By the time my third son was in need of his first haircut, I let my mom have at it and, as it turned out, time did not improve her hair-cutting skills.  My youngest son ended up with the same bangs that I had worn some 30 years earlier — a wavy line of hair jutting out all over the place somewhere between eyebrows and the hairline.

Things really do change from the first born to the second and then to the third.  And as that is all the children we were blessed with, I can go no further with my experience but my assumptions would be that by the fifth or sixth child, he or she may very well be performing his or her own first haircut.

Now, my oldest is graduating from college, the second is mid-way through his college career, and my youngest has almost completed high school. All the years in between those first haircuts and this point in time have truly gone by in the blink of an eye.

I can’t say, for sure, what each of my son’s take on things has been; but, for me it has been an incredible journey.  And I’ll admit that I look back and find great relief that my oldest, in particular, has been so forgiving towards me in all the ways I tried to shape and mold him into what I thought was right — and certainly in keeping with my post-feminist upbringing which included the need to neutralize any distinctions between the sexes along with my politically-correct interest in taming all things that could even appear to have a glimmer of “inappropriateness” attached to them.

I remember once when my mother was reading a book to my oldest son.  I can’t quite recall the book but in retrospect I am positive it was as bland as everything else I allowed into his life.  She came to some point in the story where, when my husband and I read it, we had always chosen to replace some word or phrase with more “proper” words, but not knowing better, grandma read the actual words.  Well, when he heard her reading it verbatim, he was on the floor laughing, “Grandma! It does not say that!” So much for our attempt at politically-correct censorship.

No matter how hard I tried, though, he was still a “boy.”  And that means something. They all were, actually, very much “boys.”  For instance, they simply weren’t able to pass each other in the hall without a push and a shove for good luck.  Try as I might to dissuade them, they were just so “physical” all the time! I once received a note from a teacher who, in all seriousness, felt it was imperative to tell me that my son, while playing “Duck-Duck-Goose” became so mischievous that he tapped two children instead of one!  I can only imagine the pandemonium that ensued and my son received from me the sternest of warning against such wild classroom antics! At the time I was duly mortified that I would have birthed the child who wreaked havoc with “Duck-Duck-Goose” rules.

Of course, despite such notes and other miscellaneous offenses along the way, my boys were, in fact, quite good kids — in the grand scheme of things. Sure there were times that I was forced to walk away from parent-teacher conferences with a piece of paper held in front of my face in hopes of obscuring my identity as I made a beeline towards the door; but, all in all they were really fine young boys on their way growing into fine young men.

It’s just that I didn’t have brothers and couldn’t figure out why these boys of mine wouldn’t sit down and play quietly with one another or do their puzzles in an orderly fashion.  I could fondly recall how my sisters and I would play school for hours on end. Not a peep out of us as we wrote on the chalkboard and assigned one another “homework.”

The closest my boys came to that sort of quiet, structured, group play was when they were building Legos; but, for the most part, even that time was spent constructing weapons or creating scenarios in which caves, hideouts and counter-attack strategies were necessary.  This, after having been exposed to the dullest of television choices — which were extremely time-limited anyhow — and don’t forget censorship galore on all books!

One dinner, when the boys were around 2, 4, and 6 I remember one of them eating a piece of bread into the shape of a gun and being completely convinced that I had failed as a mother.  “How,” I moaned to my husband, “could they even know about such things?!”

Boys will be boys.

Now that’s a phrase I’m none too fond of but there is some truth to the fact that, well, boys will be boys.  However, if we understand it not as an excuse for bad behavior but, rather, being a plausible testament to some basic genetic truths, we are able to more sufficiently appreciate how God created male and female and the path on which each will proceed towards developing virtuous behaviors and moral choices.  Denying the genetic and natural differences between male and female will not make them go away.

And as a mother of all boys — and never having had any brothers — I have grown to love the way in which God has made male and female.  Raising boys has given me a new appreciation of my husband and how, if we are called to the vocation of marriage, we grow in beautiful ways when we embrace the unique gifts and talents and personalities of male and female.

I am fully convinced that God knew what he was doing when, in His immense wisdom, He gave me all sons.  I have learned so much about our Creator through my life as a mother of boys.  So many of the ill-conceived notions about gender-neutrality, which was part and parcel of my life as a teenager in the post-radical-feminist-movement that pervaded the 70s, have been washed away in the Truth about male and female, their inherent differences, their shared dignity, their beauty as having been created, equally but diverse, in His image, His likeness.

As my own sons grow into men, I am grateful for the gifts they have received from their Creator and feel blessed that I discovered, sooner rather than later, how important their unique “maleness” is and how it has been a gift to participate in helping them grow into all that God has called them to be as they venture out into the world as men.

There is something very powerful about this time on our liturgical calendar.  Maybe it’s just the way I’m wired but I find attending weekly Stations of the Cross to be critically necessary to my earthly journey.  Some people find Stations too somber but, for me, they are just what I need to escape the demands and stresses of the world and fully contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. I love everything about Stations.  I love the incense, I love the tradition, and I love hearing us all say, “We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.”

I’ve long ago noticed that while not everyone participates in during weekly Mass, everyone participates in Stations.  The focus of that walk during the last hours of His life seems to really connect us to our Catholic faith in a rich and deep way.  Attending Stations allows me to embrace my own crosses and I would make a sltpresumption that this is the same for many others. We embrace our crosses; we accept His graces in a very special way during Stations of the Cross.

Kathryn Mulderink, OCDS, has captured the beauty of the Stations in two books written for Catholic families, classrooms, and religious education programs.  Her first book, Way of the Cross for Children, masterfully captures the walk in a way that our children will learn of Christ’s love and be encouraged to develop their own relationship with Him.  Each of the fourteen stations has its own beautiful illustration by Father Victor KyNam that can be colored by younger children or simply contemplated by older ones. The book also provides space for children to write their own prayers and complete a Scripture exercise. The following is the Introductory Prayer in Way of the Cross for Children.

Kathryn Mulderink’s second Lenten book is titled, Walk New: A Lenten Resource for Teens and Young Adults. Walk New is to teens and young adults what Way of the Cross is for younger Catholics.  Beautifully illustrated by Father KyNam, Walk New provides a way in which teens and young adults are called into contemplation by the last few hours of Christ’s life in the section Kathryn has called “Put Yourself There.”  Kathryn’s gentle but profound words encourage each reader to embrace the salvation offered at the Cross and become a witness to Christ’s love to the world.

Both of Kathryn’s books are sure to be welcome additions to any Catholic home, school, or religious education program.

The Furnace

I hated to tell him that the furnace wasn’t working because it just wasn’t an expense we were prepared take on; but hiding the truth wasn’t going to do us any good either.

“The furnace is broke,” I admitted in as cheerful voice as I could muster.  After all, it was just money.

“Really?!” was my husband’s response.  I forgot that someone had just serviced the unit so it did seem a bit far-fetched that the furnace would now be broken.

“Yep,” I assured him.  “All day I kept trying to turn the heat up but it never kicked on.”

My husband gave me one of “those” looks and walked over to the thermostat.  After peering at it for less than a second, he glanced over his shoulder at me and, instead of confirming my diagnosis, said, “You have the heat at 53 degrees.”

I was perplexed, “Hmmm. I wonder how that happened.” 

“Really, Cheryl, you need to start wearing your glasses.”

The Crazy Glue

My son needed some glue.  My husband put a tube of Crazy Glue on the counter for my son’s use.  The next day as my husband was leaving for work I ran after him waving the crazy glue that I had grabbed off the counter, “John! Don’t forget your Chapstick!” 

In these harsh winter months, none of us likes to be without our Chapstick.  Needless to say, it was a good thing that I knew my own Chapstick was in my purse lest I would have used this “Chapstick” myself.

My husband patiently looked at me – at least I think he was patiently looking at me – and simply said, “Really, Cheryl, you need to start wearing your glasses.”

It’s All the Same Thing, Right?

The reason that I didn’t wear my glasses had nothing to do with vanity.  I simply did not believe that I needed them.  Even as evidence piled up, it took a lot of convincing until I finally faced the reality that I really do need glasses.

And I have now begun to wear them.  There’s even a sense of relief when I don them and can see the beauty of the snowflakes shimmering in the sun or the way in which letters on the computer screen are cleaner and crisper. 

My husband smiles when he sees me in my glasses. 

When we recognize and accept the truth of things it is good for us but also good for those we love.  Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

There are so many truths that we choose to ignore and “not see” because we are convinced that they don’t apply to us – or worse, that we don’t need them.  Truth, we are convinced, is what we perceive.  We forget that Truth isn’t subjective; it is objective.  Whether I wanted to admit it or not, the truth of my needing glasses wasn’t on the line.  The truth was that I needed them. 

Our Catholic faith is like that; it is a Truth that will set us free – whether we want to admit it or not.  Like putting on my glasses, our faith alleviates our frustrations and our burdens; it is a Truth of peace and of hope that helps us live a more fulfilling life.  It allows us to see clearer than we could ever see on our own. 

Being a Catholic means having to ask difficult questions of ourselves.  As Catholics we are called to do a daily examination of conscience where it might be a good time for each of us to ask ourselves: What Truth am I choosing to ignore?

After all, Crazy Glue and Chapstick are not the same thing!

Whatever this CD is, it is played so constantly throughout the next 6 weeks that it must, by nature of its place in our routine, be extraordinary.  I don’t give this spot to just any artist; but, rather, I spend time searching one out.  I gather recommendations from friends and family and listen to sample scores on the Internet. This painstaking process is important because the CD creates the memories of the particular year in which it gets center stage.  We listen to it as we trim the tree; I listen to it as I cook holiday meals, and I even bring it along with me on trips to the store. 

This year, God clearly took pity on me and must have looked at my busy schedule and decided to deliver an actual artist to my doorstep! 

During my early November trip to the EWTN studios in Alabama to record a television series for the “All Things Girl” books I was absolutely delighted to make the acquaintance of Adrianne Price.  Of course when I met Adrianne I had no idea that she was a mezzo-soprano vocalist whose voice truly is a gift from God – not just once but twice. I simply found her to be one more wonderful soul that the good Lord had allowed me to meet during my trip.

But Adrianne turned out to be so much more.

Adrianne’s is an amazing story of faith and struggle.  At a very young age, and throughout high school, Adrianne sung in choirs, musicals and recitals.  All the while, nodules were developing that sent her constantly to Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists.  By the time Adrianne earned her Bachelor’s of Music degree she was told by doctors that she would never sing again and that she would need to start a new career.  For many years thereafter, Adrianne sang softly in choirs and avoided solos.  During most of this time Adrianne was not practicing her Catholic faith, until a conversion experience in 1996 wherein Adrianne “surrendered” her voice problem to the Lord.

On February 3, 1998, the feast of St. Blaise, Adrianne had her throat blessed. Her surrender was complete and she knew that if the Lord wanted her to sing, she would.  During the blessing she said this prayer: “Lord, if the healing of my voice aids in the salvation of my soul or anyone who hears me, (through the intercession of St. Blaise) please heal me.”   

Her commitment was such that if she were healed she would no longer sing secular songs but would devote her life to singing for Mother Church.  After having her throat blessed, and her prayer for intercession, Adrianne found herself able to sing more frequently and – most miraculously – have no ill effects.  A doctor’s visit confirmed this when she was told that she no longer had nodules nor scar tissue!

True to her word, Adrianne now serves Mother Church with her beautiful voice and has released a CD titled Sacred Classics.  The first time I played Sacred Classics in my home I was mesmerized.  I knew I had found the perfect CD for my Christmas collection; but also realized that it would quickly become the ideal CD for my life.  Adrianne’s voice reflects her operatic training and the music truly wafts through the air making you want to fall to your knees in praise of God.

Adrianne’s hope for the CD is, first and foremost, that she has pleased the Lord.  She also prays that those who are meant to hear it will and that those who are meant to be touched by it will.

In the future Adrianne hopes to record a CD of mostly traditional hymns with some new, “meatie” hymns mixed in. 

Based upon the beauty of Sacred Classics, it is my prayer that the Lord opens up this avenue for Adrianne to do just that.

Sacred Classics is available through the CE online store and is the perfect Christmas present for you and for your friends and family. A portion of all sales go to a local women’s pregnancy center and to the Missionaries of the Poor (Father Richard HoLung’s order). 

Adrianne’s website is www.adrianneprice.com.

Sharon Lee Giganti is a popular speaker on the new age phenomenon with tragic, first-hand experiences with its dangers. Sharon was recently a guest on Teresa Tomeo’s EWTN radio program “Catholic Connection” where she shared the family tragedy that resulted in her New Age philandering and her passions to ensure that new age teachings are seen for what they are — evil.

The cornerstone of Sharon’s speaking and upcoming book is based upon a list she calls “The Devil’s Dirty Dozen.” Sharon’s website is www.NewAgeDeception.com . Sharon was kind enough to give me some of her time to answer a few questions and offer resources.

Dickow : How did you get involved in new age teachings?

Giganti : I got into New Age spirituality when someone handed me a cassette tape they thought would be helpful for me — it was a taped session of Esther Hicks channeling a spirit named, “Abraham,” teaching something called, “The Law of Attraction” — the false (and occult) belief that we are “attracting” everything that happens to us through our thought and feeling “vibrations.”

Dickow : Can you explain what you mean by “vibrations?”

Giganti : Your thoughts and feelings are “energy vibrations” and you will attract a “vibrational match” to whatever you’re thinking and feeling. So, if you’re feeling good; thinking positively with no worries or concerns, and “visualizing” everything happening perfectly for you, you attract good things into your life and relationships. In the moment that you’re feeling negative emotion — feeling angry, worried, concerned, or fearful — you are in the process of “attracting” negative situations into your life — everything from a flat tire to a deadly disease.

Dickow : That seems like an almost overwhelming burden for a person to carry — that sort of personal responsibility of every single life experience.

Giganti: I believed that this “Universal Truth” was true, and thought that if we could just learn to think more positively, and stop being fearful, or worried, or negative, we could attract all the good that ever alluded us, and we would STOP “attracting” all of the terrible experiences that cause us so much suffering — no more illness, no more frustrated careers, no more financial worries – and perhaps, through the power of our “vibrations” we could even “vibrationally influence” or “attract” healing for loved ones who were suffering from horrendous mental and emotional sickness and devastating addictions.

Dickow : I know this had a particularly important, personal interest for you. Can you share why the idea of attracting healing for loved ones was something you latched onto in the new age teaching?

Giganti: Since I believed this “new” information could help so many people, I soon dropped my acting career and became known as an Abraham Ambassador teaching Law of Attraction Workshops. I was not prepared for the devastating effects of this false worldview. The intervention that my brother so badly needed, as he experienced a deadly decline—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, never came. I had been counseling those closest to him, to “take your eyes off the conditions as they now stand… stop worrying and feeling all of that negative emotion… stop making him feel as if any of the hazardous things he was doing were “wrong” or “sinful”…stop making him feel “guilty” — because all of those thoughts and feelings were actually “holding the negative situation in place.” The answer, I kept preaching to them, was simply to “visualize” the situation changing to perfect health and wellness –and then we would begin to “manifest” our vision.

Dickow : I know that this visualization of your brother becoming well never came to pass and that tragedy ensued. Could you please share that with us?

Giganti : Without the diagnosis, help, correction, and intervention that he so desperately needed, my brother wound up taking the life of his own 4 month old son. My brother is now serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole.

The promise of being able to create all that we were wanting through the “power of our thoughts” never materialized and many lives were destroyed.

Dickow: As things deteriorated, can you tell me why you never sought professional help for your brother?

Giganti: When people ask this spirit, Abraham, “Shouldn’t we face reality?” Abraham notoriously answers, “NO! Never do that, unless it pleases you in every way.”

Dickow: Sadly, I’ve heard you share other personal stories of New Age teachings gone terribly wrong. I know that you were so entrenched in this teaching that you couldn’t see yourself clear from it — even when these tragedies surrounded you. Can you tell us a little of your friend’s suicide?

Giganti : A friend came to me with questions regarding the taking of one’s own life and I answered with the most common New Age teachings, especially those of Abraham, and another well known New Age teaching: A Course in Miracles .

I told this young lady, “No, it is not wrong as there is no absolute right or wrong, good or bad, you’ve only been conditioned to believe it’s wrong.” Quoting Abraham, I told her, “In Truth, every death is a suicide, since we each are in charge of when we re-emerge into the Non-physical dimension.”

“Would her family be devastated?” she worried.

“Only if you envision them that way. You can create that scenario if you want, but you can also create a better scenario with the power of your thought and feeling vibrations… No, God would not be displeased since there is no ‘God’ that exists as such a judge.” Quoting Abraham again, I told her, “God is nothing more or less than the Law of Attraction, and you are free to attract anything you want, even death.”

She left my home the next morning, locked herself into a hotel, and drank poison until she died.

Dickow : When and how did your conversation back to the Catholic Church take place?

Giganti: With each devastating tragedy, I realized more clearly that the New Age promises were false, the tenets un-workable in the real world with real people…. I saw that the teachings produced (almost uniformly) only broken hearts and destroyed lives. Some New Age teachers use selected Scripture texts to “validate” their teachings When I was led to open up a Bible, I read, in contrast to New Age teaching, the Truth about reality, and God’s plan of salvation. I found the true diagnosis of the human condition, which is our fallen sinful condition, as a result of the Fall of Man — and the real cure — accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and committing to obeying all that God commands. I could finally see the Truth about all that was going on around me, and especially in the books of Wisdom, Proverbs, Sirach and Psalms. I saw a very clear picture of the wise man in contrast to the fool, and saw very clearly that so many New Age teachings, whether they realize it or not, are actually training people in becoming fools!

Dickow: There seem to be endless ways in which new age teachings are quite dangerous. Based upon your experiences, can you share what you believe to be the top dangers?

Giganti: So many dangerous aspects of New Age abound, I hardly know where to begin. In general: they teach you a false and erroneous worldview. They teach you false descriptions and definitions of who and/or what God is. They give you a false description of who you are. Most New Age teachings deny the truth that Satan exists, that demons exist and that they seek to do harm to humans through tempting them to sin. Most New Age teachings deny that Hell exists, and so they leave you with a false sense of security — feeling as though anything you do is “alright” as we’re all here just learning lessons, and we all wind up in the end, in the same paradise — back home with God, as we “evolve” our way back to our “Godhood.” The reincarnation teachings are especially hazardous as people are lead to believe that we all live thousands of life-times, and we’ll get a thousand chances to “get it right.”

Dickow : Can you give us a bit more information on the “Law of Attraction?”

Giganti: The Law of Attraction teachings cause people to act in reckless ways, believing they’re “safe” as long as they’re feeling good. Harmful situations are downplayed or ignored because the student is taught that you only get more of whatever you’re focusing upon. Consider some of the outlandish claims in the recent best-seller The Secret . Promises such as, “You cannot catch anything unless you THINK you can catch something.” Law of Attraction teachings can cause a person’s heart to become calloused, as one begins to develop repugnance for any kind of negativity or suffering since one believes that those negativities will “contaminate” your pure vibration. The voices of New Age assure us that we can simply walk away from the disturbing scene, and we can contribute so much more, by simply visualizing a better scenario. If no healing or positive change takes place, we are to remember that “You’ll have a thousand more chances to get it right.”

Dickow : You talk about channeling Abraham. Can you tell us about this aspect of New Age?

Giganti : Another dangerous aspect of new age teaching comes from “channeled spirits” that people mistakenly believe are helpful, good, and Holy spirits. THEY ARE NOT!!! Since God forbids us to seek out or invoke unknown spirits that speak through mediums, no spirit of God’s Kingdom would participate in channeling or mediumship activities. See Leviticus and Deuteronomy: “Do not go to mediums for you will be defiled by them.” By being led into so much that is occult, New Age spirituality can expose one to malevolent forces of darkness, and put his or her spiritual health in danger.

Dickow : Is there a way to specifically spot something that is New Age? What are the common denominators of new age books, videos, ideologies? (Note: Sharon offers presentations on this and we’ve shortened the list to include just the first few.)

Giganti: Please refer to my list entitled “The Devil’s Dirty Dozen” which is copyrighted in 2008. It lists the top 12 false and counter-Christian tenets so often taught in New Age spirituality.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ABSOLUTE TRUTH, “GOOD” OR “BAD”, “RIGHT” OR “WRONG”: There is no Divine, Transcendent standard of human thought and behavior, so we have no right to judge or “impose our morality” on others.

THE FALSE FREEDOM OF THE NEW “TOLERANCE”: Absolute, unrestrained freedom should reign, with no restrictions enforced and nothing declared “off limits.”

MISTAKEN IDENTITIES: Wrong definitions of God & false claims about who and what you are: God is an ‘energy-force’/You are ‘awareness’/You are God.

PERSONAL INTUITIONISM: Your feelings are your wisest guide in all matters.

ALL RELIGIONS TEACH THE SAME TRUTH: All paths lead to God.

YOU ARE AN UNLIMITED SUPER-BEING: “There is nothing that you cannot have, or do, or be”… Human potential is limitless… “Conceive it and you can achieve it.”

Dickow : Are there particular persons or organizations or publishing houses that are particularly prone to advancing new age teachings? With Christmas right around the corner I know that people are apt to pick up books that “look good” and might inadvertently be offering new age teachings to friends and family.

Giganti: The worst of the worst, in my opinion are: Hay House Publishing (Louise Hay) which publishes nothing but New Age, and especially the most famous new age leaders:

Oprah Winfrey is currently the number one outlet for all things New Age.  Her critics are correct when they say that we can give Oprah Winfrey most of the credit for making the New Age “normal” and ”mainstream”.

Neale Donald Walsch (Famous for his “Conversations with God books”)

The Abraham-Hicks books and teachings (All on The Law of Attraction)

Deepak Chopra

James Arthur Ray

Wayne Dyer

Eckhart Tolle

Marianne Williamson (The most prominent voice for A Course in Miracles ) You won’t really understand the depth of A Course in Miracles depravity, unless you read some of its samples that I’ve listed on my free document: “A Warning About A Course in Miracles”—found under Free Resources, on my website www.NewAgeDeception.com .

Ken Wilber and his “Integral Spirituality” Empire

Dickow : Sharon, thank you so much for sharing this and God bless you in the work you to do! We encourage all our readers to visit your website www.NewAgeDeception.com and to invite you to their parish or vicariate.

Giganti: I hope some of this helps, thank you for wanting to include me in your article.

Those words, offered by a mother to her son, contributed to the apparent self-actualization of best-selling author — I’m talking been-on-the-New York Times-bestseller-list-for-hundreds-of-weeks-best-selling — Neale Donald Walsch. His books, which all revolve, in one form or another, around the very appealing premise of “Conversations with God,” speak to people in ways that apparently rival Sacred Scripture; however, Sacred Scripture they are not.

This prompts the question: How do millions of Christians get duped into believing the ramblings of New Age messengers like Neale? What is the draw that sends books like Neale’s to the top of the New York Times bestseller list for 100+ weeks?

Before answering, consider the more recent phenomenon that was catapulted to the top of the New Age heap after being hawked by Oprah: The Secret . This book by Rhonda Byrne rivaled Neale’s in appeal and sales. At the core of the book is the “Law of Attraction” in which, according to its author, like attracts like — and since you deserve all good things, your good thoughts about all you deserve will bring you all you deserve.

Maybe it’s the Catholic in me, but when I think of what I deserve… yikes !

Needless to say, these sorts of books have a lot in common. At the heart of teaching is the underlying belief that we each make up and are responsible for our own reality. We are able to work independently of an Absolute Truth for there are no absolutes, only relative absolutes where every person is entitled to a great and wonderful life experience.

Every situation can be read from your own perspective.

A neighbor irritated with your late night parties can be ignored because the problem is his, not yours. (Maybe he hasn’t bought the book yet.)

The promotion you lost wasn’t because of your lack of skills or ability but rather was the fault of your supervisor who was blind to the gift that is you.

No harm, no foul, right?

Wrong.

I readily admit that on a blistering cold, winter Sunday morning in Michigan, the philosophy of Neale’s mother is mighty appealing — I would love to stay wrapped up in my jammies and let God come to me versus braving the cold to go see Him. But when I begin to make up my own rules about attending Church I am in disobedience to God who has clearly called me to worship Him on Sabbath and keep the day holy. Once I start sliding down that slippery slope it is only a matter of time before other commandments fall by the wayside as I more easily accept my own shortcomings and see no need to address them in a way that develops virtuous habits.

Along with the likes of Neale’s book Conversations with God (which he says was intended to be his own letter to God but then he found the pen moving of its own accord), it has long been my own personal belief that the teachings found in the popular, ungodly Oprah-touted book, The Secret, played a role in the recent collapse of our American economy. The book’s philosophy goes something like this: I will “see” the promotion that I want and will help actualize it by buying things based upon this new promotion that I “see.” When the bills begin piling up I will “see” the money in my checkbook — I may even write out checks to help the vision become clearer, more “real.”

I can’t help but wonder: how many people followed this “Law of Attraction” to their economic suicide? I’m no statistician but I believe that if one were to look at the number of books sold against the number of economic disasters in the months that followed there would be some sort of direct correlation.

Sure, maybe some people were greedy but let’s assume that most simply wanted a nicer home or a second car or a vacation. Let’s be honest, it is quite easy to succumb to New Age messages.

I have a dear friend whose husband got hold of a Joel Osteen book that was dripping with prosperity doctrine. According to my friend, her unemployed husband, after reading Osteen’s message of God’s deliverance from pain and despair, took that to mean that God would blow a job in through an open window and thus the husband sat, waiting patiently, for the miracle to arrive. He trusted God because, well, God is good and wouldn’t want his family to starve or get evicted.

Yes, God is indeed good; but He values virtuous living in the form of trust combined with diligence. Faith goes hand in hand with action.

Was this the intention of Osteen? I do not necessarily believe that to be the case and yet Osteen’s book is a great reminder that in the wrong hands or with a misguided frame of mind, even a good-intentioned Christian message becomes toxic.

As Catholic Christians we ought not to forgo the Cross set before us. This is part and parcel of our faith – and most certainly why our numbers have dwindled over the past couple of self-indulgent decades. Who wants to pick up a cross when a pot of gold is right around the corner? Who wants to own up to personal responsibility when a new perspective can change things in our favor? When faced with a difficult challenge or particularly heavy burden, very few of us would embrace a Cross or personal responsibility with eagerness.

However, our salvation is not separate from our earthly sojourn. The intention is that we are able to — and ought to — work out our salvation in fear and trembling; the crosses we bear and the burdens we carry are joined to Christ, not for His good, but for ours.

In part two: An interview with Sharon Lee Giganti.

Fall is consistently my busiest speaking-engagement time of the year. I receive the most requests during Advent where the obvious theme is preparing for the second coming of Jesus. It makes sense, then, that the change of seasons here in the beautiful Midwest begins to sharpen my spiritual focus and intensify my understanding of what it means to live more fully for Christ. I’ve been conditioned to this transformation over the past half dozen years.

Lately, with all that is happening on the world’s stage, the idea of preparing for Jesus’ return, and the Church’s teaching on prophets and prophecies, has truly become front and center for me.

But what does the Catholic Church teach about Prophets, prophecies and the second coming of Christ?
The Church recognizes that Old Testament prophets were given the dual task of teaching God’s people how they must change their ways to prepare for God’s coming into the world while these same prophets also revealed the future. Naturally, a prophet would be able to make statements about behavior that would have been seen as common sense – while other issuances would have been divinely inspired. Amos is such a prophet whose visions were considered divinely inspired. Prophets spoke the Truth without regard to their own popularity or appeal. They chastised God’s people and called them to repentance and change – a message far more important today than attempting to “read” events in which the fulfillment of Revelation can be predicted.

In the New Testament Jesus makes clear that the day and hour of judgment is known only to God while it also reveals signs that will precede this event. And while the Catholic Church has always remained clear in its teachings against participation in fortune telling, divination, tarot cards and any other attempts to “see” the future, we are nonetheless able to look at the signs as a way in which we keep the realization of judgment and Christ’s second coming in our hearts and minds.

Today, the Church recognizes saints such as St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila for the ways in which they shed light upon the mystical journey. Others, like John Paul II, have clearly helped “unpack” Scripture in a way that studying it and living it has become a reality for millions of Catholics.
These anointed souls help us better understand how to live as faithful Catholics and thus prepare for the second coming of Christ. While the Catholic Church does not give the name “prophet” to those who have shed light on the Christian path, we see the evolution of prophets to be those inspired individuals who share wisdom in an edifying and enlightening way.

Along with those who have been elevated by God to inspire us, the Church does speak to the end-time signs as given in the Book of Revelation – but in proper context of their significance for our daily living.
Many of the signs given in Revelation are quite difficult to understand which makes any real effort to determine a date for Jesus’ return unattainable, try as some might. For instance, identifying the anti-Christ has been a serious point of contention. Throughout history this moniker has been applied to many a tyrant – from Nero to Hitler to some in our recent past – and all seem to have been equally able to carry the label. Since one of the signs is the reign of the anti-Christ, who will be embraced and loved by many nations, not being able to affirm his or her identify makes recognizing this reign impossible.

On the other hand, preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth seems clearly evident with the missionary efforts of both the Protestant and Catholic Churches along with the rapid development of computer and Internet technology. Consider the ways in which our own Vatican makes use of such popular sites as Twitter and Facebook. Indeed, our beloved Pope encourages us to use technology to spread the Word of Jesus to all.
The nearing of Christ’s second coming will also be witnessed by the return of Enoch and Elijah. Enoch walked with God – he was a friend of God in the same way that Moses was – and we read in Genesis 5:24 that God “took” Enoch with the implication being that he did not see death. Like Enoch, Elijah was spared the experience of death as he was whisked away into the heavens on a fiery chariot. Elijah also has the great distinction of being integral to the transfiguration of Christ as it was Moses and Elijah who stood with Jesus, on Mount Tabor, before Peter, James and John.

While the Catholic Church recognizes other signs of the Lord’s return, ultimately, we should see that the signs are God’s gift to us as they remind us of the fruit we are to bear for Him and His kingdom. As Catholics we live in hopeful anticipation of this time even while the world around us may seem to grow darker. We use the words of prophets, mystics, saints and popes to heighten our own interest in serving God over self; to live in a way that we welcome judgment; and, as a means to aid us in our desire to spend eternity with our Creator.

So, out of necessity, God made a distance between Himself and man so that man could know and love God but not be annihilated by that intimate face-to-face union. But my face you cannot see, for no man sees me and still lives. Exodus 33:20

These levels also represent different aspects of one’s journey towards God – almost an earthly purification of sorts as each portion of this journey represents a trait, which we as Catholics recognize as a virtue – a desired and sought after way to behave.

In addition to the references of such virtuous behavior as love, perseverance and surrender, each of these aspects are linked to a particular person who has represented these traits particularly well in his or her earthly life. For instance, Queen Esther and Kind David are considered worthy examples of our desires to serve God and implement His will. As such they become “conduits” for man to achieve those goals. As Catholics we would call these saints who have gone before us “intercessors.”

All in all the Jewish teaching very much reflects the Beatitude: Blessed are the clean of heart as they shall see God.

Indeed, we see that our journey constantly offers ways for our own purification and ultimate union with God. When we experience times of jealousy we can ask for the Grace needed to overcome those detrimental feelings and help us develop virtuous behavior. Anger, with God’s Grace, is turned into patience. Grace is able to turn any difficult situation into one of learning, growth and peace.

Grace is that gift from God that helps us in our quest to spend eternity with God, face-to-face. It is supernatural help, given for a time or a circumstance, which has nothing to do with our merits but has everything to do with God’s love and interest in our salvation.

Mary, the Jewish mother of Christ, is the dispenser of God’s Grace. She is the “go-between” that allows us to work towards that time where we will see God face-to-face. Not only does Mary dispense God’s Grace, but as she lives completely in His will, she dispenses it most accurately.

This means that if we are in a position or circumstance in which it is only through Grace that we will survive, she will most certainly act in our best interests. If, however, we don’t fully recognize her role as the “conduit” between God and man, we jeopardize the ways in which Grace is available.

While we don’t attribute “feelings” to God, we can say in our humanly way that He was grieved enough about our separation from Him to have sent His most beloved Son. But we ought to take careful note that God chose Mary to bring Salvation to the world. And while it is an old argument, it is still valid: God did not have to use Mary but did – this should make a difference to us in our understanding of her role in our lives.

We can and should recognize that it was through Mary that Salvation was given to the world and it is now through Mary that Grace is dispensed. God’s Grace is so immense that without Mary, we would be shattered by its abundance.

I circled the block once and, as I neared my own drive, felt inclined to circle the block again. There was no real reason to do this as neither my son, nor I, was enjoying this stroll.  Nonetheless I avoided walking up my driveway and continued on with a few steps that would change my life forever.

As I rounded the block a second time all my senses were focused on the heat, my overdue pregnancy, and my complaining son.  I chided myself for taking this additional trip around the block, not knowing what had every come over me.

Then, out of the blue, I heard a sweet voice say, “You look like you could use some lemonade.”  Although normally quite reserved this invitation seemed to hit a chord with me and I uncharacteristically accepted the kind offer.  The thought of resting my feet and letting my son out of the wagon was just what I needed.

As it turned out, the invitation came from that young mother who had been diligently planting her flowers.  We sat, laughed at the dilemmas of young motherhood, talked of the weather, and went our separate ways. 

Two days later I gave birth to my second son and, to my delight and surprise, received a beautiful bowl of fruit from the lady with whom I had shared a much-needed refreshing glass of lemonade.  With the fruit she also gave me a beautiful book about raising sons (she has three of them) which I have since enjoyed over and over again.

Make no mistake about it, the Spirit will move our life’s circumstances, and us, in priceless ways…Here is Pam’s side of the story:

It was late July and Pam’s flowers were long overdue for planting. She finally found the time to work on them and was bound and determined to get the job done.  The plants needed to get into the ground if they were going to survive.  If not, she would have to throw them all out. 

As she got to work she noticed a VERY pregnant lady walking in the street.  The lady was pulling a little boy in a red wagon.  It was quite hot and neither of them looked like they were enjoying the walk.  As they passed her driveway the Holy Spirit urged her to speak to the pregnant lady, to say “hello.”  She resisted the urge as the flower matter was quite pressing.  She really wanted to get this job done and enjoy the garden.  She didn’t want to lose the flowers.  And so she let the lady pass by.

Pam continued working industriously when she noticed the lady passing by a second time.  The little boy seemed more miserable than before and the lady looked like she was going to deliver at any moment.  This time the Holy Spirit was quite insistent.  “Speak to her!”  And so Pam put her trowel down, looked up and said, “You look like you could use some lemonade.” 

And from those inclinations, both hers to offer lemonade and mine to take a second walk around the block, God has forged a most beautiful friendship: a friendship that has lasted tweny years and several moves.  A friendship that now sees children graduating from college, getting married, and having children of their own.  A truly blessed friendship orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

Last year, my oldest son spent the year living in a frat house. Along with myself, the health department and Fire Marshall were none too pleased with the living conditions.

This year, when both boys moved into their respective apartments on campus, the dirty frat house became the standard of cleanliness to which the apartments were compared. “Well, it’s better than the frat house,” became my husband’s response to dusty floors and grimy sinks. And he was right. The frat house made everything it was compared to look cleaner and brighter because there was a new, lower standard of cleanliness in our lives.

Confession

I made an appointment with the priest last week to go to confession. Confession is one of the Sacraments that many Catholics, including myself, don’t embrace as much as we should.

I couldn’t help but think of the frat house when I made that appointment. It reminded me that many of us have lowered our standards to such a degree that we don’t consider ourselves “sinners.” We don’t feel we need confession because, as Monica Cops writes in All Things Girl: Truth for Teens :

Many people might say: “But I didn’t kill anybody, so why do I need to go to confession? I’m a good person, I help my neighbor, and I’m honest and kind.” This may all be true; but there is more to take into consideration than just those points.

Monica goes on to write an Examination of Conscience for teens based upon the Ten Commandments. It occurred to me that what Monica has done for teens (and for adults who thumb through the book) is sort of what the health department did for the frat house: went through a list of items that were either able to be checked and considered “okay” or weren’t able to be checked and needed “cleaning.”

Chaput

Archbishop Charles Chaput, speaking before an audience in Sydney, Australia where the topic was “Mission Possible: This Double Life Will Self-Destruct,” has warned of an apathy towards our own behaviors and the subsequent “reinventing of Christ.” The Archbishop said:

We can’t live a half-way Christianity. The organizers of tonight’s event were right [those who named it ‘Mission Possible: This Double Life Will Self-Destruct’]. Every double life will inevitably self-destruct. The question then becomes: How are we going to live in this world? How can we lead a Christian life in a secular age? We can’t really answer that question until we get some things straight about what it means to be a Christian. And that means first getting some things straight about Jesus Christ.

This is another one of the by-products of our secular age: we don’t really quite know what to think about Jesus anymore.

A few years before he became Pope Benedict XVI, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote something that is unfortunately very true. He wrote: "Today in broad circles, even among believers, an image has prevailed of a Jesus who demands nothing, never scolds, who accepts everyone and everything, who no longer does anything but affirm us. . . . The figure is transformed from the ‘Lord’ (a word that is avoided) into a man who is nothing more than the advocate of all men."

We all know people — friends or family members or both — who think about Jesus in these terms. It’s hard to avoid. Our culture has given Jesus a make-over. We’ve remade him in the image and likeness of secular compassion. Today he’s not the Lord, the Son of God, but more like an enlightened humanist nice guy.

Essentially, it comes down to the fact that we have applied secular standards of “cleanliness” to our daily lives and have forgotten that there are eternal consequences. We’ve warmed up to Christ in a way that we no longer see Him as judge but simply as “Mr. Nice Guy.” We consider ourselves sin-free because compared to some of the really bad things that people do, well, we’re fine!

The Way It All Comes Together

I admit that I was surprised and saddened at how many parents shrugged their shoulders and said, “That’s a frat house for ya!” They were willing to let their sons live in squalor by succumbing to the lame argument that this was “just how young guys lived.” That somehow that made it acceptable.

I realize that this is exactly what many of us have done with our own actions as well. Just as Monica points out, we say we haven’t murdered anyone and that we’ve been kind to our neighbors so surely we are “okay” with God and with the world when, in reality, we ought to be very cautious about this complacency. The possibility for our own transformation vanishes.

But consider the frat house. Commitment and hard work changed the frat house. What was considered unlivable became livable. What once couldn’t pass inspection soon passed inspection with flying colors. However, this transformation required a respect of authority, a willingness to listen to what needed to be done and some serious follow-through.

In lowering our spiritual standards, we jeopardize our eternal souls. Instead of being aware and concerned, we become contented and gullible. We give way to a false sense of security that says Jesus is “a great guy” with nary a judgmental bone in His body. In making Him ‘friend’ we have forgotten that He is also judge and jury and that He will be dividing the flock– sending some to the right and others to the left.

We’ve heard it said that people only rise to the lowest expectation made of them and yet we never see it as applying to us, individually. But, like the frat house experience, I can assure you that each and every one of us easily falls into this way of thinking.

If you wonder if this lower standard is applicable in your life, ask yourself one question: When was the last time I was at confession?