Saint Profile: St. Francis de Sales

Today is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, a Church Doctor and the patron of authors, writers, deaf, and journalists. He followed the will of his father so much so that he did not tell him of his desire to be a priest until he was absolutely certain of God’s will. He refused to do anything prematurely, lest he follow his own will rather than the Lord’s. And how did he know that the priesthood was truly what God wanted for him? He fell from his horse three times, each time causing his sword to come out of his scabbard and make the shape of a cross. If that isn’t proof of God’s visible presence in our lives, I don’t know what is.

Advertisement

Let This Year Be Done

As I begin to think of the new year ahead, I am starting to think of my mission. My mission on this blog, my mission in life, my mission in faith, and my mission for the world. I began this blog almost exactly a year ago, and since then it has been something that I have felt fulfills my mission not only in faith, but in life. Fiat, or “let it be done unto me” is the phrase that started me on this journey, and is the phrase that adheres me to it as well.

I Woke Up Like This: 21 Things I Took Away From Missouri Fine Arts Academy

This past month I was fortunate enough to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA), a graciously state-funded inter-disciplinary arts academy on the campus of Missouri State University. The experience was unlike anything I had ever imagined myself having, and I am grateful for every minute of it. The community created at the academy spurred such a profound emotional response from students and faculty alike that to say I learned a lot about myself as an artist is an understatement. I learned about myself as a human being. I learned about art in society, about the changes that are occurring in our country right now and how they are affecting my generation, about collaboration, that there are people like me out there struggling in their situations the same way I am in mine, and a million other things that I don’t even know if I could put into words. In order to give you an idea of what I have been a part of the past three weeks, I have tried to pair the learning, laughter, and tears down to one for each day of the life-changing experience that is MFAA.

1. 99 is not 100.
2. You learn by doing.
3. Entertainment gives you what you are expecting; art leaves you to connect the dots yourself.
4. Snapping is a great way to recognize how profound something is without interrupting…unless it’s during Father’s homily.
5. Education is an angelic troublemaker.
6. You do not always wake up flawless, but it is always the proper response to “I woke up like this.”
7. To collaborate is to create something bigger than yourself.
8. Cereal gets the right of way. (in the dining hall)
9. WE ALL HAVE NERVES.
10. If something is deemed “unspeakable”, it is almost a sure sign that it must be discussed.
11. If you have a fall back plan you’ll fall back on it.
12. To fight for others to be accepting of you, you must first be accepting of them.
13. Sometimes the words that best describe things are not words.
14. The point of some art is to create a strong response.
15. “Leaving Jesus out of it” ensures that you will find more of Him in it.
16. We feel in tempos.
17. Sometimes the best actors are not those of the theater discipline.
18. Dr. Pepper and Muddy Buddies can fix almost anything.
19. When a man says he hears angels singing, he hears angels singing. ~Mary Oliver
20. Sometimes the best way to be creative is to think inside the box with your out of the box ideas.
21. You don’t need wings to fly.

This Too Shall Pass

A wise woman named Corrie ten Boom once said: “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.” As the German Blitzkrieg spread through the Netherlands, her room held a secret closet that could conceal up to six Jews. Her actions have been estimated to have saved over 800 lives. I bet that she told the men, women, and children she harbored something similar to “this too shall pass”. Later, when she would be imprisoned by the Gestapo, I’m sure she told herself the same thing. Though the terrors of the Holocaust are far beyond that which most of us can relate to, we all face times of great turmoil in our lives. 

The Paradox of the Passion

Please, Lord, 
I'm not worth it. 

Not worth 
the pain 
the stain 
the strife 

Not worth 
the tears 
the fears 
or Your own life 

The hour has come 
for You to go

But please, 
don't do it 
for me 

I am the one 
who nails You 
the one 
who bails on You 
the one 
who denies 

I am the one 
who cheats on You 
the one 
who beats on You 
the one 
who lies 

And still You stop me 

And still You say 

You are worth 
the agony 
and worth 
the Way to Calvary 
and worth 
putting my life on the line 

Because 
you are good 
because 
you withstood 
because 
you are Mine.

When God Lowers the Kneeler

I don’t know about you, but I am fully prepared to petition that the month of February be officially removed from the calendar (sorry those of you with February birthdays!). One needs a lot of endurance to make it through February sanely. Though teachers can get a lot of work done during the month, students are struggling to stay with the program-even the ones who agreed to it in the first place. For me, one crazy thing happened after another, and though most things in my life were in place, it felt like anything but. 

Keep Your Eyes Open

I’ve always been one to hope for miracles. When my godmother, Betty Lou, passed away, I was left a little gold-colored bean bag angel holding a star that says “Expect Miracles”, and after looking at it every day, I guess I’ve begun to.

A True Disciple of Christ

This past Sunday I was at a loss for words. I learned that the assistant principal of my grade school, Mrs. Susan Ponder, passed away that morning. For those of you who have never met this wonderful woman of God, she was the epitome of our school mission long before we stated it. At St. Joseph Cathedral School, the students recite in their sleep: “We will be disciples of Christ and fishers of men.” With the example of Mrs. Ponder, we are certainly on our way to doing just that. 

Parce Domine (Spare, Lord)

Can it be that Lent is upon us so soon? I know that I, for one, am not ready. Though I am ready for Christ’s triumph, I am steadfast in my complacency and my sin. Change my ways? Ehh, better not. I will, however, vow to not eat sweets and work out three times a week, because “giving up” and “adding” things will help me reach my goal of a smaller weight!

Though I have never taken part in Lenten work-outs, I have given up sweets in the hopes that it will lead me to a better lifestyle; and while neither of these are always bad things to do for Lent, we must do them for the right reasons (ie; not because you want to lose weight!).

Catholic Education Appreciation Post!

What a wonderful liberty it is to be able to write such a title! In a world that still struggles so greatly with religious persecution, I feel so blessed to have not only grown up within a huge community of faithful, but to have received a formal education within that community as well.