A Fantastic Response

There's been lots of reaction over the past couple of weeks to the letter from the Dallas & Ft. Worth Bishops that I posted about recently. The reaction has been as local as conversations within my parish, and as national as some news and blogs across the U.S. Lots of emotion and lots of passion in these waning of days of this never-ending election.

I received this email from a friend of mine, and this person absolutely hit the nail on the head. I couldn't have asked more perfect feedback. How could you ask more of someone that to think a little bit? Without further ado...

i read your blog the other day with the link to the letter from the DFW bishops. i must thank you for posting that link . . . . . . you must know that my political tendencies lean much farther left than most of those in my family, and close to me. my argument with the catholic church has always been that the church has a strong, strong, sometimes-forgotten history of forward-thinking in areas of social justice (important to this social worker!!!!! :) ). and, of coure, the democrats fair much better in this area . . . . so, the letter made this democrat THINK and that is never a bad thing. my vote may not be changed (of course i did not tell you who i am voting for, or were going to vote for!), but i am a more informed CATHOLIC VOTER after reading the letter.

i appreciate you for writing the blog and attaching the link - maybe it made a difference to others, too.

Leave it to the Catholic Church

Leave it to the Catholic Church to...

put on an event that raises $4M for needy children (!!) AND brings BOTH presidential candidates together for a fun-filled evening in the midst of all the political craziness in our country.

Read more about it HERE.

(thanks Adam!)

An inspiring arm

Well, maybe an inspiring story instead of an arm.

I saw this story on the Today Show about 18 year old Kasey Edwards who lost his arm to an alligator this summer. This kid has an amazing outlook on life and a beautiful faith in God!

A Beautiful Letter

A letter for those of you who...
1. Do not attend Holy Trinity and were not able to hear the letter that was read during the homily,
2. Do attend HT but were out of town or not able to attend mass,
3. Did attend HT this weekend and would like a copy of the letter.

Linked HERE is a letter from the Dallas and FW Bishops explaining and defending a proper understanding of the Faithful Citizenship document that was put out by our US Bishops. (You can read the full Faithful Citizenship document HERE).

I know that I personally have been struggling quite a bit lately with proper formation of conscience after hearing lots of different and conflicting interpretations of this document. Deep in my heart I knew that (among other things) all issues are not equal, and all issues do not allow for multiple options as solutions. This beautiful 3 page letter clearly explains what we need to understand about our participation in the political process, and ultimately what it means for our eternal salvation.

I do apologize for the mass email, however there has been so much misinformation, misinterpretation, and misguidance on this document and these issues, even within our own parishes. I am so moved by this letter from our bishops, our shepherds, and I hope that you will prayerfully read it and consider it as this election season (finally) comes to a close.

Praise God that we have such strong bishops to stand up for the Catholic faith and her teachings! And may the Holy Spirit be with you as you continue to discern and prepare for this important election.

A New Widget

I added a new widget to my blog: Julie's Shared Blog Reads. It's on the right hand side in case you haven't seen it.

I do read quite a few blogs; on some of those blogs I read almost every post that is made. I subscribe to them through google reader, so I can just pull up that application and see all the new posts for my favorite blogs.

I can also share posts that I find interesting. Previously, only people who were also subscribed to google reader could see those posts I was sharing. Now it is available for the whole world to see!

So, keep an eye on that widget. I haven't found as much time recently to read blogs as I used to be able to (I wouldn't recommend taking 8 hours of grad school in one semester...). However, right now I do a bit more sharing of posts than writing my own...so I hope you will come back often to check that out and maybe you'll find some other blogs you like as well!

Peace and happiness to you all. :)

Her Deepest Identity

First of all, wow, did I really only do 3 posts in the entire month of September?? This whole time management thing is getting away from me...

Just a quick thought. This is from Evangelii Nuntiandi, a writing by Pope Paul VI. My professor referenced it in his remarks on my "Ministerial Vision Statement." (That is actually a fairly interesting insight into my life - maybe I'll be brave enough to post that too - do you want to read it?!)

Anyway....#14 Evangelii Nuntiandi (emphasis added):

The Church knows this. She has a vivid awareness of the fact that the Savior's words, "I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God," apply in all truth to herself: She willingly adds with St. Paul: "Not that I boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty that has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it." It is with joy and consolation that at the end of the great Assembly of 1974 we heard these illuminating words: "We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church." It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present-day society make all the more urgent. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of His death and glorious resurrection.

A few points as I read this:

1. Who is this addressed to? Only the clergy, the bishops, the religious? NO! Yes, only the clergy can "perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass" and only fully "reconcile sinners with God." But we can all "preach and teach" and we can and must all be a "channel of the gift of grace!" In fact, who more often invites people to God that ultimately leads them to reconciliation? Um, you! Me! Are we all doing that?

2. This does not say that the Church's "deepest identity" is to lay out a bunch of rules and condemn those who don't follow them. How many of us think often that is the case?

3. What do you hear in this passage? My filter (since we all have one!) hears a deep desire to bring all people close to Christ and to share his love and his grace with everyone we meet. And the Church doesn't simply want to rely on priests to do that - but she wants YOU to do it! All the time - everyday!

Ok, back to studying since I'm skipping mid-week mass to do homework! :(