Long Awaited Photos From Germany

Well, here are the long awaited photos from our favorite Germans - Martin, Kelly (not really a German but an American living in Germany), Sarah, Toby, and Miriam.

Their house has had these scaffolding up for 2 weeks now but no work has been done as of yet. Bad weather has prevented work from beginning. Can you say "stressed out"? That's how Kelly is feeling right now...

You see we ( all 7 of us plus mom and dad) plan on visiting Germany next year! In order to house her little sister and her whole crew my poor sister and brother-in-law must build an addition to their home!

Just kidding. They planned on the addition regardless of our coming. But, it will come in mighty handy so that we won't have to sleep standing up or anything...

Hope that the next 2 weeks go better than the last 2! Love you Kelly and Martin. We miss you terribly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love - Your (less than European educated) American relatives - (inside joke between me and Martin)

Night Club? Pajama Party? No! Mass of Course!

I'm late to the game on this one, but I couldn't resist posting it. We all had such high hopes (members of the Diocese of Joliet) that after Bishop Imesh left things would get "cleaned up" around here. Sadly, Bishop Sartain must either be too busy cleaning up all the lawsuits and such left over or worse yet not take an interest in the "dancing" that's going on in his cathedral (St. Raymond's in Joliet).

These three young ladies dressed like this danced at Mass at the cathedral recently. The full story and more pictures can be found at
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/abbott/070619

This is the sort of nonsense that made Tim and I finally take the leap of faith to homeschool our kids. We had dealt with the Diocese of Joliet and its "policies" and its "leaders" and learned the hard way that the teachings of the Church don't hold much value with the people in positions of power there. They'd rather "do their own thing" and it seems that they are continuing to do that...doin' it right up on the altar at Mass...

Pray for our Bishop, and this Diocese. We need it!

Things I Never Learned in Catholic School

I was over at Cosmos Liturgy Sex reading one of David's posts on B16's discussion on modernity with a bunch of European professors. David's post always challenge me. Often they require me to pull out the dictionary or to go off and Google something in order to better understand the context in which he is speaking. But I love that! It is in those moments I feel like I am truly learning and that's exciting for me. Yes, yes I'm a big giant NERD!

Anyhoo, The post was titled Regnum Hominis and the Crisis of Modernity. At the end of the post David expresses his hope that there is still an opportunity for Europe to avoid the mistakes of the past. He says "...this may avoid a 21st century resurrection of the 18th century's Reign of Terror. Mercifully, that malignant progenitor of what I think is now possible was confined to France. However, the current trajectory seems to suggest a spawn, secular humanist Regnum hominis, that will endanger the entirety of the West."

Lots of five dollar words in that right? So off I went to look them up. Specifically the reference to the 18th century Reign of Terror. I ended up reading Wikipedia's whole page on the French Revolution and the surrounding circumstances. What an education and just think it took place in a matter of minutes! A portion of what I learned follows...

French Revolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790 (although not signed by the King until 26 December 1790), turned the remaining clergy into employees of the State and required that they take an oath of loyalty to the constitution. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy also made the Catholic church an arm of the secular state.
In response to this legislation, the archbishop of Aix and the bishop of Clermont led a walkout of clergy from the National Constituent Assembly. The pope never accepted the new arrangement, and it led to a schism between those clergy who swore the required oath and accepted the new arrangement ('jurors' or 'constitutional clergy') and the 'non-jurors' or 'refractory priests' who refused to do so. The ensuing years saw violent repression of the clergy, including the imprisonment and massacre of priests throughout France."

This leads me to my larger point. Why in God's name did I not learn this in 12 years of Catholic education? Now some who know me well may say "Kris, maybe that's because you weren't such a great student." (unmotivated better put) But to say I just forgot this information could only be true if it weren't for the fact that all these years I've had a vague recollection of learning about the French Revolution. I did in fact remember learning about it. But, it seems I learned the wrong things, or at the very least not the COMPLETE story.

Why is it that I came away with a general understanding that made me think that the French were the twin of the American Patriots fighting the English for freedom? Why is it that I NEVER knew or would have even considered persecution of the Church and of priests and religious a possibility during the French Revolution? I didn't even know that there was an atheistic component to it all. Aren't these valuable and important points to emphasize especially considering that I was supposedly receiving a "Catholic" education. A VERY expensive education I may add.

Sadly, I feel like there are a lot of very important and foundational truths and information and literature that are either glossed over or completely omitted from a "Catholic" education these days. In all my time in Catholic High School I never once read the life of a saint, nor Chesterton, nor and encyclical, nor Belloc, nor, Flannery O'Conner, nor any other Catholic writer of fiction or non-fiction. Why is that? I was even in elevated English courses and took extra literature and creative writing courses, because that was my stronger area of study. But still, we never covered these writers or any of the important philosophical writings of the Church. No Saint Thomas, no Saint Augustine, nothing. What an absolute failure on the part of the Dominicans who ran our school. I sure did and still do love them for a number of other reasons. But I feel so cheated looking back now.

These are the times when I say thank goodness I home school. I can "brainwash" my kids properly. Not to mention all the benefits I reap from reading and discovering all these things on behalf of my children. Tim wants to send the kids off to school for high school. Mainly due to organized sports. I can see his point there. Organized sports meant a great deal to both of us growing up. But I hate to think that one day Morgan or Mary grace or another one of my kids will have to be 33 before he or she knows about the Reign of Terror during the French revolution and how it impacted their fellow Catholic brothers and sisters.

Am I Becoming a Closet Traditionalist?

Lately I've been questioning and considering some things within the Church and specifically within the Mass that make me wonder. I tend to long for a more devout Mass. I would LOVE the opportunity to receive Jesus on my knees. I would love to feel a sense of awe and wonder again at Mass. A homily that directed and formed my conscience instead of stroking my ego would be a nice change. Better music, and yet less singing of every single possible prayer. I tend to prefer to SAY the the words of the prayers because I think more about what it is I am actually saying.

I want our Bishops to be STRONG! I want the teachings of the Church to be CLEAR! I want to have processions in the streets again on important feast days. I want to say "I am Catholic" and not feel compelled to explain or joke it away like it is a DEFECT. (I must admit I NEVER actually feel this way but I do know of others who are a little embarrassed to say they're Catholic)

Because these types of things are of interest to me I have had occasions when I've Googled a topic to read more on it. I am led to websites that are right in line with my thinking on these matters but as I read on I find other things that absolutely bother me to say the least. I have found on some traditionalist websites a hatred of JPII, Mother Teresa, and of anyone who accepts Vatican II as legitimate. Now I freely admit that I am young and ignorant of all the ins and outs of Vatican II. I am the product of it being born in 1974. But to ridicule and accuse JPII and Mother Teresa of being heretical is just something I cannot agree with.

I see the main difference between the type of Catholicism that these traditionalist desire and the kind that say JPII and Mother Teresa desired is their focus or emphasis. It seems that some traditionalists focus on the beauty and truth found in tradition, while people like JPII and Mother Teresa focused on the beauty of the individual person and the truth of God's Love.

This does not mean that it must be one or the other but rather we must incorporate BOTH into our faith. The points that many traditionalists make about the mass would only serve the purposes of Vatican II better! If we are to go out and evangelize the world and make the Church "relevant" to a modern age then we must seek to emphasise beauty and truth through tradition and of course this means in the Mass as well. It has only HURT the Church that we have discarded the beautiful traditions of the past and watered down our faith. When people go searching for answers they want CLARITY not gobble-d-gook. When they seek God in all His power and majesty they will only be disappointed by the stark walls of a sterilized church without saints, crucifix, or the smell of incense burning.

Yet we must remember the central focus of people like JPII and Mother Teresa who are criticized for embracing Vatican II and its changes. They are criticized for their ecumenism, being seen as too accepting of other religions and other ideologies. One must look more closely at these 2 saints (I believe) to understand that the love, the embrace they gave and offered to others of differing faiths was not out of a lack of commitment to the TRUTH of the One Holy Catholic Church. Rather, the love shown was out of a sense of increased dedication and commitment to the TRUTH of the dignity and value of every human person made in the image and likeness of God.

We must not hold so tight our traditions and our little truths with closed fists, that we fail to recognize the biggest truth - Jesus Himself - in the faces of others, even those who reject our Church and Her wisdom. This is the great lesson we can learn from JPII and Mother Teresa. For myself, a post Vatican II woman living in a world in desperate need of the Truth - Jesus - I would love to see greater unity among Catholics. We should embrace the beauty and truth and holiness that our traditionalist brothers and sisters offer us. Then we could go out into the world and evangelize with greater zeal and most importantly with greater love.

I can see the sense in many of the things the traditionalists criticize. If we are fed at Mass then it only makes sense that a more fulfilling more "meaty" Mass would serve Christ's soldiers better. Yet, I wonder if they too get hung up on certain things out of a sense of pride or stubbornness. Remember we are on the same side fighting the same enemy. I would only ask that the next time I run into a more "traditional" Catholic mom she does not judge me too harshly. Although I may be wearing my shorts and my Old Navy top and may have attended a N.O. mass last Sunday, and can be caught listening to Van Halen's greatest hits in my suburban with my JPII bumper sticker, I'm not all bad! My good sister, in your ankle length hand sewn floral print dress (In 90degree weather no less) who attended a Latin Mass last Sunday and is listening to Latin classics in your suburban, you are loved! I love you! You are my sister and we're on the same side - The Truth - Jesus' side!

The Problem With Female Eucharistic Ministers (to be more precise - Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)

Tim and I have yet to attend a church which does NOT have women who act as Eucharistic ministers at communion time. I must say the whole thing is a real mess in my thinking. I was fortunate to attend a Catholic grade school which was devout and leaned heavily on tradition even in the late 70's early 80's, when that may have been out of "fashion". Therefore my earliest memories of the mass and of receiving Holy Communion, are ones surrounded by mystery, holiness, and a sense of awe and wonder. Those times in my life I credit for keeping me bound to my faith and to the Eucharist even when I was seemingly straying far off the path.

Tim, on the other hand is a convert and for him all he has ever known is the watered down, feminized version of the mass. Women are front and center at mass. They seem to be running the "show" and the priest can (if he lets himself be) become a secondary thought, not to mention JESUS Himself becoming a secondary thought! The worst aspect of all this female "participation" is the young women who act as Eucharistic ministers. Actually the whole concept of Eucharistic ministers is odd to me. I don't feel they're really necessary in most cases. What's the point? Must we race through Holy Communion so quickly? What's the big hurry? Often by the time I get back to my pew and kneel down after receiving, the efficiency of all those "helpful" ministers makes it impossible for me to even have 2 minutes before it's time for the "announcements". Wouldn't it be nice to have Father take the time to distribute Jesus to all of his parish family and the allow them some time for reflection and prayer afterwards? Those who "eat and run" will always be in a hurry to leave after receiving. Why not make this time of the mass more solemn for the rest of us? To add salt to this wound we are often confronted with female Eucharistic ministers that make me feel just a tad uncomfortable. I am hesitant to get in line with them but when I am forced to I tell the Lord that I'm offering it up as a little sacrifice just for Him. I always hope that this small act of penance/charity can somehow cancel out my negative thoughts and my judgements. As usual I sin right through mass even! Speaking of near occasions of sin Tim revealed his level of discomfort from having to receive Jesus from some of the female ministers. He and I both have the bad habit of leaving mass and saying to one another "Did you see what that young girl who was our Eucharistic minster was wearing?" We typically say that we are glad she is involved at mass and loves her faith but boy oh boy shouldn't her mom and dad (specifically dad) tell her to cover up a little for church? I'd never realized the degree to which this bothered Tim. I assumed his discomfort was the same as mine. Turns out it's different for guys. It's worse! He very carefully told me how hard it is to stay focused on Jesus when a young pretty Eucharistic minister is holding the host chest high wearing a low cut tank top. I can only imagine the difficulty and the mental restraint required of all the men who go up to receive. This is why I find the old way a far better way to receive Jesus. I may not be a mantilla wearing Vatican II hater but I surely see the wisdom of the communion rail and the kneelers and the priest and the altar servers(boys of course). If the Holy Eucharist is the high point of the mass and the greatest thing (person) we enjoy as Catholics why then do we choose to dispense it like a lollipop handed out after a good appointment at the doctor's office? "Here's one for you and one for you and another one for you...off you go now to love and serve the Lord...see ya'll again real soon ya hear?"

We Miss Our Friends

Sadly, it's been about a year since we've seen our central Illinois friends. The girls' mom just started her own blog and it's nice to see what they've been up to. My hope is that we can get together before this baby decides to come and my life becomes one consumed by changing diapers and nursing, nursing, nursing.

Baby Boomers - They'll Have a Lot to Answer For...

Free love: Was there a price to pay? : "Baby boomers are chucking down Viagra and sticking on hormone patches so they can still enjoy sex, Coleman says. And their children — in some cases, their grandchildren — are dirty dancing in school gyms, making pornography as a statement of feminist power, using condoms at increasing rates and most of all, talking about sex in ways that were virtually impossible before the 1960s. "

Well, hip hip hooray! Aren't we proud? What an achievement. What a legacy left behind by the "revolutionaries" of the 1960's. It seems we still are insisting on looking at this mess we've made and calling it a great "success". Where is the success? How have we benefitted, what have we gained from this social experiment? I can't find one single solitary upside to the "free love" concept or the subsequent ripples it sent out to the larger culture and to future generations.

Why do women insist on seeing sex as a weapon to be turned against men for their own defense and self-preservation? The men who used their strength and authority to pursue women as sex objects are not threatened by a woman with "sexual power". They are relieved to not have to work so hard at it any longer! "Taking control" of your body and your sexuality, and your fertility, does not entitle a woman to act like the worst of men behaving badly. Rather, it should mean recommitting oneself to the virtues which sought to protect the dignity and honor of women.

What are these virtues? Modesty, chastity, humility, femininity, and an inclination towards children and mothering. Oh how old-fashioned! How naive! How unsophisticated! I can see the feminists and the young modern 20-somethings all roll their eyes at once. But the truth is that they kid themselves into thinking they are liberated women. Truly, they are enslaved more than ever before. The amount of self-delusion and denial and blindness, numbness required of them to eat this crap and then tell us all how delicious it tastes is staggering. For them it must be exhausting as well.

How much longer will they go on pretending it doesn't hurt? How many more generations of girls will be raised to believe that their bodies are to be used as weapons or as bargaining chips for power and control? How many more women will miss the joy, the privilege of being a woman because they have avoided motherhood in all its forms - biological, emotional and spiritual? They go through life saying "I am woman. Hear me roar." But all the while they speak without a woman's voice and act without a woman's heart, trying in vain to mimic men - something they can never be.

If we want our men and our young boys to grow up to be men who love, adore, respect, and appreciate women for their unique and special abilities and gifts then we must lift up our brothers by making them rise to the occassion. If we deny our own roles and reject the very virtues which elevate us we do not liberate ourselves. A woman who acts like a man will be treated not as his equal but rather as his competitor, his rival. Men are all about beatingout the competition you know. Women are they great collaborators, the ones who cooperate in all things. A woman who denies her own womanhood and then calls it "power" puts herself at the greatest disadvantage possible. She becomes not a wolf in sheep's clothing but a sheep in wolf's clothing. She goes out among many wolves who'll sniff her out in a second!

Choice - One Adoption Story

'I Received Grace' MSN Lifestyle : "That anticipation of judgment, pity, and being shunned as an 'outsider' in my own church drew me toward an abortion. I did not anticipate grace from people.
But at the same time, that very same faith drew me away from the abortion. I knew of God's great affection for children, and His fierce desire to protect them. The Bible repeatedly speaks of how God wants us all to be like children. I knew He would not be thrilled if I decided to abort. I anticipated God's anger, which drew me away from an abortion. I did not anticipate grace from God either.
The fact is that I did receive grace. But I had to take a risk to receive it. "

This article is the second part of a two-part series on MSN Lifestyle. The first part is covered in the following post - Choice - One Abortion Story. Like the other story it is also written by a mother dealing with a pregnancy in difficult circumstances. The mother was raped and this resulted in a pregnancy. She tells her story of pain and fear as well.

Ultimately she chose adoption. Her clarity and thoughtfulness are very helpful. She does an excellent job of separating her fear and pain, from the truth of her unborn daughter's value and worth. This allowed her to take the leap of faith which is required of all of us, when we are faced with the terrible and painful experiences life sometimes presents us with.

God's grace and mercy are far greater than any problem we must deal with or overcome. His love for us will prevail. Our willingness to rely on the power of that love will be the true test, the true choice we must make. We either rely on His love to heal and choose life, or we deny the power of that love and choose death because we no longer allow ouselves to hope - we despair.

For all those women who are hanging on by a a thread of hope - do not despair. Choose life and know that you are loved. Choose life and see the awesome power of love work miracles in your life.

Choice - One Abortion Story

Why I Chose Abortion - MSN Lifestyle : "Real Life: Why I Chose Abortion
The easiest choice I've ever made is also the hardest to live with."

This article is written by a wife and mother who chose to abort her first baby due to fetal abnormalities. The baby was wanted and loved but when it was diagnosed with life threatening deformities (of the spine) he/she was aborted.


I encourage all of you interested in the issue of life and abortion "rights" to read this article in full. I feel that this woman's story typifies what many other women feel in these situations - fear. Fear can often convince us that we are making the most responsible or compassionate choice. Fear can drive the most loving of mothers to doubt her own capcity to deal and cope with a difficult and ultimately doomed pregnancy. But we are stronger than we think.

The little one who was taken from this world violently was not spared the pain of a short and tortured life. Rather this little one (and millions like him or her) are denied the opportunity to live (even if that means for mere moments) in a world that says "welcome - you are wanted here".

I must say...I produce cute "fruit"

With Tim and God's help of course...

Being "Open to Life" - Revisited at the Family Reunion

"I thank God that I've learned the most important lesson about 'being open to life' from a simple woman named Leona - It's WORTH it!" This is a line from a previous post http://kristhinks.blogspot.com/2007/05/being-open-to-life-its-not-always-easy.html , and was again reinforced yesterday for me. Yesterday was a family reunion for us. My mom's side of the family all got together on the same property that most of them were raised/grew up on as children. There was a big turn out. Needless to say there were many aunts, uncles, and cousins (second, third, twice-removed, etc.) there that I didn't even know or remember. I am happy that we went.





It was a shock to my kids' systems to see and be around so many (loud) people! We live so far away from extended family and we generally don't socialize with large groups of people, that for them it was a tad bit overwhelming. As for me? I loved it! I live for a loud crowded party of multi-generational folks all telling stories and laughing loudly. There was much laughter and some tears shed as well. It was difficult and yet also wonderful to see my cousins Mary and Ann there. They are two daughters of my beloved aunt Bonnie. Seeing them just triggered something in me and I shed tears just looking at them...





After a time, and lots and lots of brownies, cake, and cookies, my kiddos had "warmed up" and were runnin' around with the rest of the gang. It brought back good memories for me to see them chasing their cousins around the yard in between stops at the sweets table to "refuel". Uncle Bob and aunt Peg were there and the "Chicago clan" as we like to call them. I always love to see uncle Bob and aunt Peg. They have a special place in my heart. Gloria came too of course (my second mother) as she is family through love not blood. The individual families took turns gathering for pictures in front of gram and gramp's original grape vine (that is now huge I might add!maybe 25 feet long?). Gram sure made a lot of great jelly from those grapes. It was fitting that we should pose there.









He is the vine we are the branches. A family, like a vine, is judged by its fruit. So, there we were, the fruit, lining up in front of this great symbol. Grandma and grandpa planted that vine and now it has grown so large and it continues to bear good fruit. But what shall we do with the gifts we've been given? Will we let the fruit rot on the vine? No. We must allow ourselves to be crushed, pressed, and then offer up the best , the sweetest parts of ourselves for the benefit and service of others. This is the call of every family - to ground itself in the Lord - to grow and bear fruit - for each little one to be pressed and changed. Then to unite these efforts and produce great things for all to enjoy. I pray that each one of us can respond to this call.









We have been so blessed by the size of our family and the Catholic identity we share. We must never fail to see this as a blessing. Then we must go out into the world and share this good news - large families are not a curse or an embarrassing "accident" or a result of the ignorance of simpletons who lack self control (or birth control). They are a blessing and an opportunity to produce great things which benefit this world greatly. We should not be ashamed, but rather proud that we are part of His vine and that we have many many branches that can serve the Lord. We too often take for granted what gram did by dismissing her sacrificies as the work of a saint we ourselves cannot follow or repeat.









She surely is a saint now in heaven but she was just one simple woman who said "yes" to God over and over again. In the end the vine that sprung from Tom and Leona must be seen as God's work not simply their work. Gram MUST have known this and THAT is why she willingly CHOSE to have 13 babies. She lived her life to serve the Lord not Tom. His grumpy often over bearing nature can cloud this truth and make us all miss the higher lesson we must learn from Leona. She may have been submitting to Tom and as a result seemed to be allowing herself to be abused. This is a notion we reject as "modern" people on the grounds of dignity and justice. This is very well true - gram DID deserve to be treated with greater dignity and with far greater fairness. But she must have seen past her crosses and gazed upon her Master - the owner of the vineyard. He gave her the strength and the singular purpose she required to carry on with her work. And so, she produced much fruit and it was sweet fruit she shared with the world. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the Master of the vineyard.









When we are tempted to cut off branches refusing to produce fruit for fear or for self indulgence let us see the error of our ways. Every person at that reunion was wanted by the Lord - the owner of the vineyard. Every person, every child who ran around with joy, every baby in its mother's arms and in the womb is called to be here - to be good fruit forthe world.







This world is STARVING!
So let us bear much fruit and feed this hungry hungry world.