Catholicism - Blog Posts

Look, I may not agree with all aspects of Catholicism, but the sexualization of nuns needs to stop.

You are actively sexualizing a group of women who dress the way they do BECAUSE they don't want to be sexualized. The sexy nun costumes are not only not cute, but deeply insulting.

Do y'all do this to women who wear hijabs?

You don't have to like the religion but that's no grounds to be straight up disrespectful.

"her body her choice" well these women are choosing their own way how to dress---stop mocking them.

and if we kick all of the catholic girlies out of tumblr, who's going to write the gothic literature fanfiction that will emotionally devastate millions?

you cannot divorce lewis’ writing from his christian morality and worldview. you just can't. i'm sorry to everyone who's been duped by this “narnia is just a fantasy story and i can interpret it any way i want” idea because that is just fundamentally untrue. if you don't read narnia through a christian lens you are unavoidably missing the thesis of the work. and you're making yourselves angry over something the author makes very transparent. just don't read it if you can't get with it.

Rest in peace, Pope Francis. You will be missed by all Catholic Christians all over the world.

i am sure that hell must be cold

I’ve had a cute little llama xylophone for over a year- a gift from a friend when we found out I was pregnant with my daughter- and now she’s big enough to sit up by herself and play with it. It was a bit of a shock that made me tear up a little when I realized it.

Time flies. And God is so good. 🩷

Getting over guilt

Image by Pexels from Pixabay. Enhancement by me in Luminar 4 and Paint Shop Pro 7. I’ve had a rough time with this one lately. Anyone else? I don’t know if it’s the “obsessive thoughts” part of obsessive-compulsive disorder or the fact that I’m still kind of a recovering Catholic, even though I’ve partly returned to that faith, but either way, I am just haunted by guilt. Maybe the word…

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Matt Dillahunty: "God's a pr!ck"

Matt Dillahunty: “God’s a pr!ck”

Okay, those weren’t his words as I recall them, but let me explain all this. Screenshot of an Atheist Experience video with Matt Dillahunty (probably not the one with the quote). So as I’ve said before on this blog, my husband is an atheist. We both have YouTube running almost constantly on our TV (because we don’t have cable so we don’t have the Weather Channel [wah]). In my husband’s case, he…

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Doing the Akhu Rite for my mother

Doing the Akhu Rite for my mother

My mother, Eileen Pare. May 29-1943-May 11, 2020

I’ve continued doing Devo’s Making Ma’at rites into this year (and really have no intention of stopping, unless the world becomes miraculously better). Two days ago, I did the Akhu Rite for my mother for the first time.

Now, technically, I suppose I cheated. I think this rite is supposed to be used for those bas who have become akhu – in…

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For my Christian, Catholic, and general Jesus-believing people on here. 

I like Easter as much as the next person and I still celebrate it in a different capacity, but honestly? Jesus would be disappointed if everyone ignored his sacrifice and only focused on his coming back to life.

For years I have walked into near empty sanctuaries on Good Friday. While the church is packed on Easter, as people spill into folding chairs. This is something that causes me deep grief. People come to see the victorious Christ without even understanding the depth of his miracle. Now this year, the church is empty on both Good Friday and Easter. These are strange times.

At the last Good Friday service I attended at my old church, the pastor  proclaimed at the very beginning of his sermon “no one wants to be here.” He then rambled on about how it was important to be optimistic for the coming Sunday. I remember how anger rose up from deep within me, threatening to spill out from my mouth: “Pastor, we need to be here. It is imperative we be here at this moment.” I am not necessarily a fan of atonement theology, however, it is worse to turn our eyes and hearts away from the horror of Jesus’ death.

Easter is meaningless without Good Friday. Light has no meaning without darkness.

Jesus was murdered. Easter is a story about a criminal preaching of an alternative kingdom. Seen as a terrorist, he was murdered by the Roman Empire. We cannot nor should not ignore this injustice. Jesus could not rise from the grave without being executed by the state. His resurrection would be meaningless if he was not killed by the government.

I don’t like optimistic platitudes. Easter is not a story of optimism. The words that Jesus cried “Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani!” are proof of this. It is important to acknowledge that we are in pain, that it is okay to feel abandoned and lost… just like Jesus. Rather, we should approach Easter as a story of hope. The Hope of Jesus Christ. This hope is not empty words of positivity. It is radical. This hope shines through the darkness like a lighthouse in a raging storm. 

In the hours in between the crucifixion and the resurrection, the Apostle’s Creed proclaims that Jesus “descended into hell.” There are early theological ideas that explain how Jesus went deep into the darkness to save souls before rising on Sunday. Many of these theologies depict Jesus fighting Death during His time in the afterlife. An Orthodox idea that I particularly like is that Jesus defeated death with death. 

We cannot ignore that the world is suffering right now. Especially those on the margins of society. The people most affected by this pandemic are the disabled, the chronically ill, the poor, the “essential,” the indigenous, the elderly. People are suffering financial burdens. People are losing their jobs. People are enduring being trapped in homes that have no love. People are in pain, unable to breathe. People are dying. For so many people, this is Hell. 

Hope will be our guide in this Hell. Hope will lead us into confronting and fighting this pandemic as well as the corrupt institutions that enable it to spread. Hope will guide us into the resurrection.

Jesus eternally dies on the cross of this world. Jesus eternally rises from the grave. Wherever Jesus is, let us be. Amen.

Every action we take is fundamental to a better world that is kinder. I also recognize he had his mistakes and issues but he learned and he strove to do better. And for a Pope, that’s monumental. Rest in peace Pope Francis 🕊️

Pope Francis has died.

I know to a lot of people on the left and in the LGBTQ+ community, he wasn’t exactly seen as a holy herald of progressive values. That said I think he was more helpful to our community than we have ever really given credit.

The Catholic Church is hugely entrenched in the past. They may not ever accept gay marriage within our lifetime. But if you compare Pope Francis to any other Pope that came before him, he did more to progress the Catholic Church than anyone else ever has. He constantly spoke out saying that the church needed to accept LGBTQ+ members. He has denounced laws that criminalise homosexuality. He supported same sex civil unions—which I was literally taught was evil and dangerous when I was in Catholic high school. Transgender people can be baptized and same sex couples can be blessed because of him.

He was never enough, of course. He has affirmed the teaching that gay marriage is not spiritually possible and prior to becoming pope he opposed the legalization of same sex marriage. He has said gay children should seek psychiatric care. He has also been even less accepting of transgender people than same sex couples.

But at the same time he was the most empathetic Pope to have existed in the past several hundred years. I have left the church because I no longer believe in God, but I do recognize that the Catholic Church has power over huge swaths of the world. My mother still believes in her Catholic faith and has always stood by this idea: it’s impossible to move a behemoth organisation like the Church overnight. She stays in the community because she wants it to become better. She pushes, in her own small way, a little bit every day towards what she thinks is right. In this conversation, that is the acceptance of LGBTQ+ youths. Pope Francis was helpful in moving the Church away from a stance of hate. Now I hope that whoever the cardinals choose next for pope is someone who joins her in pushing that ball forward.

Holy Saturday’s vigil was lovely, even as I was visiting my in-laws and I didn’t have my altar cabinet or a church nearby who offered the service.

My paschal candle was prepared with my pocket knife with the Cross, Alpha and Omega and the year’s numbers, blessed with holy water and the ashes from the cut up bits of palm frond. I read from the Old Testament and the Gospel of Luke 24:1-12 (since in 2025, we are in Year C of the Lectionnary), read out the Litany of Saints, and played the Excelsis Deo with the ringing bells at around midnight. It was a simple and moving rite, and one that I love to take, since it has a section in the scripts used to undertake a renewal of baptism and vows.

My mom went to a church in St. Ambroise, in Saguenay for her vigil. She brought back a vigil candle, and Lillie was intrigued!

A Happy Easter to all the faithful, and I hope your day is filled with joy and love among your families and friends!

March 19th was Saint Joseph's Day. While I worked all day, this looks like a beautiful moment to connect with him. Thank you, joanofarcs-stigmata for sharing this rosary prayer!

Rosary Prayers of St. Joseph for the Feast of St. Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus

Usually when we think of rosaries, we think of Mary-- after all, if you were to pray all 20 mysteries, you'd be saying 200 Hail Marys! But while the traditional rosary uses Mary to center our gaze on Christ, another form less often discussed uses the examples left to us by Saint Joseph to better connect with God. The Saint Joseph rosary uses Joseph to help us better understand purity, fidelity, and humility, all while celebrating Joseph's role in the Holy Family, while asking for his intercession to help us imitate his trust in God.

The 'Hail Joseph':

The Saint Joseph rosary begins like most rosaries, with the sign of the Cross and Apostles Creed, but instead of a 'Hail Mary', we pray the 'Hail Joseph':

Hail Joseph, Son of David, spouse of Mary. Blessed art thou among patriarchs, and blessed is thy Holy Family. Holy Joseph, Guardian of Jesus, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Mysteries:

The Betrothal to Mary: Let us contemplate now how the Blessed Virgin Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, beginning a loving partnership, not of a union of bodies but a communion of souls; through this mystery may we better come to understand Godly relationships, friendships, and devotions, should one experience them.

The Annunciation to Joseph: Let us contemplate now how Joseph, being a righteous man, decided to divorce Our Lady quietly when she was found with child, and how the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and declared unto him that the child had been conceived through the power of Holy Spirit. Through this mystery, may we better come ot understand faith in our fellow man and faith in God's will.

The Nativity and Naming of Jesus: Let us contemplate now how Joseph went up to Bethlehem with Mary, and while they were there, in the city of David, she gave birth to the Savior, Christ the Lord. And when eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus. Through dwelling on this mystery, may we obtain the greater reverence for the Name above all names, Jesus Christ the Lord.

The Flight into Egypt: Let us contemplate now how Joseph, being a devoted spouse and guardian of the Holy Family, took Jesus and Mary to Egypt. Through meditating on this mystery, may we come to have a fiery love of the displaced and oppressed.

The Hidden Life in Nazareth: Let us contemplate how Joseph took Jesus and Mary to Nazareth and there lived a quiet life working as a carpenter with Jesus and Mary at his side, through the joys and sorrows of everyday life, until the end. May we all have the gift of a peaceful death with Jesus at our side.

Closing Prayers:

Pray for us O Blessed Joseph that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Almighty and eternal God, grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating upon the mysteries of the Rosary of Saint Joseph, we may imitate his prayerful trust, and faithfully carry out your holy will, despite difficulties, uncertainties, and fears. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hail, holy Joseph, Hail, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Hail! Pure as the lily flower In Eden’s peaceful vale. Hail, holy Joseph, hail, Prince of the house of God. May His best graces be By thy sweet hands bestowed.

Hail, holy Joseph, hail, Comrade of angels, hail! Cheer thou the hearts that faint, And guide the steps that fail. Hail, holy Joseph, hail! God’s choice were thou alone. To thee the Word made flesh Was subject as a son.

I wish I was religious

I love the idea of truly believing in something or someone higher than me, having someone to dedicate part of my life to and look to for guidance.

Unfortunately at like age 5 i woke up one day and decided I don't believe in anything except science

but religion can be such a beautiful thing and I wish i could push myself to actually believe in anything

Love, in order to be true, must hurt.

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Me and who🙏

isn't she but your reflection

chant sacré, 1899  • émile joachim constant puyo

if ur looking for me ill be at the prayer candle & meth pipe store

And they blamed God for the atrocities they inflicted on themselves, human to human.

They asked why He looked on as they dismantled each other.

They couldn't even use right the thing they bragged about: free will.

"God, intervene" - their excuses are their acceptances that they can't be without You.

God or No God ? No God.

Well, No GOD !

no Existence no Love no Science no Atheism no Self no Facebook.

…so well then, GOD.

Now, if you cannot prove to me that science solely exists on its own,

please let me believe my God in peace.

For all your knowledge, inventions, discoveries might as well be duplications of what God already created in the beginning.

Tell me something new— something beyond the CHATGPT that thinks like a man, replies like a man, and relies solely on the knowledge of man, a creation of God.

So let me have my God, while you perfect your machines.