Faith
First Confession
On Saturday, May 5, Patrick went to confession for the first time. After confessing his sins to Fr. Harkins, FSSP, Patrick said to me, “Mommy, I like going to confession. It is fun!” When we arrived home, he asked me, “Do I have to sin before I can go to confession again?” “As the Father…
Read MoreWelcome Kieran!
8 lbs 12 oz 21 inches Words cannot express how happy we are to have been blessed with a baby boy. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be holding a baby in my arms in May, I don’t know if I would have believed them. Last August 13, our pastor…
Read MoreOur Blessed Mother will Always Help Us
I needed to read the following quote on Sanctus Simplicitus this morning: “Following her, you cannot go astray; praying to her, you cannot despair; thinking on her, you cannot err; in her hands, you cannot fall; under her protection, you have nothing to fear; under her guidance you cannot feel fatigued; under her patronage, you…
Read MoreBaptism
“-Receive the sacraments soon and frequently. This cannot be emphasized enough. Baptize babies immediately. If Aunt Martha can’t make it for two months to see the baby, go ahead and throw the baptismal party when it’s convenient for her, but don’t postpone the sacrament to fit her or anyone’s schedule. It is most important that…
Read MoreEaster Vigil Slideshow
One of my favorite Masses is the Easter Vigil at our parish. The singing of the “Sicut Cervus” takes my breath away and draws me in helping me to focus on Christ’s Resurrection. This Mass truly seems to me like the closest thing to Heaven on earth. I hope that everyone is having a joyous…
Read MoreHappy Feast of St. Joseph
Growing up, my parents instilled a deep love in us for St. Joseph. Each night, after praying the family Rosary, we would end with the traditional prayers and a few others, including the prayer below to the foster father of Jesus. St. Joseph is the Patron of the Church, a protector, a comforter, a model for husbands,…
Read MoreThese are a Few of My Favorite Catholic Books
Recently, I was speaking with another mother about good (maybe, I should say great) Catholic books. There are some real gems available that can help us to grow in our Faith. Some of these excellent Catholic books include: Great Wives and Mothers by Fr. Hugh Francis Blunt This is my favorite book about various female…
Read MoreHoly Habits in the Home
I was very happy to read Ginny Seuffert’s Holy Habits in the Home in Seton’s January newsletter. Growing up, my parents tried to instill various “holy habits” in our home. We used to pray the family Rosary each night and at the beginning of each 30-minute or longer road trip. My parents occasionally read us…
Read MoreBrendan’s Confirmation
On Wednesday, January 11, Brendan, his father and I went to his Confirmation evening of recollection. The evening began with a monastic type of potluck dinner, during which all of the participants remained silent while our pastor read to us about Maria (a holy young girl who lived in Mexico). After dinner, we proceeded to…
Read MorePriestly Role Models
Sedes Sapientiae, ora pro nobis. Our parish has been blessed with a second priest, Fr. Harkins. His presence has inspired my two youngest sons to pretend to be priests and “offer” Mass. They’ve been dressing up, cutting “hosts” from printer paper, ringing their little bell, and using their child-size thurible. The other day, Finnian…
Read MoreA Christmas Kit
Last year, Patrick’s godmother shared a beautiful means of preparing our hearts for Christ’s birth with me. Faith and Family has made it easy to share with others. It is A Christmas Kit that helps families and individuals to prepare a spiritual crib in their hearts for our Blessed Lord’s birth. The instructions for this beautiful…
Read MoreQuiet Time
Laura Berquist once mentioned at a Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference that spending time in Adoration before God was vital to her homeschooling success. I think that I understand what she meant. I need quiet times with God to kneel and adore Him, or simply pour my heart out to Him.
Read More