After high school, I made the decision to attend Oregon State University and major in horticulture. I had become captivated with growing flowers and vegetables through the gentle tutelage of my beautiful third grade teacher, Mrs. Pavelek, who led a 4-H horticulture group for kids. My father helped me dig a garden in ourContinue reading “How to Produce the Sweetest Fruit”
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What do we mean when we say “enter under my roof” at Mass?
After the priest shows us Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass, he proclaims: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” Then we pray: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but onlyContinue reading “What do we mean when we say “enter under my roof” at Mass?”
The Feast of St. Catherine of Siena
I chose St. Catherine of Siena as my patron saint at my Confirmation. I love her! Here is a lengthy quote I wish to share from her and a prayer I wrote to the Lord in response to her wisdom: “God was in love with you before you even came to be. If He hadContinue reading “The Feast of St. Catherine of Siena”
How do Catholics deal with periods of stagnation and dryness?
To Catholics, faith is rooted in having an intimate, profound, lively and maturing relationship with God. Faith resides within the will, in our choosing to believe in God and in the truth He has revealed to us, no matter how we are feeling or how our thoughts might mislead or confuse us. But sometimes weContinue reading “How do Catholics deal with periods of stagnation and dryness?”
If the “Baa” Fits: Good Shepherd Sunday and the Sheep of His Flock
Good Shepherd Sunday invites us to muse about sheep. I know that the people of God have been referred to as “God’s Flock” since the Old Testament—my favorite Psalm, in fact, states it about as plainly as it could be stated: “Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, andContinue reading “If the “Baa” Fits: Good Shepherd Sunday and the Sheep of His Flock”
Why do Catholics Honor Saints?
Let’s begin with the key point: Catholics do not worship saints. We honor or venerate saints, but we do not consider saints in heaven to be a kind of god or goddess that we worship. Then why do we talk about praying to saints? In Latin, there are two words that can be translated intoContinue reading “Why do Catholics Honor Saints?”
What does the word “Catholic” mean?
The believers of Jesus Christ were first called followers of “the way” in the Acts of the Apostles. Later, they were given the name “Christians” in the city of Antioch, still during the era of the New Testament. The term “Christian” literally means “little Christ”—which perfectly represents what happens to a person who is aContinue reading “What does the word “Catholic” mean?”
How do Catholics Understand Spiritual Growth?
The life of a Christian is a life of discipleship—we are apprenticed to the Master, so to speak, and our entire life is a process of becoming more and more like our Master, Jesus Christ. Unlike some Christian denominations that focus more on the initial conversion experience—of being “born again” and giving one’s life toContinue reading “How do Catholics Understand Spiritual Growth?”
What is a Catholic vision of family and home life?
Our Catholic Church claims that it is within the family that the love of God is most clearly expressed and lived out. That the family is the basic cell of all human organization, all human society. God designed the family, from the very beginning as Jesus explains in Matthew Chapter 19, to be founded onContinue reading “What is a Catholic vision of family and home life?”
What’s the Point of Praying for Others?
Prayer is lifting our hearts and minds to God—seeking and strengthening our relationship with Him. If prayer is intimate communication with God, why turn it into anything but a “me and Jesus” moment? In addition, what good is it to pray for someone else? God already knows what they need and He already knows whatContinue reading “What’s the Point of Praying for Others?”
Flourish Catholic 