Friday...Foto...Faith

The Lawn Guest House, Gatwick, England

When I was thinking about a photo to post for this Friday...I started thinking about how the Pope is visiting the UK and that brought back a memory of when Stephen and I went to England in 2000 and stayed at this really quaint B&B near the Gatwick airport. I couldn't remember the name, but when I did a Google search and this picture popped up...I thought to myself "that's it!". I'm pretty positive this is the B&B we stayed at. It was super affordable, the owners were really nice and they made an awesome breakfast in the mornings. I also love the Victorian architecture of this house. So funny story about this house and that trip. The house was only about 300 yards to the main line rail station which we hopped on a train and went into London about 40 minutes away. Stephen and I spent the entire day and evening touring the sites in London. We even happened to catch an American NFL game at a pub downtown...the Patriots and Vikings were playing. I was worried though that we would miss the last train going back to Gatwick. So we made sure we were on that train. It was super late and we were both tired. Stephen told me to go ahead and nap and he would make sure we got off when we made it to our stop. Well....Stephen fell asleep on the train too! We slept right through our station stop and rode the train all the way back to the airport! Whoops! So once we got to the airport (I was so mad at Stephen for falling asleep too!) we took a cab back to our B&B. Since it's a house, we had to enter through the front door (our room was all the way on the top floor) so we were trying to be quiet as to not wake the other guests...but it was dark and we had so much trouble unlocking the front door! The keys were these old fashioned keys. We finally got it unlocked. What a memorable night!

This Foto and story about the keys, and the Pope's visit to the UK all made me think of this verse:
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." Matt. 16:19
As a Catholic I believe this verse Jesus shows us the tie to establish the Davidic kingdom forever on earth and the "keys" undeniably represent authority, that Jesus gives Peter authority on earth over the new Davidic kingdom. Catholics believe like in the old Davidic kingdom it is preserved through a succession of representatives - so therefore Peter would have successors and the keys would be passed on.
 
The Pope is in the United Kingdom to help promote the Re-Christianizing of the European continent. Europe is being taken over by Islam. The Pope said today:
"Among the differing gifts which Saint Paul lists for the building up of the Church is that of teaching (cf. Rom 12:7). The preaching of the Gospel has always been accompanied by concern for the word: the inspired word of God and the culture in which that word takes root and flourishes...I urge you to lead lives worthy of our Lord (cf. Eph 4:1) and of yourselves...There is only one thing which lasts: the love of Jesus Christ personally for each one of you. Search for him, know him and love him, and he will set you free from slavery to the glittering but superficial existence frequently proposed by today’s society."
As Christians we all need to unite and keep spreading the good news of the Gospel because in this world there still remains millions of lost and unbelievers.
 
"By your work you show what you love and what you know." - St. Bruno
 
I love the Lord. So today I am thankful from the message from the Pope, who holds the keys, to encourage and remind me as a Christian on what is most important, and that is sharing Jesus' love.

Friday...Foto...Faith

The Lord has turned all our sunsets into sunrise. -- St. Clement of Alexandria

I thought this photo and this quote would be perfect for this Friday's blog post. It's hard to believe the 9 year anniversary of 9/11 is tomorrow. I will never forget that morning. I wonder today how all of the families are doing who lost loved ones that day. Did they find their "sunrise" after such a horrible tragedy? I pray so.

God created shadows to better emphasize the light. -- Pope John XXIII

Friday...Foto...Faith

Photo by Ricardo B. Brazziell/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
I thought this photo was inspiring in so many ways. It was taken at the St. Mary Cathedral in downtown Austin, I've posted about it before here. Every time I enter a Catholic church I'm always humbled by the crucifix which is usually front and center, it's a constant reminder...to behold the image of Jesus hanging on the cross is to recognize the greatest event in history. I also love how this photographer captured this scene, with the praying hands in the darkness but Christ in the lightness. Often when people are tested and struggling (in darkness) we pray and Christ (lightness) always hears and answers our prayers.

A few weeks ago I was prayerfully considering to volunteer as a catechist for our parish's religious ed CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes. Catechises is an education in the faith of children teaching them of Christian doctrine with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life. A catechist is one who engages in such religious instruction. The primary catechists for children are their parents. I am so thankful though to my own CCD teachers from when I was a child and also for the ones Madeline has had. I struggle with applying myself to volunteer my time to anything because I feel like I don't have much free time, but I long to give my time. So I emailed our parish that I would love to volunteer, and I figured if God wanted this for me then they would contact me back. Well it looks like I will be aiding another teacher and we will have a classroom full of 3rd and 4th graders! I'll be right next door to Madeline's class. I can't wait to meet and get to know these kids and help them learn about our faith!

"Not 100 in the United States hate the Roman Catholic Church, but millions hate what they mistakenly think the Roman Catholic Church is." -- Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Catechising kids who are open and willing to learn is much different than catechising those who are not open and willfully ignorant. Earlier this week I posted about some frustration I was experiencing. Some of you may and some not know that I like to engage with Protestants over why there is a division between them and the Catholic Church. You see I take no offense to them objecting or even claiming my Catholic faith is based upon false teaching. What I do take to offense is when they argue over the teachings, they clearly misunderstand the teachings and are not willing to learn what the Church truly teaches. I then find the debate dishonest and lacking integrity. If you are ever going to get to the root of a problem or issue then it must be done in all honesty and with integrity.

"Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness." St. John of Capistrano

So now I am inspired to do a series of posts titled "Misunderstood" about the true teachings of the Catholic Church. Be on the lookout for them in the near future!

Friday...Foto...Faith

Sunset at Port Aransas beach on the coast of Texas.

I've seen some beautiful beaches in my travels. And after we moved to Texas, I surely did not think we would find any here in this state. I was pleasantly surprised the summer of 09 when we took a trip down to Port Aransas and I marveled at what a beautiful beach we have here in this state. The water was pleasant like that of a tropical island beach and the sand was soft like from a dune.

It constantly amazes me that men and women wander the earth marveling at the highest mountains, the deepest ocean, the whitest sands, the most exotic islands, the most intriguing birds of the air and fish of the sea – and all the time never stop to marvel at themselves and realize their infinite potential as human beings. Matthew Kelly, The Rhythm of Life

I'm guilty of this quote. I've marveled at so many places in this world, amazed by God's handy work - when I've been reluctant to see the amazing work He's created in me. He's given me potential to love, and faith working in love is something to marvel at.

The cross reminds us that there is no true love without suffering, there is no gift of life without pain. Pope Benedict XVI

Maybe I am reluctant to marvel at myself because my life has included suffering and pain. But like B16's quote states, it's the evidence of true love.

God is Love. We eventually have to ask ourselves the question; why was Love nailed to a cross? Pope John Paul II

I can now understand the answer to that question...because it was true love. So work out your faith in love and you will be amazed and marvel.

Friday...Foto...Faith

Nadi, Viti Levu Island, Fiji. I will always remember taking this long drive from the airport to our secluded beach front bure on Natadola Beach Road. Stephen and I were newlyweds on our honeymoon and we thought we were in the movie Romancing the Stone when we changed from our taxi bus to a rinky dink station wagon, to make the rest of our drive down a steep, dirt road to our secluded resort. I remember looking at my new husband with a little bit of fear thinking, "where are these people taking us!". We of course look back and laugh about it now.

"Faith comes to intelligence as a light that overflows it with joy and inspires it with a certitude that does away with question." Etienne Gilson

As I mentioned in the story above I experienced some fear for a moment...but my faith quickly took over, I had faith in God that no matter what happened to us (like that rinky dink car going off the cliff) we would be protected by Him. And I had faith in my husband that he would do everything in his power to assure my safety. After we arrived to our beautiful, hidden resort we had the best honeymoon ever.

So how do you define Faith?

Peace is not just the absence of war. Like a cathedral, peace must be constructed patiently and with unshakable faith. Pope John Paul II

I love this quote from JPII because for me it is was defines Faith...peace. My faith in God (and in my husband) brings about peace in my life. Faith also brings about a patience to my life. I can be patient because I know God is in control: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11

Friday...Foto...Faith

I'm going to attempt to do a weekly blog post on Fridays called, "Friday...Foto...Faith". Two places in my life I gain inspiration from are from Art (including paintings, photography, sculpture and architecture) and from my Faith. So each Friday I will post a "Foto" from a location I've traveled to or want to travel to, or of something that inspires me. And then along with the "Foto" I will post something about everyday life and how I am inspired to deal with it according to my "Faith". I hope my avid blog readers will enjoy the weekly posts!


A cold winter day in the Netherlands on a canal. I love the old architecture and the bicycles that adorn this canal. Holland is one of my favorite places to visit.

Have you ever given someone the cold shoulder or has someone given it to you? Why do people do this? One of the obvious reasons a person ignores someone is to show disapproval, displeasure, or anger. It is also used as a weapon to get even. A relationship will suffer when you pretend that it is not happening. This is especially true if it is your normal way of communicating your needs and emotions. I thought this "Foto" went well with my "Faith" topic as the swans appear to be ignoring each other on this cold day.

Communicate. Talk. Understand each other.

Stephen knows I'm a big advocate of communicating. I feel it's a means of understanding someone or something. People see things differently. Nobody knows what's going on in your head. You have to remember that people, even those closest to you and have known you for a long time, can't read your mind. So you shouldn't assume that he/she knows what you are upset about. So communicate. Talk about feelings. Build the trust and respect.

Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. Romans 15: 5