Ruth - Chapter 21: Return to Virtue
This final chapter calls us all to live a life of virtue. If we all, leaders and laity, led lives of virtue how different this world would be. One of the many things I liked about Matthew’s book is that he showed the strength and weaknesses of the church and its people without putting it down. He gives me hope. It was good to be reminded in this chapter that the “Catholic Church feeds more people, clothes more people, houses more people, and educates more people than any other organization in the world. …. But we must press on all the same … .Jesus didn’t promise an easy way.” On p. 311 Matthew states “ … Catholicism is a program of life, a lifestyle, that encourages all who embrace it be become the-best-version-of-themselves.” I don’t think that we think enough about this. If Catholicism is a lifestyle then we should not feel embarrassed at times that our life revolves around the church and church activities. A balanced life can be a faith centered life and should be a faith-centered life. On p. 312 the author states “he uses those who make themselves available.” I guess this touched a personal note with me because I find that Tom and I have responded to the called to make ourselves available, as frustrating, as humbling, as fulfilling as it often is. (As I am sure you also find) But I have to say that if the Lord can use us He can use anybody willing to center their life on the Lord, his church and his people. We have to pray that more people respond to the call and persevere in following it through. Lord help us to humbly follow you becoming the people you want us to be and lead us as we serve your people.
- posted by Ruth @ 9:09 PM (1) comments

 
Ruth: Chapter 20: Leadership
This chapter hit me in the heart. The beginning of this chapter brought out how the American church lacks strong leadership which is evidence by the recent scandals and the national press. Kelly states, "in the absense of this desperately needed leadership, the Church will have to content herself with mere survival...... the lack of leadership.... sends up a red flag" "It is this 'questioning' that caught the Church unprepared and that put the Church on the back foot." How accurate Matthew seems to be. The generation of priest that were ordained in the 60's - 80"s question authority as much as society and therefor seem afraid to exert faithful leadership. They seem to be afraid to take a firm stand for the truths of the church. Our leadership does not seem to take a stand against the secularism of society but to follow it. This lack of leadership hit me in the face this past week when I found out that "Priest for Life" tried to come to Dubuque and not one parish would let them preach the Sunday masses. (http://www.priestsforlife.org) They have now offered to come in October and two pastors have agreed to let them speak and Fr. Dan has agreed to let Fr. Quinn speak at Faith and Fellowship. Preist for Life stands firm on moral issues. What leadership do we find in our diocese on moral issues? As you can see this topic hit me at a good - bad time. Matthew's definition of a good leader should be what we all strive for. We can't blame the priest for being weak kneed when they have so little support for their vocation and efforts. Let's be sure to thank our leaders when they show faithful leadership. Lord, help us all to faithfully fulfill the leadership roles we are called to. "What we need is authentic leaders. Men and women willing to lead humanity along the right path with the example of their own lives. Authentic leaders lead by example." Lord, make us into the men and women you want us to be.
- posted by Ruth @ 9:16 PM (0) comments

 
JoAnn Chapter 19 Time for a Change
I like what he said about Catholicism, "Catholicism is a gift that .... must be experienced to be fully appreciated." When you look at the Catholic faith as a "gift" that must be "experienced", and that our faith must be put into practice, one can see why so many Catholics "by name only" have issues with the Church that they want changed, such as married priests or women priests, etc. As Matthew states truth is unchanging and that we need to understand the relationship between an "issue" and what is the unchanging truth that guides the Church's position on that "issue". I like how he asks us, "Are we willing to change". He gives us the responsibility. We always want the other person (this time meaning the Church) to change. But, we must ask ourselves how we need to change so that the Church can grow and change. If I grow in virtue and faith and share it with my neighbor, and you do the same, and so on; oh how our Church would grow in faith and evangelism. The section on education was great. In regards to today's Catholic education system . . . why so many go through the system and then are not faith-going Church-goers is so sad. I worked in a Catholic school for seven years. There are so many dedicated teachers I can't really find fault with any of them. Matthew states that schools need "truth-seekers", those who first genuinely ask the question, "why does the Church teach what she teaches about...?" After reading this wonderful book I plan to give this book as a gift to some teachers I know. Their heart is with the Lord but we can all use more information to educate us so we can educate others. Evangelization section was also something I need to read and reinforce in myself to do. His four step plan: Friendship; pray for people we are trying to reach; tell our story; invite friends to Church events. As Matthew states, we all need to feel like we belong, so if we don't ask someone, they may go to another church to find this. Yes, there is such a shortage on vocations. Matthew says it loud and clear. "If we preach the Gospel, we will have vocations. If we live the Gospel, our seminaries will begin to overflow. Nothing is surer." This chapter had so much to say and challenges me again to be a doer of His word. Lord, give me the courage always to bring others to you in my actions and my words. JoAnn posted by Ruth for JoAnn
- posted by Ruth @ 4:52 PM (0) comments

 
Ruth: Chapter 19: Time for a Change
The introduction stated “The human heart yearns for happiness, and God wants us to be happy.” I realized when reading this that I often take the happiness part for granted ….Not that I don't recognize it but in "prayer time" I tend to dwell more on my and others needs, on the trials of life, the call to serve, etc. I spend time in adoration but get seldom think to thank the Lord for my happiness. I need to be more attentive to and thank God for the simple daisy that I love, the gift of friends in this online study, or children that call, etc….all things that make me happy. All gifts from a God that wants me to be happy. Thank you Lord for the happiness I am blessed with. Tom had told me that I would really like Chapter 19 and I did. As someone with a heart for the local mission field all I could say was “AMEN” to most of Matthew’s suggestions. I so agreed with his evaluation of Catholic education. I believe that the struggle our Holy Family system faces would be so different if our schools really called students and parents to really understand, live and defend their Catholic faith. Parents and teachers cannot pass on what they don’t know and treasure. Few of us know why the church teaches what it does and we have not been called to understand or treasure church teaching. Where are the young? This is a good question that I often ask. Where are the children when we have stations of the cross, prayer walks, etc. Matthew is right when he says, “We have to become a spiritual people”. Only then will we have a hunger to learn and only then can we pass on our faith in an authentic way. “Ignorance of the truth is the enemy of the Church, Catholic education, and indeed Christ.” Just as Matthew challenges us to pray and work on the conversion of 5 people I want to challenge you guys to do what I have been doing - to give this book as gifts to friends and family….(Christmas is coming). I just sent a copy as part of a thank you gift to a fallen – a – way Catholic cousin in Florida. She acknowledged and thanked me for the book more than she did the other items in the box. I pray it touches her heart and that she passes it on. This chapter gave concrete steps to growing in and sharing the love of Christ. What a gift…nothing new but so important. Say a prayer that Matthew Kelly be blessed for sharing the wisdom the Lord has blessed him with…… We are called to relationship and sent on mission. Happiness, a true gift!
- posted by Ruth @ 10:21 PM (0) comments

 
The Lord's hand....
I just want to take a moment to say that I am really thankful for each of you that has been posting. Corrine, Michelle and JoAnn --- your insights have been a wonderful blessing. I just love reading what the Lord puts in you heart after you read the chapter. I also appreciate those reading the book, not posting, but still sharing their enthusiasm with me about the book. What a gift. At times posting has been a pressure but it has been a greater blessing. I know I have gotten a lot more out of the book reading it this way rather than quickly cover to cover. Thanks again ....and let continue blogging. Ruth
- posted by Ruth @ 6:10 PM (0) comments

 
Ruth - Chapter 18 The Rosary
As I reflect for this posting I feel that I have to confess that for a long time I had a personal struggle with the rosary. The struggle was brought on by strong protestant influences in the 70's and 80's. I really think that it is dangerous to attend other churches and/or non-catholic bible studies. These often leave spiritual scars we don't recognize until later. I now enjoy saying the rosary in groups....united in prayer and I enjoy personalizing the rosary saying "pray for (name) now and at the hour of his/her death, Amen." We do that for our boys. I also appreciate the Lord's gift of the Luminous Mysteries. "The fruits of all spiritual exercises are an increase in the supernatural virtues: faith, hope, and love." This reminded me of Janie Meyer. When we pray the rosary during the "Pilgrim Prayer Walk" on Saturday mornings she always add the fruit of each mystery. I had never heard that before but now I read something similiar in this book. The Catholic church offers so many prayer options. Like Matthew states on page 263 "Learn to allow the Spirit to guide you to the type of prayer that will most benefit you on a particular day." That was a freeing statement to me. I love talking to the Lord throughout the day, yet we are called to group and liturgical prayer and we are graced with the rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Liturgy of the Hours, etc. What a blessing we have been given in the Catholic Church. Thank you Lord for all the blessings we have been blessed with especially the gift of faith and access to you in prayer.
- posted by Ruth @ 10:13 PM (0) comments

 
Ruth: Chapter 17 Spiritual Readings
I really could relate to the line on page 243 - “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body and prayer is to the soul.” This is the time of my life where I am trying to find a balance with all three…. All three being important and refreshing to the soul. Spiritual reading help me keep my goals “in my face.” It is easy to get side tracked with odd and end things but when I am reading spiritual books it helps me remember to keep the spiritual side in balance …not left to happenstance. As on p. 244 it states that “spiritual reading seeks to encourage us to live a life of holiness.” If our family, friends, books, activities are all spiritual wholesome they can and should call us to holiness. It makes me realize that if a book, activity, friend, etc does not call me to holiness then it should not be in my life and if it is in my life it had better have a holy purpose. Matthew states on page 246/7 that he had a holy priest in his life that “in any conversation his only concern was Matthew’s spiritual growth”…always calling him to a life of holiness. What a blessing to have someone like that, priest or not, who would be so focused. I concurred with Matthew as he imagined “if every Catholic in your parish read a good spiritual book for fifteen minutes a day.” I can testify that I have grown so much from the books, tapes and videos that I have listened to that are in the parish library. That challenge is to get people to utilize the resources and blessings that are theirs for the seeking. Thanks to each of you for being part of this study …. Your faith and the book have been a blessing to me.
- posted by Ruth @ 9:41 PM (0) comments