and it gives me a quiet place to spend time with the Lord...make your own little prayer corner in a room.  It doesn't have to be elaborate;  it may just be your favorite chair.  But make it somewhere where you won't be distracted and you can quietly pray and talk to Our Lord, read Scripture, or simply sit and listen.  I've got a little place in my office upstairs where I can shut the door.  I have my crucifix, rosary, holy cards, etc. on a little table where I can sit and just talk to the Lord.  Not that some of you might really care to see it, but here are a couple of pictures of it just to kind of show you what I'm talking about.  I've got a few candles, statues, holy water, one of my rosaries, some Holy Cards, and my 1962 Latin Missal that I keep on there, plus a few more things.  I also have Sacred Heart image that is above my crucifix that you can't see.  If you have any questions about what anything is or where I got anything just let me know; I'll be happy to share.  I know this is what many non-Catholics see as strange or odd about us as Catholics, but it is one thing that I'm so glad we have.  Seeing an image of Our Lord, a saint, or of Mary helps me so much in prayer.  
•         

Anyway, I hope some of what I've put in this (really long) blog has helped you in some way.  It has definitely helped me renew myself this week when I've been going through some rough patches and realize that there are some things that I need to put before anything else.  

So, this week, why not think about making some extra time for God?

-Kristy

Prayer Requests, Other Business, Etc.

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J.M.J.

Hey all!  Sorry I'm just now getting around to blogging for this week, but it has been crazy!

We had several prayer requests this week:

Continue to pray for Stephaine Geibel and her cancer treatments

Also, Geni asked that we pray for some upcoming tests she has at Vanderbilt and also that we pray for Wayne and some problems he's been having with his back, which is why he was out on Sunday.

Also, please pray for all the catechumens and candidates that are going to be received into the Church on Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil.

Also, remember that we DO NOT have class Sunday (Palm Sunday) or the Sunday following (Easter Sunday).  We will be back together on April 19th, which is Divine Mercy Sunday.  Divine Mercy Sunday is my 2nd favorite Sunday (besides Easter) in the liturgical year, so I'm hoping to get some more posts up about it.  :)  

I hope everyone is having a blessed Lent!  See you soon!

-Kristy

You say ag-nus, I say ah-nyoos...

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J.M.J.

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I'm sure many of you have noticed that we've started using some Latin in Mass lately.  The title of this post is referring to the word agnus in Latin, which means "lamb" in English.  The Agnus Dei or Lamb of God is one of the parts of the Liturgy we have started to say or sing in Latin.  So, I thought I might help some of you out with a little Latin lesson.  After some internet research, I was able to find some charts of how to pronounce the Latin used in the Mass.

Ecclesiastical Latin (or Liturgical Latin) is different from the Latin you might learn in high school; it's basically Latin with an Italian accent (and a few other differences), the way Latin has been pronounced since around the 3rd and 4th centuries. It's actually pretty easy to pronounce as the rules are few and have so much in common with English and modern Italian.  Latin is, after all, where most of our English words came from!  As a general rule, just set your mouth to speak Italian, with the slightly trilled "R," and pronounce every vowel and consant you see the same way an Italian would, with few exceptions. Vowels with acute accent marks are "long vowels."

Vowel Sounds (watch the accents!):

A     like the A in "facility"  

Á     AH, like the A in "father"

E     EH, like the E in "met"  

É     AY like the AY in "may"

I      I like the I in "hit"  

Í      EE, like the I in "machine"

O    O like the O in "loss"           

Ó     O, like the O in "for"

U    U like the U in "put"  

Ú     OO, like the U in "Jude"

Y & Diphthongs 

Y EE, like Y in "family"

Æ EH, like E in "met"

EI AY, like EI in "reign"

ΠEH, like E in "met"

AU AH-oo, almost like OU in "mouse"


The consonants sound the same as in English for the most part, with the following exceptions:
 

Before e, i, ae, oe and y: 

These letters
become soft:

C CH as in "cherry"

CC TCH as in "matching"

SC SH as in "ship"

G G as in "gentle"

More tricks: 

• T + vowel and preceded 
by any letter other than S, T, X TS as in "Betsy"
(ex., "gratia" is pronounced "grah-tsee-ah," but "modestia" is pronounced "moh-des-tee-ah")
  
• TH T as in "thyme"
  
• GN NY as in canyon, or like the Spanish ñ
  
• CH K as in "Christ"
  
• X After an E or followed by a vowel, X sounds like GS, as in "exam";  Followed by a consonant, or at the end of a word, X sounds like KS, as in "tax"
• R very slightly roll the R, touching the tip of your tongue to the top and front of your palate, making almost a slight D sound, like a Scottish R
  
• V V sounds like the English "V", not like "W" as in Classical Latin
  
• H silent except for two words, where it sounds like a guttural, German "CH" or K sound as in "ich" or "key": nihil and mihi
  
• J Y, as in "young" (J is usually replaced with an I, as in "Iesus" for "Jesus")
  
• Z pronounce like "ds"
  
• Double consonants are each pronounced, but it comes off sounding like a single letter that is held just a tad longer, the same way the L's in the word "tailless" are held longer, but each pronounced so quickly they could almost be mistaken for one sound 
  


What Syllable to Accent:

• Two syllables: 
Accent the first syllable


  
• Three or more syllables: 
If the next to the last syllable has a long vowel sound, accent that syllable

If the next to the last syllable has a short vowel sound, accent the syllable before it

Often Mispronounced Words

• magnificat: mah-nyee-fee-caht
• agnus dei: ah-nyoos day-ee
• ecce: etch-ay
• excelsis: eks-chel-sis
• Nihil Obstat: Ni-khil ohb-staht
• Hostia: Oh-stee-uh
• homo: oh-moh
• dignum: di-nyoom
• justum: yoo-stoom

I hope that this may help some of you who were asking about Latin pronunciations.  What helped me learn some Latin was watching EWTN's Masses and the Papal audiences, which both use Latin frequently.  Another way I was able to pick up on some Latin was attending First Saturday Adoration, where many times Father Kirk or Father Anthony would use Latin during Exposition and Benediction.  You can also buy many books on how to speak Latin; it is a truly beautiful language.

Also, I'll include the Sign of the Cross and the Agnus Dei in Latin and English so you can practice

The Sign of the Cross / Signum Crucis
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Lamb of God / Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis. 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis. 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona nobis pacem.

The Beauty of the Eucharistic Prayers

Take this, all of you, and eat it;
this is my body which will be given up for you.

How many times do we hear these words at Mass and never realize the beauty of them nor do we realize the beauty of the prayers surrounding them? Too many times we simply follow along because that's what we have been taught or that's what we seem to observe others doing.

The beauty and meaning of the four main Eucharistic Prayers were what we discussed today in class. It was a wonderfully uplifting and meaningful class in my opinion. Here are a few things about each of the prayers.

Eucharistic Prayer I was originally considered the Roman Missal or Canon for probably close to 1600 years. It was also often thought to be the oldest, but that has been under debate because recently it has been thought that Eucharist Prayer II may be at least as old as Eucharistic Prayer I if not maybe even older.

Eucharistic Prayer II is the shortest prayer contained in the post-Vatican II Liturgy, but it is still just as beautiful and meaningful as the others.

Eucharistic Prayers III & IV are the newest of the four main prayers and they came directly from Vatican II.

One thing that is the EXACT same in all four prayers are the words of consecration. This is where the priest acting in persona christi concsecrates the bread and wine and it changes to the Body and Blood of Christ. These words must ALWAYS be read the same way at every Mass, which is why most (if not all) priests will look down at the Sacrementary so that it is read correctly.

This is just a small tidbit of what we discussed today, but I thought what we discussed concerning the Eucharistic prayers was wonderful.  

For some additional reading, here are some links to the Eucharistic Prayers

Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon)

Eucharistic Prayer II

Eucharistic Prayer III

Eucharistic Prayer IV

Also, to find more about both the pre-Vatican II Mass (Tridentine or Traditional Latin Mass or Extraordinary Form of the Mass) as well as our current Vatican II Liturgy (Novus Ordo) Mass you can check out The Catholic Liturgical Library.

I pray everyone has a great week!