A Taste of Heaven?

This morning as we were saying the rosary before the Latin Mass began it was announced that Father would hear confessions. It is the first time in my life that I have been able to go to Confession BEFORE Mass and it was such a joyful experience. To go to Mass and receive Communion knowing that you truly are in a state of grace is such a blessing. From Rosary to Confession to Mass ... what a taste of heaven.

Moments of Despair

It is easy for Catholics to despair for our beloved country. We have abortion on demand, no one questions it now although many of us did for years and years but were ignored. Last week our Prime Minister (who I voted for alas) said casually that he supported gay marriage and all three main political parties are vying for the honour of bringing the issue to parliament. This week the PM said he couldn't see any reasons against gay adoption although very few babies are offered for adoption in NZ (they're mostly aborted)and heterosexual couples who hope to adopt have to pass stringent suitability tests and even after they have passed those, may have to wait for years or even forever. There is no uproar, no fight back. the bills will be passed without any doubt. All of us who have fought in the past are tired and exhausted at getting nowhere for years and sadly the Church here seems more outspoken about "social justice" issues than moral ones.It's easy to despair and sometimes I have low moments when I do. But God only asks us to do what we can, so I pray and speak out when I can but mostly I just trust Him who is Lord of all - even New Zealand.

Getting Old

Most of us dread getting old, I know I did. On my 50th birthday I cried all day. My workmates had planned a wonderful celebration for me, I received flowers, gifts and a huge party from my wonderful children...but I just cried and cried because I thought I getting old. But now I am old and I wonder with amusement and a little shame, why I cried. OK there are lots of irritating health issues. I told my doctor recently that I felt like an old car that keeps having to be patched up when really what the owner needs is a NEW car. He laughed at me. But old age brings lots of blessings: maturity, peace, the appreciation of the beauty in our lives, the love of grandchildren, tolerance and ...perhaps most of all, time. And one day, fairly soon, this old body WILL be replaced with a glorious new one(I hope and pray)! Won't it be wonderful to see Him "Face to face"? Yes, getting old is pretty cool.

Mother's Day

Many years ago I read in C.S.Lewis's "That Hideous Strength" of a woman who, although actually barren, was described as looking like "a matriarch, mother of mothers, grave, formidable and august." I have always loved that expression and when my daughter put HER first daughter in my arms I thought with tears "I am the mother of a mother." That is why I love Mother's Day. To be a mother of mothers, and a mother of a father is beyond description. Many other thoughts fill my mind; my own Mother, long since passed away, and our Blessed Mother truly a Mother of us all. That's why I love Mother's day.

RememberingJesus

I often have to remind myself that being a Catholic is about having a relationship with Jesus. I find it so easy to slide into thinking it's about the liturgy (good or bad) or the priests (good or not-so-good) or fellow parishioners (good or bad) or any other burning topic, but it's not, it's about Jesus. The Church gives us many, many occasions to focus on Him; we have the Mass, Holy Hours, the rosary and other prayers, and we have our fellow Catholics who are Christs to us. But my mind slips and slithers and and I grasp onto the shell of the devotion and disregard the kernel. Praise God for Confession where we are pulled back into that wonderful, loving relationship.

Autumn

Autumn is with us at last. Every year I forget how much I love it: beautiful trees in gorgeous colours, abundant fruit hanging or falling off trees, log fires and brisk walks in the pale sunshine thanking God for the beauty he surrounds us with. If He makes this beauty for our short years on Earth, what must Heaven, the permanent home He planned for us, be like?

Jam Making

As Alex has discovered his inner cook late in life, he has further discovered his inner jam maker! He loves making jam and marmalade. As we are a small family he only makes small amounts at a time, and he always gives some of it away. A few weeks ago he felt a jam making mood come on him. We only had a handful of plums, so he used those and got a few fejoas off a neighbour's tree, found some frozen berries in the freezer and made a small pot of jam out of them. It is delicious and tastes like, and has the texture of, strawberry jam even though its label says "Plum, fejoa and berry jam". As I write he is making crabapple jelly from the crab apples in our garden. He always makes his jam outside on a gas ring he bought for that purpose. It is an idyllic sight from my window, the sun shining and the jam bubbling away happily and Alex pottering and stirring. I think he's really enjoying it. And we'll both enjoy the result.