New Beginnings

In another few weeks our Yukon Gold potatoes can be dug. In the meantime, the hydrangeas, roses, peonies, and other perennials need fertilizing.

As one season of the garden passes and the canning is done, we plan and prepare for our Fall garden. The veg that sweetens with a kiss of frost are the best for Fall. Cabbages and collards, kale and garlic make up the tasty landscape. Tilling under the old garden is a promise of new beginnings, new growth, and new harvests.

In Lectio Divina, the prayerful reading of the Scriptures, we hope to be able to till and fertilize our souls for new growth and harvests. May God bless both gardens.

That's me away.

God Bless America ...

and prayers for our dear military who are in harm's way protecting our freedoms. I hope you enjoy this beautiful rendition, tis well done.

The Year of the Priesthood

May God bless the Workers in the Vineyard, our Priests. The Catechism tells us that we are also a priesthood after a fashion. We must help our priests by being the change we want to see in others. Parish hopping and whining does not help us nor our parish.

In this year of the priesthood, let us help our priests who cannot do it all: we must tuck into the fray and help in ministry to our brothers and sisters. We must honor God with our lives, pray, and practice the virtues. Let us a be a positive influence, not a whinger nor whiner.

That's me away.

A mini meditation:
How can you be excused if -- at a time when others are persecuted, exiled, and otherwise harassed -- you do not exert yourself for your distressed people, either by your presence or by your teaching?
St. John Chrysostom (347-407AD) on Persecution

Something to think about: Christians in the Middle East are being killed just for believing...in what light does this place your reluctance to "stand out" by wearing a head covering?
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The young apple trees are heavy with fruit. Tulip poplar saplings that grow like weeds here make excellent sturdy props for the burdened branches. God is good to us with His blessings of fruit. We hope to have enough for the applesauce and the apple butter come fall.

The bee broods have been very strong this year. We always leave at least half of the honey for the bees: it is their natural food, full of the very elements needed to keep them healthy and try to feed as little sugar syrup as possible during the winter unless the weather becomes too harsh.

The garden is busy sprouting the peas and beans, small pickling cucumbers are weighing on the vines. God blesses us indeed.

That's me away then.

The killing of George Tiller grieves us greatly. While this man was one of the few doctors who performed late term abortions, we believe in LIFE for everyone.

Please pray for Dr. Tiller's soul as that is the Christian thing to do. Also please pray for the pro-life movement which will now be vilified because of this needless act of violence. Violence is never the solution. EVERY life is precious to God. May Jesus have mercy on us all.

Breaking ground

We till and we toil the soil for a good harvest. Inputs and outcomes. The amount of effort we put into a garden will often show good results. The Christian walk is a garden too: we must always put a good effort into it if we expect to grow in Our Lord.

So let us put away sloth and procrastination and resolve each day to work on our harvest of soul and garden.
That's me away.

Plain Catholic Primer ©2009 - The Good Parish

© 2009
It takes a genuine faith to BE the example rather than looking for another to set the example. If WE are the EXAMPLE, then like leaven in bread, any parish will rise because of our positive and genuine presence. Priests are human too. They need to see that there are parishioners who exude the genuine love of the Gospel and who are willing to cooperate with the good works of the parish without being "holier" or "proud" or whiners who complain all the time.

Priests need this encouragement: just read St. Paul's writings where he speaks of how he is encouraged by the example set by a given community...and he was a SAINT! We must first seek to BE the parish we want to be in. It may take awhile but others will clue into it and join you in being a positive and joyful presence. Only the terminally grumpy will continue in their whining. So let us BE the Good Parish in a humble and joyful way, not talking the walk but walking the walk and others will gladly join us. As St. Paul reminds us repeatedly:

• If we make a mistake we must admit it.
• If we see a need, we must seek quietly to help meet it with no fanfare for ourselves.
• If another makes a mistake do not grouse nor nitpick the person, quietly set it right.
• Comment only on the positives of the parish; pray about the negatives without saying a word to another and thus avoid spreading the sin of gossip and detraction.
• Thank your priest and those who volunteer in your parish frequently.
  

We must encourage and support our priests who carry the heavy burden for us. It will help to create good parishes where ever we are. As Pope John Paul II reminded us:

We need a docile heart in order to build an exemplary Christian community. We need a spirit that is strong in the faith in order to proclaim the love of God that conquers sin and saves in Christ Who died and is risen. Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005AD)

That's me away then.