When You're in the Desert, What Do You Do?

"THE land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, 

and the wilderness shall rejoice, and shall flourish like the lily." Isaiah 35:1

What do you think of when you hear the word "desert?" What is its connotation for you? Dry, arid, hot, desolate, sandstorms, lonely, thirsty, wilderness....? Are there any positive associations when you think of the word?

The Bible is full of desert experiences, some good, some not so good. 

St. Joseph, Pillar of Families, Pray for Us!

On the Feast of St. Joseph the worker, join me in praying the Litany of St. Joseph.

 

Feast of the Holy Family - The Double Trinity

Double Trinity
with Saint Augustine and Saint Catherine
Cuzco School

Feast of the Holy Family

Baltimore Catechism,
Lesson 5: 48-49, p 31

48. What is man?

Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made in the image and likeness of God. 

49. Is this likeness to God in the body or in the soul?

This likeness to God is chiefly in the soul [spirit-mind-will]. The likeness to the Blessed Trinity is found chiefly in man's soul, but there is a resemblance in the body too - not however in the body of one man alone, but in man and woman united in marriage and the child which is the normal fruit of the marriage.

Comments: 

Therefore, since only Man-Woman-Child (in marriage) is the image and likeness of God in man's body, homosexuality - man/man or woman/woman - is a mortal sin and will never be recognized by God as being 1) a marriage, 2) a family, 3) good or 4) holy

I don't care what Bergoglio says.

THE FAMILY is a reflection of the image and likeness of God as the earthly trinity. 

THE HOLY FAMILY is the epitome of the earthly trinity.

In this painting we see the DOUBLE TRINITY. The first Trinity is GOD - God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

The second Trinity is the FAMILY - man/woman/child. Here the Family is represented by its epitome - The Holy Family - Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Therefore, same-sex "marriage" is NOT the image and likeness of God. It is the image and likeness of the devil therefore a mortal sin. 

The Feast of the Holy Family: I hope you and yours are celebrating a family day!

We are!

I love this portrait of the Holy Family because it shows Joseph as a young man instead of a doddering old codger. Have a blessed final day of 2017! And may the Holy Family pray for us and our needs.

Claudio Coello, Spanish painter of the baroque period
c. 1642 - 1693

Parents, Your Role in Catholic Education is Critical!

The home is the first school!

Fr. Hardon used to say that Catholic home schooling families were the monasteries of modern times. Why did he say that? Because education in the secular world is so corrupted that if real learning is to be kept alive the "schools" must be found elsewhere.

The Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children, and this is nowhere more true than in the parents' responsibility for the religious education in the home. As a long-time catechist, I can testify to the absolute truth that a CCD teacher cannot in one hour a week effectively instruct children in the faith. If the children's primary exposure to doctrine is in the after-school program that is continuously interrupted by weather, use of the building for other purposes, holiday performances, etc. the child will be a donkey in Catholic truth. The voice in the Church classroom will be drowned out by the much louder voices in the culture: TV, YouTube, sports and other activities, social media, etc. There's no contest. The world wins!