tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post8611873589339103663..comments2024-03-05T14:07:28.062-08:00Comments on Ask Sister Mary Martha: Animal BrainSister Mary Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580244097177195453noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-18024046685349090102008-02-14T13:05:00.000-08:002008-02-14T13:05:00.000-08:00Point taken sister. Sorry about the irrelevant ven...Point taken sister. Sorry about the irrelevant venting about the roommate - I got swiftly punished by being inundated with work. But as you say...offer it up.<BR/><BR/>I must say that despite being raised Catholic, the whole concept of offering up suffering to God is kinda foreign to me. To me (and probably other Third Worlders) it's something that we need to be philosophical about and just accept as a part of life. So it becomes mundane - probably because it is also commonplace: you suffer, but you look around yourself and you see others suffering as well so you really don't have a right to complain.<BR/><BR/>It's our joys - infrequent and therefore more precious - that we are taught to give in offering.<BR/><BR/>Which brings me to another question: when to endure something, and when to indulge in a little WWF smackdown? Just kidding, but you know what I mean. For instance, you read the riot act to that bank clerk who was neglecting that poor old man. I know we're taught to turn the other cheek but sometimes - in defense of ourselves and others - isn't a little righteous anger necessary?<BR/><BR/>Thanks and Happy Valentine's Day!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-55049824489672695062008-02-10T20:17:00.000-08:002008-02-10T20:17:00.000-08:00Oh my goodness, I have been the most guilty in my ...Oh my goodness, I have been the most guilty in my life of feeling "put upon" all the time and "needing to vent." I have been famous for complaining. It is something I have been working on for several years now since my re-conversion, and I am happy to say that I am getting better at making a nice face and at dropping a lot of my needs. It was fun to see you address this issue in your humorous way and very helpful too! God bless!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-22755586514372832972008-02-10T13:52:00.000-08:002008-02-10T13:52:00.000-08:00Sister, I have a question. There is a book out by...Sister, I have a question. There is a book out by Kevin Orlin Johnson saying that the Vatican has forbidden Catholic laity from " distributing the Eucharist at Masses when a priest is present... Yet American bishops continue to encourage faithful Catholics to violate these laws." Can you address this please? <BR/><BR/>Thanks.<BR/><BR/>p.s. quotation marks are quoting from his book information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-1590949749914124802008-02-10T12:21:00.000-08:002008-02-10T12:21:00.000-08:00We (our family) attended a family retreat day this...We (our family) attended a family retreat day this weekend. One of the priests who spoke suggested that making sacrifices on their own is difficult, BUT if one offers up the sacrifice for someone or something "near and dear" it becomes more purposeful and, therefore, more doable. Even making "nice" is easier if it's done to spiritually support a troubled child, spouse, &c. Just a thougth...<BR/>LindaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-83450358031316436192008-02-09T22:39:00.000-08:002008-02-09T22:39:00.000-08:00HA! For a minute there, I thought you were going ...HA! For a minute there, I thought you were going to post someone's question about eating animal brains for lent or some such thing! Heehee, I guess I must be craving protiens or something.Laura The Crazy Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08904542599983127845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-68792436472409265032008-02-09T20:56:00.000-08:002008-02-09T20:56:00.000-08:00Sister, you are too funny for words! I just love y...Sister, you are too funny for words! I just love your blog.<BR/><BR/>I have a question. Is it possible to "miss" one's vocation? To feel called to Holy Orders, for example, but through stubbornness, fear, lack of trust, or ignorance, choose another path that wasn't God's design for us?Tiennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315891571577431883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-30219981131597604282008-02-09T17:56:00.000-08:002008-02-09T17:56:00.000-08:00Thank you, Sister and fellow commenters! This pos...Thank you, Sister and fellow commenters! This post is exactly what I need, seeing that it reinforces my main project this Lent.... That is, doing what the post says, and realizing that it's not about me, it's about HIM, and He is always there to help! I hope you all have a joyful and fruitful Lent, followed by a truly magnificent Easter!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-63544292623137643172008-02-09T10:26:00.000-08:002008-02-09T10:26:00.000-08:00Go ahead and put it in your bulletin. Maybe we'll ...Go ahead and put it in your bulletin. Maybe we'll swing some people over the fence.Sister Mary Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00580244097177195453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-75850224161039174232008-02-09T09:03:00.000-08:002008-02-09T09:03:00.000-08:00After watching the movie 'Strictly Ballroom' we sa...After watching the movie 'Strictly Ballroom' we say to each other "Happy Face!" and don a large plastic smile. it adds a smidge of humor for the one being corrected, which is always nice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-88371548520685593672008-02-09T07:26:00.000-08:002008-02-09T07:26:00.000-08:00Dear SMM,would it be ok if I reproduced some of yo...Dear SMM,<BR/><BR/>would it be ok if I reproduced some of your thoughts and advice for our parish magazine? We're Anglican, but a lot of what you say is relevant to us too. After all, we both say the same creeds!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-11137538054949218892008-02-08T21:22:00.000-08:002008-02-08T21:22:00.000-08:00...sorry, I'm tired. I meant to say NO matter, not......sorry, I'm tired. I meant to say NO matter, not KNOW matter. I better sign off and get some sleep!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06224080040785208938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-16558936587664812172008-02-08T21:20:00.000-08:002008-02-08T21:20:00.000-08:00Oh I was so hoping that you would bring up "A Nun ...Oh I was so hoping that you would bring up "A Nun Story" sometime. I just love that movie.It really is very sad when she walks out at the end, mostly because you know that know matter which course she took, she would eventually long for the path not chosen...At an Oak Lawn,Illinois hospital there is a nun who is also a doctor. Apparently she didn't have to make the hard choice like poor Audrey Hepburn's character...Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06224080040785208938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-8693013558289660462008-02-08T14:18:00.000-08:002008-02-08T14:18:00.000-08:00AMDG+Dear Sister Mary Martha;Your blog is such a t...AMDG+<BR/>Dear Sister Mary Martha;<BR/>Your blog is such a treat that I’d considered giving it up for Lent! However, your ‘spiritual direction wrapped in riotous humor’ tipped the balance today.<BR/><BR/>Couldn’t agree with you more re: venting, dropping needs, and practicing being nice until it becomes second nature--a bit reminiscent of ‘taking every thought captive’ to put on the mind of Christ [2 Cor.10:5], not my will but His, etc. Not bad goals for Lent.<BR/><BR/>A holy and blessed Lent.dvobiscumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937956834607487279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-28194333237918428172008-02-08T13:55:00.000-08:002008-02-08T13:55:00.000-08:00Oh, I so need to learn to make the Nice Face. And...Oh, I so need to learn to make the Nice Face. And repeat it often. Just one of my many faults. Thanks for a great entry!Gretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395850914692471354noreply@blogger.com