Claiming My Grandmotherhood, ProLife Style

When my son and his wife recently announced they are with child, I claimed my first-time grandmotherhood. So exciting! 

"But wait--that won't happen until after the baby is born."  Not so. 

1) Would we deny that Jesus's life on earth began at the Annunciation, when 

Angel Gabriel announced to Jesus's mother, Mary, that she was with child?  No. 

                                                            

2) Would we deny science's discovery and pictures of the sperm 

and egg uniting to initiate a new human being?  No.

                                                     

We therefore cannot deny that the life of every human being begins at the moment of conception. By His conception, that moment is consecrated for all of us. Science confirms it on the natural level.

I hereby hold to my claim: I am a first-time grandmother! 

+ St. Gerard, please pray for my pregnant daughter-in-law and our new baby! +

Source - Let There Be Life

Images 
- https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/prague-czech-republic-fresco-annunciation-church-kostel-svat%C3%A9ho-cyrila-metodeje-petr-maixner-october-134890726.jpg
- https://resize.hswstatic.com/w_907/gif/sperm-egg.jpg  

Edits

07/24/2020 - added "my pregnant daughter-in-law and" to St. Gerard prayers

1. Start Your Day With Prayer, Your Bible, and a Talk With Your Mother (Mother Mary, that is)

I'm following up on my previous blog entry, so let's get started.

Reminder: 8 Things Every Catholic Should Be Doing Every Day is of the theme, "Back to Basics," at least in my discernment. Venturing down that pathway, we attempt to strengthen our love for God by resetting our compasses in an attempt to get closer to Him. Because we are humans, it is a meager attempt, but God will augment our efforts.

The approach embraces the gradual inclusion of new practices, so we stay enthused about our mission. It is a reminder that the "8 Things" and the "Back to Basics" theme are acts of love. Here is suggestion #1:

1. Start your day with prayer, your Bible, and a talk with your Mother, i.e., our Mother 
    Mary.

     PRAYER     
     Every day is a new opportunity to seek God's will - so that we may carry it out. 

     An effective way of doing both is this morning ritual. 

     I do parts of this already, but I need some tuning up. That means, if I want to grow 

     closer to God, I need to improve my discipline. I need to follow through on my 

     commitment to start the day with prayer. When I do follow my discipline, I usually 

     say 1 of 2 prayers, or both. 1) St. Ignatius of Loyola's "Suscipe."

Lord Jesus Christ, please take all my freedom,

my memory, my understanding, and my will.

All that I have and cherish,

you have given me.

I surrender it all to be guided by Your will.

Your love and Your grace

are wealth enough for me.

Give me these, Lord Jesus,

and I ask for nothing more.

Amen.

     Or, 2) The Third Step Prayer In 12-Step Programs

And I add, "through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen."

     The Holy Spirit will guide you in developing your own routine with the prayers that draw 
     you closest to God. As always happens in the spiritual life, you may eventually change 
     those prayers.


     THE BIBLE
     Last year, I decided I wanted to read the whole Bible, not necessarily the Commentary
     and other reading that helps bring further enlightenment, but at least the Bible itself.
     I was going to read it chronologically, by chapter anyhow. I started out reading it in the 
     morning, like this suggestion suggests, then I found myself slipping and trying to 
     read it before bed. Let's just say, I need to regroup and try again.


     TALK WITH YOUR MOTHER
     I love having Mary as my spiritual mother. Of course, she fills in for all the deficiencies 
     of my mother here on earth, who I also love and miss. She passed away 2-1/2 years
     ago. I sometimes pray/talk with Mary in the morning, but it has not been a discipline of 
     mine. I usually connect with her later in the day, on a whim.  I like the idea of regularly 
     checking in with her first thing.  I am going to give it a try - sometime soon.

Please pray that I find the fortitude to persevere and strengthen my relationship with God. 
I pray the same for all of you. +


Next Blog Entry - Suggestion #2. Smile, Use Your Manners, Be Kind, Give Out Hugs



images - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/64/96/db/6496db42b41d3c5f84b7d5e7356402b2.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d6/15/eb/d615ebb02a98019f192dad8ff45f235e.jpg

The Pharisees Exist Among Us

I asked a friend of mine recently for a ride to the bus stop, where I was going to catch a bus to see my son.  His reply was basically no.  His reason?  He had to attend his Bible study.  Now I know we are not supposed to judge others, but I can't help myself in this case.  I know him.  He goes to his Bible study group every week, and has gone every week for at least a couple years.

I can't help but think that this person is being like the Pharisees, who couldn't see the forest for the trees. They challenged Jesus because His disciples took, cleaned and ate some grain from a field they walked through on a Sabbath. They were quite hungry and were taking it for food, not for harvest. The Pharisees, however, claimed that Jesus allowed His disciples to work on the Sabbath.

Jesus and the Pharisees

Jesus reminded them that there are exceptions to laws.  In this case, when a person needs something very much, God's love is more important than His law.  The Pharisees were hyper-focused on the "rule" or the "law", such that they didn't see the bigger picture, which in this case is charity to a fellow Christian. 

In my example, my friend could not extend himself by missing his Bible study to bring me to the bus stop.  I may be off in my judgment of him, but even so, my idea is still valid.  We all know many Catholics who can not see the forest for the trees.  They are the Pharisees among us today.  I know, because, at times, I am one of them.

"Oh, Dear Jesus, please give me the grace to see clearly,

so that I may imitate You more closely."

image - http://www.stmaryswestmelbourne.org/homilies/95-twenty-second-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b.html

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!

This is for your reading pleasure on this wonderful Labor Day 2011.

It is floating around on Facebook.

 

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha a worrier, Thomas a doubter, Sara impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Abraham was old,… and Lazarus was dead....

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!

Re-post this if you know you are not perfect but that God is working in your life anyway =)

image - http://www.examiner.com/presbyterian-in-oklahoma-city/a-new-look-at-the-old-testament-the-story-the-story

Simple Way To Test & Improve Your Catholic Knowledge

I do not recall how I stumbled upon these links, but I am glad I did.  They are a series of simple multiple choice quizzes on different aspects of the Catholic Church.  Enjoy!


1) Test your knowledge of the words of the Ave Maria in Latin

2) Catholic Social Teaching

3) Church History

4) Lent

5) 10 Questions on the Old Testament

images - http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/groundwater/gquiz.htm