Our Lady's Lamp

What is joy? As I have been pondering and meditating on this word, another word has come to mind: Peace. Joy and Peace walk hand in hand. They are not the same, but they both are more complete with the other. But what is joy? Joy is more than just a smile, a laugh, a grin. Joy is something deep within that bubbles out. it bubbles into a smile, but it also bubbles into our lives. Scripture talks a lot about joy and it's side effects. It's good medicine, the appropriate response to the presence of God in the Ark of the Covenant, and to his miraculous conception and birth. Paul tells us to rejoice always and not be anxious or dismayed. Joy is a lifestyle, a grace. Danielle Rose's song "The Joy of the Lord" has been played many, many times in the past few weeks as I have meditated on joy, and parts of the lyrics are posted below. "God loves a cheerful giver." "Never let anyone come to you without leaving better and happier. Everyone should see goodness ...

At the Christmas Eve mass this year, one of our seminarians (one studying toward the priesthood) did the homily (sermon), and he reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in a while. Christ did not just come to earth to experience our humanity. He didn't come just to restore our humanity. He came to show us our humanity. Humanity, as originally intended, did not look as we see it now. It was "very good" (Unless, of course, we believe that God was mistaken in Genesis.). When sin entered the world, we became a little less good. However, with the coming of Christ, with the giving of his life and Spirit, we are able to again strive toward that "Very Good." We begin to be called again to a higher standard of living, to model the behavior of Christ and those he called to follow him. Christ came, as a humble baby. But he didn't stay a baby. He grew up, became a boy who discussed matters with the priests. He became a man who taught, healed, and challenged peo...

I will be the first to admit that I despise the holiday season. As in, seriously, I dread the holiday season. Not only do most of my friends disperse to various parts of the world leaving campus and Longview feeling like a ghost town, I also hate the hullabaloo that goes into preparing for Christmas. Yeah, I appreciate the decorations when they are up, but I hate finding them, putting them up, taking them down, and putting them away. I despise how our culture has gone so far into politically correct, but I almost hate the whole "CHRISTmas" thing just as much because it simply becomes a fight. We have turned Saint Nicolas, the Bishop who gave to the poor, into Santa Clause who goes around riding a sleigh and eating cookies. We spend all of Christmas worrying about who is getting what for whom for Christmas and trying to beat the crowds. And heaven forbid that we not have a huge feast to celebrate with! Even the Christmas story has become so romanticized that is hardly resemble...

Around the world today, people are celebrating the thirty-first of October in various ways. Most of the Western World celebrates Halloween on this date. But for those, especially Christians, who do not agree with this practice, many choose another thing to emphasize: Reformation Day. I have issue with both of these observances, but I would be saying nothing new by saying what I think of Halloween. However, I am going to talk about the latter of the observances. Many people think that since I'm Catholic, I have issues with the celebration of Reformation Day because it is the start of the Protestant movement. While I think everyone knows my opinion on that matter, that is not the real reason I have issue with the celebration - and emphasis of - Reformation Day. My issue with it is that it propagates dis-unity. Luther needed to pin the 95 thesis on the door. Those were, for the most part, valid concerns. The clergy at the time was abusing its right. Luther did the right thing by b...

Last semester, shortly before Easter, I went on a retreat. When I got back, I started a Novena (A prayer that you say for 9 days or weeks consecutively). I was at a time in my life where I felt I really needed guidance, and I felt like I needed it soon. I was wondering what I should do with my life, and what I decided would really determine how I played out my next semester in school. So, I decided to do a Novena. Now, this particular Novena was a 24 Glory Be Novena. The Glory Be is as follows: " Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen." This prayer was repeated 24 times, each for the intention on my heart. Now, when I started praying it, I was simply asking for guidance, for an answer -such as it may be. However, as I began to really pray it and meditate on it, the prayer became alive to me, and since then, I have not been able to pray the prayer the same way or look at my life...

I started this blog with no intention of writing about the second of my mothers. At least, not for a while. But, I realized that the only reason I did not want to was because of what some people who read this may think. And that, I now acknowledge, is foolish, cowardly, and not the way I want to live or write this blog. Mary is the topic that most people will disagree most vehemently with me on. Many people see her as a stumbling block to Salvation for Catholics. Many see the Rosary as an abomination from the pits of Hell. And yet, I ask you, where would our Salvation History be without the Mother of God? When I was a child, my parents were some of the most anti-catholic people, but my dad began to look deeper into his faith, and he found it lacking. So, we went to just about every denomination there was, including a Catholic church. We had some catholic friends, and they would give me little books on the saints. My parents had no problem with that because the Saints are just ...

Why I Started Another Blog? I have felt for a while that I wanted to journal, but I have preferred to type than write by hand for a long time. I have also gotten into a lot of good conversations with people that have stimulated my thinking. There are also many things that God has been laying on my heart, but I don't always know how to insert them into conversation so that discussion may be started on them. So, I decided to begin to write them down, post them, then see where that led. About the Blog's Title When I was thinking about what I wanted to name my blog, the first thing that popped into my head was "Our Lady's Lamp." Now, this may be because at one point in time, when I was much younger, someone told me that one of the titles of the moon was Our Lady's Lamp. I've always loved that image because the moon is only visible, only beautiful, because it reflects the sun. So too is our Blessed Mother Mary, (Our Lady), only beautiful, only Blessed ( Luke 1:...