Active Discipleship

Hello folks! This is my reflection on what it means to be an active disciple. I presented this reflection at a service day hosted by both my university and parish, called Active Discipleship Day. So take a look and I hope you receive something that will help you along your journey of life. And let me know what you think in the comments!

My Reflection on the Importance of Active Discipleship (Presented at Active Discipleship Day July 2022)

As Christians, you’ve been hearing the word discipleship thrown around for a while now and if you’re even more like me, then you’re wondering what exactly is a discipleship day and where the word even came from. The word comes from the Latin for student, disciplus, and according to the Cambridge Dictionary, it is a person who believes in the ideas and principles of someone famous and tries to live the way that person does or did.

So that means anyone can be a disciple of anything. This is why there are so many religions and beliefs in this world. My mother is from India where there are about 7 major religions alone (9 if you get really specific). 

So it made me wonder, if there are so many disciples of different beliefs walking around the world today, how will people know who we are? How will they know that we are Catholic Christians? And I think, that If we are truly Catholic christian’s, then knowing the Bible is not enough - rather, we must do our best to live as Christ did. And how do we live like Christ? Through corporal works of mercy, like those we are about to do today. Corporal works of mercy are how we love our neighbors as ourselves and practice being merciful like Christ. Im sure you all know, that in John 13:35, Christ himself says, “By this everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another.” And in the Diary of St. Faustina, Christ tells her that there must be acts of mercy, and His Divine Mercy image is to be a reminder of the demands of His mercy, that even the strongest of faith is of no avail without works. (Diary, 742). 

But we’re all human, and its not always easy. Sometimes, even the most faithful make mistakes and forget about this! But that’s why Active Discipleship Days are important I think, as they are great exercises helping us to actively practice Christ’s teachings and spread Christ’s love around us. And when we continue doing that through our daily life we become Active Disciples not for a day, but for life. 

It is important in daily life to build friendships and connections with those around you. But also, build a deeper connection with Christ. The way I do that, is by imaging that he is working (going through the day) right alongside me. It makes Christ a part of the task, and how I, as St. Ignatius puts it, find God in all things. I know whenever I do this, I find that the most menial tasks become a more positive experience because I imagine Christ doing things with love and happiness, which makes me want to reflect that too. 

Labor Day: Our Weekend Celebrations ~ Beerhouse, Fireworks and Football Match!

As many of you know, Labor Day in the United States is a nationwide holiday that honors the working people, held on the first Monday in September. Normally, my family celebrates the holiday on the Sunday before the holiday by going for mass in the morning, then having a picnic at the park and ending the day wth the fireworks display along the banks of the Ohio river.

This year, we took a twist on our normal family outing and celebrated the entire weekend. Yes, folks, the party really didn't end until Monday evening.The holiday weekend was spent with friends and family laughing, cheering and having a great time with great company. Click down below to watch our weekend video! Be sure to let us know how you spend the holiday in the comments below! Enjoy! 

(Right: Some fun from the weekend - FC Cincinnati vs. Saint Louis FC)

Father's Day and What It Means To Me

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Call me biased, but out of the approximately 70 million fathers in the United States, I think my dad is the best one.

     Father's Day is just around the corner and I am all set (this time I didn't wait till the last minute!). But it's more than just a day to give my dad a really nice gift. My mom, dad and myself are very busy people and there often isn't enough time to just sit back and relax. This is one of the reasons that vacations are cherished in my family because they are the few times that we are all together and enjoy one another's company. But, just like our vacations, days like Father's Day are special too because it allows us to take a step back from our hectic lives and be grateful for all that we have. Father's Day in my family is always nice - we start it off by going to church and then spend the day together and make it a very memorable one. In the past we have done some fun things to celebrate Father's Day, like attend a special performance, go for a picnic, a nice hike, or go out for dinner at a fancy restaurant. This year we will be going to a winery where we will enjoy a wine tasting and a nice dinner - I can't wait! I think this is a great idea because I get to spend the day doing something unique and fun with the man of the day! Readers, this is also one way you can make you Father's day a memorable one - do something out of the ordinary that the whole family can come together to enjoy! Spending the day in the zoo, the park, a winery or even using the weekend to go somewhere special will do the trick! 

My dad and I after I won the Cute Baby Contest! 

      This morning, I asked my dad what his fondest memory of being a father was and he said it was the day I was born. When I was born, I was wide awake and had large, almond-shaped eyes. When he held me for the first time, he was in awe and all he could say was "wow".  He sat in the hospital room holding me and was thrilled to finally be a father. It was a day he had been looking forward to. When he told me this it really touched my heart because sometimes you really don't think that your parents are so sentimental.

     We started reminiscing about memories we had of one another. One of my best memories of my dad is when he took me to American Girl in Chicago, Illinois.

That was a day I will never forget. Ever.

My dad and I walking out of American Girl

     I was 10 years old and absolutely loved the Samantha books. The American Girl store had just opened in Chicago and going there came as lovely surprise! It was our last day in Chicago and we were packing and getting ready to leave. I remember my dad saying, "Oh, there is one more thing we should do before we leave." My mother agreed so we left our things in the room, headed to the car and began driving. I had no idea where we were going. We parked on a street and started walking in the heart of downtown, which was crowded with people. We kept walking until suddenly I saw the big sign sticking out above the sidewalk that read American Girl. I gasped and opened my eyes wide, both of my parents looking down at me and smiling. I was so excited I felt like I could fly, and maybe I did, because I honestly don't know how I made it so fast from the crossing, down the street and inside the store. Let me tell you: It. Was. Heaven. At least for my 10 year-old self. And after a while, all the excitement was making me hungry so we went to the cafe for lunch and they gave me a doll to accompany me. For lunch I had the best tea sandwiches ever, because they were made and eaten at American Girl (To me, everything there was the best). The colorful parlor-like atmosphere, the little chairs and tables for the dolls, and the crowd all made the experience spectacular. I ended up spending practically the whole day there and bought an American Girl doll, some clothes for her and some matching clothes for me. I walked out feeling like a million bucks. I drove my parents so crazy that day they were exhausted so we ended up staying for one more night at the hotel, before heading back home. 

     Another fond memory I have of my father is when he took me to my very first Reds baseball game one summer's day. While I didn't like it at the time, I still enjoyed spending the day with my dad. We didn't stay very long, since my impatience reached its tipping point, but on our way home, we got some ice cream and went to the park for a bit, where I got to swing on the monkey bars, run around like a crazy person and tire myself out. By the time we got home I nearly forgot we had even gone for the baseball game in the first place. 

My late grandpa and I in India

     So, you see, to me Father's Day is a day that I get to spend with my family going through pictures, telling stories and reminiscing about the past. As I get older, holidays like these are my favorite because they are more focused on family and give me time to spend with them and gather memories to hold on to and one day pass on to my children and my children's children. To you, my readers, I advise you to do the same - don't worry about the materialistic side to the holiday, because we all know that no matter what you decide to get your dad, he will love it because it's from you! Instead, make it a point to spend time recollecting about good times and memories you have of your father. This will not only touch his heart but also let him know that you not only appreciate him but that you never forgot the things he did for you either! But remember to also celebrate the other men in your life, like uncles and grandfathers who had an influence on you! Remember, history is made from memories, so make them count! 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! 

     Monday, June 13th, was the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua and so I wanted to write this post about his life to help better explain why he is considered one of the most powerful saints and is revered by so many around the world. Numerous churches dedicated to him can be found all across the globe and it's not hard to see why once you understand his life.   

To read about the feast day celebrations, click HERE! 

     St. Anthony was born as Fernando Martins in Lisbon, Portugal to a wealthy family in 1195. By the young age of fifteen, Martins entered the Abbey of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, Portugal (which was the capital at the time). Once ordained a priest, he learned of a hermitage founded by Franciscan friars dedicated to St. Anthony of Egypt, triggering a desire to join them. He left the Abbey and joined the Franciscan order, changing his name to Anthony. 

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Two Franciscan friars visiting the shrine from Pakistan-just goes to show how far reaching St. Anthony's cause was! St. Anthony left his wealth and comfort and replaced it for robes similar to these along with a life of simplicity and humility. 

     Anthony then began traveling and went to Morocco. After some time doing God's work, Anthony fell sick, forcing him to return to Portugal to recuperate. But fate took its turn and the ship was blown off course, arriving in Sicily instead. From there they travelled on to Tuscany, where Anthony was assigned to the hermitage of Monte Paolo. 

     This may have seemed like a step in the wrong direction at the time, but God had his plan already in motion. While attending an ordination ceremony of Franciscan and Dominican friars, confusion arose about who would deliver the homily. Not able to find anyone else, the Franciscans asked Anthony to speak about whatever the Holy Spirit brought to him, believing that Anthony only knew how to read the Breviary and Missal. To their great surprise, he delivered such a beautiful and well-said homily that news of his eloquent speaking launched his teaching career and eventually reached St. Francis of Assisi. 

     In 1224, Anthony was put in charge of teaching the friars by Francis and he kept his notes and comments in his book of psalms. But this is where the story gets interesting. When a young novice decided to leave the hermitage, he took Anthony's book of psalms along with him. When he learned it was missing, Anthony prayed that he would find it or it would be returned. Anthony's prayers were answered and the novice returned the book. Better yet, he also returned to the Order. Today, this book is safely kept in the Franciscan friary in Bologna, Italy. 

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From "The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi," 147

     There are numerous stories of St. Anthony and his miracles, earning Anthony the name, "Miracle Worker". One of my favorites is of Anthony's time in a place called Rimini. Rimini contained many heretics and Anthony went to preach the word of God and bring people to conversion. He preached and spoke to the heretics but they ignored him and his words, refusing to listen to him. Encouraged by God he went to the sea shore and began talking to the fish saying, "Listen to the word of God, O ye fishes of the sea and of the river, seeing that the faithless heretics refuse to do so." The fish gathered in multitudes, poking their head out of the water as though paying attention to the sound of Anthony's voice. Once the heretics saw this, they realized that Anthony was sent by God and his words were powerful. Anthony spoke so well that he converted those heretics, who had found solace in his words and in the Catholic faith.

     Anthony was a great preacher and was well known for it. His words were so simple and yet so strong that his message could get through to anyone- poor and rich, young and old - and was able to spread the word of God and convert people like no other. Eventually Anthony became a Doctor of the Church and later became a saint. Many years since his death, St. Anthony, continues to be one of the most famous saints and has helped millions of people around the world and continues to do so. As a result his feast day is one of the most widely celebrated feast days. 

     June 13th of every year marks the feast day of Padua's most famous saint and one of the most revered and honored saints in the world - St. Anthony. Known as Il Santo (the saint) in Padua, St. Anthony was a great speaker and is the patron saint of lost things. His life story is also one that is able to lift spirits and restore faith when it is lost. His story teaches us that while we might face many hurdles in life, in the end it's all a part of God's plan. Today, his feast day is when people all over the world honor his miraculous self and maintain traditions done in his honor. 

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The ceiling of the Basilica De San Giacomo on Lake Como, Italy

     In my family, St. Anthony's feast day is a pretty big deal. Preparation for the feast day begins nine Tuesdays earlier with the novena to St. Anthony. On the feast day we fast and visit the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Cincinnati Ohio. We attend the mass, pray, light a candle or two and receive St. Anthony's Bread (yes, that's what its called) passed out by the franciscan friars. Sometimes this bread is baked by the friars themselves or donated by a bakery or individuals who wish to bake the bread and donate it for St. Anthony. 

So what exactly is St. Anthony's bread?

     The bread is blessed by the church on the feast day of St. Anthony and given to the congregation. This is a tradition upheld in many churches around the world. Where this tradition began is surrounded with speculation because of the various stories about its origin.

     One story originated in Toulon, France with a woman named Louise Bouffier who owned a small bakery. Once day she could not open the bakery door and neither could the locksmith, who finally suggested to break open the door. When the locksmith went to get his tools, Bouffier prayed to St. Anthony to help open the door and in return she would bake bread for the poor of Toulon. When the locksmith returned, she asked him to try and open the door one last time. When he did, the door opened with ease, as though nothing was wrong. Fulfilling her promise to St. Anthony, she baked bread and distributed it among the poor of Toulon. After hearing about the miracle that happened to Louise, her friends began praying to St. Anthony and baking bread for the poor whenever their prayers were answered, thus starting the tradition of St. Anthony's Bread.

     There are many other tales of St. Anthony helping those in need. I can't count the many times I have asked for favors or help finding lost items and he came through! So next time you are stuck in a rut and need help, call upon St. Anthony to lend a hand or help you find something. Here is a little rhyme my grandmother taught me to say whenever I loose something and, believe it or not, I still say it. Now I am passing it on to you: 

                                                         "Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony,

Please come around,

I have lost my ______

and it can't be found!"

To read more about St. Anthony and his life, click HERE!

St. Sylvester's Day

   The new year will soon be here! But before you start thinking about your new years party or your resolutions, there is still one more holiday to be remembered in the old year - St. Sylvester's Day! 

Who is this St. Sylvester?

    St. Sylvester was one of the church fathers whose feast day is December 31st. Although very little is known about him, during his papacy he saw Constantine rise to power and the founding of many Roman churches. Constantine's mother, St. Helena uncovered the tomb of Jesus Christ with the help of the Hebrew people. 

   In Europe, celebrating St. Sylvester's Day is combined with the New Year's Eve celebrations and is spent making efforts to ring in the new year well, so that the year will be good. These celebrations vary throughout the world. In some places, a pig is let loose and everyone tries to touch the pig, as it is considered a sign of good luck. In many other places, a hearty dinner is prepared and eaten with friends and family.

   Eating fish is a popular tradition throughout various parts of the world as it is considered lucky to do so. Fish scales bare a resemblance to coins and fish travel in schools - a symbol of wealth and prosperity. In my family, this is a big new years tradition for us and we remember that Jesus taught us to go and "be fishers of men." We usually eat Salmon or St. Peter's fish, but this year we chose the Branzino fish for its butter-like taste.

St. Peter's fish, also known as Tilapia, is well known for the large spot on its body. This is said to be from St. Peter himself. According to legend, St. Peter threw a coin into the Sea of Galilee, which was swallowed by a fish. St. Peter caught the fish and tried to pry it out by holding the fish, leaving his fingerprint. To this day the print, or spot, can be seen on the fish! 

In our family, we like to enjoy the holiday by drinking champagne, and eating fish and other little delicious hors d'oeuvres. We then gather and talk about how the past year went and our resolutions for the next. As it gets closer to the new year we turn on all the lights in our home, burn incense and light one candle and say a prayer for everyone's health and happiness, inviting the new year. 

From our family to yours, we hope that you find happiness and joy in the new year! 

Happy New Year! 

Advent: The Season of Christmas

      Today marks the first advent. Advent is the season of christmas, in which people prepare for the holiday. During this time friends and family come together to celebrate Christmas and the spirit of giving. In my home, the smells of baking and spices fill the house with sentimental yet joyous memories that are unforgettable. The holiday season is what I relish the most because not only do I get to spend time with my family, but also to spread cheer and make those around me happy! I love giving gifts and helping others during this time of the year!

      For some, the Christmas time is a sad one, full of past memories. For me, it is a time to make new ones and do something good that makes me feel much better as a person. If you think about it, we lead very lonely lives. With all the technology and distractions, we have become distant from the small joys around us. Life on Earth is not permanent so let's make get together and have a jolly good time of the year! 

     My family gathered around the table, and lit the first candle out of the four set for each Advent Sunday. We sang some carols, drank some Glüwein and ate traditional German christmas cake - Christstollen (photo above)! Filled with dried fruit and marzipan (my favorite!), this brings everyone together - young and old alike. 

So now, I can finally say...

🎄Merry Christmas!🎄

Happy Thanksgiving!

After a long hiatus (college...ugh) I have come home to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. While the turkey roasts in the oven, turning golden brown, all the warmth and laughter and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade plays on the tv in the background. Mom and I prepare the rest of the food, from the cranberry sauce that tops off the turkey, to the grilled sweet potatoes and the homestyle baked beans. The smells all come together, making the house truly a home.

     Coming home for Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year because everything is all about family. That is what I am thankful for too. Without my family, I would not be who I am today. They have taught me to be myself. They have taught me that sometimes you won't get your way, but that that's ok because all things work for good. What are you thankful for? 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

The Meaning of Challah

     This morning I woke up early and decided to do some baking. Suddenly I realized that it was also Friday - the day I make Challah bread. I cannot tell you how much I love challah! Whenever I eat a piece of it, I feel like I'm eating a piece of a cloud. The sweet taste and fluffy texture makes it seem as though it was made by the angels themselves. But there is a lot more to this bread than you may think.

   Made of yeast and eggs, challah (Hebrew for "cake") bread is a special type of bread eaten by some on Friday evenings and special holidays. Depending on the holiday, they can be formed into different shapes to represent certain aspects pertaining to that holiday. Sesame seeds may also be added to the bread. 

    I find that the time I spend making challah is a great opportunity to pray and give thanksgiving to God (because of the long time it takes to make challah, praying ensures that no one gets bored!). I love making 6-braided challot (plural of challah), because it reminds me that God created the world in 6 days. There is so much symbolism and meaning in challah bread that you simply cannot just make it in a rush nor gulp it down at the dinner table. Care must be used while making it, and prayers must be said before eating it. 

    No matter your beliefs, anyone can make it really. Use the time you put in to making (and eating) this bread for self-reflection and thanksgiving. Teach your kids this too, so that they can pass it on and make it another family tradition! 

Click the links below to learn more! 

Palm Sunday Crosses

    Today is Palm Sunday! Palm Sunday, the sunday before Easter, is celebrated all over the world. On this day, people go to church to commemorate the day Jesus entered Jerusalem, as people welcomed him, waving palms and shouting hosannah. References regarding this day can be found in the New Testament of the Bible: Matthew 21:1-11, mark 11: 1-11, Luke 19: 28-44, and John 12:12-19. In our family, we go to church and receive these blessed palms and make crosses out of them. We place them all over our house and wherever we wish. Sometimes w even pas them out to friends! So from our family to yours, here is is how we make Palm Sunday Crosses. Enjoy!