Raising children to stay in the faith

I was reading a post over at Conversion Diary about how to raise children in the Christian faith and raise so that they will stay faithful Christians. The author grew up as an atheist and later converted to Catholicism and so has no background on how to raise a Christian family. She has been asking different Moms how they go about it and different people how their parents went about it. She goes on that of course Christian life is not about formula, but about a relationship with God. She noted 3 common elements in families where the children remained in the faith:

The parents prayed for their children to have faith



The children saw the parents rely on God in real, concrete ways (e.g. if the father didn't get a big promotion at work he'd pray about what God wanted him to do next, express trust that God would bring good out of the situation, etc.)



The parents and children prayed together at least occasionally

The only thing I would add is that it is very important to make sure your children are receiving the sacraments. At the least baptism because prayer and a prayerful example are one thing, but you need your children to also enter into the covenant with God. A relationship with God is paramount and nothing says relationship like a binding covenant. Moreover, insisting upon your children receiving the sacraments (as long as you also receive them) sets an example and one should never underestimate the power of grace received in them, most especially the Eucharist.

May God bless all those who read my ramblings,

500th POST!!

So this is my 500th post on this blog. It took me a little over 5 years but I don't post as often as a lot of others and I had gaps in posting while I was deployed. What do I want to talk about in my 500th post... I don't know I am making this up as I go.
OK, here's something: 2 days ago Pope Benedict XVI established a Syro-Malankar exarchate in the US. I wonder how many people before reading this had heard of the Syro-Malankar rite. I found this article on Zenit. The commentary in green is obviously mine.

New Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Malankara Church

1st Bishop Will Also Be Visitor to Community in Canada, Europe

NEW YORK, JULY 14, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI erected an apostolic exarchate (I wonder what is the difference between eparchy and exarchate?) for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in the United States, and appointed Father Thomas Naickamparampil (appropriate for a priest to St Thomas Christians) of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum as its first bishop.

The bishop-elect, 49, was also appointed apostolic visitor for the Syro-Malank

ara Catholics in Canada and Europe.

Thomas Naickamparampil was born on June 6, 1961 at Mylapra in Pathanamthitta District of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta.

After completing high school, he joined St. Aloysious Minor Seminary, Pattom, Trivandrum, and then later completed his priestly formation at the Papal Seminary in Pune. He was ordained on Dec. 29, 1986.

He has a doctorate degree in philosophy from the Pontifical University Gregorian in Rome.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church traces its roots back to St. Thomas the Apostle (That's right "Doubting Thomas" evangelized India long before the Age of Discovery brought European powers there. I am personally a big fan of his and I think he got a bum rap. He's no worse for his disbelief than Peter for his denials). The Church split from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in 1930, and then entered into communion with Rome. In 2005, the Eastern Church was elevat

ed to a major archiepiscopal Church. It is currently led by Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis, and currently has eight eparchies and some 500,000 faithful.

The community of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church began to organize in 1984 in New York. Today there are an estimated 10,000 members, 16 parishes and 15 mission stations (The nearest one of these to me is Miami. I am

curious to see their liturgy, but there is a Syro-Malabar parish in Atlanta that I could go to. I would think the liturgy is similiar since they are both St Thomas Christians) of the Church in the United States and Canada. It also counts with 30 priests, and 34 religious.

The new exarchate will have its headquarters in New York City, and the main parish will be the Malankara Catholic Church in Long Island.

Malankara Major Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis(above)

On another note remotely related note, the Syro-Malankar and Syro-Malabar rites are based out of Kerala State in India which is home to Vailankanni, which is a major site of pilgrimage because of the shrine to Mary that is there. I first heard about it right after the tsunami and I have wanted to visit there ever since. Maybe some day I will finally get to go.

May God bless everyone who reads my ramblings,

7 Quick Takes

--1--

It wasn't a good idea to check on my daughter before PT on Thursday. Next thing I knew she was awake demanding food, drink and TV, but I had to leave so that meant waking up Hephzibah. This might not sound like a big deal but I had to leave just before 6 AM.

--2--

I have been reading The Count of Monte Cristo with my wife, we take turns picking books to read together, and even though its an abridged version it feels like the book that never ends. Don't get me wrong; I am enjoying the book, but I never seem to have the time to make a dent in it. I am definitely enjoying it more than The Gospel According to Biff. Each page of that was more painful/blasphemous than the page before it.

--3--

If you want to sound smart (or perhaps annoying) you always start saying welkin instead of sky. They mean the same thing, but no one obviously says welkin anymore.

--4--

I just got done writing a nine page paper. Its amazing how being told that you have to do something makes it not fun anymore. I would have studied the Battle of Cowpens for fun, but being told to do it and write a paper killed the fun factor.

--5--

I posted a trivia question about a month ago: What is the only country in the world without a Latin Rite Catholic diocese? The answer is Eritrea. There are eparchies, but no dioceses. Don't ask me how I know these things.

--6--

I posted another Saint Quiz about a month ago. No one has yet answered it. The saint portrayed was St Maron. He is the namesake for the Maronite rite.

--7--

I bought the book "Pope-Pourri". I like a lot of the trivia and history in it, but the author seems to spend an inordinate amount of space on Papal scandal, statistics on how many priests are in favor of married clergy and statistics on how many nuns are in favor of women priesthood. I wish that I hadn't bought it.

God bless all who read my ramblings,

Nudiustertian

So I learned a new word: nudiustertian. It means having to do with the day before yesterday.
I am not sure in which context this could ever be used, but I am actively seeking it.

People seem to sanctify me a lot

Don't say: 'That person gets on my nerves.' Think: 'That person sanctifies me.'
-- St. Josemaria Escriva: The Way

I just remembered this quote today. Its a day late, but still one of my favorite quotes.

He who... does not thank God that he is an American, should in simple consistency betake his foreign soul to foreign shores, and crouch in misery and abjection beneath tyranny's scepter. --Archbishop John Ireland

This would have also been an awesome 4th of July quote, but it was a great posting by Suzanne.
h/t to Big Blue Wave

Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows, time and again, that “in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation”, and a democracy without values can lose its very soul (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46). Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent “indispensable supports” of political prosperity.

++ Pope Benedict XVI, speech at the White House in April 2008.

Syrian Catholic posted an amazing video on Ecce Agnus Dei. Check it out.

I was reading Rachel's post about how the Devil used fear in Thomas Merton's life and I remember another great passage from Seven Storey Mountain appropriate for the 4th of July.

The eloquence of this liturgy was even more tremendous: and what it said was one, simple, cogent, tremendous truth: this church, the court of the Queen of Heaven, is the real capital of the country in which we are living. This is the center of all the vitality that is in America. This is the cause and reason why the nation is holding together. These men, hidden in the anonymity of their choir and their white cowls, are doing for their land what no army, no congress, no president could ever do as such: they are winning for it the grace and the protection and the friendship of God.

Gilligan's Island based on the Seven Deadly Sins

Creative Minority Report posted that the cast of Gilligan's Island were each based on one of the Seven Deadly Sins. The breakdown went like this:
The Professor – Pride
Thurston Howell III - Greed
Ginger - Lust
Mary Ann - Envy (of Ginger's looks)
Mrs. Lovey Howell - Gluttony
The Skipper - Anger or wrath
Gilligan – Sloth
If that's true it makes me feel bad for laughing. I think its a bit of a stretch though. For instance, Mary Ann never seemed especially envious.
The article is here. You can judge for yourself.

Melkites

I started going to a local Melkite Catholic parish and when I saw this on Byzantine, Texas I knew that I had to post it.

H/T to The Crescat by way of Byzantine, Texas.

As iron sharpens iron

As I look back on the baptism classes I went to before my daughter's baptism, I remember a lot of talk about the role of parents in leading children to a closer relationship with God. However, as I have found out since her birth, that is a two-way street. She's only two so we don't yet have in depth conversations on Theology or the nature of God, but Fatherhood has opened my eyes and made me understand much of Christ's and the Church's teachings and explanations more vivid to me.
Writing this the first thing that comes to mind is the repeated references to the First Person of the Trinity as Father. I understand in a way that was not clear before how much more than I do, God the Father knows what's best for me. Any parents out there know immediately what I am talking about. I know its best for my daughter to go eat fruits and veggies instead of cookies, but she doesn't see it that way. For that matter, I am realizing through her how selfish I am when it comes to what I think is best vs. what the Father tells me is best. She is a wonderful little girl, but after all she is 2 and still doesn't think about much outside of herself.
As a Dad, I can understand now much better the level of love that the father had for his prodigal son. I understood the parable before, but feeling that powerful, unconditional love for my daughter has made it much more real for me. I couldn't imagine not taking her back if she were the prodigal daughter.
The other thing that jumps to my mind as I type this was an example from Story of a Soul. She compared a child who knows that the father is removing things that might trip the child vs a child unaware of the father's actions. The child who knows is more grateful, because the child who is unaware does not know that it happened in order to be grateful. After many times leading my daughter away from harmful things such as tripping hazards, I am realizing everyday that our Father removes many more things from my path and leads me away from many dangers I would have otherwise fallen into. I am grateful, but again the example has become much more vivid as a father.
I think the best example of how much having a daughter has taught me, was the other week at St Ignatios parish here in Augusta, GA. As my daughter and I left church and older lady from the parish remarked that with her penchant for pretty dresses, pretty hats, shoes and purses she is going to be expensive. I replied that "She is worth every penny." The lady said, "Think how much more the Father feels about us."
St Joseph and Joachim, pray for us.

He is that Important

I have never liked the new "Common Era" and "Before Common Era" schema for marking the years. First of all, it obviously offends me as a Christian to see and hear people try to erase anything to do with Jesus from our day to day lives. Secondly, He is still the marker for years you just changed the words at the end of the number. Oh yeah, and btw you are also using a calendar made up by the Catholic Church and named after a Pope.
With that in mind the following picture from The Stained Glass Buffalo about sums it up:

Saint Quiz

Obviously that is Jesus at the top, but who is the Saint beneath him?
Hint: He is popular in Lebanon.

Morelia and Comments

I have noticed some traffic coming here looking for Fr Ben Uhlenkott's blog. The address for that is http://missioninmorelia.blogspot.com
On a totally unrelated note, I will delete all comments on 50 Days After that are not in Latin characters and not in a language I can read. I have had repeated spam comments with Chinese characters that lead to site of questionable intent.
Peace,

Archbishop Broglio's Statement on Proposed Legislation

Archbishop Broglio, as the Archbishop for the Military Services has published a statement on homosexuals in the military asking Congress not to allow open service:

In a response to a request from the Chiefs of Chaplains of the Armed Forces I communicated some considerations and concerns regarding the proposal to change the existing legislation regarding persons with a homosexual orientation in the military. In fulfilling my role as the chief shepherd of Catholics in the United States Armed Forces, I have had the opportunity of visiting many installations in the recent past. A number of chaplains and commanding officers have expressed concerns about the effects of a change. There is a request for guidance.
The teaching of the Catholic Church is clearly expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

Consequently, those with a homosexual orientation can expect respect and treatment worthy of their human dignity. The prohibitions regarding sexual harassment and intimidation refer just as much to homosexuals as to anyone else. However, unions between individuals of the same gender resembling marriage will not be accepted or blessed by Catholic chaplains. Furthermore no restrictions or limitations on the teaching of Catholic morality can be accepted. First Amendment rights regarding the free exercise of religion must be respected.
This means that Catholic chaplains must show compassion for persons with a homosexual orientation, but can never condone—even silently—homosexual behavior. A change might have a negative effect on the role of the chaplain not only in the pulpit, but also in the classroom, in the barracks, and in the office

more.

Personally, I hope his words have some effect.

Random Catholic Trivia

Can anyone name the one country that does not have a Latin Rite diocese? Every nation on Earth has a Catholic diocese or eparchy, but this nation does not have a Latin rite diocese.

50 Days After

Today is Pentecost, the namesake of this blog (50 days after Easter). Along with all other Christians, I rejoice at the birthday of the Church and the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Veni Sancte Spiritus!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

I saw this pic on a blog called Orthodoxie... Southern, Orthodox, Convert, Etc. When I saw it, I thought of that footprints story (only one set of footprints when Christ carried you). Its in Chapel of St Lazarus, so it might be St Lazarus, but it almost looks like it might be Christ as the Good Samaritan carrying the victim to the inn.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Psalm 128:3
Thanks to Kkollitz for pointing out this Psalm in the last post

"Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken." --Psalm 126:3,4 (Douay-Rheims, 127:3,4 in modern translations)

Saint Quiz IX

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.With that in mind I decided that this Saint Quiz should have an appropriate theme. Of course, I haven't written in this blog for nearly a year so the answer may not come up for a while.

Mom was right

I was listening to the local Air1 station on the way into work this morning and there was a discussion that caught my attention. The hosts were asking listeners to complete the sentence, "My mom was right about _______." The first thing that came to me and the answer I am sticking with is "My mom was right about GOD." God is great and loving and my mother always emphasized that. I remember once she told me that God would grant anything if I prayed for it, except for him to kill someone. I don't remember why that last part came up, but I specifically remember it. I am extremely grateful that she brought me up to love and to worship God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God bless her. Mary, mother of God, pray for her.

2 Stories About Dead Catholic Army Chaplains

First, there is the story about the death of Chaplain (Major) Tim Vakoc. Fr. Tim Vakoc was an Army chaplain wounded in 2005 who finally died in 2005 from his wounds. Before his injury he wrote, "The safest place for me to be is in the center of God's will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be." May he rest in peace. Full story here.
The other story is about a possible miracle from Bl. Fr. Emil Kapaun's intercession
"The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is preparing to investigate an alleged miracle in Wichita, Kansas, where doctors are baffled by the unexplained recovery of a young man who had suffered a severe head injury in an accident that had broken his skull."
Maybe someday in our lifetimes their will be a Saint who served in the US Army. Many of the Church's saints have been Soldiers (St Ignatius of Loyola, St Sebastian, etc.)

New blog

I haven't posted here in quite a while. For those of you who still check this blog or follow it on some form of RSS, thank you. It is good to know that my rantings and ramblings have an audience.
I don't know when the next time will be when I post here, but I have begun another blog. Its going to be short stories that I write when I am so moved. I already have one short story posted.
The blog is Short Storey Mountain. The name is my homage to Father Thomas Merton. Please stop by and comment with your opinion of the story or criticisms.
Thanks again for reading.

LOL Saints Submission

LOL Saints posted one of my submissions. Its a post about St Sebastian, one of the patron saints of Soldiers.

PT uniform at Mass

The drought is over. I know that I haven't posted much lately. I need to start taking more time for myself to do these sort of things before I go crazy.
I have seen on other St Blogs where people have complained about attire at Mass. I have a similar rant, but with a somewhat different angle.
It drives me nuts to see Soldiers come to Mass wearing their PT uniforms. I understand that we are deployed and didn't bring our Sunday best, but there are 2 primary reasons a Soldier wears PTs: sleepwear and working out. So more than likely they either just rolled out of bed and walked to the chapel or Mass is worked around their workouts.
ACUs (the digital gray uniforms you see on the newscasts from Iraq/Afghanistan) aren't anything special but they are the only other clothes that Soldiers have over there. And they are certainly a more respectful outfit than your sleep/workout clothes.

Her First Piece of Chocolate Cake

She had her first birthday a short while ago. My wife, I'll use the code name Hephzibah, gave her chocolate for the first time.
Like you, I must be content with pictures.
Before...
And after...

A New Year and a New Catholic Carnival

I had thought about a Babylonian theme, but then I thought about it still being the Christmas season, with Epiphany and New Years not too far behind us. Babylon would have just been sad and kinda depressing. So I decided to categorize the week's posts with short prayers.

Blessed be Jesus in His angels and in His saints.
Daily Gratia has a post on Blessed Father Damien.
At Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering she is Aiming for Mary.
Father Tabb died in 1909. At View from the Core we see some of his poetry.
Chris gives us a post about his family at Sanctus Christopher (Great name btw!).
Astrid sent in a post about those who knew Jesus during his Earthly ministry.
Paul has a post on Samurai Saints.
Easter A. had a great post about the Holy Family.

There's a post at Ὁι Λόγοι regarding Christ's teaching to be in the world,
but not of it.

Blessed be Jesus true God and true Man.
Catholic Fire has a post this week responding to the claim that nothing is wrong with abortion. Remember Jesus Himself was once a fetus.
At A Catholic View there's post on Kennedy changing from pro-life to pro-abortion.
James Hahn reminds us to follow Christ's example and love our enemies.
Homeschool Goodies has a great post about the Gift of Friends.
Aggie Catholics has a post reminding us that Christ calls us to humble ourselves.
This, That and the Other has a review of Anne Rice's book The Road to Cana.
Christian Personal Finance submitted a post on 6 reasons to give more this year.


Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
At Christus Vincit there's a post with a New Year's resolution.
Catholic Land has another New Year's Resolution post.
Ebeth shares with us that BXVI reminds us not to be afraid of the new year.

Blessed be Jesus truly present in the Eucharist.
The Catholic Roundup posts this week on how attending Mass away from home deepens his sense of being part of the universal Church.
At Catholic Journeyman, Dave tells us how a Kennedy Assassination buff found the truth of Catholicism.
At Prepare for Mass there is a post about the Mass celebrated on the Epiphany of the Lord.

And lastly a plug for Adopt a Catholic Blog.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.



And one late entry from Broken Alabaster entitled Word was Made Flesh.

Just Another Day of Catholic Carnival

Catholic Carnival 205 is up at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering.
Next week it will be here at 50 Days After. I am envisioned a Babylonian theme.
Happy New Years!

Kudos for the best title in the Comment Box

I was bored at work and wrote this:

I'm celebrating Christmas in Iraq this year
I'm fortunate, for our priest will be here
Off to the chapel at midnight for Mass
A day different from the others at last
We pray for faith, hope, love and for peace
We know He will return and wars will cease
Until His justice reigns, we're here in this land
Defending Iraq and home in these blowing sands
Sixteen months or so they say
But I'm still here this Christmas day
Peace on Earth and goodwill towards men
Until His Second Coming. Amen

Adopt A Catholic Blog

I originally published this in September, but I decided to make it a sticky and leave it on the main page for a bit.


I came up with an idea this morning of adopting a blog. I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that this sort of thing should start within St Blog's Parish before it moved out into the greater blogosphere.
By adopting you would keep the author(s) in your prayers and link to their site on your sidebar (if you have a site). But you would also read their blog with some frequency, maybe blog on one of their posts, and comment on his or her blog as you see fit.
Here's the basic ground rules:
1) You pick a blog and leave a comment under this post marking which blog you adopted. I am not going to assign the blogs out. I am deploying soon and I don't think I'll have time for that.
2) If someone has already taken that blog please move on and find another one there are plenty out there. I know everyone wants to adopt the Curt Jester, but lesser known bloggers need your prayers too. That's not to say that that you can't still pray for Jeff at the Curt Jester on top of your adopted blogger.
3) Tell other bloggers in St Blog's Parish. I have a lesser known blog and I don't have the visibility of the Curt Jester or American Papist. Besides, I am leaving soon and I don't know how much time I will have for blogging.

So true

Catholic Cartoon Blog hits back in the culture war with more witty satire.

Google Search: Che compared to Christ

I saw a post over at Infused Knowledge about what search terms led people to her blog.
After I commented, the next day I looked again on sitemeter at the search terms that led people to my humble blog. I noticed one of the phrases is "Che compared to Christ" which took them to my post titled "Che compared to Christ??!!"
I googled that search to see what else would come up. I found a video on YouTube that really grabbed me. Other than that there wasn't much else interesting, I thought.
Here's the video:

Quick Nap

This picture was taken a few months ago when I was still in the US.

Catholic Carnival Reaches Special 202

Catholic Carnival 202 is up at Real Life Rosary Weblog. 202 is not really a noteworthy or special number except for being a palindrome.
I actually contributed this week. I haven't done that in a while. I have been slacking.

I haven't added any pictures of Cathedrals lately. This is St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nassau, Bahamas.