Catholicism: True

Our parish priest is teaching a series on the Catechism this summer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a big book that basically sums up the teachings of the Church. Blessed Pope John Paul II called the Catechism "a sure norm for teaching the faith" and an "authentic reference text." In short, if you profess to be Catholic, you are professing belief in the teachings contained within this text.

I was involved in a recent facebook conversation about a particular teaching of the Church. I don't know the person that made the comment, she wasn't my "friend" but it struck me as incredibly telling of how people view the Church and Her teachings. She said something to the effect of, "Well if the Church doesn't change the teaching on In-Vitro its gonna lose a lot of its members, especially older women who can't get pregnant."

And while I understand where she's coming from, she's miss the point entirely.

Something is not true because the Church teaches it. The Church teaches it because it's true!

So often in a discussion about Church teachings we use the phrase, "The Catholic Church teaches that...." and while this is generally done for the sake of clarity-it doesn't really need to be said. Imagine is we spoke of all truths in this way. "Mathematicians teach that half of ten is five." We would never talk about math in this way because five isn't half of ten because mathematicians say so. Mathematicians teach that it's half of ten because it's true!

The Church does not profess Her teachings to gain followers or to win a popularity contest. Yes, She would love to see Her pews filled on Sundays, but it's just simply not an option to teach fallacy just to get a few more butts in the seats.

To the women in the facebook commenter's example, it wouldn't matter if they left the Church over the issue of In-Vitro or not-if they didn't believe and profess that procreation is intrinsically linked to the union of two spouses then they're not professing to be Catholic to begin with. What difference does it make if they attend Mass on Sundays or not if the beliefs that shape their decisions aren't the same as the Church they are attending?

Two plus two is four.

Jesus Christ walked this earth, died for my sins, ascended into heaven and will judge me on my last day.

Twelve times five is sixty.

I must confess my sins to a priest because Christ gave them the power to bind and loose the sins of their people.

Four and six make ten.

Sex is reserved for a man and woman united in marriage. It must always be open to life. The unitive must never be separated from the procreative. Contraception, abortion, and artificial reproductive technologies are unacceptable.

Nine doubled is eighteen.

Jesus left the teaching authority of the Church to St. Peter, from which flowed the apostolic succession and gives Pope Benedict his authority today.

Sixteen minus five is eleven.

The ends never  justify the means.

Half of fourteen is seven.

Christ left me His body and blood in the Eucharist that I may unite myself fully to Him. His Flesh is true food and His Blood true drink. This is the Source and Summit of my Faith.


These truths hold the same weight in my life. I believe in the truths of the Catholic Church as I believe in the truths of mathematics. Even more so because I shape my life around them and would die for the right to profess them. If I thought that these things were only true because my Church said so, I would pick a different Church with a lot less rules! (And one with better music on Sundays...) But I submit myself to the authority of the Church because I know that Her teachings are true.

It's not true because the Church teaches it. She teaches it because it's true!

Quick Takes (26)

-1-

 I haven't had much desire to blog lately. Probably because I haven't had any time to blog lately. I'm hoping this changes-I miss my online outlet for random thoughts and reflections.

-2-

I was given the secret to life by my friend Alisha the other day. Seriously. Life changing stuff. And I'm going to share it with you.

Don't buy your ribbed tanks from the women's section-buy from the men's! Because men don't like having their chest exposed (and modest women don't either!), the shirts are cut higher. (I actually bought medium in little boys.) Goodbye cleavage line! Hello cheap clothes that I can cut up and turn into nursing tanks!

You're welcome.

-3-

Hannah rolled over! She's been getting onto her side for about two weeks now and this morning she took the plunge! Ted and I were in the kitchen eating breakfast and both got to share in the excitement! Obviously she was very upset because she hates being on her tummy. But her parents were thrilled!

In case you're wondering-she'll be four months old on Tuesday.

-4-

Alright, you know I'm desperate if I'm turning to my blog for help. We need to find a better sleep solution and fast. She actually sleeps through the night-about 12 hours. But we do not. I know it's her tummy. I can hear it gurgling and it causes her to squirm and whimper and cry. The only thing that comforts her is nursing. No pacifier, no daddy, just the breast. (and this is the girl that hated to nurse for the first three months of her life!) There are still one or two times a night that she actually needs to nurse to eat which I am obviously fine with. But the constant need to nurse just to be comfortable has got to end. I'm up with her about every  half hour. Last night the longest she went was an hour and a half.

Things we've tried: letting her sleep in her swing so she's upright. Fail. Co-sleeping so I can pat her/shush her/give her a paci. Fail. Side-lying nursing so I can sleep while she comforts herself. Fail. (I just can't get it to work-it would work if it were possible.) We can't do the miracle blanket anymore because she can get her feet out and then the fabric scoots up and gets wrapped around her neck. We've moved to a lighter swaddle blanket and she can get one arm out of but that is definitely not the problem because we just made this change two days ago.

I have no trouble getting her to fall asleep initially and no trouble breaking her latch and putting her back down. It just doesn't last and a half hour later I'm back to doing the same thing.

Why would her tummy suddenly be so upset? Can food sensitivities develop around 3 months (it's been going on for about three weeks now). She was gassy as a newborn but it resolved after a few weeks. I haven't been able to trace it to anything I've eaten because it's been going on so long and my diet has been pretty much the same as it was before.

I think she's too young to let her "cry-it-out". Especially because she's crying because she's hurting. How can I help her sleep??

-5-

Ted passed his thesis defense on Wednesday! Such a stud. I'm so, so proud of him. We celebrated with good steaks, great friends, and Bud Light.

-6-

I love summer food. Fresh peaches from a roadside stand. Lettuce and onions from a neighbor's garden. Farmer's market tomorrow morning. Ahh summer.

-7-

Hannah's first Cardinal's game is set! A friend invited us to the box seats they got for a pre-wedding celebration. I'm so excited to dress her in her Cardinal's onesie and take her to the stadium! I'm even more excited that we'll be able to watch the game in air conditioning!

Happy Weekend!

Quick Takes (25)

-1-

I know it's not Friday, but it feels like Friday so I'm doing a quick takes. Why does it feel like Friday you ask? Because today was my last day of work for the year! School's out for summer! Although I would probably love working for Early Intervention or a hospital, I just don't know if I could ever give up my summers.

-2-

Hannah has decided that sleep is for losers. I guess that makes me pretty cool because I'm not getting any sleep either :)

-3-

I have a wedding to attend one month from today. I need a dress. It must be modest, summer-y, pretty fancy but not over the top, not too expensive, AND I must be able to nurse in it. Does such a dress exist? Please say it does. And then find it for me. Thanks!

-4-

I went to a ladies' night earlier in the evening. I was hesitant because Hannah has been having such rough nights-but she usually does best in the first couple hours. She gave Ted such a hard time the entire time I was gone that I had to come home after an hour. When I got home he was swinging her to sleep in her car seat (just one of the many exciting ways we help her get to sleep). That was at 9:20. It's 10:30 and she's still sleeping. Figures.

-5-

I only have one friend that lives in Joplin and she wasn't in the town when the tornado hit. Ted and I went to school in Springfield-just an hour from Joplin. It's so horrible. Please continue to pray for these families.

-6-

Our priest started an adult catechism class on Sundays after Mass for the summer. Last week was the first week and it. was. awesome. He asked us what topics we wanted to learn about and just went from there. We discussed Church history, authority, councils, and teaching on creation. He didn't prepare a single thing-but explained everything effortlessly. Such a gift.

-7-

Now that it's summer I really want to take Hannah to the pool. She has an adorable suit, a first rate floatie, and baby sunscreen. The only problem is she hates it. Loves her bath. Hates the pool.

Hopefully she'll come around. Give it another week or so and the pool water will probably feel like bath water. That's Mississippi for ya.

Have a great Wednesday!

Nighttime Lullaby

(Click on the link to watch the video. You have to click it twice and actually watch it in You Tube. 

Do it. Or this post won't make sense :)

This is exactly what my evening looked like. Snuggling my sweet baby and singing her this song. Laying her gently in her cradle and staring at her as she slept.

Only I wasn't wearing a pink nightgown. I was wearing the same clothes I wore to work today.... covered in spit up.

And minus the dog perched up on the cradle.

Sans the cover tucked up dangerously close to her face, too. Picture a baby straight jacket swaddle blanket instead.

And I didn't just sing it once. I think I sang it 37 times.

But I did sing it sitting on the bed, just like the video. But I sang it standing too. And rocking. And bouncing. And laying down on the bed. And standing again. And rocking again. And bouncing. And one more time laying down.

And it was accompanied by a very loud "ssshhhhhhhhhhhh" from the noise machine.

And it didn't last two minutes either. It was a little longer. Like maybe around 4 hours? Yeah, I think it was four hours.

And there was a fast food run in the middle of it while dad took over the rocking and laying and standing and bouncing.

Oh, and there was nursing. Lots and lots of nursing.

And did I mention bouncing?

And the video doesn't show the three different pacifiers I had to try before finding the one she wanted. They left that part out.

But it did end with a sleeping baby in a beautiful cradle.

So yeah, my night was exactly like the video :)

My First Mother's Day

My first mother's day! I missed last year's by only a few days. (We went here for Mother's Day. And no-Hannah is not a cajun baby...)

And if I'm being completely honest.... today was amazing. I joined the club. I got a Mother's Day card. I held my sweet baby in my arms all day and just thanked Jesus for her. But as much as I just soaked up the day, my heart was heavy for all those are still where I was last year. Friends whose only babies are in heaven. Friends who haven't seen those two lines on a pregnancy test. It hurts so badly. I remember so clearly. My prayers are with you today.

When I got out of the shower this morning I was greeted by this:

I didn't grab my camera in time to catch her award winning smile. The smile that I swear said, "Me and dad worked so hard on your surprise! Don't you love it Mom!"

We spent the day at the lake-grilling and napping and relaxing as a family. Perfect.

Hannah quickly grew tired of cuddling and demanded better entertainment.

But since mom forgot to bring any toys, we had to improvise!

Success!

And this post wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention the other, very important, aspect of Mother's Day. MY mom! It may have been the first time I had the honor of being a mom on Mother's Day, but I didn't forget about how wonderful my own mother is. As I thought about what made my mom so great, one thing kept coming to my mind. 

She was FUN!

Yes, she helpful and kind and taught us things. But 95% of my memories involving my mom involve us having fun. Whether it was building a tent for us in the backyard on her lunch hour or surprising us with a spur of the moment trip to an abandoned (or so we thought.....) train track-we. had. fun.

If I'm even half as fun as my mom was when I was a kid-Hannah's in for a great childhood.

And last, but not least-I thought about my mother-in-law today. I didn't know her while she was raising Ted-but I didn't have to to know that she is an amazing mother. I'm so grateful to her for raising such a wonderful son and for supporting me as his wife and mommy to her granddaughter.

I love you moms!

Quick Takes (24) Questions for the Blogosphere

-1-

We make tacos and marinated chicken a lot with the seasoning packets from the grocery store. Every time I buy them I think, "there's gotta be a cheaper way to do this!" Does anyone have any good tips for making taco seasoning and flavorful marinades with stuff I can keep on hand?

-2-

How do you transition a kid out of the swaddle blanket? Is there some kind of sleep sack that completely contains their arms but isn't a swaddle out there that I'm not aware of? If not, there should be.

-3-

Is it normal to have constant back pain now that I'm a mom? Is pain from all the lifting and bending and squatting (and really, really crappy mattress) just part of the territory? Or should I see a chiropractor?

-4-

What are your weekend plans? We have NONE! Actually, all of May is completely open.

-5-

I can't remember my other questions. I'll probably remember all of the others ones I meant to ask as soon as I hit 'publish'.

-6-

Hannah will be three months old tomorrow! I cannot believe she's that old already. And yet, I can't really remember what it was like without her.

-7-

Because I know you want to see her...

Why I Love My Husband (6)

Today is such a special day for me and Ted. He proposed on Divine Mercy Sunday four years ago (April 15 that year)!

That proposal is proof that our God is a merciful God. I didn't deserve him. I still don't. The fact God blessed me with such a wonderful husband tells me of His mercy and forgiveness.

I love my husband because he loves me despite my many faults and failings.