Settled. Learning the Hard Way, Holy Spirit

Legal/Financial Update: After much prayer and negotiations between lawyers, we came to an agreement. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but I am grateful that it was settled. Without a settlement, things could be much, much worse for me.  Thank you, God. Thank you to those who prayed for me.

DON'T EVER, EVER, EVER USE A CHARGE CARD FOR CONSUMERS GOODS YOU ARE BUYING TO FILL THE EMPTY HOLE INSIDE YOUR SOUL OR TO RAISE YOUR SELF ESTEEM OR BECAUSE YOU ARE ANGRY AT THE WORLD OR ANGRY AT GOD. THAT IS A MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR MISTAKE I MADE OVER A DECADE AGO AND AM LITERALLY PAYING FOR NOW. I don't use charge cards anymore. And I'm unemployed. Believe me, I learned my lesson is a very difficult way. Debt will enslave you. It will follow you around. I'm not out of the woods yet, but I see the way out. And I'll have a lawyer bill to pay.

Anybody want to share a lesson you learned the very hard way?

Angry Liberal Lady in Bible Study does not want to listen or read logic or reason or me. I think she has deep seated anger from something in the past, probably something I don't know about. I think deep underneath that anger towards me, towards those of us who are more conservative leaning, towards the Church, towards the Bishops is a BIG HURT. Hmm. maybe something related to her divorce from long ago? I don't know. I am just speculating. Something draws her to Mass, to her ministries, to the Church, to Bible Study. Guess this is a big job for the Holy Spirit (I'm very into the Holy Spirit at the moment). I must have received graces because I'm not really angry at her even though she was very rude to me.

If I need to do or say something to help make this situation better, then I trust God will reveal it to me in someway. If I did something wrong, then sooner or later, God will let me know somehow. He always has in the past.

Our Bible Study needs peace. We need St. Paul to write us a letter. "A Reading from the Letter to the Midwesterners." Well, we can just continue to read the Bible. Notice how human conditions and behaviors stay the same over the centuries? Only the names have changed.

I think I'm into the Holy Spirit because I had to go to that Confirmation Mass. Isn't that how it always works: you go to serve and end up receiving? I was reminded of the Holy Spirit, and how He has our back.

I was unable to go to Freedom Rally in the Big City yesterday because I had to meet with the lawyer.

Yawn. Time to end this post.

Stations of the Resurrection

The following is in today's church bulletin. The bulletin credits the Archdiocese of Detroit.

The Stations of the Resurrection


1) Jesus Rises from the Dead
2) Women Come to the Tomb Encountering an Angel
3) Peter and John Visit the Tomb with Mary Magdalene
4) Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
5) Mary Magdalene Proclaims His Rising to the Apostles
6) Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus
7) Jesus Gives the Disciples the Power to Forgive
8) Jesus Confirms the Faith of Thomas
9) Jesus Eats with the Disciples on Tiberian Shore
10) Jesus Forgives Peter and Commissions Him
11) Jesus Gives the Great Commission to the Disciples
12) Jesus Ascends into Heaven
13) Mary and the Disciples Keep Vigil for the Spirit's Advent
14) Jesus Sends the Holy Spirit

Mary's Virginity - Why It Lasted Forever

Previously I wrote about the Blessed Mother's perpetual virginity. No one answered my question why is it so important to us that she remained a virgin.

However, if she weren't, then we'd have to change our thinking and opinions and beliefs about Joseph and Mary.

 Leila at Little Catholic Bubble explained Mary's virginity. Here's my summary: Joseph knew that Mary was united with the Holy Spirit, and that God was the Father of baby Jesus.

Joseph thought, "Whoa, man! It's like she really IS married to God. I better not mess with Mary! I just better keep my hands to myself and restrict my duties to carrying the heavy pottery and leading the way to Egypt. I don't want to get on God's bad side."

Of course, Joseph helped out Mary in many ways and with the raising of Jesus.

Are You Still a Virgin?

Asking someone whether or not they are still a virgin is a very personal question. And most of the time, it's none of our business. I'm talking about living in the current Non-Traditional Catholic Land, or in Non-Catholic Land.

So, how do we Catholics know if Mary, our Blessed Mother, remained a virgin? I want to know who had the nerve to ask Mary if she remained a virgin throughout her life with Joseph. We know by our Catholic tradition and by reading the Bible and through Church teaching that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived (by the Holy Spirit). But how do we know she REMAINED a virgin?? Maybe I missed that part in Bible study. And why is it any of our business?

What if Mary and  Joseph had sex some time after Jesus was born? Let's say they did. Whom would have Mary told? I don't think she would have told Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Simon, etc. Is that something you would tell your son's friends? Who said what to whom? Was Joseph complaining to one of his buddies that marital life was missing marital relations? Maybe he was really much to old and didn't have the energy and told someone.

Maybe Joseph was too freaked out that Mary was called by God, and he better not go near her.

If somehow it was revealed that Mary did not remain a virgin, would that be such a bad thing? She was a married woman after all, wasn't she?

Why is it so important to us that Mary remained a virgin?

I'm just asking.