The Day, I Saw a Saint...An Unforgettable Pilgrimage

"Please, please", I begged. "I want to go see the Pope". Somehow, I convinced my mother and Godmother to take a one-day, round-trip, on a Greyhound, to see Pope John Paul II. I became Catholic, in 1976, at the age of 10, and Karol Wojtyla (voteewa), became Pope in 1978, so he was the only Pope, I really knew or remembered. He was the young, charismatic, prophetic, leader of the Catholic Christian Faithful. The first non-Italian Pope, former Archbishop of Krakow, and famous Cardinal of Poland. A man, with which so many could relate. He had suffered the loss of both parents, by age 21, and had endured the Nazi take-over of his beloved homeland, Poland. There wasn't much I hadn't read about him and I just knew, I had to be there, when he came to the U.S. I was 21 and in college, when our Church announced, that we would be gathering a group to attend his Mass, at a New Orleans campus, on Sept. 12, 1987. My mother and Godmother, laughed and tried to talk me out of this crazy, one-day journey, but I wouldn't hear of it...I must go! The day was full of surprises, pain, and joy!! Our first hurdle, was the 4am call, to the bus! The bus would be loaded at St. Stanislaus, in Wylam, AL. If you've ever been to Wylam, then you know, the streets are old, and really tiny, so when the bus tried to head out, it was quite a challenge, but once we were on the open road, I felt sheer happiness. My mother and Godmother found my excitement to be funny, and contagious!! The further we drove, the more excited we all became. When we arrived, we were all given special ticket/passes to hang around our necks, and the human herding began. Our passes, indicated the roped-section into which we would slowly move. I've never seen so many people assembled in one area. We had our cooler of supplies, binoculars, and umbrellas. We settled into our designated section, and began another journey of surprises. I don't remember, the exact times, but I'm sure we were there by noon. We were in an open field, on the Eastern campus of UNO. They had First Aid stations set up throughout the field, along with what seemed like hundreds of porta-pottys!! The Mass was set to start late in the afternoon, about 4pm. The heat was unbearable and started to affect the crowds amassed in the huge field. Many people, began fainting and being transported to First Aid stations. Someone screamed behind me, and I turned to find a thin, elderly man, had fainted. I immediately went to his aid, until the rescue team arrived with a stretcher. Even, mother had to have her blood pressure checked, and we were all trying to drink water and other fluids, to stay hydrated. Then, a huge black cloud began to form to the left of the field. The cloud was so ominous, it looked as if a tornado could drop down at any minute. The wind started to blow and people were getting a little frightened. I mean, what could be worse, than a lightning storm and a crowd of people, in an open field. Umbrellas went up as the torrential rain began to fall. Despite the wind, rain, and lightning, no one moved. We came to see the Pope and we weren't leaving!! About 30 minutes before the Mass, the cloud, moved to the right of the field and the sky was overcast, with a gentle breeze blowing. God had sent a big storm to cool off a big crowd. With the welcomed breeze, came a a white Popemobile. Where just a few hours before, people were suffering heat stroke, now the crowd began to chant..."John Paul II, we love you!" I stood against the rope, as the Pope rode by and blessed the crowd and me! I felt a feeling, I've never felt before or since. The Spirit was moving and literally blowing through the crowd on the breeze. As the Mass began, I told myself...listen carefully, and soak in each moment. Despite the large crowd, and the distance, I tried to hear every word. The Mass was accompanied by the gorgeous strains of New Orleans Jazz music, and a Jazz rendition of Amazing Grace, with trumpets. It's just a moment in time, I will never forget, spent with 2 people I loved the most. Then imagine 130,000 people trying to dismiss from the field afterward. It was a little chaotic waiting for our bus to arrive, but no one was angry or mean. We patiently waited and then boarded our bus for home. As, darkness fell on our ride, our hearts were raised in praise to God. I think I fell asleep with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished...An unforgettable pilgrimage, to see an unforgettable Saint!!

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True Contrition vs. Fear: A Catholic Girl Explains!

If you're not Catholic, you probably don't hear the word contrition very much; but Catholics are fond of saying a prayer, called the Act of Contrition. It's a memorized prayer, like the Lord's Prayer. Since contrition means to be sorry, it's a prayer telling God we're sorry for our sins, so it's basically a prayer of repentance. We tell God we're sorry and ask for his forgiveness. So, even if you're not familiar with the word or the prayer, most Christians can identify with repentance and forgiveness. I wanted to write about this topic after seeing an interview that Oprah did with Joel Osteen, the smiling preacher. At one point, after mentioning Catholics, she says, people are just tired of doctrine, dogma, fear, and guilt. Many people think, this is what drives the Catholic Christian. Oprah's assessment, couldn't be more off target. What Catholic Christian's believe, is often misunderstood and misrepresented. For Catholic's, TRUE Contrition or Perfect Contrition, comes from our desire to please God. We don't repent because we fear God's punishment. We repent, because we don't want to hurt our Heavenly Father and subsequently, the Body of Christ, his Church. We are driven from Love, not fear! I'm not going to say sinning doesn't come with guilt, but there's a difference between healthy guilt and guilt that brings fear. God designed each person with an internal conscious, a desire to do what is right, and to know right, from wrong. This internal conscious is a gift from God, not a feeling to ignore. So, despite Oprah's interpretation of religious-based fear and guilt, I respectfully disagree. True contrition is not fear-based, but born from a clear conscious and a deep love of God!!http://www.thefreedictionary.com/contrition

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Prudence and the Single Girl: Gurley vs. Gray

Prudence: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason, shrewdness in the management of affairs, skill and good judgement in the use of resources, caution or circumspection as to danger or risk. Unfortunately, a person in today's society that uses the virtue of prudence, is often called a prude. Being a prude, in this day and age, is thought to be a negative. I, respectfully disagree with the world's view, which isn't shocking if you know me. Prudence, is an innate, positive quality that enables one to make appropriate decisions on a day-to-day basis. Even the wildest person, can credit prudence with keeping them from running in front of an oncoming truck. I credit prudence for helping me make the right choice in many situations...call me a prude, I guess! Earlier this week, we lost two famous women, each from different walks of life. Helen Gurley Brown, the 90 year old former editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Nellie Gray, the 86 year old founder of the March For Life. Gurley Brown became a household name, when her book, Sex and the Single Girl, was published in 1962. She is often credited with helping to start the sexual revolution of the 1960's and 1970's. She was the first to tell young women, they could have it all and they shouldn't wait around for Mr. Right to get married. They should go out, have fun, experiment, and have affairs. She taught young women about the use of birth control and how they could use it to their advantage to have their flings, and then move on to the next conquest. Basically, she single-handedly taught young women to throw prudence and caution to the wind. Today, in 2012, I think we can see the consequences of promiscuous sex, birth control, abortion, and the like. Have these behaviors really liberated women and made them equal to their male counterparts? I think not!! The lack of judgement and the denial of our innate ability to make certain prudent choices, has opened a Pandora's Box of problems for today's young woman. Sometimes, having it all is not for the best. On the opposite end of the spectrum, is Nellie Gray, who founded the March For Life in 1974; one year after the landmark case of Roe vs. Wade, legalized abortion. She has worked tirelessly, since the early 70's, to promote the protection of mothers and their unborn children. She has fought the death machine of abortion and her organization has grown over the last several decades. Today, the March For Life can be seen in all 50 states and internationally. Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal O'Malley called her, "the Joan of Arc of the Gospel of Life." I find it ironic, that both Gurley Brown and Gray, were highly educated, and intelligent women. Gurley Brown a native of Arkansas and Gray, a native of Texas. Both a product of the mid-20th century, both made an impact on society, but in different ways. Both, icons to those who followed their words and believed in the causes. I find it interesting that both were called from their earthly dwelling on the same week. Each came face-to-face with their maker and each was held to an account of their achievements and accomplishments for mankind (no, I'm not politically correct). God has a way of leveling the playing field and I can only imagine his delight at having Nellie Gray teach a thing or two to Mrs. Gurley Brown. On a side note and worthy of some praise, Mrs. Gurley Brown was married for over 50yrs, while she taught other women to be "free"! Helen Gurley Brown was famous for saying..."Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go everywhere." I presume to say, she is enjoying everywhere as we speak! Well done, Nellie Gray!!! I hope your reward is great and thank you for showing women an alternative to the world!!

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Superheros Are Real!

After watching wall-to-wall news coverage of the Century 16 Theater shooting in Colorado, I have so many thoughts running through my head. First, I'm thinking of the families who've lost someone dear to them and all those who've been traumatized for life. Why do some people go over the edge and take out others in their downward spiral? I guess we'll never know all the answers, but suffice it to say, we live in a fallen world. Our spiritual ancestors decided long ago, they knew best how to run their lives. They considered themselves on par with God, not realizing God was their ultimate creator and God knew what was best for them. Their decisions brought the world into it's present state. Our only chance to escape this world and it's present reality, is to return to God with our whole hearts. We need to acknowledge that God knows what's best for us. We need to follow his plan and road map to perfect peace. It's so easy when we let God make our decisions. We don't have those day-to-day worries about the bad choices we make. We don't have to keep up with our lies, we don't have to try and remember how many intimate relationships we've had, or try to remember the night before, when we were drunk or high. With God, we have clear vision and no regrets. These people, most of them young, came to the theater for a carefree night of fun and came face-to-face with evil. Satan won, for 2 or 3 minutes; but believe me, God will have true victory through all the good that will come from this tragedy. This movie was about a superhero, but the true Superheros, are those who responded to the scene and those who helped and rescued others. I hope this tragedy leads some of these young people to the recognition that God is our #1 SUPERHERO! He will rescue us from every evil and guard and protect our lives.

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Little Atticus

For Lent, I decided to give up my favorite trips to the onsite store at work. But, beyond giving up my daily snacks, I wanted to DO something. I wanted to participate in "40 Days For Life", a campaign that brings awareness to the Pro-Life movement. So, I went to the opening prayer vigil and spent several days praying outside the local Planned Parenthood. The days spent on the sidewalk in prayer, changed me spiritually, and made me more aware of the people that enter these buildings. I saw a poverty of spirit, knowledge, and love. I also met some beautiful and amazing people, who care and love these women and girls. I was happy to find out that the campaign had saved the lives of over 700 babies nationwide, and prevented years of anguish and guilt by their mothers. During this time, I watched a documentary about one of my favorite authors, Harper Lee. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her only novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. In the documentary, it was discussed, she modelled the character of Atticus Finch on her own father, also the town lawyer. Atticus becomes the god-like figure in the book, the one who possesses all the virtue and wisdom that could be found in the 1930's, Jim Crow-South. Her book was published in 1960, just prior to the height of the Civil Rights Movement and no doubt furthered the movement in some small way. It allowed white people to put themselves in the skin of others, in the privacy of their own homes. It also allowed them to see a white man, stand up for a black man. It allowed them to acknowledge right's right, and wrong's wrong. And even though Tom Robinson's rights would eventually be trampled in 1930's Alabama, it didn't stop Atticus from doing everything in his power to save an innocent man. The same is true for those who stand up for life in 2012. It's sometimes difficult to go against the masses and stand up for what is right. The Pro-Life Movement today, is the new Civil Rights Movement. The unborn child is denied the basic right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, because he or she is unable to speak out. We must be their Atticus. Slavery, racism, segregation, and prejudice was wrong then and it's wrong now. Abortion is wrong now, and will always be wrong. I'd like to think there's a little Atticus in all of us and especially in all of those who speak out for the unborn!

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World Peace...That's An Oxymoron!

As much as I would love to have world peace, it's just something that isn't to be. I'm not being pessimistic, but this earth is not our home. As Christians, our home is in Heaven and this earth is our exile. We live in a fallen creation. What once was a paradise for our ancestors, was made corrupt by their sin. Their sin, was the sin of pride and thinking they knew better than God. They became their own god and chose to do as they pleased, disobeying our Heavenly Father. God uses his commandments to train us and direct our paths and when we stray from his love and direction; we are saying, we are smarter and know more than Him. So many people, especially other religions are trying to change this world into some nirvana or utopia, but only our Heavenly Father can create a new Heaven and a new Earth. They put their trust and faith in the world and Christians must place their trust and faith in God. Does this mean we shouldn't work for peace and justice in our circle of influence...NO, it just means we know our God has bigger and better plans for those who love and trust Him. It's our job to bring others to the love of Christ and give them HOPE for what is to come. When we do this, we can lead others to a place of perfect peace, acceptance, and love...Heaven!

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The "facebook" Birthday

Isn't facebook great?? When it's your birthday, your friends...all 842, send you best wishes and greetings for your special day. You wake up to an onslaught of birthday posts and by the time you head for bed you feel like a king or queen. I mean, it IS your birthday...it's been a special day since you were born. When you arrived, your family was so happy. They probably gathered at the hospital just to wait for you to make your appearance. When you turned one, I'm sure there was a special party. Turning one is a BIG deal...you went from a helpless, crying infant to a smiling, babbling, slightly off-balance toddler! Then we have the years between 2 and 12; there's the Barney party, the moonbounce/inflatable slide party, the Barbie party, the Spiderman party, the Circus-Theme party, and the famous skating party, where your best friend fell and broke her wrist in 3 places!! And who can forget the infamous Chuckie-Cheese party? That's the party that made your mom take to the bed!! Then the teen years roll around...we have the boy/girl party, the Sweet Sixteen party and you get the picture. Birthdays are a big deal, because they celebrate, the one and only you! You're special and God made you that way. You're unique and with each year that passes there's something to celebrate. God sends you out into this world, with the intention of watching you grow and perfect, until you return to him. When I was pondering how great and wonderful birthdays are, it made me think of those who never get a chance to celebrate their greatness. How ironic, that a society who puts so much emphasis on birthdays, continues to devalue life. Our society spends millions of dollars to celebrate a persons special day, but remains heartless when it comes to the unborn. I find this very disturbing and sad. I hope one day, every future, unborn child gets a chance to have a facebook birthday!!

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New Year, Old Crayons

Recently, I was helping clean out my grandmother's house. She passed away in 1995 and my uncle was living there until he passed last August. It's been about 16 years since I've spent any time in her house and being there for 3 days of cleaning, brought back a flood of memories. I spent many wonderful days and nights at her house as a child...doing as I pleased, because she let me do anything that wasn't too destructive and a few things that were!! She would let me sew all her washcloths together to make little purses, just for fun; and I suppose, she spent several minutes cutting them apart when I left. I was always welcome to make and create anything in her kitchen and one of the strongest memories is the aroma of her cooking. I miss her and my papa so much and being in their house without them, felt so sad. I found little evidence of my time there, except for a closet door with my autograph, and a box of crayons. The autograph was done with a marks-a-lot permanent marker, from which she saved me from an old-fashioned whoopin' from my mother! The box of crayons had long been forgotten, in a drawer in my papa's dresser. Seeing the crayons brought me back to my childhood immediately. I knew the box had last been touched by me, probably about 35 years ago. Crayola Crayons, in a little box, wrappers still intact. I inspected the crayons for wear and found that the colors I'm most fond of now, were the ones with the most wear. Purple, Green, Blue, and Red...they didn't have fancy names back then. Purple reminding me of family loyalty, and how the days of closeknit families are all but history. Green, reminding me of the once green pastures that surrounded her house and how the cattle would be grazing at dusk. Blue, to remind me of how I'm feeling as I clean out a lifetime of memories, and Red, that reminds me of our love for each other, and how nothing can take that from me! I so wish, I could spruce up that little house and bring it back to life and have my children experience those special times, when granny was in the kitchen and papa was in the yard, but I'll hold those moments, and that place in time, in my heart forever. As this new year begins, let's keep our families close and make special memories to treasure. So, here's to a box of crayons and my granny and papa! God bless us in 2012!

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