Just a Catholic Mom

Celebrate First Communion Anniversaries: Most of us receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist when we’re in the second grade.  We’ve prepared all year, and now, filled with joyful anticipation, the moment we will receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ is here. Really reflect on that for a moment. As Catholics, every Sunday (and weekday), we have the opportunity to receive Jesus—His body, soul, and divinity—in the Holy Eucharist, and continue to join in communion with him. Wow! When you reflect upon this amazing reality, the word “wow” does not even begin to describe the truth that is contained in the Holy Eucharist. Now, years after making our first communions, I wonder... Do we continue to approach and receive Him with the same enthusiasm and excitement we did as children on our First Communion Day? Or do we take this treasured sacrament, and He who is present in it, for granted; merely going through the motions instead of reflecting upon whom we are receivi...

Celebrate Your Confirmation: 19 years ago today, I was Confirmed in the Catholic Church. It’s true that I realized my Confirmation was a Sacrament, but like most people, I unfortunately didn’t realize then that this was a moment that should continue to be celebrated beyond just the day and Confirmation party. Confirmation, like the other Sacraments, is a Sacrament not meant to be just received, but meant to be lived. It’s when we as Catholic’s renew our Baptismal vows that our parents spoke for us as infants. It’s when we affirm our consecration to the Lord through Baptism and take on the responsibility to live and grow in our faith. It’s when we are sealed with the Holy Spirit! Celebrate your Confirmation! Write this special anniversary on your calendar, because it’s not a one day thing— it’s living your life every day in Christ! Each year, celebrate your Confirmation anniversary with your family. Get out the old photos, so your kids can see you as a 13 year-old with braces and butter...

Teach the Sacraments and Let God’s Light Shine: As Catholics, we are so blessed to have seven sacraments available to us during our lifetimes! Although some of the sacraments can only be experienced once in a person’s life (e.g. Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony or Holy Orders), the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation can be received regularly, and the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick whenever there is a need.  So what exactly is a sacrament? In simplified terms, a sacrament is an opportunity to receive grace from God. As defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, grace is favor, the free undeserved help God gives us. Through the sacraments, we have amazing opportunities to experience God's gift of grace and allow Him to work through our lives! When you look at the sacraments, they can be divided into three parts: (1) Sacraments of Initiation into the Church—Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, (2) Sacraments of Healing—Reconciliation and Anointing of t...