Natural Family Planning» Saints

Maternity of Anna

Jess — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:57:23 +0000

I did a quick guest post over at the Apostolate of Hanna’s tears blog on today’s Byzantine Catholic feast, the Maternity of Anna. Check out why today’s feast was moved to December 8th for unity, and read a beautiful prayer about a woman who was called barren, Mary’s mother, St. Anne.

Also, if you don’t know the legend of the Meeting at the Golden Gate (take all Wikipedia entries with a grain of salt), you must take a look at this painting which I recently had the chance to view in person, Filippo Lippi’s “Meeting at the Golden Gate”,

This painting made me cry–it’s really quite tremendous.

(Side note: today is also the feasts of Old Testament St. Hannah & St. Juan Diego in the Roman Rite.)

Presentation Day

Jess — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:43:54 +0000

Melchior Broederlam (1381-1409) Presentation in the Temple & Flight to Egypt Tempera on wood, 1393-1399

For many Christians, today is the feast of the Presentation (called the Encounter in the east), a mystery of love, life, family and vocation. Here’s my vintage 2010 post with some reflections on family, vocation and St. Joseph.

Purity 365 Review

Jess — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:59:40 +0000

Jason Evert is a thirty-something A-lister on the chastity speaking circuit in the United States, and to some extent worldwide. He has got mad gifts for marrying profound truths with hip and hilarious banter that makes him a hit with both teens and adults alike. I for one am obviously a groupie. I’ve seen him twice in person. But he’s not just some motivational megapersonality. He’s got depth, a good marriage, good intellectual formation, and a spiritual life to match. Somehow in between being a husband, father and full time speaker, he finds time to stay on top of his game. He researches the medicine, science, social science behind all the philosophy and theology he studied, and combined with his engaging style, he’s a powerhouse of an advocate for purity.

“Romance without Regret,” what began as a simple talk for teens, has branched out to a full-fledged chastity apostolate, which he balances with being an apologist for the Faith (particularly in the areas of sexual morality and chastity) for Catholic Answers. But this powerhouse of an advocate for purity knows that all the motivational talks in the world don’t make a difference if someone can’t walk the walk once they get home from that talk.

Evert’s created this collection of pithy quotes from a variety of sources to be daily inspiration in helping youth walk the often difficult walk. He mixes up no nonsense saints, philosophical saints, intuitive saints and some really holy high school students who are leading by example.

This is great book prefaced with some great advice. Do not skip the introduction by Evert. These are the words of someone who’s not just studied purity, been challenged by purity, but someone who lives and breathes it. He is clearly in love with God and greatly influenced by someone who loved purity even more–John Paul II. He reiterates JPII’s teaching by declaring,

Without an interior attitude of reverence and even awe toward the other person, human love is unable to become what it is meant to be: a reflection of the very love of God. This is why chastity is so essential even within marriage, as a reverent attitude toward the gift of sexuality.

It is on this last point that I want to close with. Clearly the target market of this book is meant for teens and young adults. This is largely indicated in the introduction, but also in the style and marketing of the book. Good for them. I think this is a great idea for youth, either as gifts or devotional texts in youth group. However, the following example reflects a lack of formation about purity in adults, and shows the great amount of inspiration that adults also need in living an integrated life of love.

I was listening to the LIA show on the radio on my way home one night. Lia is Wyoming’s version of sucroChristian radio call-in show Delilah. Lia was taking a programming break to plug some short of youth chastity web site. She was promoting this web site and the general idea of purity for kids, and she said something like, “Guys, check this site out. I think it’s great. Purity is great–but not for me. I’m married!”

I just shook my head and thought to myself that this is why some purity movements don’t always work to prepare people for holy and solid marriages. People equate purity or chastity with abstinence. Abstinence is not having sex–indefinitely or for a time. They see the ring on their finger as a “get out of jail free card” from the prison they perceive purity as. Chastity is a completely integrated approach to reverencing one’s body, including one’s sexuality. When you reverence your body and your sexuality as a mystery and gift to be given to another, and know that purity and chastity is a lifelong journey, you’re that much closer to a holier marriage and a happier life.

Obviously Evert’s on board with the fully integrated vision of the human person and sexuality. He even has done a couple materials I love for married couples including “Pure Intimacy,” one of my favorite materials to gift to NFP skeptics. But I would challenge my fellow writers, publishers, friends and NFP lovers with this: keep your sights on the adult and married market as well. If 80-90% of Catholics are contracepting and divorcing at roughly the same rate as the rest of the population, take a look around you. Are these people being served and actively invited into purity and healing? What’s more, are the parents of the kids in the youth groups who hear these talks receiving the invitation to purity as well? Sometimes so, but more often not.

Let’s get back to work.

Happy Gianna Molla Day

Jess — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:23:23 +0000

Here’s an oldie but goodie, a post on St. Gianna Molla, who’s feast is today! Happy feast day moms, doctors and more!

We love you, Joseph

Jess — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:36:13 +0000

March 19 is Father’s Day in Italy. Why March 19? Because it’s universally the feast of St. Joseph, patron of fathers. So, wish your beloved, your pastor ( a spiritual father) and men who are godfathers, mentor or work with youth (spiritual fathers) a happy father’s day, and send them this link to a previous entry on St. Joseph (includes a talk I’ve given).

(Note: It’s a solemnity in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, so you can ease off your Lenten fast a little March 19!)