Did You Know? There's an Approved Marian Apparition Site in the U.S.

When was the last time you went on pilgrimage? Why not make a plan to visit the only site of an approved Marian apparition site in the United States where she appeared to Adele Brise, a young woman living in the Wisconsin wilderness. What did Mary say? "What are you doing here in idleness. Teach the children." It's a message for our day when most young Catholics know more about Harry Potter and Hogwarts than they do about the faith. If you aren't "teaching the children" (your own, your grandkids, your nieces and nephews, your godchildren), you're missing the boat. You don't have to be in the classroom to teach the children. That little three-year-old grandson is a captive audience, Grandpa. Take him fishing and stop in the church on the way to visit Jesus who chose fishermen among his apostles. Hike with your kids and stop for "rosary rests" where you say a decade before moving on. Let's teach the children every day in every way that Jesus Christ is King!

Pour out the Breath of the Holy Spirit on us, Lord, this Pentecost that we may be worthy teachers of your precious little ones.

Meditating on Lent: To Blog or not to Blog

I was thinking at morning Mass about Lent which starts on Wednesday. It is always a challenge to reflect on the path to holiness and how to get there. I've already decided to give up my evening video habit and stay off Facebook (which is no real sacrifice) and use the extra time to pray, read, and study. But then I wondered whether I should stop blogging altogether. It takes up a lot of time and, really, does it accomplish anything? Who knows?

But the next thought was a memory of one of my spiritual heroes, Fr. John Hardon, S.J. who died in 2000. I can't count the number of times I heard him say to groups things like, "Write, write, write. Write letters to the editor. Write letters to your children. Write books and write articles." In view of my high regard for Father and his wisdom, I'll continue to blog and pray for his intercession to do it better and with greater charity.

Another influence recently has been the approved apparitions in Champion, WI. I did an article about it in my latest Les Femmes newsletter (Winter issue) which is at the printers and will soon be in the mail and on the website. The message of the Blessed Mother to Adele Brise was "Teach the children." There's more than one way to teach. The internet is the biggest school in the world. It's also the biggest library and the biggest source of social contacts. I learn a lot from using it and I hope I offer at least a little to others who wander across my path, even if it's to visit for while engaging in argument (in the classical sense which means defending your position without acrimony).

My big prayer during Lent is to grow in charity through the Lenten trio of prayer, sacrifice, and almsgiving. I'll be offering my daily Mass and rosary for everyone who visits this site and hope you'll pray for me too. We are all brothers and sisters in the Lord no matter how vigorously we disagree.