Association Of Catholic Bloggers

Mom and Dad Head-to-Head in Family Jeopardy Today is my first post on this lovely, collaborative blog. How exciting! I'd like to share some intriguing stories about my recent family reunion which involved 43 people, a giant tent, a rotted board with rusty nails, a shattered patio table . . . and prayer.  Here's an excerpt to pique your interest: My mom and dad gave our whole family a great gift: they taught us how to pray. We prayed at meals, at bedtime, and whenever we heard a siren. We prayed the rosary. We went to church every weekend. We prayed at tense moments: when fighting grew chaotic, Mom would holler above the noise: "LET US SPEAK OF THE CHRIST CHILD!" We are strong-willed, flawed human beings, but we pray. I am convinced that this instinct to pray--an instinct cultivated by my parents through God's grace--has helped us remain conscious of our dependence on God. Read the whole report at Praying with Grace !

I was reduced to tears as I read Sarah’s summation about her impressions of   Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus ,   I was particularly struck by the idea of kerygma, the idea that Jesus is the whole reason for everything we do. Period. We have to have a relationship with Jesus. In fact, I want to break down and weep as I write now. So many people are cold, hungry  and outside the Church but they do not know where to look for the answers. I was one of the lucky ones .. and that thought has me breaking down again. He brought me into His Church in spite of myself God was so merciful and Kind.. I was  anti-Catholic . The teachings seemed almost anti-gospel to me. And then, while i still had a protesting, Protestant mind the Virgin Mary came to live in my heart. I remember the imagery that the Spirit gave me as I became a Catholic. And even more tears well in my heart. I stood outside a...