The Spiritual Value of Beautiful Churches

Last updated on: December 5, 2021 at 5:04 pm By Lois Kerschen

The topic of beautiful churches is more complicated than you would think. It seems there’s a lot of guilt and criticism out there about the cost of churches, and serious debate about simple versus elaborate. Recently, Claire Swinarski wrote on this topic for her Letters from a Catholic Feminist: “Longing for the Beautiful…an essay on Fancy Ass Churches.” (Nov. 15, 2021) https://thecatholicfeminist.substack.com/ Claire described a “very deep, prayerful experience” looking at a “stunning painting of the Visitation.” This experience was... Read more

Babies Mean the Parents Trust in God

Last updated on: December 2, 2021 at 8:09 pm By Lois Kerschen

Is this world so terrible a place that you wouldn’t want to bring a child into it? Lots of people think so. I think such people have little knowledge of history and a lack of hope and trust in God. A recent article in the New York Times by Alex Williams reviewed the reasons people give for not wanting to have children. Economic worries top the list followed by the high cost of childcare, global instability and domestic politics. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/style/breed-children-climate-change.html?smid=tw-share... Read more

Baptism: An Awesome Occasion

Last updated on: November 29, 2021 at 6:05 pm By Lois Kerschen

Our first sacrament as Catholics is baptism. It is the gateway to all the other sacraments and meaningful participation in the Church. As such, it is not a routine event but one that should be taken very seriously by the parents and godparents. I always cry at baptisms. The idea of a new life beginning the journey to salvation is awesome. Seeing that precious little person so loved — surrounded by proud smiles and dressed in a special baptismal gown... Read more

Saintly Leaders: The Example of Emperor Charles I

Last updated on: November 25, 2021 at 8:15 pm By Lois Kerschen

Politicians have a bad reputation. Few, if any, seem to be saintly. However, it is possible to be a world leader and holy. An example in modern times is that of Blessed Charles, last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Remarkably, Wikipedia lists 83 canonized kings and queens. In addition, there is a myriad of other royal saints and a long list of those who are being considered for sainthood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_royal_saints_and_martyrs Most people probably think that these royal saints lived in... Read more

Post-Abortion Healing: The Need and the Response

Last updated on: November 22, 2021 at 3:09 pm By Lois Kerschen

The Catholic Church has a mission to bring forgiveness and healing to all its members. That includes the women who are in need of post-abortion healing. One in four women in America has had an abortion. As discussed in a previous blog, Catholics are as affected by abortion as any other group. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/10/p361/ Chances are that some of the women at Mass have had an abortion. In addition are all those avoiding church because they are afraid they aren’t welcome... Read more

Redemptive Suffering and the Little Cajun Saint

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 1:59 pm By Lois Kerschen

Redemptive suffering is the practice of offering up our suffering as a sacrifice to God. It is a way to connect our suffering with Christ’s so that God can use it to grant further blessings just as God used Christ’s sacrifice to redeem the world. Suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with Christ’s Passion, can reduce the punishment for sin and alleviate our physical or spiritual needs or that of others. If redemptive suffering is a way to... Read more

The “Church of Miracles”: the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis, Missouri

Last updated on: November 17, 2021 at 9:23 pm By Lois Kerschen

As the “Wandering Pew,” my husband and I are ceaselessly amazed by the incredible stories we encounter in Catholic churches. For example, the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis, Missouri, is the site of two miracles! The First Miracle – a Terminal Illness Cured Built by Jesuits in 1844-46, St. Joseph’s witnessed its first miracle in 1864. Three years earlier, a German immigrant, Ignatius Strecker, had suffered a breastbone injury at his soap factory job. Within a couple of... Read more

What to Wear, What to Wear: Appropriate Dress for Church

Last updated on: November 14, 2021 at 7:41 pm By Lois Kerschen

Is there such a thing as appropriate dress for church? Should we be able to attend Mass in any old thing, or should we dress up for church? In my humble opinion, western civilization has turned into a bunch of slobs. All one has to do is walk through Walmart to see that there is no sense of shame left in some people. Not that I would want to go back to the days when high society people changed clothes... Read more

Eucharistic Miracles That Prove Transubstantiation

Last updated on: May 18, 2024 at 3:07 pm By Lois Kerschen

A serious concern in the Church is that a majority of Catholics do not believe communion involves receiving the actual body and blood of Christ. Apparently, these Catholics are unaware of the miracles that prove transubstantiation. A 2019 Pew study showed that 69% of all self-identified Catholics said they believed the bread and wine are symbolic only and are not converted into the actual body and blood of Christ. Fortunately, about 62% of those who regularly attend Mass believe, but... Read more

There Is Equal Value in Everyone

Last updated on: November 9, 2021 at 4:45 pm By Lois Kerschen

A dangerous way of thinking is that some people have more value than others. Therefore, it is acceptable to kill those of lesser value through abortion or euthanasia. The Church teaches, however, that there is equal value in everyone. On October 30, 2021, Michael Johnson died at the age of 33. His death made national news, and he was mourned by thousands of people. Who was Michael Johnson? You may know his father, Ernie Johnson, the host of TNT’s “Inside... Read more

Where did Moses receive the Ten Commandments?