Messy Buns & Latin Chant

Whenever I spend time with converts to Catholicism, I am inspired by their passion for our Faith. We cradle Catholics tend to take our Faith for granted, and we often forget how amazing Christ's Church really is. As I drifted off to sleep last night, and as I drank my almost daily pot of coffee (heyo, toddler mom life) this morning, I spent some time reflecting on my favorite aspects of the Catholic Church. There are far too many to list, but these are what are on my heart now this evening. Catholics have a monopoly on Truth. We don't have to just say, "We believe that this is true", we can also say, "We know this is true." Jesus told us that He is "the Truth" (John 14:6) and that He left His Church the fullness of Truth. While we may not completely understand the teachings of the Church at all times, we have the surety that Her teachings are infallible and will always lead us to God. The Truth we have is not something stagnant or quie...

I was scrolling through SiriusXM and stopped to listen to the Catholic Channel for a hot minute, and the host was asking people what they thought of married priests. He himself wasn't opposed in principle, more just in practice. A parishioner from a parish in my area called in and said that he loved having a married priest as a pastor, and he thought that should be the rule not the exception. His biggest reason was that his priest could give excellent advice as a parent and as a husband. He found it preposterous that an unmarried priest could even begin to counsel a married couple or a parent since he would have no point of reference. An unmarried priest can't relate to married couples? Baloney. A classic bachelor might not quite get it, but a priest is by no means your run of the mill single guy. When priests are ordained, they become a representative of Christ. They become married to His Church, just like nuns become married to Jesus. The Catholic Church is the spo...

I grew up at what was then the most traditional parish in our diocese. About half of the women there veiled; none of the nine girls in my family did. I had a brief encounter with the practice when I was about nine or ten, but I remember it more as a chance to play dress up than a pious practice. My strongest memory of it was a distinct perception (real or not) of holier-than-thouness from the ladies who did.  Now that the Motu Proprio has been around for a decade, I am seeing many of my peers begin to veil. Not only do most of the women--young and old-- at the local Tridentine Mass veil, as to be expected, but some of my best friends do as well. Even my two sisters-in-law who don't even go to a Latin Mass on the regular walk into church sporting lovely lace over their heads.  At first I thought it was just peer pressure telling me I needed to go buy a mantilla. But a nagging voice (oh hey there, conscience) has been bothering me for over a year, and after this past ...

One of my major guilty pleasures is my disdain for mediocre church music. I had the great satisfaction of making a black list for our parish last week and came across some positively awful pieces that are too delicious to keep to myself, and some that I have had on my black list for years. Here are the best (or worst) ones: Th e King of Glory After Stephen Colbert's rendition, I can't imagine anyone taking this seriously anymore. I challenge anyone under 40 not to think of  Stephen Colbert's rendition  when they hear it.  Not being all that great to begin with, I think it is safe to say that the song is ruined forever by his performance.  Walk in the Reign I confess, I have never heard this song. The title alone is enough to earn my scorn. Offertory doesn't seem to be the time for cheesy puns. On Eagle's Wings It’s the yoo-hoo song! I actually don't mind the sound of this. But after playing it at almost every funeral (just today actually)...