Think about those times in your life when you have felt inspired to something really great. Where does that inspiration come from?
The Holy Spirit. God inspires us to do great things with our lives.
----Matthew Kelly

Welcome to The Not So Perfect Catholic!

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian, just a Catholic empty-nester trying to figure it all out. The views on this blog are my own.

The Most Misunderstood Feast Day in the Catholic Church

The Solemnity of the  Immaculate Conception is probably one of the most, if not THE most, misunderstood feast day in the Catholic Church. If you ask 100 Catholics what the feast day is about, I'd wager at least 25% of them will give you the wrong answer. This day is so important that not only is it a "Solemnity", but even if it falls on a Saturday or Monday Catholics are required to attend Mass. There's no "twofer" when it comes to this Solemnity; the Saturday vigil does not count for both the holy day and the Sunday obligation. It ranks right up there with Christmas in that aspect.
This Feast is about Jesus being conceived without sin, right? WRONG. Mary, whose womb housed our Savior, was conceived without sin. For those who have a problem with this concept, think of it this way: Would God allow His only son to be physically developed in a womb that was less than perfect? The answer to that question should give you insight into this most special day on the liturgical calendar. This is when it all began: God had a plan for Mary from the day of her conception (and really, even before). Just as he has a plan for all of us from day one, He also had a plan for Mary...and for mankind.

A Major Wrench in Plans

In reading Luke 1:26-38, I think the phrase that usually sticks out for people is "How can this be, since I have no relations with man?" (Luke 1:34) Or it may be "May it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). As I read it, what struck me was "...for you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30). Wait a minute...Mary was conceived without sin, so how could she have "found favor" with God? Wouldn't she have had it all along? Then I thought about how we all have free will...Mary included. I would assume that Satan tried his best to get her to sin all through her life, especially when she was little. We all did things when we were little that were sinful, but Mary was kept pure. She could have sinned but chose not to.
When I read this passage, I think about how excited she, as a young lady, must have been to be betrothed to such a kind man as Joseph. What a wrench God put in her plans! I imagine that her plans were to marry Joseph, have a house full of kids and then grandkids, and have her boys become carpenters like their dad. Then along comes this angel Gabriel with this mind-blowing question: Will you be the Mother of God and, in doing so, become the mother of all mankind? Did she see all her dreams vanishing? Or did she realize that this is what her purpose for being was?
I'm a control freak, although I'm actually getting better with this flaw. I like for things to be planned out so there are no surprises. Except there are always surprises. We all know God has a sense of humor. He's constantly letting me know that He's in control, not me. When my plans get a wrench thrown at them, I need to remember the wrench God threw Mary and be able to calm down and accept it.

Joseph's Role

Now, about that angel...it struck me during Mass that Mary was only told about the good things. What about the part where her heart would be ripped out because there would be people who wanted to kill her baby from day one? What about having to watch her son hang on a cross and holding his dead body in her arms? Of course, we don't know the whole conversation. That's the bottom line: We only know what we're meant to know at this point.
God prepared her from the moment of conception to be His bride. He chose Joseph to be the earthly father of His son. Assumedly (this is just my thought), God took Joseph from this life so the bond between Mary and us would be stronger. If Joseph had been living at Jesus' death, he would have been the one to care of Mary. If Jesus had brothers or sisters, they would have been the ones taking care of her. But Jesus, in giving her to John, gave her to all of us. He shared his mother with all of us, to be our mother. What a gift He gave us! In addition to everlasting life, He gave us His mother. I can just imagine the bond He had with her. We don't know when Joseph died, but I have to imagine that the bond between Jesus and Mary only deepened after his death, if that's even possible.

What's Holding Me Back?

"Let it be done unto me." (Luke 1:38) How many times could I have said that in my life thus far yet didn't? What held me back? For me, personally, the answer to that is selfishness and fear. Fear of being uncomfortable, not being accepted or of being alone. How alone did Mary feel experiencing a pregnancy before being married that no one could possibly comprehend? How alone did she feel knowing that Joseph may not have the faith he needed to believe her? Did Mary run to her mother and tell her what happened? (I know I would have.) Did her parents have any doubt at all about what she said or did they immediately know what she was saying was true? Would I have been able to say "yes" to God? I'm definitely no saint and we know that Mary was groomed from conception to be willing to be the mother of Jesus. If not, she wouldn't have been the Immaculate Conception.
I've always had difficulty understanding why Mary is called "the new Eve". But I think I understand it now with Genesis 3:20: The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living. My explanation: When Jesus was on the cross He gave his mother to all of us when he told John, "Behold, your mother." (John19:27) Eve was created in a state of grace just as Mary, but she fell from that grace, unlike Mary. When Jesus gave all of us Mary as our mother, Mary became the new Eve.
If you weren't clear about the Immaculate Conception, know that you aren't alone. I truly believe this is the most misunderstood feast day in the Catholic Church. If you're a Catholic, I hope I've given something to think about.  If you're not Catholic, I hope this post has explained this most Holy Day to you and given you some insight on why this day is or should be so important to not just us, but to Christians everywhere.

Did you know:



Offering Everything Up to Him

scenic picture with scripture verse in a diamond in the center
Tithing. Should I do it? How do I decide how much to give? Am I offering everything up to Him? Do I really have the complete trust I should have?

To have the faith of the women in 1Kings 17:10-16 and Mark 12:41-44. The total and complete trust they had in God is astounding. They both gave the last bit of their livelihood and trusted. The widow in 1Kings knew that she and her son were going to die. They were down to their last little bit of flour and oil, then here comes this man asking for water and bread, citing the Lord's words to calm her fears. I'm not sure, but I feel pretty confident I would have been grumbling the whole time I was making the bread for this stranger.
Tithing. Our Protestant friends seem to have this down to an art. I heard the joke "Catholics don't tithe, they tip". Isn't that true in a lot of cases? Some people say that the Church has enough money, they don't need anymore. The reality is that it costs money for the upkeep of the church: the utility bills have to be paid, the employees have to be paid. Not to mention the donations to charities. I had a Protestant friend many years ago who said that she found when she tithes, even if she didn't feel like she had the money, she always made it to the end of the month. Isn't that just like the widows? My friend was single and a teacher, so there were months when she was very concerned she wouldn't be able to make her utility payment due to tithing, but it always worked out.
I have to admit how selfish I am. I like having a little bit of money left over out of my paycheck. I'm not a big shopper, and through the years my impulse shopping has decreased dramatically. So why don't I give more to the Church? (See the first sentence.) Does it boil down to lack of trust?

Giving my all to Him

The widow in Mark contributed "her whole livelihood" (Mark 12:44), not just financially, but in everything. As I go through the day, do I whisper to Jesus, telling him everything I do is for his glory? When I run into a store quickly only to be held up at the cash register because the cashier is having a nice, slow conversation with the customer, I'm usually cussing under my breath instead of thanking God that there are people who still take the time to talk.  When things are so crazy at work and my students all act like they've had a ton of sugar, I need to learn to stop and thank God that 1) I have a job that I love, and 2) that I have been entrusted to work with children and help mold their lives. When I get home and I still don't have time to sit down because there are dishes left in the sink, the dog had an accident on the floor, the bed hasn't been made, supper has to be made, etc., I'm usually grumbling instead of being grateful that I have a home to come to at the end of the day. All of these little things can be giving all I have to Christ.

It's not just about money

How do we know if we've given enough? I know I don't give nearly what I should give. I give a lot of my time, but monetarily? Not at all. I researched a bit and found that the Church doesn't suggest a fixed percentage of what should be tithed.  From Catholic AnswersGod doesn't demand a fixed amount of money from us; he wants us to give from the heart. If people are forced by their church to give a certain percent of their income, that's extortion. If they give freely and cheerfully the amount they are able, that's a gift.  An article in The Catholic Digest states tithing actually means 1/10th. Father William J. Byron, S.J., suggested that the Church may bring back the 1/10th, with 1/5th being service and 1/5th being monetary. Father Echert from EWTN stated that the Church takes into consideration the service to the Church as part of its tithing. Our stewardship includes time and talent, not just money. 
The 1/5th and 1/5th as Father Byron suggested make complete sense to me. I often look at how much time I spend at church with CCW, choir, and RCIA and use that as a cop-out for not giving monetarily. My diocese had a "Home" program a couple of years ago. We were given a certain amount of suggested monthly donations and asked to give that much for 2 years. Each parish developed plans for improvements and the money was to be given directly to each individual parish for those improvements. My contribution was very little. Could I have done more? Absolutely. Should that count as part of the tithing? I would think so.

Was grumbling involved?

There have been times when I was at Mass and had a $20 bill and smaller bills in my purse and chose to give the smaller amount because I might need that $20. Yep, my total trust in God just isn't there yet. There are so many aspects of my life where I want to put all my trust in Him but something is holding me back. Trust is such a hard thing to give and not take back. I wonder: did the widow in 1Kings grumble? Did she wonder if she was doing the right thing? Did the widow in Mark have to think about what she was giving? Did she slip in quietly so no one would notice just how little she was giving, even though to her it was an awful lot?

I know I should strive to emulate these widows, to not be grumpy and to offer all I have to God. I am a very selfish person, and I am fully aware of it. We all have something we need to work on, and this is a huge area for me. Baby steps...it's going to take baby steps!
pinterest pin with scenic picture in background with scripture verse in a diamond

Breaking Out of a Dry Spell and Rediscovering God

cracked dry earth with barren tree on the right side
Photo courtesy of Pexels
I had the most amazing experience during the Consecration at All Saints Day Mass: I felt the presence of God. Since I was in the choir area, I saw the back of the priest's vestments with the host & wine lifted high above his head. You may be thinking "What's so different this time? I feel His presence all the time". The difference is that I have been going through an incredibly dry period. This one seems so much longer and drier than past dry periods. Maybe it's because over the past few years I felt closer to God than I had in a long time, which made the dry period seem longer and drier.
I spoke with my Spiritual Director who urged me to keep doing my daily prayer routine. As I told her, I will not let Satan win. So many mornings I have felt like I've gotten nothing out of the Readings or prayer. No matter how hard I tried, I just didn't get it. How hard must it be for religious and saints to go through dry periods! Oh, but when you feel that presence of God again, what a joyous feeling!

Why the dry period?

Reflecting over the cause of the dry period gave me a couple of reasons why this was happening.
1) Our parish priest recently retired. I absolutely love this man! He is so tender, so understanding, so...HOLY, although he would be the first one to dispute that. He is one of the best (if not THE best) homilists I've ever heard. He can take a reading and in just a few minutes relate it to your life. His homilies were short, sweet, to the point, and relatable. His love for God came through during every single Mass. His enthusiasm for spreading The Word was evident every time he was on the altar. Once he retired, it was like the wind was taken out of my sail. I'm sure I'm not the only one, but it felt like the whole church atmosphere did a 180. I had trouble feeling God during the Mass. I rotely went through the Mass, not really understanding what was being said or being able to apply it to experiences in my life. I took notes during the Homily, but those notes over the past month were so scattered that they just didn't make sense. Having a priest on the altar who genuinely loves his calling (and not seeing it as a "job") makes all the difference in the world.
2) Change. I don't like it. It seems any time I get too comfortable, I have to deal with change. And this was a big one. When I first moved back "home", I was a church hopper. I couldn't find the parish where I felt comfortable and where I felt I belonged. Even in the parish where I grew up, I didn't feel welcome. Every time I thought I found a church home, the priest would leave or be reassigned. Now that I found a home in my childhood parish (the same one where I didn't feel welcome), I was comfortable, and my spiritual life was flourishing.
3) Busy-ness with other things. The beginning of the school year is always hectic but this year seems to be so much worse. On top of that, things out of our control have been happening to the RCIA team so a couple of us are having to take up the slack. And if that weren't enough, in the middle of all of that I presented with a couple of people and had a booth in the exhibit hall for our state speech/language convention.

How things are looking up

The new priest who is assigned to my parish (his title is "Parochial Vicar") came a few weeks ago. He's young (early 30's) and his love for God and the Mass is very evident. When he first opened his mouth to speak, I thought "uh-oh" because he has a monotone speaking voice while celebrating Mass. But his homily! While it's pretty obvious he's reading his homily (our previous parish priest never read his homily...it was heartfelt and never read), he has a good message. It's not too long, and it's definitely not all over the place. His first Sunday, he had to talk about stewardship. He managed to direct the theme to the Gospel as well as our every day lives, so he won my approval on the spot. He's also a fellow blogger; he posts his homilies so they can be revisited during the week. On All Saints Day, he had this on the altar:
picture of relic on a table
I've seen this in our Adoration Chapel but had no idea what it was. It is a first-class relic from St. Maria Goretti. According to Mary Rezac in an article for the Catholic News Agency (11/01/2017, "Is it Weird that Catholics venerate relics? Here's why we do"): First class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces of bone or flesh.
So far, our new priest is piquing my interest and curiosity so that I want to learn more about my faith. I want to delve into the lives of the saints (specifically St. Maria Goretti) to learn more about her since she is a part of our parish. He also mentioned that he was born on the anniversary of the conclusion of the Fatima apparitions, and now he is at Our Lady of Fatima. Definitely a "God-incidence". I think I can learn a lot from him.
I met with my Spiritual Director a couple of weeks ago and she gave me some excellent ideas to keep plugging away. Several years ago, Jennifer Fulwiler wrote a blog post offering 9 Tips for Spiritual Dry Spells. Most of her suggestions follow what I was told to do.
Things are easing up with work so I can take the time to read and just be silent. I don't feel as if I'm being pulled in 100 different ways. I'm sticking to my routine and it's proving to be effective. Slowly but surely I can feel God creeping back into my heart and letting me know that He is still there.
Cracked dry earth with barren tree to the right side with the words "My soul thirsts for God, the living God" (Psalms 4:23) above the picture




A Catholic Woman's Perspective of Death

As Catholics, we are taught not to fear death but to embrace it. We eagerly await the time when we are called home to our destination, our reason for being on this earth. I remember discussions with my mother about death. When asked, she said she wasn't afraid to die. Growing up, I wasn't either. I was more scared of how I was going to die.
The Song of the Prayer of St. Francis has the lyrics "And in dying that we're born to eternal life". We have to die to live in the joyous, most beautiful Heaven. We have to die to see God.
The first time I had been around someone when they died was when my father passed away. I worked in a nursing home for a couple of years as a Speech-Language Pathologist but was never around a resident when they passed. It was such a beautiful thing, to be with my daddy when he left this world and went to be with God. I wasn't scared at all. I know I was right where I was supposed to be. I almost left my brother's house but something...someone told me to stay. I know it was the Holy Spirit urging me to be with my daddy when he passed away. Our God is a gracious, merciful God. Daddy's passing was so very peaceful and it definitely was one of the most beautiful, amazing events in my life.
I was asked once if my father was scared to die. Looking back, I have to answer with a resounding "no".  His faith in God kept his eyes focused on being with Him and being reunited with my mother. We should all pray for such a peaceful, happy death.

What is this "Day of the Dead"?

A recent article in Aleteia was titled "Why do Catholics celebrate Day of the Dead"? Interesting. My parents were born and raised in Texas and my minor in college was Spanish, yet I only heard of this "Día de los Muertos" a few years ago. Or maybe I had heard of it but a huge emphasis wasn't placed on it. This is a beautiful celebration that takes place over 2 days (All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day) to honor those family members who have died.
Day of the Dead has picked up steam in the education world, and I'm sure the real meaning is being watered down. Personally, I've steered clear of it in my therapy activities because I'm not sure how to separate the religious meaning from the secular meaning and to be perfectly honest, I don't want to. It's also my belief that it's the parents' responsibility to teach their children about death and how to respect it.
You can learn more about Día de los Muertos through this National Geographic article.

Memento Mori

This is something I've definitely never heard of. Sister Theresa Aletheia, FSP, has brought this phrase back to life, so to speak. Latin for "Remember your death", the skull is a reminder that we all will die. This practice is a reminder to put all things into perspective. Our ultimate goal is to get to heaven. All of the stress & chaos in the world seem a little less serious when we live for Him and when we reach for that ultimate goal. 
Sister Theresa Aletheia wrote a journal that is available for purchase. I'm looking forward to receiving mine and learning more about Memento Mori. 

I would urge anyone to not fear death. Dying is something we all will experience. Put your faith in God and do what you can spiritually to be ready. 

Could I Really Do It?

Photo by Ian Froome on Unsplash
When I first read Mark 8:27-35 my initial thought was: Could I leave everything and follow a man that claimed to be the Son of God? Could I have that much faith in anyone to just leave all I know and all I have? Could I really do it?
I know people who have had to flee their homes for various reasons, but the difference is that they didn't have a choice. They had to do it for their safety. I know people who have lost everything in floods and fires, but again, that wasn't their choice.  That's a totally different situation from the disciples being told that to be true disciples they had to leave everything and follow Jesus.

A Saint with Issues

Poor Peter. Throughout the New Testament, he tries to do the right thing. He thinks he is doing the right thing consoling Jesus by telling him that what He said is going to happen will not. Peter must have been shocked when Jesus called him Satan. Most of us associate with Peter: we try to do the right thing but there are times when we fall. Yet, Peter was not only a saint, he was the first leader in the Church. He is the one God entrusted with His Church. He is the one who was to start this Catholic Church...he is the one who is the rock. Isn't that just the way Jesus said it should be? We are all sinners, and Peter definitely had his issues. When the going got tough, he bailed, and not just once. Jesus kept giving him chances and taking him back.  After Jesus rose and appeared to the apostles, that's when things started happening.
I wonder if Peter actually had some doubts about who Jesus really was? Even though he was the one to say Jesus is Christ, did he also have some doubts down deep? Did he really & truly believe what he was saying, or did he say it because that was expected?

I Would Need Faith

I just don't know if I could really do it; if I could really give up everything and walk away from my husband and children (and dogs) and follow a man. Surely the Holy Spirit was working in the disciples. I would only hope that I would have the faith I needed to drop everything and follow Jesus if He asked.

What My Parish Priest Said That Changed My Mind About This Blog Post

I had no plans to talk about "the scandal" in another blog post. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing about it. I'm not saying it should be swept under the rug and those involved shouldn't be prosecuted because they most definitely should. My priest's Homily made me change my mind about this blog post. What he said really hit home.

Never in my life have I seen the congregation clap after a Homily. My parish priest is a kind, gently, very holy man. When I look at him I see the epitome of holiness and humility. I've listened to Father Mike Schmitz and Father Leo Patalinghug speak on the scandal. They both said (along with Father Don Calloway in his book Under the Mantle) that someone has verbally said they are a child molester. One morning, my priest's Homily hit home. He said he was in a grocery store; someone walked behind him and said, "There's one of those pedophiles." My heart sank when he said that. To see him so persecuted, it was like seeing Jesus being persecuted. This man, this sweet, gentle, kind, holy man had to endure those words without saying anything back. My first thought was that people are just ignorant, but Father said that the person who said it wasn't ignorant. It breaks my heart to think how deflated he must have felt.

The Readings over the past couple of weeks have been amazing. The Holy Spirit (heck the whole Trinity) is telling us to have faith; to not give up on our faith but to rely on HIM. I didn't realize this, but I heard on a podcast (I don't remember which one it was) that the news broke on the Feast of the Assumption. That has satan's signature all over it. We all know that he has NO power over Mary; that Mary is the one who he leaves alone because she's awesome that way. Of course, he would get someone to do his work on such a special day.

Here's a run-down of God telling us what's up:

  • Ephesians 5:15   Brothers and Sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.
  • Ezekiel 24:21   Thus says the Lord God: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride, the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul. 
  • Ezekiel 34:2    Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves!
  • Ezekiel 34:10   Thus says the Lord God: I swear I am coming against these shepherds. I will claim my sheep from them and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep so that they may no longer pasture themselves. I will save my sheep, that they may no longer be food for their mouths.
  • Ezekiel 36:25-26    I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.
  • Joshua 24: 15    If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve...
  • John 6:66-69    As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."  

I heard the Lord loud and clear the day we read Ezekiel 34. Who could have missed that message? During the Homily, the priest said he has received emails from parishioners who said they just couldn't come to Mass. These people need our prayers, for sure. In my opinion, those people either were looking for an excuse to stop attending, or they don't have a true grasp of what being a Catholic means...of why we go to Mass every Sunday. It hurts me to think of what they're doing to themselves. Are they hurting the Church? Not as much as they're hurting themselves. It's like when my boys wouldn't turn school work in or wouldn't study for a test because they didn't like their teacher. I would just look at them and say, "Well, you showed her, didn't you?" The difference is that Jesus does care. The teacher may or may not have really cared, but HE DOES.
This song is a reminder that we should continue to let others see Christ in us.
I love my faith. I love being Catholic. I love that I have the privilege of receiving His Precious Body and Blood at least every week. I have had the honor of knowing some very holy priests. It hurts that every single one of them has been affected by the terrible actions of some. It breaks my heart that my parish priest has had to endure some snide comments by someone who has no idea what a holy, gentle man he is. People can be mean. Priests have a heavy cross to bear right now. Please pray for them.


Weird Stuff When I'm Tired During My Adoration Hour

I can think of some really weird stuff when I'm tired during my Adoration Hour. As I read John 6:51-58, I had these thoughts:
I wonder what the crowds thought when Jesus said that in order to live they had to eat his body and drink his blood. Did they think it was just so bizarre?
Those thoughts were validated when I read the Blessed is She reflection. In the second paragraph, Kendra Tierney says "Don't worry, it didn't sound any less weird or horrifying to them than it does to us today." Whew! Except that's not all I wrote in my journal.
It's easy for us since we know we can take in Jesus through the Sacrament of the Eucharist, but I wonder what they really thought of Jesus. I think it just makes everything seem so far out there. Today if someone said that we would think of zombies or vampires. Here was this man offering eternal life if they would eat of his body and drink his blood. Isn't that what the vampires in the movie promise? Maybe I'm just thinking of this because I'm exceptionally tired. Maybe that's where the originators of vampires got their idea.
See what I mean? Blessed John of Ruysbreck is quoted in Magnificat: "and therefore there abides in us, together with all saints, an eternal hunger, and an eternal desirous introversion." And there you have it: an eternal hunger. We are longing for Him. We hunger for Him. And the only way to satisfy that hunger is through the Holy Eucharist.
Proverbs 9:3-6 goes hand in hand with the scripture from John. We are all called to His table. No matter who we are, us miserable sinners, we are called. He has prepared the table for us- it's up to us to accept the invitation. To RSVP with a "no thanks" would be foolish. And Ephesians 5:16: Making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. If we don't stay busy and do everything for Him, we can be sucked into doing evil. I am so guilty of this. I stay out of trouble at work by staying in my room and staying busy. Even eating lunch by myself in my room is a necessity when I feel the negativity pulling me in. If I was wiser I would know when to keep my mouth closed.

A Church in Crisis

Today the Catholic Church is in crisis. Satan is pulling out all the stops to attempt to destroy Her. Just this year, Ireland voted to legalize abortion. In light of the clergy scandal, there will probably be many people who will leave the Faith just as many of Jesus' followers left when He said: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life...". (John 6:54) The evil one won battles that day, and he will win battles over this crisis. Priests are human...they are men. They make mistakes, and unfortunately, some of them have hurt many people. But you know what? We don't participate in Mass for men. Our goal for Mass is to receive the Eucharist...the body & blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. If you're one of those who is debating leaving the Church because of the crisis....don't. Please don't put your salvation in danger because of the actions of men, or the Catholic Church as an institution.
Our faith will be tested but we have to stand firm. Satan is doing his best to destroy Catholicism. Just when we think things are better Satan rears his ugly head and finds someone who will carry out his plan to demolish The Church. I for one thought we had moved on from the crisis. Through Virtus Training, the Church has made great strides in educating anyone who went through the training on the signs and follow-through with sexual abuse. A recent article in the NCRegister was extremely disturbing with its reporting of priests and seminarians disavowing their promises. The article just made me sick to my stomach.
Pray for priests. They need our prayers more than anything. Pray for the Leaders in the Catholic Church that they are able to rid Her of the ones who are not staying loyal to Him and to their vows. Father Donald Calloway, in his book "Under the Mantle" admitted that he is tempted a lot. Priests are tempted in ways we can't even imagine. They need our prayers to hold Satan at bay.
This Prayer for Priests was given to us by our Diocesan CCW Spiritual Commission Leader:

The Bread That Sustains Us Through Life's Journey

Priest at an altar holding up a host during consecration; words above the host
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
God gives us the bread that sustains us through life's journey. I have family members who will say that being out in nature is going to church for them. They say they speak to God when they are in the mountains/out in nature. My comeback to that is that you can't receive the Eucharist without participating in Mass. 

In 1Kings 19:4-8 Elijah had given up. He just wanted to die, but God sent an angel twice with bread and water to sustain him on his journey. God is continuously offering us the living bread and water to sustain us on our earthly journey. He offers Himself daily. Unfortunately, there are those of us who are not able to participate in Daily Mass due to work obligations. On those days, we can pray a Spiritual Communion.

What is a Spiritual Communion?

A Spiritual Communion is giving your whole self to God when you can't receive Sacramental Communion. It's having the desire to receive Christ but not being able to physically receive Christ through Holy Communion. In a Q&A from Our Sunday Visitor, Father Francis Hoffman, J.C.D. defines a Spiritual Communion as "a personal devotional that anyone can pray at any time to express their desire to receive Holy Communion at that moment, but in which circumstances impede them from actually receiving Holy Communion." He explains that the circumstance may be anything from being home-bound to being on a mountain top. He goes on to say that "your soul receives grace to the degree that you have true hunger for the Holy Eucharist".
Even though a lot of Catholics may not have heard of a Spiritual Communion, it has actually been around for centuries. In the late 16th Century, the Catechism of the Council of Trent devoted a whole section to Spiritual Communion. Pope John Paul II spoke of it in his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharitia. Many saints made Spiritual Communions numerous times during their day. Padre Pio, even though he celebrated Mass every day, made them during his day. St. Catherine of Siena, concerned that her Spiritual Communions were lacking, had a vision of Jesus with a gold and silver chalice. In the gold chalice were Sacramental Communions, in the silver were Spiritual Communions. He then told her that both forms of Communions pleased Him. Other Saints who prayed Spiritual Communions include St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Alphonsus, St. Teresa of Jesus, and St. Josemaria Escriva.
The Spiritual Communion doesn't have to be a formal prayer. You can simply ask Jesus to come into your heart since you can't make a Sacramental Communion at that time. The RCIA attendees are encouraged to make Spiritual Communions since they are not in full communion with the Catholic Church yet, and as such are not able to receive the Sacrament.  For those who prefer a formal prayer, this is the prayer that St. Alphonsus Ligouri prayed:

"My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire you with all my heart. Since I cannot receive you now sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already in my heart and unite myself to you completely. Please do not let me be ever separated from you."

As you may know, I work for a school system. My schools have a moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance every day. (Yes, there are still schools out there who do this!) What a perfect time to ask my Angel to go to any Mass that may be celebrated throughout the world at any given time. 

Send Your Angel to Holy Mass
O, holy angel at my side,
go to the church for me.
Kneel in my place at Holy Mass,
where I desire to be.
At Offertory in my stead,
take all I am and own,
and place it as a sacrifice
upon the altar throne.
At holy consecration’s bell,
adore with seraph’s love,
my Jesus, hidden in the Host,
come down from heaven above.
And when the priest Communion takes,
O, bring my Lord to me,
that his sweet heart may rest on mine,
and I his temple be.
Then pray for those I dearly love,
and those who cause me grief,
Jesus’ love may cleanse all hearts
and suffering souls relieve.
Pray that this sacrifice divine,
may mankind’s sin’s efface,
then bring me Jesus’ blessing home,
the pledge of every grace. Amen.
— Author unknown

The Bread That Gives Us Strength

In John 6:41-51 the word "bread" is said 6 times. Do you think He's trying to tell us something? My parish priest said the partaking in the bread we are offered at Mass "gives us the strength and courage to do the will of God; to get over ourselves and to spread the Word of God." He said that, just as in the Gospel passage, we at times come into Church mumbling and murmuring, but the bread of life is HERE. Here is where we take the bread of life into our bodies and are called to take it out into the world. 

As Catholics, what a gift we have been given! To be able to receive the Precious Body & Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ to sustain us on our life's journey. I don't know how my Protestant friends sustain their strength. There have been periods in my life when I did not regularly attend Mass. Looking back, I felt weak at those times. There was definitely something missing. Sacramental Communion definitely gives me the strength to continue on as God wills. Not only that, but I feel that I am able to carry out His will and to accept things that may not go as I want them to. 

I love being Catholic. I love that my parents gave me this gift and I chose to accept it. It's hard to imagine what my life would be like and how difficult this journey of life would be if I wasn't able to eat the bread of life that sustains us.
For more information on Spiritual Communion:

Adult Parenting is a Lot Harder Than It Should Be

Image with quote from Charlotte Gray
Parenting is hard. Adult parenting is a lot harder than it should be! When I look at how my parents did it, it looks easy. They made it look easy. There had to have been times when they were worried about us but they didn't show it. Okay, they didn't show it much. I know there were times when they were hurt by our choices as adult children but they were wise enough to let us make those bad choices (which, in the grand scheme of things, weren't all that bad). Being the 8th child and the 6th girl, by the time I was an adult I think they had adult parenting down pretty well. They never sat me down and gave me lectures or advised me about the choices I had to make...unless I asked. I can't say if they did the same thing with my older siblings or not, but we all turned out pretty well; we are all responsible adults.

I am attempting to parent my adult children the same way. I would like to think that my husband and I gave them enough guidance when they were children, but I'm afraid we were lacking. It's too late to do anything about it now, and we're being forced to show some "tough love". It just breaks my heart. You want your children to have it better than you did, to not struggle with the same things you did. In doing so, sometimes we go overboard with trying to make it easier on them by giving in to their requests/demands. But at some point, it has to stop. They have to learn to live on their own without the support of their parents. It means some rocky times, some times of maybe not hearing from them. That results in requiring a lot of trust in God.
A few weeks ago, during daily Mass, my priest said that we say we trust in God and we give him that trust, but then we take it away. That really hit home for me in so many ways. I want to completely and totally trust in His plan for my boys and, being a control freak, it's so hard to give up that control and hand it to Him. He knows the mistakes my boys are going to make and how they are going to fix them. If He knows, why is it so hard to hand it all to Him? (Enter the control freak.)

After not hearing from one of my sons in a few days (after an abrupt ending to a text conversation) I was worried. I poured out my heart in front of Jesus in the Adoration Chapel. I had a good cry and called upon the Holy Trinity, Mary, St. Monica, St. Augustine, and St. Anne to please watch over my baby and guide him. I got up to turn on the light; when I did I saw The Divine Mercy picture in the back of the chapel.
Picture of Jesus as the Divine Mercy
I heard my heart say, "Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet". I didn't have my pamphlet with me, but, since I was in the Adoration Chapel, I knew there would be one on the bookshelf. There was, but it was in Spanish. There were cards there, so I grabbed one, went back to my seat (after turning on the light), pulled out my Rosary, and began. When I finished, I cried my heart out to Him more and spoke to Him...really spoke to Him. What a cleansing! When I got home I spoke to my husband about how I felt. He is usually more concerned than I am, and he didn't seem very concerned which eased my mind more. He is usually the one checking up on our sons and making sure everything seems to be going okay. My parents rarely contacted me unless they had a question about something. I hate to admit it, but there were times in my life when I would go weeks without calling them. My boys know where we are when they need us. They need to live their lives without having helicopter parents, and if I'm totally honest, it keeps me from being anxious and worried about them.

I'm not going to sugar-coat it: It's hard. It's hard to know what to say, when to say, and when to be quiet. It's hard to not give advice unless it's requested. With each of my 3 boys, adult parenting looks different. It looked different when they were growing up so I shouldn't be surprised that it looks different now that they are men. In the end, they are my babies regardless of how big they are or how old they are. I would take their pain rather than see them going through rough times. It just seems so much harder than it should be.


  • Are you getting close to having adult children? Are you already there? This article offers 3 ways we need to "let go" of our adult children. 
  • Maybe you're in a situation where you are estranged from an adult child. This post may give you some consolation.
  • If your child is entering the "independent" stage, here are some tips that may be of some assistance in learning to let go.
Quote on picture




Someone in the Passage Who is Often Ignored

The words "who is he?" is above a picture of small loaves of bread in a basket.
Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels
John 6:1-15 has to be a very important Gospel; a lesson that Jesus wants us to learn. My priest mentioned that this passage is in the Bible 6 times. SIX.TIMES. Not only that, but it is in all four of the Gospels. Everyone seems to focus on the miracle that Jesus performed but there is someone in the passage who is often ignored, or not given a lot of time. The boy. 

6 Places in the Gospels

Who is this boy? Where did he come from? Matthew 15:32-39 doesn't mention him in his relaying of the miracle. In fact, Matthew says the people were with Jesus for 3 days, there were 4000 people instead of 5000 (but what's another 1000 to our Lord?), and there were 7 loaves and 2 fish. Looking at the footnote, Matthew 14:13-21 says there are 5000 people (excluding women and children), 5 loaves and 2 fish. Mark 8:1-10 is on target with Matthew's account in Chapter 15; however, Mark 6:34-43 corroborates John's Gospel. The only difference is that the boy is left out.  Luke 10:2-17 mirrors Matthew 14:13-21 and Mark 8:1-10. Could they be 2 different events? Nowhere is the boy mentioned except in John.

He Gave All He Had

Why could that be? Should we take John's word over the other 3 that the boy provided the bread? He seems pretty accurate with his recount of the miracle; enough to include the boy. He must have thought the boy was important. Maybe the other 3 thought the boy would detract from the event. I never gave the boy another thought until the priest mentioned it during the Homily. It made perfect sense. Here is this boy who has some bread tucked in his pocket. He's just hanging around the apostles, most likely looking up to them and wanting to be like them. (This is probably why the other apostles didn't include him in their recounts: they probably didn't even notice him or thought he was in the way.) He hears them talking about not having anything to give the people to eat & he pipes up, shrugging his shoulders, thinking it insignificant. He offers them the mashed up bread in his pocket. Or, maybe he pulled Andrew to the side and told him he had 5 loaves and 2 fish. Either way, the main point is that he gave all he had.

All. Not a little bit, but everything, which is what God is calling us to do 24/7.  It took the little boy in this Gospel to place a subtle reminder in our heads. God can do all things, even turn 5 loaves into enough for 5000+.  In return, He asks for us to give Him our all.

Resisting the Urge to Take it Back

I come from a long line of worriers on my mother's side. I try so hard to give it all to Him and sometimes it's easier than others. The priest asked this question (not his exact words; I'm paraphrasing): If we're worrying, are we give Him enough? Are we giving Him our all? And if we aren't, what's holding us back? A few weeks ago he said that we say we trust in the Lord and we put things in His hands, but then we take it back. Isn't it so hard to place it in His hands and not be an "Indian-giver"?  Now that I've drawn your attention to it, will you look closer at someone in the passage who is often ignored?

Getting Back on Track With My Prayer Routine

Picture of train tracks with the words "How I got back on track" above it and "with my daily prayer routine" below it.

Ah, summer. I always do so well with being on a schedule...until we go on vacation. Then it goes by the wayside. I always have good intentions of sticking to my routine but then...vacation. And I get lazy. Getting back on track with my prayer routine is a struggle. Anyone else?

Getting Off-Track

My pre-vacation morning routine looked like this: Wake up at 5:30, out the door with the dogs by 5:45 (before the squirrels are awake!), come home, eat breakfast, feed the dogs, take a shower, pray and reflect, daily mass. All of that before 9:00 a.m.! Surprisingly, I haven't been crashing in the afternoon. Well, most afternoons anyway.
Then we went on vacation. The next week I attended a conference. I did pretty well with my prayer routine on vacation...I at least prayed The Divine Office and my daily prayers. The Daily Mass Readings and journaling went by the wayside, but at least I had my talk with God. The next week at the conference, I prayed The Divine Office in the mornings while my roommate was in the shower. So that's something, right?

Except that I feel a distance to God that wasn't there 2 weeks ago. To keep a good relationship with anyone you have to communicate. It would only make sense that to regain a relationship the communication has to be there. I don't doubt that God was certainly trying to communicate with me while I was gone. It takes 2 to communicate and I'll be the first to admit that I didn't give it my best shot. I may have panicked just a bit when I returned home from the conference, realizing that I have 1 full week of summer left before I go back to work. (I know, I know! That's early for teachers to go back! Our students start July 31st!) Y'all, I really need  God to be on my side when I start the new school year!

3 Answers

The answers are quite simple:
1)Discipline yourself to start over. You had discipline in the first place, right? You know you can do it, so just do it!
2) Forgive yourself. It is what it is and there's no sense in beating yourself up about it. Our God is a merciful (and forgiving) God. If He forgives you, why not forgive yourself?
3) Slide back into it if you need to. I was so tired when I first returned home from my conference that I needed to slide back into my routine. It took me a few days but I did it.

Personally, I'm the kind of person who thrives on routine and schedules. Even so, it is kind of nice to get away from that every now and then. Getting totally out of the routine can make the return a little more difficult, but who said life is easy? So it seems that I'm getting back on track with my prayer routine just in time to have to tweak it a bit for the school year. 

In this post, I discussed why I need a daily routine and what happens when I get off track. There's even a quote included from a book that I read from every now and then that really drives things home.

Need more inspiration?

  • Take a peek into Brandon Vogt's prayer life in this post.
  • This article tells you why Daily Prayer is important and explains the how.
  • What, how, why, and where is discussed in this post.


{Book Review} Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest

Big orange circle with a quote in the middle of it.
Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest by Father Donald Calloway, MIC (Marian Press, 2013) is the perfect book for someone who is not a theologian to read and glean an understanding of Mary. Even if you think you know Mary, this book has some thought-provoking and "aha" moments for you.
Father Donald H. Calloway is a priest who is known as the "Surfer Priest". I read his book No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy in one day. I was riveted by what a troubled young man he was and his "in your face" conversion. While that book is not necessary before reading Under the Mantle, it does provide a bit of insight as to who exactly wrote this book.
Fr. Calloway poses this question in the 3rd Chapter (Who Do You Say That I Am?":
So what the heck happened that caused so many modern Catholics to turn away from loving Jesus and his Church? The answer is heartbreaking. They had forgotten Mary.
How in the world do any Christians, much less Catholics, forget Mary? Heartbreaking, indeed. I thought I knew a lot about Mary but after reading this book I realize I have so much more to learn. Father Calloway does an excellent job of putting Mary right smack dab in the middle of our faith and explaining how she is a part of every facet of Christianity. How sad is it that she is often cast aside?

Connecting Us with Jesus

In the introduction, Father Calloway suggests reading this book slowly. I'm a fast reader and often don't retain a lot of what I read. I took his suggestion to heart. I would read a chapter then put the book down. That allowed his words to truly sink in.
Case in point: In Chapter 3 Father Calloway gives the illustration of Mary's importance by using our body. We are the body, Jesus is the head, and Mary is the neck. I read that chapter, put the book down, and thought, "Okay. I get it." But, did I really get it? It wasn't until about a week later when I was walking the dogs in the park early one morning that I wholeheartedly understood, thanks to a song by Casting Crowns. I had my earbuds in and my music randomly playing when this song came on:
By the end of the song, I got it. There's no mention of Mary in the song, but Mary (the neck) connects us (the body) to Jesus (the head). If Jesus is the head and we are the body, there has to be something that connects us. There has to be a neck. The neck allows the body to receive nourishment. The neck holds the head. The neck appears to be unimportant, but it isn't. Mary connects us to Jesus.

Seeing Mary in Every Aspect of our Lives

Father Calloway does an excellent job of tying Mary to every aspect of the Catholic Church: Scripture, the Papacy, the Priesthood,  Confession, Matrimony, and The Divine Mercy. Mary's importance in telling of Jesus' birth and childhood is examined. Who told the apostles the stories? As Fr. Calloway says: that's a "no-brainer": it had to be Mary.
At some points in the book, I wondered where he was going with the subject and how it tied into Mary. He did a fantastic job of tying everything back to Mary and our relationship to her. In Chapters 8 and 9 he discusses Manhood and Femininity respectively. I have to admit that the manhood chapter made me a little sad because he discusses how important it is for men to show their sons their devotion to Jesus and Mary, as well as praying. I realized that this was such a huge hole in the lives of my sons, but that's a discussion for another day.

Favorite Quotes

At the end of each chapter, there are Marian quotes that Father collected through the years. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • If God labored six days in preparing a paradise for man, he would spend a longer time preparing a paradise for his Divine Son. As no weeds grew in Eden, so no sin would arise in Mary, the paradise of the incarnation. Most unbecoming it would be for the sinless Lord to come into the world through a woman afflicted with sin. A barn door cannot fittingly serve as an entrance to a castle. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
  • True devotion to Christ demands true devotion to Mary. Pope St. Pius X
  • While we adore the Child, should we not then venerate his mother, and while we kneel to Jesus, should we not at least clasp the hand of Mary for giving us such a Savior? There is a grave danger that, lest in celebrating a Christmas without the mother, we may soon reach a point where we will celebrate Christmas without the Babe, and these days are upon us now.  Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
  • Satan fears Mary as a frightened dog fears the rod with which he has been beaten. St. John Eudes
  • Even if you have to fight distractions all through your whole Rosary be sure to fight well, arms in hand; that is to say, do not stop saying your Rosary even if it is hard to say and you have absolutely no sensible devotion. It is a terrible battle, I know, but one that is profitable to the faithful soul. St. Louis de Montfort
  • If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you. St. John Vianney
  • The heart of a mother is a marvel of mercy. When we fear to go to God, when we are overwhelmed by our unworthiness, we can go toMary, because God has entrusted to her the realm of mercy. Blessed Columba Marmion
  • In our day, Our Lady has been given to us as the best defense against the evils that afflict modern life; Marian devotion is the sure guarantee of her maternal protection and safeguard in the hour of temptation. Pope Benedict XVI
  • If you wish to convert anyone to the fullness of the knowledge of our Lord and of his Mystical Body, then teach him the Rosary. One of two things will happen. Either he will stop saying the Rosary--or he will get the gift of faith. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
  • Do you want to have an advocate in the Son's presence, too? Turn to Mary. St. Bernard of Clairvaux
  • Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did. St. Maximillian Kolbe

Mary has always held a special place in my heart. I wrote about her as my protector in this post. This book gave me a much deeper look at how she is not just our mother, but our mama.
As Christians, we should all embrace Mary as our mother and look to her for intercession. Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest is the perfect book to help all Catholics hold Mary in the high esteem she should be and to embrace her as our mother and intercessor.
Big circle with a quote under the title of the blog post.

A Message of Healing in a Broken World

The words "I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me" on a peach background.
Our world is in desperate need of healing. It seems for every good story I hear, there are 2 that take its place letting us know that the evil one is trying his best to take over. The Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time give us a message of healing in a broken world.

Step By Step, One by One

In the 2nd Reading (2Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15) Paul encourages everyone to evangelize. He is cheering us all on to succeed in spreading The Word. When you stop and think about it, it really is astonishing how the Church started and grew. It began with only 12 people going out and preaching. In his new book The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity, Matthew Kelly discusses "Spiritual Multiplication". In simple terms, it's a group of people who encourage another group of people to proclaim The Word. That group of people engages with another group of people, and so on. That's how The Word spread in the time of the early Church. It's how rumors get started, true, but it can definitely be used to increase the number of Christians. It took time for Christianity to grow; it didn't happen overnight.  We can rebuild what the evil one is tearing down. One person at a time.

Jesus Gets a Tap on the Shoulder

In the Gospel (Mark 5:21-34) we have 1 story that is embedded in another one. Father said that Mark likes to "sandwich" stories. One story starts, then is interrupted by a seemingly different story, and then the first story finishes. Both are about healing. There is a woman who has faith that by just touching Jesus' cloak she will be healed, and it happens. Jairus has faith that Jesus can touch his little girl and heal her. Jesus is on the way to Jairus' house when he is sidetracked. The woman touches his cloak and he knows that someone was healed by touching him. God tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Uh, son. You may want to acknowledge this one." What desperation the woman had knowing that if she touched Jesus he would, in the Jewish law, be considered unclean. She was willing to risk the wrath that very well could have come. I'm sure she thought that, because the crowd was pressing in on Jesus, he wouldn't know that she had been healed. He would have no idea...if she could just touch him. But he did know (it was the tap on the shoulder, I'm telling ya!) and she told him it was her. (Unlike Eve who blamed it on someone else, she took complete responsibility for it.) If she didn't truly believe before then, I bet she did after the exchange between her & Jesus!

Bothering Jesus

When Jesus arrived at Jairus' house, he brought the little girl back to the living through her father's faith, even though the people told Jarius that she was dead so there was no point in bothering Jesus.  Our deceased are not truly dead but are asleep in Christ. We must continue to pray for them so that through not only their faith but also our own can they have eternal life. We have to keep bothering Jesus so that we will all be reunited.

We are such a broken world and we are getting more broken by the hour. Today's words of healing bring some comfort. We have to pray for the brokenness and like the woman and Jairus, we have to have faith that the Trinity will heal us.

Funny Happenings During Daily Mass in Gifs (SQT}

How about a fun post for the last Friday in June? I'm not saying that these things have happened during Daily Mass, but...

1. When you pull into the parking lot 2 minutes before Mass begins:
2. When you're not the only one who gets to Church 2 minutes before Mass begins:
3. When the Eucharistic Ministers end up on the opposite sides of where they need to be to get back to their seats:
4. When the priest's cell phone starts ringing in the middle of Mass:
5. When the host & wine aren't put in the back of the chapel before the presentation of the gifts:
6. When the priest sings a song at the end of Mass to the tune of "The Beverly Hillbillies":
7. When the priest says "a fart" instead of "apart":
via GIPHY

Yep, we never know what we're going to get at Daily Mass! If anyone doesn't think Jesus has a sense of humor, come to our Daily Masses!

The Instagram Post That Rubbed Someone the Wrong Way

Big quotation marks followed by a quote by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian or an apologist. These views are my own.
Picture this: I come home after my Adoration Hour (which was a really good one, by the way!) and check my Instagram comments. And then I see this:
Comment from Instagram
I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I knew that eventually someone would read a blog post or I would have an Instagram post that rubbed someone the wrong way and they would feel the need to comment. I wasn't surprised; heck, I wasn't even offended. I read it, chuckled, and said a quick prayer for the person who wrote the comment. I mean, how can I be upset that he is concerned for my soul? If this had happened at a different time in my life I would have shot off a quick response and started a war with words on IG. Instead, I chose to take the high road and let it go. He obviously is a Christian, he just doesn't have all of his facts.

Getting By With a Little Help

Looking at the mediation question, specifically the line that was quoted (1Timothy 2:5):  
For there is one God.
There is also one mediator between God and the human race,
Christ Jesus, himself human,

So this guy, along with many Protestants may have a point. But wait a minute. Look at 1Timothy 2:1:
First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
Everyone. Not just a select few. That is one explanation for petitioning for the intercession of saints. Think about it: How many times have you heard people asking for others to pray for them? How many times have you told others that you would pray for them? I know I need as many people praying for me as I can. Especially Mary...she has God's ear more than anyone, so why wouldn't I ask her to help me out? 😁
Sonja Corbit, who is a convert to Catholicism from Southern Baptist, gives excellent explanations in this post.
This article not only gives explanations but has scripture to back it up.
If you need more, this article will prove that there's an abundant amount of scripture about mediation/intercession.

Purification Through His Grace

Purgatory is a tough one for our Protestant friends. At first glance, it would appear that Catholics believe that we can "buy" our way into heaven. That's not it at all. I find it comforting that if we're not quite ready to receive entry into heaven there's a place we can stay until our souls are fully cleansed. If it's all black or white with no gray, then I'm really worried and I have a lot more work to do before He calls me home.
Thomas Smith, in his article Furnace of Love: The Biblical Roots of Purgatory presents 3 ways to talk about purgatory with our Protestant friends:
  1. God is perfect; he is all holy. Nothing unclean can enter his presence (see Revelation 21:27).  Therefore, we must be perfectly holy before we can enter heaven (see Hebrews 12:14).
  2. Though we may strive to cooperate with God’s saving grace, most of us will die with imperfections and attachments to sin.
  3. Therefore, there must be an intermediate state between bodily death and heaven that will cleanse us from our imperfections and prepare us to enter into the all-holy presence of God. The Church has defined this state as “purgatory.”
He also suggests the following scripture for further understanding of purgatory:
1Corinthians 3:10-15 and 1Peter 1:7.
Father Mike Schmitz explains that purgatory is a purification, not a paying of debt. He also talks about the biblical references to purgatory in this YouTube clip. This purification is a result of His grace, not my works.

After I read the guy's Instagram comment, I took a look at his profile and his pictures. As I looked through his posts, I saw this:
Open Bible under the words "Most People Hate the Truth"

Isn't that the truth? When we get to the bottom of it, we're all worshipping the same God. There are so many misperceptions out there about the Catholic Church that it has to make Jesus cry. As Catholics, it is our responsibility to evangelize and be armed with answers about Catholicism. In his book Stop Worrying & Start Living, Gary Zimak has this page for the day I wrote this post: (click on the picture for a bigger view)
Open book to June 22; the words talk about being ready for persecution
Here's the thing: I didn't feel "persecuted". I think his comment came from what he thought was a good place. I felt bad for him, for his ignorance about the Catholic Church, and for his need to plead for me to leave Catholicism. I know I'm getting closer to God because of his comment. Satan would do anything & use anyone to lose souls from heaven. To the man who wrote the comment: If you're reading this (and I'd be astonished if you are!) then I would suggest the book Rome Sweet Home by Scott & Kimberly Hahn. It is by far the best conversion book I've ever read. Or, read Jennifer Fulwiler's (an atheist turned Catholic) Something Other Than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It. Need another one? How about No Turning Back: a Witness to Mercy by Father Donald Calloway. I know there are more, but those are the 3 most powerful conversion books that I know of. I feel the need to thank this person for commenting on my post. He reaffirmed my belief in the Catholic Church and her teachings by making me dig a little to find answers. I knew they were there!

Even though I knew it was going to happen sooner or later, the comment did take me a bit by surprise. Maybe I should be glad that I had an Instagram post that rubbed someone the wrong way. The Venerable Fulton J. Sheen says it best: