Witnesses to the Truth

Fellowship and sharing of the many wonderful Catholic resources to help and shape our lives. If you have any suggestions on articles just submit on the ask page! Would be more than happy to check it out!

[catholicgirlnerd]

St. Therese Feast Day - Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven

The disciples approached Jesus and said,

"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"

He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,

"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,

you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Whoever humbles himself like this child

is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:1-4

Children are so delightful for some people. I can see the grins on some people I know, including my sister, that they have just at the mention of children. What is it? There’s this certain sense of freedom that issues forth from them. So pure, so just them. Without the editing that comes into play in trying to be someone other people like or having a bunch of walls up. They are playful, full of life and wonder, and, often easy to please.

I am almost jealous how much my loved ones love children so much. Even Jesus seems to love them more. And yet, it seems Iike if I become more childlike, at least initially to me it seems like it would be immature. Being that open loses its charm after you become older. There are expectations of how you should act and behave.

So then what does our Lord mean, humbling ourselves like a child? Well St. Therese is definitely the prime example. The difference between childish and childlike. She gave up her childish ways of being overly sensitive and even spoiled, letting everything determine her worth. And yet still kept childlike in the sense of absolute trust in our Lord. Children, in their most charming form, are purely themselves, happy and well trusting.

The immediate example that comes to mind is when it was this kindergartener’s first day of school and he reached out to hold my mom’s hand, and only then asked in a very sweet and genuine voice, “What’s your name?.” The little boy didn’t even know who my mom was, but he trusted her enough to hold her hand and even then still wanted to sincerely get to know her.

How much too is this like our relationship with our Lord. We don’t really fully know who He is, sometimes hardly at all. It is beyond our understanding. And yet, just as a child, we can reach out with our hand, and ask our Lord, who He is. To accept that invitation to start something, and through the relationship, more fully develop that understanding.

It’s sounds hard. And in many ways it is, especially for someone like me who feels safe with the illusion of being in control. But it’s simple too. It’s not about how well things are going, how much your life is figured out, or even what things will be. Rather, first and foremost, it’s continuing to reach out to hold our Lord’s hand and let Him take us on the journey with Him with a grateful heart.

[catholicgirlnerd]

War Broke Out in Heaven

War broke out in heaven;

Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.

The dragon and its angels fought back,

but they did not prevail

and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,

who is called the Devil and Satan,

who deceived the whole world,

was thrown down to earth,

and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have salvation and power come,

and the Kingdom of our God

and the authority of his Anointed.

For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,

who accuses them before our God day and night.

They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

love for life did not deter them from death.

Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,

and you who dwell in them.”

Revelation 12:7-12ab

War broke out in heaven. Is it just something conditioned from a ton of action movies but why does it almost incite a leap of excitement when those words are spoken? I think the difference between versus hearing something like that in day to day is that, like in most movies, you already know who the winning team is. You know those good guys are gonna make it, and it’s so cool to see good overcoming evil. Yea! Finally!!

Why is it such a rush in the movies? You know when you see Mrs. Weasly finally snuffing out Bellatrix. Or Neville growing up so much so that he kills the Nagini. Or even in the second movie when Harry discovers the sword of Gryfinndor in the hat right on the brink of his death and conquers the basilisk. (Yes as you see all my references are Harry Potter).

I believe it’s because it gives hope. It’s not all for naught. That good will win in the end despite what it looks like now. And even though it doesn’t always feel like it, like when Harry is about to die, we will be and are being saved right now.

And yet instead of being a power move way to strike down the enemy just as Scarlet Johanson takes down 6 guys by herself, it is by the blood of the lamb that St. Michael and the angels win. Through truth, for a commitment to life that did not surpass the fear of death. That the winning move doesn’t always, or really fully ever look like kicking butt and being strong as much as it is following God’s will with your whole heart, soul, and being. It’s a personal call to holiness. The winning move is surprisingly, surrender. But come on, who doesn’t love a sucker punch anyway. And the blood of the Lamb is the ultimate one.

Satan deceived the world. He deceives us all. But we don’t need to be of this world. We can choose to believe the Lord instead and continue to fight the good fight. One act of holiness at a time.

[faithprayers]

1 Peter 1:6

[thepapists]

can you name ways the Church is pro-woman?

1.  The Church provided a way for women to develop their skills and talents and achieve greater levels of education in a time when education for women was rare. 

2.  Also, in a time when a woman was seen as totally dependent on man, convents defied that stereotype by showing women who were very intelligent and quite socially independent from men.

3.  The Church is today one of the largest organizations in the fight against human trafficking which enslaves many women.

4.  By fighting against pornography the Church is fighting against the objectification of the human person, which continues to affect women politically, economically, and socially.

5.  Theologically speaking, the Church has a great respect for Mary that is absent in most other Protestant traditions.  The Catholic Church recognizes a woman as the only sinless human being.  (Except for Christ, but He was also God.  Mary didn’t get that advantage.)

6.  Recently, the Church has named St. Hildegard de Bingen as a doctor of the Church, probably one of the highest honours one can receive in the Church.  It is essentially a recognition that this person’s contributions to the Church makes them one of the greatest minds the Church has ever had.

7.  While many people in society thought that it wasn’t ladylike to serve the poor directly, St. Vincent DePaul actively recruited women to help him in his service.  The Daughters of Charity are today one of the most important forces in the fight against social injustice and poverty.

8.  Women are seen as essential to the continuation of the human race, not just for the obvious biological reason.  But because they reveal the feminine side of God in a way that is impossible for men to do.

Anyone else want to add some?

-Niko

[ayearningsigh-deactivated201609]

I love you for this.

[le-swing-cajun-deactivated20150]

Also, Mother Mazzarello (co-foundress of the Salesian Sisters) was one of the biggest pioneers of women’s education. There are other saints like her: Elizabeth Ann Seton, Katherine Drexel, and Mother Cabrini. Just to name a few. AND WE HAVE BOMB DOG FEMINIST SAINTS: Gianna Beretta Molla, Edith Stein, Jehanne d’Arc, AND MOOOOOOORE! In times when women were seen as less, the Church proved that we were more.

[heartlessmuffineater-blog]

The Church teaches that men and women are equal in worth and dignity. In marriage, husbands and wives are to serve each other in Christlike (self-sacrificial) love, not as servants, and both have important leadership roles. Some of the most important areas of the Church are frequently entrusted to the competence of women, such as education and much of the practical running of parishes. Motherhood, a vocation unique to women, holds a place of exceptional honor in Catholic life and theology. The Virgin Mary is upheld as the standard of faith, love, and service for Christians of both sexes. By not teaching that maleness and femaleness are the same or interchangeable, the Church is able to appreciate, love, and nurture the unique talents and nature of femininity. In her own slow, stumbling way (after all, she’s made up of generations of fallible, sinful, and occasionally deeply stupid human beings) the Church has been uprooting misogyny and systems of oppression throughout history (anyone who says otherwise hasn’t taken an honest, sincere look at pre-Christian life for women, why women came to the Church in the droves, and what the Church teaches.) Church teaching on sexuality is the truth-framework which, wedded to activism, is the solution to ending the sexual exploitation of women.

Oh, and Pope John Paul II “reclaimed” the label “feminist” from radicals who think being pro-woman means turning women into men (largely by embracing [dominantly male] vices and destroying the female reproductive system) by calling himself the feminist pope, thus publicly embracing authentic Catholic Feminism: a deepening of Catholic theology of women that explores ancient truths in new ways and applies them constructively to contemporary life.

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It’s not even just that there have been great Catholic women; women and femininity are essential to Catholic theology. 

Two quotes from recent Popes illustrate this: 

“All human beings- both women and men- are called through the Church, to be the ‘Bride’ of Christ… In this way ‘being the bride’ and thus the ‘feminine’ element, becomes a symbol of all that is ‘human’…From this point of view, woman is the representative and the archetype of the whole human race: she represents the humanity which belongs to all human beings, both men and women.” -Pope John Paul II

“It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity. Through Mary, and the other holy women, the feminine element stands at the heart of the Christian religion. ”  ― Benedict XVI

[hislittleflower-throughconcrete]

Yo, we have what the Vicar of Christ dubbed “the feminine genius” and have a whole papal encyclical (Mulieris Dignitatem) about how awesome we are.

[leahberman]

rose fall

instagram

[catholicgirlnerd]

The little flower

[catholicgirlnerd]

Memorial of Saint Monica - Seeing a new hope

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians

in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,

as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more,

and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater

Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God

regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions

and the afflictions you endure.

This is evidence of the just judgment of God,

so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God

for which you are suffering.

We always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of his calling

and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose

and every effort of faith,

that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,

and you in him,

in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thes1:1-5, 11-12

There have been so many dry periods of life. Where things don’t work out as expected. Where the future looks bleak. Things don’t seem to be paying off. Things feel in vain.

It is these moments that God calls us to something deeper. A moment shared with Him purely to be with Him rather than any other prosperity associated. When the going gets tough, will we stand by Him?

Perhaps my greatest challenge is actually not hard times as much but busy ones. Ones where you are wondering how in the world you are going to get everything done. And slowly but surely the practices you once kept to keep in touch with God fall by the way side.

Still despite all efforts and mistakes, each day is a new day. It is important to remember first and foremost that life is not about that checklist, it’s not about always being put together, but rather giving it all for Him and Him alone, (and in my case to Mary to Him). To let go doing things for the sake of praise, or feeling secure or pure pleasure, but rather for someone so so so so so much better than all of that, God Himself.

He is worth it brothers and sisters. He is worth those seasons of waiting. He is worth those heartaches. He is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And though we may not see the benefits of our choices, our sacrifices, our prayers in the moment, we are heard, just as St. Monica was.

I love you all so much. May the peace of Christ be always in your heart.

Totus tuus,

Courtney Cape

[catholicgirlnerd]

Far Away

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." Luke 10:38-42

Scheduling, the future, what my grade is going to be, whether people like me or not. These are some of the things constantly rattling around my brain. It is better than it has been in the past but still, very hyperactive.

In these times, it’s so tough to feel close to Jesus. He feels so far away. As if the connection on the phone is really fuzzy. He seems almost not real.

And as I was contemplating the Nativity as I was walking I caught myself thinking, “Ok I will remove myself from the real world and think about this.”

The thing is I got it all backwards! This status, what you’re wearing, all of it, that’s the facade! That’s what really doesn’t matter despite everyone making you feel like it’s the top priority! I can sort of see why, create a culture that values this and then you can talk them into buying more of your product.

But what is reality? Reality is that these things, whether it be grades, friends or clothes, do not define your worth, being a son or daughter of God does. It means that presence of Jesus is in each and every person and we are first and foremost called to recognize that and act accordingly.

These people passing me by, they are not just mere placeholders in the background of my life story but rather an invaluable human being that has inherent dignity and worth no matter what they say or do.

Like many others have said, this passage doesn’t allow us to excuse away the duties of our lives, but rather be a little detached from them. That as long as we try to complete them with our whole heart to serve the Lord (that means trying to be efficient too) that is what pleases the Lord. It’s not the actual finishing the defines our worth. And to be honest I think for too long I have let what I do dictate my value.

So rather than becoming uneasy, we bear our crosses patiently, even the ones where we seem to not make the mark, for God has a plan in all things.

[inspiredbyjesuslove]

[catholicgirlnerd]

7x77

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

Matthew 18:21-19:1

Forgiveness. You know I never really stopped and did the math on this one…it’s 539!! Woow

I know when I was younger and still now there was this tendency to feel superior when hearing about all of these blunders that the first disciples made. I remember thinking for this one, oh Peter he keeps track of how often you forgive people, you should know better.

And you know what when I was little I seriously don’t think I did that much. I forgave my little sister over and over again. But you know something starts happening. Someone never apologizes, never really seems to get better and things start to sit with you. I still struggle with the hurt from my younger years in school, only now to riding certain grudges.

Perhaps this aspect of forgiveness is one of the most difficult things. But how Father Mike illuminated what forgiveness is and isn’t helped set some misunderstandings straight.  To forgive when the person isn’t sorry and doesn’t look like they are changing any time soon. We know innately that we are worth something and that we should not have been injured as such because of this. Trying to balance this justice with forgiving the person is tough. But how Father Mike illuminated what forgiveness is and isn’t helped set some misunderstandings straight. 

 To forgive someone is not to say “It’s ok…” That seemed to be my go to phrase to people and to myself. The thing is it isn’t. It should not have happen. Rather forgiveness is saying that despite the other hurting me I do not wish them unwell. I do not hold any bitterness towards that person.

Do you have to trust them? No. Do you have to be completely healed? No. These things take time to restore and God knows that. But in forgiveness we gain the peace of not allowing others’ action take away from our ability to love in all things. And truly too just like with the debtor, the mercy that show will be shown to us.

By no means is this the full spectrum of what forgiveness means but I think it’s a helpful start to aid in tackling some of our day to to day difficulties. I recommend looking at these resources for more information!! 

[catholicgirlnerd]

[catholicgirlnerd]

The Soil

In this Sunday’s gospel, Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus gives the parable of the sower. The one about the seeds landing on different kinds of soil. It’s crazy because it’s the same seed, everyone starts with the same thing, but grounds of the heart are so different. It’s scary to think about the thorns, or the shallow ground or the crow. The rich soil is just one out many other options, all besides that one fail. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. There is only one way in that sense and many wrong ways.

I don't think it's very hard to see how this plays out in our world today. It’s extremely sad. Even though who are truly trying to live out the faith, many of us still have part of this not so great soil in us too. So it’s important to ask what is getting in the way of my faith life being fruitful? I ask a lot, if I believe in Jesus and His teachings then why am I still stressed? Why do I struggle with finding the peace that He brings to hearts? I believe it’s elements of this kind of soil that still get in the way.

But I really do think one's own soil situation so to speak is not set in stone...That through accepting the Holy Spirit’s help, you choose to have more rich soil. Choose to not be persuaded away by different circumstances. This is what John the Baptist was trying to do. Prepare a way for the Lord. Renounce worldly things and sin so that hearts are ready to receive the Lord. (John 1, Matthew 3). For you can cut away thorns, removing slowly but surely worldly attachments. You can add more soil, focusing on increasing depth in your life rather than the shallow things.  You can even protect yourself from crows, researching the faith and not listening to the lies the world tells us. These are ways we can keep watch on the spiritual weeds growing in our hearts.

But besides what not to do, what makes the fertile soil rich? Well, interestingly enough death. Decaying material, isn’t that all that fertilizer is really? And somehow through this not so favorite process nutrients for the next life are released. Perhaps this is so in our own spiritual life. Dying to self does not sound fun. There is this albeit innate but flawed human instinct that if we don’t constantly seek our own agendas we won’t be happy. I fight my own selfishness all the time. But it’s ultimately rooted in fear. Fear about one’s own well being, fear of being overlooked or forgotten, fear of missing out aka FOMO…

And yet how rich in nutrients does dying to one self bring! It might be a painful process at first but over time it really does feed the soul. Not only are you following the will of the Father, but it enables you to no longer be a slave to your fears! That you don’t have to constantly cater to this shadow in your heart and let it take control of your life. And even more, in this dying process, we learn more about Christ’s own suffering and love for us. We grow closer to Him ever more in mind, body, and spirit.

These things can be very tough to remember in the midst of demanding or lonely circumstances but we aren’t doing it alone.

So cheers to the rich soil, even if it smells like manure a good part of the time…

Courtney

[catholicgirlnerd]

“The Most High has come down to us perfectly and divinely, by the humble Mary, without losing anything of His Divinity and Sanctity. So it is by Mary that the very little ones are to ascend perfectly and divinely, without any fear, to the Most High. It is a secure way: This devotion to our Blessed Lady, is also a secure way to go to Jesus and to acquire perfection, by uniting ourselves to Him. It is a secure way because the practice which I am teaching is not new.

Indeed, we cannot see how it could be condemned without overturning the foundations of Christianity. It is clear then, that this devotion is not new, and that if it is not common, that is because it is too precious to be relished and practiced by everyone. This devotion is a secure means of going to Jesus Christ, because it is the very characteristic of Our Blessed Lady to conduct us surely to Jesus.”

- St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Mother 

[catholicgirlnerd]

[catholicgirlnerd]

St. Teresa of Calcutta “Humility List”

1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.

2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.

3. Avoid curiosity.

4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.

5. Accept small irritations with good humor.

6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.

7. Accept censures even if unmerited.

8. Give in to the will of others.

9. Accept insults and injuries.

10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.

11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.

12. Do not seek to be admired and loved.

13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.

14. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.

15. Choose always the more difficult task.

[catholicgirlnerd]

God is our help

‘We can feel helpless and sometimes that’s a good thing. But to feel hopeless is to either deny God’s existence or believe in a god that doesn’t exist. A god that doesn’t care or actively work in life isn’t the God that came down and died for us.’

'There is not a trial that God doesn’t allow. He’s using this to form us.’

'If we pray to God and are faithful to Him. If we thank him every single day, He will provide for our every need. And if you go without then it’s to make Him trust in you more.’

’ God protects us from things by…’

'Offer up all of your suffering for the salvation of that person’s soul. Say please make it in their life so can connect with Him.’

- Mother Miriam 

[seeritthroughu]

“In its most proper nature, pride is seeing the world through the distorting lens of the ego and its needs. On the other hand, humility, from the Latin humus (earth), is getting in touch with reality directly, being close to the ground, seeing things as they are. This is why Thomas Aquinas famously says “humilitas est veritas” (humility is truth). What makes the first scenario so painful and cringe-worthy is that it is out of step with the truth of things. What makes the second scenario so exhilarating, so fun, is that it is full of reality.”

- Bishop Robert Barron 

[catholicgirlnerd]

“When we don’t have the ability to say no, we don’t have the ability to enjoy things.” - Father Mike Schmitz