The View Up Here

Fact: Fact: I prefer raspberry to orange Jaffa Cakes. I feel personally called to cover my head with a chapel veil when I am before the Blessed Sacrament. I am absolutely transported by singing and hearing Gregorian Chant.  If I do become a nun, I would like to wear a Habit of some kind. I would prefer that people offered Thanksgiving after Communion, if only the priest gave us time for that. I believe we need to Evangelize our "lukewarm" Catholics about the power and love of the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. I am committed to one hour a week of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. I belive in Marian apparitions such as Fatima and Lourdes, and I believe in the power of prayer, especially the Rosary. I believe in St. Faustina's visions of Christ and the efficaciousness of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I am Pro-Life. That includes educating against abortion and reducing the perceived "need" for abortion, and advocating for compass...

2016 has rocked our GenX world as one pop icon after another has died and left a huge vacancy. For me, the moment of ENOUGH ALREADY didn't come until the death of Debbie Reynolds, a day after Carrie Fisher's passing. I truly thought it was some kind of bad joke when I woke up and read the headline, and my brain struggled with the seeming unlikelihood of it all - especially in light of the "fake news" that's been outed after the election. A small corner of my brain hoped it was another tabloid-esque false report even as I knew that if it's splashed all over BBC, CNN, Washington Post and FoxNews, it must be true. This morning I caught an article on the fake news of 2016 , and it got me thinking about how vulnerable we all are. The internet keeps us connected 24/7 with each other and the world, which has its light and dark side, as most things do. The light side:  knowing of injustice that we can then act upon, sharing pictures of family far away, sending em...

I don't do a lot with politics on this blog, but there are a few things I feel moved to say in this post-election, pre-Advent, almost-Thanksgiving season. Protesters are out in the streets with signs that declare "Not my president," while headlines blare "Trump's America." Here's a thought:  he is the president whether you like it or not. Be the light, be the love, don't leave it up to the president or anyone else. Will he do some damage to the country? Sure will. Just like every other president has done, some more overtly, some covertly. Will he do some good? Probably, just like even our worst presidents have done.  Do you have to like him? Of course not. But you do have to use your conscience and live your life according to the Law of Love -- well you don't HAVE to, but it really is the only way to a) keep your sanity, b) not alienate others, and instead c) educate with your life, love, and willingness to dialogue with others. Anot...

I'll start with this quote from Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P. (Dominican priest) from CatholicAnswers (website and radio). He's quoted as saying/writing: The Lord told us to ask for what we need—not because he doesn’t already know, but that we come to him in love, humbly acknowledging our complete dependence on him—and willingly accepting whatever and however he chooses to respond. The prayer of petition is a matter of loving trust and absolutely nothing else. To that I would add that God wants us to co-create with God. My charismatic community in L.A. taught me the phrase "agreeing in prayer," which means that we are agreeing with each other and with God's will (whatever that may be) for the best possible outcome - even if it's not the one we'd prefer. This acknowledges that God sees far more than we can in our limited scope, while offering ourselves as a community and individually to be God's presence to others in a difficult situation, as God longs ...

Y esterday, I had a minor meltdown.  It really did feel like the devil was having a swipe at my faith.  To avoid boring you with details about my anxious mind on safari, I will simply state what I gleaned from the experience: We're all on unique paths to wholeness and the fullest expression of God's gifts manifested in our lives. Avoid comparing your path with anyone else's, or to the cultural "norm" that literally means nothing. Doing so will only lead to hopelessness and a broken spirit. God alone suffices (St. Teresa of Avila) I really AM cherished and nourished by God! How about that? I cherish the life God is giving me now, and I release my attachment to any notion of 'future' that takes me away from living that life to the fullest in Christ Jesus.  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life  which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave...