Happy Birthday Mamma Mary!

Today, September 8^th, as Catholics we celebrate the Nativity, the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What a wonderful celebration it is!

If I’m not mistaken, birthday tradition used to be that you did not receive gifts on your birthday, but rather you gave gifts. As an elementary student, my mom always sent cupcakes with me to school on my birthday to share with my classmates and teacher. They were scrumptious. In the more recent years, I cannot say that I have been so kind as to treat those around me on my birthday.

However, when I consider the gifts God has bestowed upon me through Mamma Mary both on her birthday and throughout the year, I am in aww of the mystery and awesomeness that is the gift of Mary as our mother.

This summer, I was blessed to find Following Jesus to Mary by Andrew Apostoli, CFR. In this book, this Franciscan provides much evidence to Our Lady as Mother, Teacher, and Advocate. In my experiences, I tagged on Example to this short list. Here is a brief anecdote for each.

You have probably heard, “a mother knows what is best for her children”. Mamma Mary knows we are in need of Christ. When we turn to Mary, she is already looking upon Jesus, and we in turn can only look upon Our Lord with her. Here is a quote from the book I found particularly fitting. “Her work as our Mother is to hand us to Jesus who will teach us the fullness of all we are called to be and to do.” It is very evident in my life that Mary has led me to Jesus time and time again, who is teaching me all that I am called to in life.

In any subject matter, we learn best from those who have studied, have experienced or have become experts on the topic, particularly when we cannot experience it firsthand ourselves. Who would be a better expert on Christ than His own Mother? Mamma Mary not only teaches us about Jesus, the Son of God, but also about her Fiat, her trusting in God and growing in faith. In this way, too, she is our example. The holiness and virtue of Mary is the kind of which we should strive for: profound humility, blind obedience, surpassing purity, heroic patience, ardent charity, divine wisdom, and many more.

All good that is within us comes from God. Thus we grow in virtue and holiness by asking God for the grace to do so. And why not unite our prayers with those of Mary or any of the saints to ask for their intercession for receiving all the grace God can bestow upon us? And in this way, Mary is our advocate. What son can refuse his mother?

Mary, the Mother of God is a gift to us. She is our Mother, our Teacher, our Example, and our Advocate. As we celebrate her birthday today, we are reminded of the faith we are to have, and thus how we are to persevere, no matter the trials we face.  I mostly am reminded today not to be faithful to God for my own sake (which is hard). Rather to be faithful to God for God’s sake and the sake of all those I interact with from day to day. The graces God gives me are not for me alone, but to be shared with all and building up the Kingdom of God.

My Source of Simplicity

In rummaging through some files on my laptop, I found the following article. It's everything about simplicity and more. Written by Theresa A. Thomas, it is titled Living Simply During Lent

February 8, 2008

I once was visiting a beautiful home, finely furnished with exquisite furniture, lovely artwork and impeccable décor. However, the heavy draperies around the windows blocked most of the natural light in the rooms, and left an atmosphere of heaviness and, quite frankly, suffocation. Although the home was beautiful I couldn't wait to leave and enjoy the freshness and plainness of the light and air outside.

I can't help but think, as we enter into this season of Lent, about the "heaviness," the complications of everyday life, that have the potential to snuff out the fresh light and air of Christ in our lives.

What am I talking about? I'm talking about living simply. Obviously Lent is a time for penance, reflection, renewal. It's a time for introspection and consideration of things eternal. What I'm proposing this Lent is paring down life, getting rid of the 'heavy draperies' so that things eternal can shine into our daily thoughts and lives.

How can simplicity of life be accomplished? I'm going to offer a formula set forth by philosopher and professor Peter Kreeft in his classic 1990 book, Making Choices: Practical Wisdom for Everyday Moral Decisions. (It's rated a full five stars on Amazon.com. Buy it there or at your local Catholic bookstore. I promise you won't be disappointed.)

First, attain mastery over time. The clock should not be our god. It is true we need to watch the clock to make it to work, keep our dentist appointments, and get to Mass on time. However, American society is too focused on schedules. Take time to get at eye level with your child and really listen. Make time for 'date night' with your mate. Do one thing at a time. Do not worry about work when you are home with your family or your home projects when you are at work. Think about the one thing you are currently doing and do it well. (Kreeft bluntly tells his readers to stop "octopussing" — trying to do eight things at once. I might add that some of us are likely even "jellyfishing." Did you know some jellyfish have hundreds of tentacles?) Slow down and here's the biggie: pray... without watching a clock. God is the creator of time, reminds Kreeft. God can multiply time, but first we must offer our time to Him. And it is good to remember that God cannot be outdone in generosity. He will take our sacrifice and bless us a thousand fold. A good place to start this Lent is going to Confession and attending other Catholic devotions such as Eucharistic Adoration or Stations of the Cross. Like the Nike commercial advocates, "Just do it."

Second, live more naturally. Go to bed earlier and get up earlier, following nature's cycle of darkness and light. Kreeft says this aids in simplicity because the things people do in the morning are usually simple things — walking, praying, and tidying up. And the things people do in the evening or more complicating (or time-wasting) — busywork, attending parties, watching television. Spend more time outdoors (yes, even in the winter!) Breathe in the fresh air. And take walks frequently. Kreeft writes, "[When you walk] you will begin to recapture the natural rhythms of the body...It attunes us with the earth and air...It is a symbol of life, the road to eternity... And it gives us an opportunity to think." 

Third, recognize that often less is more. Don't just give up sweets this Lent. Take less food. Chew it slowly. Savor its flavor deliberately. Enjoy it more. We've all seen women who have overdone it in the jewelry and make-up departments. They have baubles and beads on every limb, and layers of gold or silver around their necks. Heavy eye shadow and lip color emphasizes their faces. Who can deny that this actually detracts from a woman's natural beauty? Contrast that image with simple cleanliness and light makeup, a plain cross necklace and a pair of simple earrings on a female. One young woman I knew in college gave up make-up for Lent. That's probably considered radical in our American culture, and I don't know very many women who would do that for forty whole days, but it is a good idea to eliminate extra things. Less truly is often more.

Fourth, decrease expenses. We don't need half of what we want anyway. Love of money is the root of all evil. See what you can do without.

Fifth, embrace silence. Kreeft calls silence "the unknown power source...the great untapped resource." He says that silence is more, not less than noise. Cultivate inner silence by eliminating outer noise. Turn off the television. Skip the radio in the car. Listen more. Talk less. God speaks to us all the time, but often with the cacophonic sounds intruding into our lives we just don't hear Him.

Simplifying life truly is like pulling back or even taking down thick draperies in a stuffy, dark room. In removing the fabric that blocks luminosity we will find more light, more freshness, and quite likely more room for God.

Simplicity

Oh how I miss Simplicity. 

In January of 2008 I wrote a list for adopting a theme of simplicity for the year. I was guided to this by a mentor of mine. Recently the topic has come up in conversation, and thus in this transitional stage of my life (almost graduated and in the working world, but not quite there), it seems to be appropriate. I've moved into a house where I will be living for the next three months during my student teaching before finding a more permanent location as I begin really teaching in January.  More details of my life another time. Simplicity.

1. attain mastery over time

  - less multitasking

2. live more naturally

  - sleep enough to wake up naturally

  - take walks outside!

3. less is more

  - eat less - savor it

  - wear makeup only if necessary

  - simple cleanliness and light makeup

4. decrease expenses

  - what can I do without?

5. embrace silence

  - listen more

  - talk less

6. small acts of kindness

  - take treats to work or meetings

  - let someone in front of you in the checkout line

"Simplicity means a return to the posture of dependence. Like children we live in a spirit of trust. What we have we receive as a gift."  - Richard J. Foster

Those were my simplicity themes two and a half years ago. I've realized the need to return to a few of them, some of them I still live, and others to be revisited. To add to my list:

7. avoid/eliminate clutter (like #3)

  - organize what I have

  - keep similar items in the same place, consolidate

  - use what I have instead of acquiring new

  - give away or sell what I no longer need

8. focus (like #1)

  - do not have too much going on at once

  - say no to things that distract me from my purpose in life

Essentially: Simplify. Simplicity.

God is simple. We are the ones who try to make him so complicated. Aww-spiration.

A Dream Come True...? In the Future?

Happy Pentecost! Come Holy Spirit!

This short story is in the form of an e-mail to a few close friends of mine... Enjoy. 

As you may know, I'm friends with many of the Salina Diocese seminarians. In the Holy Spirit's guiding me to stay in Manhattan this weekend, I got to see many of them at Fr. Peter's First Mass at Seven Dolars parish this morning (Torie attended the Ordination yesterday). What a BLessing!!!

Anyway, they continually ask me, "Jackie, when are you going to join the Salina Diocese? You know it's the best Diocese there is." They are biased. Not that I want to leave the Wichita Diocese, but I'll do what God calls me to.

One seminarian in particular, Brian, has been planning my vocation since I met him in November of 2008. Today his suggestion was, Prayer & Action this summer, student teach, graduate in December, Found a new order by May, Get 4 others to join by August. (I think that's what he said.) I told him it was a bit hasty, and that if that was God's plan for me it might take 4 or 5 years, not 4 or 5 months.

Anyway this led to Brian saying, "If I'm ever/when I become pastor/chaplain of a school, we'll start an ag ed program there, and bring you to teach there." Which also got thrown around as a Religious Order that teaches agriculture... (Andrew, Kyle, Gale, and Fr. Jarett all added to the conversation...)

If or if this isn't in any of God's plan, doesn't really matter. If it is, okay. If not, okay. It was so joyful to spend time with that group. And I thought it was worth sharing. 

In synopsis, I think it would be pretty cool to teach agriculture in a Catholic school. God-willing.