Our Faith and Home

For this post I just wanted to say something about my neighbors. I don't want to make this a long post but I do want to pay some respect to my neighbors. They are Hindu from Fiji, and very nice people. I can't complain about them. Their household consist of a mother, father, two kids as well as the elderly parents. A nuclear family who know how to take care of each other. The husband, Amitesh and his wife work, while the grandparents stay home and the kids go to school.  in 2021 when my uncle Frank died these neighbors brought cases of water, and food to my aunts house on a couple occasions. And they never stopped saying "is there anything we can do for you?" Maybe it was because my aunt always made sure to give them some of the bread that we made every year for Saint Joseph's day, or her Italian cookies that everyone loved. But I think it is also that they are caring and neighborly people.  When my aunt was getting sicker this family never hesitated to ask about

   St. Jerome: "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." It could be argued that I prefer Thomas Kempis "Imitation of Christ" to Holy Scripture. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is no better way to know and understand God, God's Love and His Son Jesus Christ than reading the Bible. What many seem to forget is the human part of Jesus, who suffered all of the emotions we suffer. He offered each and every one up to His father in Heaven. He was glorified, yet persecuted. He was accepted, yet betrayed. He was understood and misunderstood at the same time. Yet, He set the best example possible as to how we must lead our lives. This was the influence on Thomas Kempis.  Brother Kempis wrote this book in a monastery for his fellow Brothers. Not only did he write, but led by example. We may not live in a monastery as we know it and we are not part of such a brotherhood, but, in the great scheme of things, God's plan. We live in a world where we de

   I think the lie that irks me the most is: "The devil made me do it." My response: "Fool!" Sorry for the abruptness, but the devil is not allowed, by God, to make anyone do anything. I've referred to God's gift of Free Will as both a blessing and a curse. This is before I knew of St. Augustine's quote, above. Every book I've read, regarding spiritual warfare, and I've read many, will aver that God does allow the devil to tempt, but cannot will anyone to sin. We do that by all by our precious selves. Flip someone off in traffic? That wasn't the demon but yourself. Sure, the demonic whispered in your ear, but the action was yours and you're alone. The evil one whispered in my ear a lot while maturing, and I blamed the low life devil. I was kidding myself, actually destroying myself. (I actually used to say a daily prayer, "Please God, don't let me destroy myself." It worked, as I no longer say that prayer... perhaps those da

   Catchy image huh? Now that I have other posts published I've decided to ease up a tad and present my humorous side. But, this picture has a purpose and meaning to me. Couple that with a quote by Pope St. John Paul II:  "Stupidity is also a gift from God, but one mustn't misuse it." ( NOTE:   I've received many very good suggestions how to approach Kempis in these posts. But, like the book I wrote, I make this about me ONLY because I don't want anyone to make the same mistakes I've made in the past and pray for conversion of all. Thus, I am very transparent., almost to a fault.) Beloved:  If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good,  this is a grace before God.  For to this you have been called,  because Christ also suffered for you,  leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. -1 Peter 2 My friends, I have destroyed many relationships over the years. And when one mars a relationship, communication is virtually  nonexist

Catholic Answers : The Elevation of Mary :       This is an article I wrote awhile ago and recently revised it.  It is answering many of the objections Christians have to Mary.  Why do Catholics elevate Mary?   Like all of us, Mary was in need of salvation, but Christ elevated her as His Mother.      She was saved... Continue reading this article by clicking here ... Thank you!  Books by me Joanne Utke What do Catholics Believe?

This past week we celebrated the life of my aunt Grace who passed on to The Lord on April 12th, which is also the anniversary of her father's passing many years ago.  My aunt suffered a lot with her health over the years but her mind and her faith never never failed her. Every week she went to mass and prayed her rosary prayers. After my uncle's mind failed him she could no longer go to mass unless someone else took her. She never drove a car and relied on her husband and others in the family to help her. After her body started to fail her, she could no longer go to mass but watched faithfully at home thanks to EWTN Catholic television.  She also continued to pray her rosary prayers with Mother Angelica every day again thanks to the gift of EWTN. I know it is in part because of her prayers and faithfulness that so many in my family are returning home to The Catholic Church. Yet she never judged but corrected us with kindness!  But this article is not about my aunt, if you would

  Imagine a man, falsely accused of a crime, being dragged through the streets while he is being ridiculed, betrayed and humiliated, stripped of his clothing, tortured and hung on a cross until his death... all the while his mother watches in horror and sadness. I would call it the epitome of humility. When I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, it really has an effect on me. His passion is remarkable in the sense that we, as a society, fail to appreciate His Love and sacrifice. The esteemed author C.S. Lewis wrote, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." In the case of our Lord, Jesus Christ, He sacrificed everything for us. He thought less of Himself for us. First, a quick review of what  vanity   is.  In the last post  I listed what Kempis explained what vanity is. Things like  seeking and trusting in riches that perish, pride (thinking of oneself better than others),  following the lusts of the body and to desire things for whi