Men, Put the Cameras Down

This has been weighing on my mind for some time, so here it goes. If you get easily offended or can’t take scary, differing opinions, look away.

Alright dudes and bros, enough is enough. Stop taking constant selfies. Seriously. It’s one thing to take a picture with someone else to mark an event or things of that nature, another if someone takes a picture of you, or the occasional snap for your snapchat story, but stop taking pictures of yourself constantly on your own. 

Men shouldn’t be overly and overtly concerned with posing, or with what they look like. As my friend once said, it’s weird for a guy to be staring at his own face like that. Now I believe in vast differences between men and women, and it simply is not in a man’s nature to be vain or to care about their appearance to that extent. For women it’s different, because we are more naturally disposed to be vain and attentive to what we look like. It’s a vice, but it’s a feminine vice. There’s a reason women are mainly associated with taking selfies, and getting teased for it. 

But for guys? 

That’s just effeminate. Let’s take a look at the definition of effeminate...

ef·fem·i·nate

əˈfemənət/

adjective

(of a man) having or showing characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly.

synonyms:

womanish, effete, foppish, unmanly, feminine;

Thanks, Google. A lot of things can be effeminate, and I think selfies count as well. 

Sorry, but I’m not sorry. So please stop. You don’t want to be effeminate because to be effeminate is to not be authentically masculine. Leave the femininity to the ladies, because our femininity compliments masculinity. We can’t both be feminine, it doesn’t work that way. I say this for your own good, because I value men and I value true masculinity. So, put the camera down, and go chop some wood instead. You’ll thank me later.

The Threefold Prayer & You, Yes... YOU

Alright Catholic blogosphere and beyond, I have a treat for you today that comes in three. Within the past year my good friend came up with a clothing line that seeks to glorify God, honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, and aim for the salvation of souls, which makes up the THREEFOLD clothing line. As the website states, this clothing line is more than just regular Catholic tees and merch. By wearing the threefold prayer of glorifying God, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary, and saving souls, you’re not just making a cool fashion statement about Catholicism, but being reminded to actually live a holy lifestyle. Who knows, you could unknowingly inspire others to be holy, or even to discover Catholicism. 

Source: THREEFOLD

Pretty cool, huh? 

Since the founder is my personal friend, I can assure you that it’s all legit and it totally has my support. It seems like it was just yesterday when the squad finished praying the rosary after mass, and he told us about his idea. Now by the grace of God it’s in full swing; a testament that no pure desire is too crazy or big for God to bless and make flourish. 

So, I highly encourage all of my readers to show some support and take a minute to check it out in the links below. If you like it, buy a shirt, share this post, follow the media, tell your friends, even tell your priest. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or all three, there’s something for everyone.

Also, part of every purchase is a contribution to pro-life organizations. So not only will you be looking fresh, be reminded and inspire others to live an authentic Christian life, you’ll also be helping to end the culture of death. 

It just keeps getting better, so don’t take your eyes off of THREEFOLD clothing, because this is only just the beginning. 

Links

Official Website 

Online Store

Facebook Page

Instagram

Twitter

Wherein I Have a Message for all Pro-Life People

Yesterday all across America pro-lifers gathered at various Planned Parenthood locations to protest and bring awareness to the scandal that’s been going on. The news even covered it, barely. Read about it here. In case you’ve been living under a rock, or won’t look past the scope of your own little world, Planned Parenthood has been caught selling baby parts, murdering babies outside of the womb, and trying to cover up the atrocities. That’s only the beginning. I can’t wrap my mind around this, with every new video that comes out, I am filled with more and more deep sorrow, as any normal human being should feel. 

I myself attended a protest at the clinic near my hometown. Coincidentally, it was the abortion day. I knew it was going to be emotional and difficult, but I had to go. To me, there’s never a good excuse not to go to anything that will defend the unborn. Especially not when Planned Parenthood is trying, once again, to get away with their corrupt business of duping women (and men), killing the innocent and having the audacity to smile along the way. As soon as I reached the property, I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of death. It’s not something that can be accurately described as it is self-explanatory... Planned Parenthood carries an aura of death with them. I’m not the only who has described it that way. 

We had a strong turn out, at least over 200 people. Maybe even 300. Throughout the protest we prayed the rosary, and the religious were present, with young and old alike. I held a huge sign that pictured baby feet at 11 weeks, right outside of the driveway, for everyone entering and leaving to see, even those just driving by. The sign was almost bigger than me. I propped my elbows on it and calmly stood there, right by the security guard too. 

He seemed uncomfortable, but he smiled at the little kids with us. I smiled at him. He smiled back, somewhat. He wasn’t hostile or adverse with any of us. We simply couldn’t step onto the property. Fair enough. 

Despite the large signs and throngs of people, the folks coming, going, and driving by pretended not to see us. Truth has never been easy to look in the face. Some looked away, some glanced, some threw the bird, some gave us thumbs up. Towards the end, some guys even threw eggs at us. As if that would really stop us from being there or even coming back. I can hear it know, “Well everyone, we had eggs chucked at us so I guess that means we’re done. No coming back next week, thanks to those dastardly and nefarious eggs.”

No. 

I’ll be back. We’ll all be back. We won’t stop until Planned Parenthood is just a past nightmare. 

Standing by the driveway, though some might not think of it as much, both reveals and says a lot. I hardly spoke a word to anyone around me, but I saw the humanity in these people leaving Planned Parenthood, the humanity they fail to see. I saw a sadness in their eyes, tears being wiped away. It broke my heart. 

Although we gathered to make a statement and stare in the face of death, to tell him he will not triumph, we brought along with us a peace. The peace that only life gives, that Christ gives. Life is joyous, and we exemplified that. There were tears, prayer, laughter, hugs... peace. Planned Parenthood doesn’t offer that. 

At the end of the protest, I was glad I went. Like I said, it’s the first of many for me. But a serious question was also posed in my mind. 

Where’s the rest of the pro-life movement? 

I’m dead serious. Where are you? Although our turn out was amazing, many more could have been there. While the rest of the world is living in a state of passivity, we cannot and must not fall into that as well. Especially not as Catholics. If we are to truly and really be pro-life, it cannot stop at prayer. We are both physical and spiritual beings, catechism 101 up in here. With hard pressing issues like this, it’s easy to just hide behind prayer and do nothing. We cannot settle for not doing anything, the stakes are and have been too high for that. What Planned Parenthood is doing is beyond sickening, sad, and disgusting, and we cannot passively allow them to continue. If a baby being born alive, getting their face cut open and having their brain harvested doesn’t bring you to action to end the madness, I don’t know what will. Although I’m a writer, I couldn’t make up such a savage horror if I tried. What’s truly heartbreaking is that I can’t, because it’s real. 

If you are really and truly against what Planned Parenthood is, has been, and continues to do, I heartily invite you to leave your own little bubble, get out of your comfort zone, and stand with us. Too many are pro-life in name alone, and not in action. You never know how your mere presence, aided with prayer, can impact someone else. You’re not doing it for yourself; not to show people you’re pro-life, and not to prove it to yourself, you’re doing it for those who cannot speak, when you have the voice to speak for them. Let me ask you this, when this holocaust of children is over, a sorrowful memory of the past, what will you be able to say you did to help end it?

Therefore, I hope to see you there, soon. 

Check out these pictures (per my personal Snapchat) from the protest in Riverside, California. 

My baby brother is so cute, the end.

Let’s Talk About Feminism

So let’s talk about feminism, shall we? 

Just kidding, I can’t think of a more uninteresting or irrelevant topic to put on my blog, yet here it is. It’s not the 1960s and women aren’t being oppressed, not here in America. Especially not by the patriarchy. If you consider dress codes, the unequal pay myth (which has been refuted several times), sexual promiscuity, the raging debate between blue and pink, and other feminist “issues” to be legitimate issues, then you need help. 

You either buy into the false ideology without thinking, or you’re just delusional. Which in our day and age is a definite possibility. 

So in case you’ve been wondering, I’m not a feminist. There’s no rhyme or reason for it; I can go out and do whatever the hell I want with my armpit hair flowing gracefully in the wind. Just because women can do whatever they want, doesn’t mean they should, because there is a cause and effect to every action. Same goes for men too. It goes for everyone. It’s not that hard of a concept to grasp. 

It always gets me a good laugh when a guy tells me, “What do you mean you’re not a feminist?! Do you want men to make decisions for you your whole life?!’ 

Or when they proudly announce…

“Well I consider myself a feminist.” 

As if that’s going to gain brownie points. 

No bro, that’s going to help me run the other way like the Flash. See? Friend-zoned, just like that. 

Feminism bores me. It makes me yawn. Seeing other girls so into it as if it’s the best thing since sliced bread makes me shake my head. The moral of the story is to use your brain, people. And don’t grow out your armpit hair, that’s just gross. 

People, Places, and Things I Currently Fancy

This isn’t a lifestyle blog, since I hardly speak of my personal life or habits. If I did that would be so incredibly awkward, so I just share surface information. Anyway, I’m starting a new series of posts where every now and then I’ll post about people, places, and things I fancy at the moment. Just because I’m Catholic doesn’t mean I can’t like other stuff. Or people. So this is the first one. As a side note, I’m also going to begin a whole other string of posts on The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. In those posts I’ll go through the mansions one by one, explain them, muse through my own thoughts, and try to come to the understanding that St. Teresa left for us. I’m looking forward to it because if you know me, you know I love St. Teresa of Avila. 

Also, this blog now has a Facebook page. *Cue the confetti and children saying yaaaay* 

I’ll put a link in the sidebar, but here’s the link: The Salty Catholic 

Share it, tell your friends, like it, be cool.

In no particular order, I present to you the people, places, and things I currently fancy. 

Chris Pratt 

     
                                 

Because what’s not to like about Chris Pratt? Seriously. He’s likable without even trying. I’d watch Jurassic World again. I kept thinking of him as Andy from Parks and Recreation, but fighting dinosaurs are cool too.

St. Raphael 

St. Raphael is the best. He always helps me out with everything. When I’m lost, blind, need healing, or just praying for my intentions, he’s there. He didn’t fail Tobias, so he won’t fail us either. Plus the Book of Tobit is just all around awesome. It’s a love story with pooping birds, demon slaying, fishing, and victory. I don’t think any other story beats that.

School Supplies

Even though I’m in college I really do like shopping for school supplies. It’s almost time to go back to school, so I have to stock up on new notebooks, pens, sticky notes, and folders. Yes, I’m that student. I also changed my major to communications (future speech therapist up in huurrr) so you could say I’m excited to start the next semester. I also have to learn ASL so I’m really looking forward to that. 

AM by the Arctic Monkeys

Look away kids, I listen to secular music. But real talk this album is badass. I’ve always really liked the Arctic Monkeys older stuff, but this album is just something else. The new hip hop influence, sleek lyrics and falsetto tones spoke to me on a personal level. Especially the emotionally-cool lyrics. I’ve shed many a tear to this album. Cheesy, but you don’t get it unless you feel music on that level. I’m calling it now, Alex Turner is going to be one of the greatest lyricists of our time, bet on it. 

The beach 

Living in California makes this one pretty obvious. For me, the beach is emotionally and spiritually refreshing, like a little retreat. Every single time I go to the beach, I always think of Our Star of the Sea, too. I look out to the beautiful yet frightening mass of water and I’m always amazed by the thought that Our Lady is the Star of the Sea who brings us all home, no matter how lost out we are.

Chipotle

Source: Chipotle

Now, I’m Mexican-American and I know my Mexican food. I didn’t think I would like Chipotle because I pride myself in knowing what real Mexican food is and isn’t, but I was so wrong about this one. Humility is a valuable lesson. Especially when it comes to burrito bowls. I’m hooked. I’m basic. I’m sorry. I’m really not sorry.

____

So that’s it for now. Don’t be too scandalized. In the meantime I’ll be re-reading The Interior Castle and seeing what I come up with. Pax. 

The Case of Not Liking Being Catholic

Read on before you judge based off of the title alone. Or go ahead and judge me, although you’ll just help sanctify me in the process.

Two posts in one week? I must be going crazy. Or I’m just itching to write something before I go crazy. Both are true, more or less. It’s like I get these pounding ideas from keywords, phrases, or inspirations from anywhere, and I’m uncomfortably antsy until I spit it out. Or until I lose interest, it always depends. It’s been fun and interesting figuring out how I work as my personality settles in, because so far not many have been able to handle it. I blame it on being choleric. Well, the blame doesn’t solely lie there, but it is a momentum of prominence since some temperaments mesh better than others. My sister is phlegmatic and we get along fabulously, until someone wants to borrow a blouse or misplaces makeup. That’s sister life, yo. 

Anywho, all of the above has little or nothing to do with the continuation of this post. 

Source: Tumblr

A few days ago I was finalizing the outline for a talk I gave, and I started wondering why I’m still Catholic. I can be pretty terrible about it. Confession isn’t a sacrament for nothing, let me tell you. Having a veil and carrying around a rosary don’t count for much, not all the time. But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving the Church or even questioning the faith, not at all. Quite the contrary.

 So I continued to think about it, with Milky Chance accompanying my thoughts and the click-clack of my bright red nails pushing down letters, tying together biblical typology between Jesus and Jeremiah. Secret’s out, that’s how I (always) work, even writing this. As I continued to (surprisingly) think, I had one whiny thought.

Being Catholic is hard. 

The raw truth is that I don’t always like being Catholic. Romanticism aside, being Catholic is one of the most difficult feats I’ve ever attempted to accomplish. Sometimes my only reasons are just fides et ratio… faith and reason. Still, that doesn’t mean I’m quitting or throwing in the towel. I know damn well that the Catholic Church is the fullness of truth, and to go anywhere else would be to cheat myself not only of salvation, but also of complete truth. I couldn’t comfortably live with that, and the thought of living without truth is a scary one. Because if you don’t possess complete and full truth, what do you have instead? 

Nothing. 

I like to think that even in my choleric state, I pick my battles very wisely and carefully. I somehow know when to stand my ground, and when it simply isn’t worth it. This isn’t one battle I’m going to cave on. By the grace of God alone, I’ll reach the finish line, even if that means crawling on my gravel-filled hands and blood soaked knees. Graphic, but triumphs have never been for the pansy-hearted.

So I don’t always like being Catholic. That’s precisely because of my fallen nature, my own vanity, my own pride, my own blindness, and above all, my own sinfulness. However, because being Catholic is hard and because I don’t always like it, that’s exactly why I have to be Catholic. In continuation of that premise, I need to be Catholic because I don’t always like being Catholic. I keep saying I don’t always like being Catholic, and God could smite me for that, or you’re probably thinking, “Then just leave, you crazy girl.” 

But I won’t leave. I also hope God doesn’t smite me, because my beloved St. Teresa of Avila didn’t pray for years and she came back with superhuman holiness. Checkmate. 

No one is forcing me to be Catholic, I’m a grown girl and it’s my decision to remain where I’m constantly challenged and pushed. I am painfully aware of my faults, shortcomings and imperfections. I won’t pull a Popeye and say, “I am what I am.”, because that’s not what I am. And guess what? The only thing that uproots it all from the inside out, is Catholicism. Through Catholicism, faith, reason and maybe even nights like this, I am most myself. How could I ever leave that? Sure it’s not always pretty and petite, but I don’t believe life is meant for that. Without struggles, there is no celebration, and without pain, there is no comfort. Without Catholicism to challenge me and make my life difficult, I can’t imagine what I’d be. I actually can, but I’d rather not be that. 

So that’s it. I don’t always like being Catholic, but I am precisely because I need to be. It’s a paradox of sorts, but I can safely say that that is a part of me, and I’m fine with it. 

I think I forget that people actually read what I toss out in the open, so thank you for putting up with my choleric schemes and ridiculousness, because half the time I take to the keyboard, my mind is half here and half there, wherever there is. I’ll tell you when I find it. 

Cycle of Confusion

Let's get this straight. I loathe pornography. For my final public speaking speech, I spoke about how porn damages the brain, relationships, and society. The ethos, pathos and logos were on point because truth always prevails. If you can’t make those modes of persuasion work, then you’re probably not conveying the truth. I also discredited vaccines in another class, but that’s a different story for another time.

I find porn to be vile, disgusting, and a key destroyer of relationships. Whether they are marriages, dating relationships, friendships or family relationships, porn just shreds them up from the inside out. I call it the silent killer. I really don't have crazy, unrealistic standards for my future spouse, but I'll be damned if I get with anyone who's into it. That just won't fly with this chick, never has and never will. Ever. I'm that girl, and I won't apologize for wanting better for myself and others. I have standards, hear me roar.

I'm not in the mood to get into it about chastity and purity right now, so that's that. However I will say that pornography strips men of their much needed masculinity, and also deprives women of their true feminity. In turn we have effeminate men who don't know how to conduct themselves as men, and women who no longer possess the mystery of authentic femininity. No wonder everyone is so confused, because no one knows how to act in the first place. Since no one knows how to act, no one knows how to respond to one another. What we have now is a cycle of confusion where no one knows if they're coming or going. You can thank porn for that, since it shrinks the frontal lobe of your brain. It's only the part of the brain that's in charge of problem solving and decision making. No big deal, right? Immaturity is also a factor, and porn does a great job of keeping its viewers perpetually immature. No thank you.

The solution is simple. Painfully simple. Reject it. Don’t be lame, because that’s what porn is. Want better for yourself. There's no crime in that. Want better for your current and future relationships and you'll thank yourself later. If one little girl could reject what wasn’t good for herself and others, then why can't you?

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us.

The Post with No Moral

First off, there is no moral to this post. Sorry, I can’t muster one up at the moment. Frankly, I don’t even want to try because this isn’t about a moral, underlying inspiration, or anything like that. I don’t want to talk about modesty, chastity, virtue or any other repeated topic because I currently have nothing new to say, since it’s all been said anyway. This is just going to be keyboard smashing from a 19 year old Catholic girl, who happens to need a good keyboard smash. But I can say that this post has been influenced by circulating thoughts and Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran. Technically I don’t really write about myself, even though this is my platform. It’s not that it’s uncomfortable, I simply don’t like airing every aspect of my life, since it’s not necessary until it’s necessary. On second thought, the song really doesn’t have much to do with anything in regards to this post, I just really like it right now. It pairs well with dark coffee, since coffee opens up your voice and I only pretend to know how to sing.

Anyway, I’m done with school (for now) and it went fabulous. From the beginning I asked St. Maximilian Kolbe to help me, and dedicated it all for God’s greater glory, so the past four months went academically well. I have no plans to stop until I reach my goal, because even through the occasional (and healthy) meltdowns, I can and will do it. I’ve found that not only do I enjoy public speaking, but I also like playing with and rearranging words, and most of all, studying logic and rhetoric. That’s what gets my wheels churning, and I delight in it. I don’t have the kind of mindset or personality to settle for less, and that doesn’t make me snobby or arrogant. I don’t think anyone should settle for what doesn’t make them really think or feel something. Not everyone expected much from me, and I met passive aggressive discouragement, so that just motivates me even more. It doesn’t even piss me off and I don’t hold grudges either, so thank you. 

Yet, college still isn’t the be-all and end-all of my life. It is important because right now my vocation is to be a student to the best of my ability, buuut it doesn’t govern my life. I’m only 19 and I don’t have every little detail figured out, but I’m at peace with that. I also won’t pretend to have it all figured out, because that’s just lying to myself, which is something I refuse to do. Except when I decide to go running and tell myself it’ll be great. Anyhow, I won’t go on a tirade about how wonderful my walk with God has been, because it hasn’t always been lovely and fantastical. Sure, I’ve had my amazing moments, I won’t ever deny that. Other times it’s been incredibly painful, leaving me breathless and on my knees, literally. Sometimes I have to sit back and just laugh, because I know so little when it comes to God and His wonderful and aggravating ways. Eventually I see the purpose in the pain, and it’s usually to purge and strengthen for some other seen or unseen purpose, so I don’t try to run from it anymore. That’s one thing I will always love about being Catholic; no matter what, there will always be purpose in the pain. I’m no expert, but pain is much easier when you just accept it and ride it all the way through, because that’s where the grace lies. 

Even so, my life isn’t a constant oh-woe-is-me tale, and I won’t paint it that way. Where pain has been, there is eventual joy, like Psalm 30:5. It’s a joy that only Christ gives. Sure I have difficult moments, but don’t we all? It’s almost like being Catholic makes everything 10x harder, since we’re not called to live ordinary lives. To be Catholic is to abandon the ordinary, to take up the extraordinary. I take whatever the Divine Will throws at me, and pray to God that I’m still somehow doing His will, or at least on my way to fulfilling it, whether I’m crawling or running. A few weeks ago an anon on Tumblr asked me what my greatest desire is, and I re-realized that that’s just it; to do His will and nothing more. The details of this will aren’t something I worry over anymore, because as long as it’s His will, I’m all good. Thank you, nosy anon. 

However, despite the roller coaster, I know who I am, and who I’m becoming. I’m about to get Tumblr-esque, but I’m really not the same person I was even a year ago, and I’m grateful for that. Of course I’m still me. I still like singing to Lana Del Rey (and currently Ed Sheeran), admiring the night sky, binge watching The Office, eating mochi, having good conversations, buying little plants, gladly paying for that extra shot of espresso, bantering with my friends, and so on. But those are all just exterior things. They shape and influence what I am, but aren’t who I am. My life is coming together like a puzzle, sometimes the pieces don’t fit and need to be examined more closely in order to find their niche. Which does happen, usually. Do I know what image is being formed? I occasionally catch faint glimmers of the finished product, but they also could just be smoke and mirrors. I suppose in a way we’re all like uncompleted puzzles. We won’t know until it’s done.

All of the above is great, and I’m not perfect. Even if I realize that, it doesn’t mean I have to acquiesce to that fact. I’ve learned to be totally honest with myself, and I am keenly aware of my faults and imperfections. I would hate to become stagnant in them. In The Interior Castle, St. Teresa of Avila describes stagnant souls as becoming like putrid pools of water, if I remember correctly. The current situation isn’t the final destination, so we can’t treat it as such. Instead, she prompts her readers to remain as fresh pools of water, clear and constantly flowing. St. Teresa knows what’s up. I should probably read past the fourth mansion.

So there we have it. I’m still not sure what the point of this post was, so I won’t make one up. There’s no fancy clincher or call to action, because this is where I stop. Despite the word vomit, it could have been much worse. Sometimes word vomit is necessary. 
Just sometimes. 

Have Mercy on my Eyes, or Eye

Let’s just cut the cheesy introduction and address the pink elephant in the room. What is going with the Year of Mercy logo? How is this considered to be good and inspiring art?

Just look at it. Who sincerely and honestly thought this was a good idea? I can’t wrap my mind around this. I don’t think I want to. To me, that doesn’t resound the message of mercy. Instead, it looks a regrettable hippie throwback to the 70’s. Come on, Catholic Church, I thought we were putting those dark days behind us. Is no one else unsettled that this thing looks like something out of a cheap comic? 

Mercy is great, mercy is necessary to practice our beautiful faith to the fullest. We have the corporal and spiritual works of mercy to guide us along the way. Wonderful. But this eyesore (no pun intended to the shared eye) is frightening. It makes me uncomfortable, and the thought of this image plastered all over our parishes in the near-future is already making me cringe. Not to mention being shared with the entire world. 

Really now, what is going on with the shared eye?? Oh yes, solidarity and community. Lol silly, uncomfortable little me. But I’d bet money that modernists are rejoicing and having a kumbaya fest around it. 

Look into my eye

Seriously people, how hard would it have been to incorporate the real image of Divine Mercy? We have it for a reason, St. Faustina didn’t have it commissioned just for kicks. 

I could go on, but I won’t because charity is also important and frankly, I don’t want to go on. So instead I’ll drink my coffee, and look like this for the rest of the day. Thanks, Michael Scott, you get me.

Source: Giphy

Here Come the Brides

A few days ago I went to adoration, wearing my veil like I always do, when I don’t forget to switch it from my backpack to purse or vice versa. The struggles we Catholic college students undergo are trying. The next day as I was thinking about the last visit, I questioned myself, “Why do I really wear a veil?” I’ve been asked this before, and it seemed like a simple question with the usual answers:

Out of respect for the True Presence. 
As an inner and outer act of humility before God.
It’s scriptural.
As a reminder that mass is sacred.
It helps to focus on mass and prayer.
Simply because I want to.

So on and so forth. 

Some time ago I wrote a post about why I veil. Two actually. This third post is making the topic into a trifecta, it’ll probably be the last time I talk about it. The reasons listed above are all legitimate and valid reasons to wear a veil, but I felt there had to be more to this habit of mine. I’m pesky like that, I always think there has to be more than what’s already on the surface. I remembered what my friend once said to me; approaching Christ to receive Him in Holy Communion is like a bride approaching her spouse at the altar. What do brides wear? 

Veils. 

The Catholic Church is referred to as the Bride of Christ, with Christ as the Bridegroom.
In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul wrote, “Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord: because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the savior of his body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it: that he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life: that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.” (5:22-28) 

This passage is a beautiful example of what a true marriage should look like; reflecting the relationship between Christ and us, his bride the Church. Especially now that Lent has passed, we were and are reminded just how perfectly Christ delivered Himself up for the Church, by His Passion and death. Allowing Himself to be utterly destroyed, shedding every last drop of His Precious Blood, for the sake of sanctifying and cleansing us, His bride. In the same way, husbands are called to die to themselves in order to sanctify their wives and make them holy, while wives must imitate the Church by being subject to their husbands, in order to bring each other to Heaven. That being said, marriage definitely is not for the weak. Neither is Catholicism, since practicing sacrificial love is always part of the package, wed or not. The formula of love is pretty important, and like Matt Fradd said, if we don’t get love right, we won’t get life right. Simple as that. 

Where does the veil come in? Though I’m not sacramentally married, it doesn’t matter because when I go up to receive Christ in Communion, in a way I become a bride to Him, as all women do. I am His and He is mine. It’s only fitting that brides wear veils as they approach their spouses at the altar, as they prepare to give themselves, and vice versa. We give our imperfect selves to Christ, and He in turn, gives us His perfect self. In a sense, women are representing the union of Christ and His bride, the Church, who we all are.

Within the Church we see, hear, taste, smell and touch. It’s all very sensual, not allowing our faith to just be some fantastical idea that’s up in the clouds, cold, unseen and untouchable. So we have instruments like the rosary, incense, scapular, candles, vestments, holy water, and the veil, that bridge the link between Heaven and earth. The Eucharist is the most precious of all, Christ’s perfect gift of Himself to us.

I don’t veil to be better than anyone, or to draw attention to myself, or even for some personal agenda. At the end of it all, I wear my veil without shame because I love Christ, imperfect as that love may be. It will only be through humility, constant purification and aid from the Blessed Mother, that not only myself, but all of us, can come to love Christ perfectly, as He loved us… His bride the Church. 

Exactly What You Need to Give up for Lent

Lent begins in exactly one week, on the 18th of February, but you knew that, right? Where did the ordinary time go? 

*ba dum tsss*

Anyway, last year I came up with a list of 40 Lenten sacrifices, which became the second most popular, shared, and read post in the history of The Salty Catholic. The first was the one about summer modesty, which ruffled some feathers but why would anyone even bother defending immodesty in the first place, especially being Christian? A perfect example of the backward culture of today.

Since Lent is right around the corner, many of us are preparing to sacrifice our little, and not-so-little delights, fancies, and whims in order to die to ourselves physically, to elevate ourselves spiritually. That’s not to say that our bodies are bad, (Theology of the Body, anyone?), but we don’t always have to get whatever we desire, because then it’s easy to forget about the soul when so focused on the body. It’s both a difficult and wonderful thing to be able to say “no” to yourself, for the sake of a greater “yes”. In this Lenten case, the “yes” is cultivating a deeper spirituality and love for Our Crucified Lord. 

While giving up things like coffee and the snooze button are true and admirable sacrifices, if you cherish your sleep and are a heavy coffee drinker like I am,  
the most important thing to give up for Lent isn’t coffee, chocolate, the snooze button, or even social media.

Exactly what you need to give up for Lent is sin and vice. 

They go hand-in-hand; vice leads to sin, and sin feeds vice. However, on the flip side, virtue does the opposite, since it roots out sin and crushes vice. 

Though we (should be making) make the firm resolve to turn away from sin during each confession, the determination must not waver or fade away, especially not now with Lent. If anything, the resolve should be even greater, since our sins are what put Our Lord on the cross. 

To be more specific, let’s look at the seven deadly sins, and the seven virtues which counter them.

Lust vs. Chastity (purity)

Gluttony vs. Temperance 

Avarice vs. Charity 

Sloth vs. Diligence 

Wrath vs. Patience 

Envy vs. Kindness 

Pride vs. Humility 

Pride is the biggest one to beat, not only because it’s the most deadly and damning of all seven, as it is what caused Lucifer to fall, but because it is what spiritually blinds us from seeing our other sins and vices. Since pride is so incredibly blinding, it becomes difficult to see our faults by our own volition. In a state of prideful blindness our sins, vices and mistakes become invisible to us. They are definitely present; we simply refuse to see and remedy them. And if we refuse to see them, then they won’t go anywhere. There they will remain festering, and quietly, or not-so quietly, self-destruct our virtues, relationships, and souls. That’s not very enticing, is it? 

In Proverbs 3:34, it says, “God is stern in dealing with the arrogant, but to the humble He shows kindness.” To combat pride, we must be humble and exercise humility. St. Augustine said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” It is only with the eyes of humility that we can truly, honestly look at ourselves and begin root out our sins and vices, which is my challenge to you this Lent. Even so, if this still proves to be difficult, which is understandable, but still not an excuse, I encourage you to pray to Our Lady of Sorrows to reveal your vices to you. When Simeon prophesied that baby Jesus was set to be the fall and resurrection of many in Israel, he also said to the Blessed Mother, “and thy own heart a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts, thoughts shall be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35) Cling to Our Lady as a child clings to his mother, she will never disappoint. 

No one is perfect, and the concupiscence is real. However, that shouldn’t discourage us from striving for holiness, which begins with humility. As a tip, St. Faustina said, “He who wants to learn true humility should reflect upon the Passion of Jesus.” (Divine Mercy in my Soul, 267)

All in all, whatever you decide to sacrifice or work on for Lent, don’t forget to let love be your motivation. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, it seems appropriate for this quote by Matt Fradd, since we’re on the topic of love: “We were made by love, to love, and for love. If we don’t get love right, we won’t get life right.” 

I sincerely hope you all prepare well, and have a spiritually fruitful Lenten season. Know that my prayers are with you, always. Pax.

How to Damage Your Soul in Six Easy Steps

Body and soul. That’s what makes us up, as human beings. There is also the heart, but I’m leaving that subject untouched, for now. 

We are both corporal and spiritual, made in the image and likeness of God. Lately I’ve been pondering the nature of the soul, especially in moments of metaphysical pain and joy. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches in paragraph 366: “that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God - it is not “ produced” by the parents - and also that it is immortal: it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection.” 

Our souls are precious treasures, which we either elevate as they were intended, or tarnish to the point of destruction. The latter is the easiest to achieve, to be perfectly honest, since it happens every single day, all around us, all the time. The mystic St. Teresa of Avila said it herself, “I saw souls falling into Hell like snowflakes.” 

You’re probably thinking: 

Yes, it did, and I’m being serious. But how does one damage their soul to the point of losing it? It’s usually quite simple, and not always by flagrantly rejecting God. It can happen over time, without anyone even knowing or realizing it. So if you want to learn how to damage your soul in six simple steps, keep reading. 

• Settle for being a good person 

We’ve all heard it; “As long as I’m a good person, I’ll be fine.”

However, that’s not fine. It’s far from “fine”. Let’s look to Ven. Fulton Sheen to shine some light on the topic: “Too many people get credit for being good, when they are only being passive. They are too often praised for being broadminded when they are so broadminded they can never make up their minds about anything.” 

Passive? That’s not a very appealing trait to have, yet many settle for it, and so we have a near-whole society that doesn’t know whether it’s coming or going. The good-person card is nothing more than an excuse not to try, or even simply just do. It’s a sell out and insult to human nature, because we are capable of much, much more than merely being “good”. 

It’s very similar to the “don’t judge me” card, which translates to, “I know I’m doing wrong, but don’t you dare tell me otherwise because I’m too comfortable in my wrongness.” Then which translates to immaturity, with a touch of pride.

Souls don’t get to Heaven by being “good”. It happens by being holy and living a holy life. Why settle for being “good”, when you totally and completely have the ability to be holy? 

• Be tepid towards spirituality, especially your own

Revelation 3:16 sums this up pretty well: “But because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot, not cold, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.” 

Straight from the Douay-Rheims, aka the most accurately translated Bible. 

Of course we will go through spiritual dry spells, but I’m not talking about that. I’m referring to overall tepidity, the kind that just is, simply because that’s all we can mistakenly believe there is. This includes being “meh” towards prayer, exercising virtues, discerning our vocations, receiving Holy Communion, our relationship with the Blessed Mother, upholding what we believe as Catholics, and so on and so forth. 

When we are lukewarm, tepid, apathetic, indifferent or whatever else it can be called, we do not grow. How can you expect yourself to grow in virtue, love for God, love for Our Lady, truly appreciate the mass, deepen your prayer life or even increase in holiness, if that zeal isn’t there? Maybe this is the wake-up call you need, I know it’s what I myself constantly need. Nevertheless, hope is never lost, because we can always call upon the Holy Spirit to increase in us His gifts, especially that of zeal. After all, Jesus did promise that the Paraclete would abide with us forever. (John 14:16)

• Treat confession like a chore

Once the awe and humility towards this sacrament is gone, so are the good confessions. Thus they become vaguer, and sin becomes more common, with less penitence. It just becomes something we as Catholics do every now and then, just because we have to. This goes hand in hand with the previous point, tepidity. 

I say “awe” because God’s bottomless ocean of mercy isn’t something to be taken lightly, or abused. We should always run, not walk, to this sacrament with the utmost humility, because we are poor sinners in need of grace. Not only humility, but also reverence and deep gratitude, because we don’t deserve the mercy God gives us, yet in His infinite love and goodness, He desires us to come back to him, always. 

• Have no or very little devotion 

I challenge you to name a saint who did not have a devotion of any kind. In the meantime, let’s think of who did. St. John Bosco was devoted to Mary Help of Christians. St. Gemma Galgani had a devotion to St. Gabriel Possenti, who in turn was devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows. The Little Flower was devoted to the Holy Face of Jesus. Bl. Nellie was devoted to Baby Jesus. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati was not only devoted to Our Lady, but also to Our Eucharistic Lord. The Holy Father has a devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots. 

The list goes on and on. They all came from different backgrounds, vocations, and stories, but they all have one thing in common; they each achieved holiness. We stumble and fall, it happens. However, when we have a solid devotion it becomes a little easier to get back up, and fall less often.

• Ignore or near ignore the Blessed Mother 

The greatest devotion we can ever possibly have, is to the Blessed Mother. She never loses what is given to her, and when we give ourselves totally and completely to her, you can be rest assured that she will do absolutely everything in her power to save your soul and bring it to her Son… to Jesus through Mary.

Ignoring her is one of, if not the most unfortunate thing a Catholic, or Christian can do. Pope Francis has even said that any Christian who does not have Mary as mother, is an orphan. To ever so slightly bend St. Josemaria’s famous quote on mass, I say this; if praying the holy rosary is too long for you, it’s because your love for the Blessed Mother is too short. 

For a better look on exactly why we should love Our Lady, click here. 

• Don’t take Hell seriously 

When we don’t take the possibility of Hell seriously, we don’t take sin seriously, and so in the end, we don’t take the Devil himself seriously. He’s a liar. A pompous, arrogant snake, who more often than not, comes to us as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The greatest thing he can do is convince us that he either doesn’t exist, or that he can’t effect us. Of course he can’t, but we have to resist it. When we just assume that he can’t, that’s when we’re in trouble, because it’s a vicious cycle, as mentioned earlier; by not taking him seriously, we don’t take sin seriously, and by not taking sin seriously, we don’t take Hell seriously. 

However, understand that we don’t take him seriously in the sense of believing his empty promises or fearing him, but in being aware of the fact that he hates us more than we can comprehend, and he will do anything and everything to keep us from our ultimate union with God. 

____

So there you have it, six ways to damage your soul. Now the question is (gotta love the Socratic method), what will you do next? 

Pax. (or scroll below for personal notes you may or may not be inclined to read)

Our Lady Undoer of Knots,
pray for us

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I know I go months and months without writing anything, and I wish I could and had the ability to come up with new material more regularly, but that’s just the way it goes. When it comes, it comes. When it doesn’t, you don’t get emails about new posts. We’ll see how this year progresses. In the meantime, a big thank you to my loyal readers, my prayers are with you, I promise. Please also pray for me, because life has been interesting, and by interesting, I mean somewhat difficult, per the usual prayer request. Pray for me, and I’ll pray for you. Deal? Deal. 

Lastly, for a super cool and amazing novena for any situation, look no further than this one right here. I may have promulgated it in the past, but more Momma Mary is never a bad thing. 

Until next time, stay salty Catholics, and pax.