Contrariwise

I was actually in this carnival (with my post about Cardinal Arinze, language, and liturgy), and I didn’t even get to read it until tonight. I lose.

Red Neck Woman at Posts from the Catholic Spitfire Grill writes about learning from the example of St. Catherine of Siena as she reads a biography of her to her children. First of all, I have to applaud her for taking such an active role in her kids’ catechesis! Second, I love St. Catherine of Siena, too. I keep a favorite quote from her on a virtual Post-It on my desktop: “If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire.” RNW draws from St. Catherine’s example of admonishing the sinner by prayer and good example. I know calling out obvious sin is a corporal work of mercy, but we are also called to do all things in love. Somehow it just doesn’t feel like love to walk up to someone and shout, “SINNER!” Sacrificing your own time and spirit for the conversion of sinners—now that’s love.

Sieglinde at Eastward, Catholic Soldiers! offer us an older post about confession as a stumbling block of faith. I am sure that so many people would enter the Church if not for confession. Now, don’t think I’m advocating getting rid of such a crucial sacrament—far, far from it. I agree with Sieglinde that it’s a lack of faith in the sacrament. If you don’t truly believe that the “man” to whom you’re confessing is just a conduit for Jesus (like he is during every other sacrament), then confession seems ludicrous. Once you do, though, nothing will ever feel quite as euphoric as that post-confession high.

Marcel of Aggie Catholics posts about the evils of pornography and fighting pornography addiction. CDA observes White Ribbons Against Pornography (WRAP) Week every year at the CSC. This year, I left a white ribbon pinned to my backpack as a daily witness. I can’t stress how destructive I believe pornography is, but Marcel does a great job. Over the summer, I read the pastoral letter Bought With a Price by Bishop Loverde of Alexandria. It was fabulous; download the PDF or read it at the link. My favorite part of Bishop Loverde’s letter is the final section about holy use of our sight. These eyes are the same ones we will use to behold the face of God. The last thing we want to do is mar them with the memories of unholy images like pornography.

Most encouraging is Denise’s post at Catholic Matriarch in My Domestic Church about a pro-life homily her priest gave on the Sunday preceding the March for Life. Bravo for him! I remember being similarly shocked and overjoyed when two visiting concelebrating priests gave a long homily on Humanae Vitae at my family’s old parish. I’m so glad her priest connected artificial contraception to the wider acceptance of abortion. When you’ve been fighting conceiving for so long, it’s only natural to try to fight back if you do happen to conceive. Thirty-five years of legalized abortion is long enough. Let’s go back to giving human rights to unborn humans, too.