Ten Things to Learn from Japan

A priest friend of mine in China sent me the following. The authorship was listed simply as “Sunita.”  I thought it was quite remarkable, especially when compared to what we usually see in the United States in times of natural disaster.

1. THE CALM – Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY – Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY – The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE – People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER – No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE – Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid? … Continue Reading

Leave Them Alone

Last Monday night was my night off for a couple of hours from the kids and after dinner clean-up.  I play Keeno with a group of women once a month.  We get together and eat, discuss what is going on in our little town, and try to go home with at least one prize.  It’s not so much going home with a prize, but the time with other moms and the couple of hours away from the kids that I enjoy.   That is a subject for another post.

While I was away, David and the two older kids cleaned the kitchen.  Our children love to bake.  While the cleaning was going on, our oldest was discussing plans for her next baking project.  Her brother wanted to help.  David told them that after they finished cleaning the kitchen, they could bake whatever they wanted as long as that got cleaned up as well.  They chose a Brown Butter Soda Bread, a recipe from the Epicurious iPhone application.  I came home to a wonderful smell coming from the oven.  It had rosemary mixed in with pepper on top – yes, pepper.  It had a wonderfully spicy taste.  This is the kind of bread that you bring out when company comes.  They were very excited with their creation, especially since it tasted so delicious.  And they did it all by themselves. … Continue Reading

Was Jesus Green?

Often, I’ve wondered if Jesus was green. So I broke out my electronic bible the other day and started searching. Sure enough, there is tons of support for this theory. Here are twelve examples of green living from the Prince of Peas.

1. Jesus must have composted because he knew the value of fertile soil. “…other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty-fold and sixty-fold and a hundred-fold. (Mark 4:20)”
2. Jesus used homeopathic medicine “ As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Silo’am’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:6).”
3. Jesus was thrifty and grew his own food. “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.  And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. (John: 6:11)”
4. Jesus liked to eat good, wholesome, non-processed foods. “Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.(1 Corinthians 5:8).” … Continue Reading

CF 143: Pie!

Podcast: Download

In this episode: David and Allyson celebrate National Pie Day, Green Tip: Recycle/Gift Bags, Hannah’s  bird feeder, timeout for the girls (all day!), a discussion about the changes in the Roman Missal, and an addition to the Catholic Family.

Song: Pie by Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Contact the Catholic Family by emailing  us [@] catholicfamilypodcast (dot) com or call the comment line at (936) 228-1836

Splinter of the Mind

Like most people, I try to relate the Sunday Mass readings  to my life. This week’s readings talk about Jesus coming to fulfill the law. I must confess that I was having trouble finding an application to my life after Saturday night vigil Mass. When I got home, Saturday night started to irritate me more than soothe and relax me.

I didn’t understand at first what was bugging me. “Why is our deacon so boring!” “Why was the Mass so long? Why did our priest  give us a second homily before the final prayer on the necessity of stewardship?” “Why is only 10% of the parish giving for the Diocesan Services Fund? Don’t they understand we have to pay the difference from our savings?” Other questions started popping in my head in rapid succession. “Why can’t people do what they say they are going to do?” “Why are the kids so lazy, unhelpful and mean to each other?” “Why do I bother asking for help around the house?” “Why does everyone take and not give?” “How much longer can I last?” In essence, ” Why is everyone an idiot except me?” And so I went to bed greatly agitated, unable to sleep, thinking about how I could get so far out of center from Jesus. What a pity party. … Continue Reading