World Youth Day!!

I'll be heading off to Spain for World Youth Day in Madrid. I'll be gone for two weeks starting next Thursday! Here is a link to the group blog:

http://stjoewyd2011.blogspot.com/p/pilgrim-bios.html

And here is a song I wrote about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Enjoy:

Breathe!!

Before anything -Here are some BLOGS TO CHECK OUT:

http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2011/02/04/visiting-the-holy-land/

http://www.thesacredpage.com/

I will blog about them later 

This has been the craziest month. EVER. 

I have to remind myself that in all of this craziness that I need to BREATHE. 

The season of Lent is a great Gift of the Church reminding me to BREATHE. Breath and remember that I am a little daughter of the Father. A little daughter that doesn't really need to worry.... I don't really need to worry. I cling to the saints in these crazy days of my fast approaching graduation, my vocation discernment, and my discernment of what to do (where to go) next year. 

"Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our father's love—difficulties, contradictions, humiliations, all the soul's miseries, her burdens, her needs—everything, because through them, she learns humility, realizes her weakness. Everything is a grace because—everything is God's gift.  Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events—to the heart—that loves, all is well." -  St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing frighten you,
All things pass away.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God,
finds he lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.

- St. Teresa of Ávila

In this Season of Lent, this season of resting, reflection and breath I take a moment of silence and RESPIRATION to prepare for the RESURRECTION and shed the worry of things that I don't even need to worry about. 

I started Spring Break by driving down from South Bend to Nashville Tennessee. I was NOT going to Nashville to drink in the County Music Hype. Nope. I was going to Nashville to BREATHE.

A convent is a GREAT place to breath. It really facilitates quiet, an internal quiet that is hard to achieve when swimming through a loud and chaotic life in the world. 

The Nashville Dominicans host a retreat (Jesu Caritas retreat) for young women twice a year. It was GREAT. ( they aren't trying to make you sisters... so don't worry)

I LOVED the convent and the quiet and the sisters and the time for prayer. We prayed and attended talks and spent a LOT o' time in the beautiful chapel in their beautiful home! 

We had so much of what I try to squeeze into my day all planned for us: we chanted the Divine Office with them, prayed all of their prayers, woke up early and went to bed early (my friend Caroline who also went on the retreat said that they keep my hours - I wake up around six and LOVE to go to bed between 9:30 and 10pm) we had recreation with the sisters and mass and spiritual reading and then we also had adoration and got to sit in the choir stalls to be closer to the Blessed Sacrament. It was GREAT. 

We met in the oratory for all of our retreat talks. 

The theme of the retreat was, "Little Daughters of the Father". It was just what I needed. I am a little child... the Priest giving the talks was AWESOME. Except, I think he really wished he had been doing a retreat for men because he kept telling us what he would say if he was doing  a retreat for men... 

He also Quoted a LOT of CHESTERTON which was SWEET! and He also referred a lot to The Skrewtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE!! 

Father gave us so many good tools for living in the Father's LOVE, clues for the pitfall for falling out of his love, tools for remaining in his love...

He explained all of this while reminding us that we are little children of the Father.

He explained sin, reminding us that we are children and we can't do this on our own.

He explained worry and ambition reminding us that we are CHILDREN

and our attempts at building a perfect life here all alone like grown ups is a silly attempt when we can RUN HOME and Climb up on our Father's Lap!

This retreat was great but mostly it reminded me of a very simple truth. 

I am my Father's Daughter and He LOVES ME!! So I should climb in his lap and relax and BREATHE!

It may sound like I am dying to be a Dominican but like Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati I feel quiet called to live in the World... though it is difficult. I am reading a book my Mother gave me called ,  "...And You Are Christ's" The Charism of Virgnity and the Celibate Life by Father Thomas Dubay, It is helpful. I recommend it to all young people. It clears up a lot of the roots of vocational discernment. For instance, we are not called by God to a mission but to a LIFE. I am not called to be a a Singer, a Social Worker, or a Theologian. I am called to Married or Celibate LIFE... which one I don't know right now. 

I just have to stay on hold and wait for the CALL. 

My occupation will fit and serve my vocation... I just have to figure out what my vocation is.

Here are the thoughts that float in my head about vocation:

Vocation is not Occupation - Msgr. Osborne SAID this ALL THE TIME

Vocation is what will make you happiest and holiest - my friend Chris a Dominican Aspirant

Marriage Ain't no cupcake either. Ted Martin a Seminarian Friend

Katherine you should be a Sister - Random People

Katherine Don't be a Sister - Other Random People

Katherine You would be a great mom! - a few random people

Woman are not called to be mothers they are called to be wives - My friend Chris Again

It is harder for women because they are naturally maternal - My friend Sean

I know I'm not called to marriage... God gently showed me that he had something for me... - Jeff -Holy TAC Student from my Parish

So While I contemplate these things... I'll BREATHE. I guess.

However, If I were to be perfectly honest I have no idea what my vocation is right now so I raise my hands and surrender ... but with my arms open I am confident that the Lord will fill them!

Though this part of my life is exceedingly difficult I hear this word whispered to me in prayer continually... 

It is a word my parents have been whispering in my ear since a young child...

PATIENCE. 

Patience. Yes, not my strong point. I do feel that my vocation is something that is not clear right now because EVERYTHING IS A GRACE and I need to grow in patience. For this I strive. As St. Catherine of Sienna ( a third order Dominican) said, Impatience is just Disobedience in Disguise. Yup. It's true... and so I pray for patience and acceptance and LOVE above all else...

So I will pray for patience and BREATHE and pray for more breath when I forgot that I am a little daughter of God... I will pray. 

After the Retreat we went to St. Louis where my friend Caroline lives. I spent the night at her house and checked out the Washington University Program for Social Work. It was good... but I don't think that I am going to do it. I also went to visit my my Grandmother and Aunt in Chicago ... and I ATE INDIAN FOOD ( my FAVORITE!!) then I finally finally came HOME, which is my TRUE FAVORITE! : )

By the Grace of God I was accepted to all of the graduate schools I applied to: Washington University, Columbia, NYU, and the University of Michigan.

I feel this is a blessing and an opportunity for growth that I had not anticipated. You see, having so many options forces me to realize how BLIND I am in this walk toward the Holy City. I do not know which road is SAFE, which road is BEST. So, I must realize that I am not a BIG KID but a little daughter of GOD. In these choices to come I must take my Father's Hand. 

This may sound so .... well, unrealistic. This may sound like a cute thought but an impossibility in this world. 

IT IS NOT.

Walking as little children of God is what he wants us to do. He will lead us in the best way. THIS I KNOW. SO I guess I will just Hold my Father's hand and PRAY and WAIT and GROW because that's all I can really do right now.

I do not know if I am called to religious life or Married life.

I do know that God has given me certain talents and aptitudes.

But I also have many weaknesses.

Columbia would be great because it would afford me many opportunities 

but I have to admit I am for too prideful. Going to such a well known school 

could prove to tempt me in my weakness to explode my head in silly thoughts 

that my education makes me BETTER, WISER, SMARTER... or Superior to others.

I know that this is not true... but I also know that this is a weakness of mine.

Hmmm... I guess I will take my Father's Hand and if he guides me there through my discernment I will Walk carefully on this road. 

I have spent time in prayer and reflection this week of break and It has lead me to this:

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

But I to TRUST

and believe (Lord Help my unbelief)

SO I WILL BREATHE 

and HE WILL LEAD.

Ahhh, THIS little life he has granted me is Gonna BE GREAT!

and the Eternity HE MADE ME FOR... is GONNA BE BETTER!! ( I pray in all humility)

So these are my scrambled thoughts. 

They probably don't make a lot of sense... but it is a great help to put thoughts down and may be helpful for someone if they see these thoughts... so I will share them.

Thank you Caroline for tolerating the LONG LONG ride with me and my incessant and unorganized vocalization of thoughts such as these... one day I may become more order in my mind.

OK, to finish up this post.

 I have THREE book recommendations for you all:

Crossing the Threshold of hope 

 The Interior Castle

The Last Lecture

I also would like to remind you all to PRAY. Pray like little children of God. On his lap with the humility of a CHILD. 

HAVE A VERY BLESSED LENTEN SEASON.

It occurred to me that many people are very confused  or frustrated about fasting in the Catholic Church. So, if you have any bad feelings about fasting  Click HERE!

If you want the short summary: 

We fast for many reasons explained by the church for penance and to remind ourselves that we are creatures of both spirit and body. While the body is GREAT as it allows us to do things and express ourselves while we are in THIS life... it is finite.... so we should not really let the FINITE part of us always be in control so by exercising  control over our finite half we raise our infinite spirits and remember that we live for the RESURRECTION not EXILE where NOTHING can fully quench us.

Snow Day Catch Up!

Okay so,
Since it is a Snow Day (the first at Saint Mary's since 1978) I thought I would catch everyone up on my past few weeks back at School.

My Window and the Snow

FIRST things FIRST.

This snow day is Awesome because I got up late, worked out, had time to chill and pray and shower... and make waffles with my roommies and friends. I had time to blog and it still looks like I'll have time for the little bit of HW I have to do and more fun and MORE READING! I LOVE IT!!

Before the semester I went to a FOCUS conference (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)
It was awesome. I really liked Denver and I really liked the conference. My friend Sean let me stay at his house.

 

Train station in Denver

It was really nice to see Denver a bit before the conference and his family was wonderful!
My friend Caroline came early too! Some great things happened while we were there. 1) We found out that JPII is going to be beatified on May 1. 2) We had breakfast with Archbishop Chaput and Sean at Le Peep 3) we got to see the Neocatechumenal Seminary next to Archbishop Chaput's house. IT WAS AWESOME! but I didn't take any pictures...

 Here are some OTHER photos of Denver!

 A church I saw on my Morning Walk

I obviously went to STARBUCKS

The conference was about answering the call (to holiness) in your life. The talks were so edifying and I really felt spiritually rejuvenated and  all for God's Will by the end of the conference / beginning of the semester, which is always a trial for me so that was very good!

I might want to move to Denver.



The following weekend I went to D.C for the March for Life. This was also AWESOME! I have been to D.C many times but I had never been to D.C for the March and I had never been to the Shrine or Catholic U.
 

I love being with people who LOVE GOD and LOVE LOVE! It's great. So I got to chill with a bunch o' friends on the way there and while there and I also got to see CARLY!
We went to a few book stores and an AWESOME ICON SHOP.

outside icon store

I also bought some cool things:
2 Icons and 3 AWESOME BOOKS.
 
 
And food which is just a necesity... we ate at ihop two nights in a row.
 
I got Nutella Crepes one night and deep fried apetizers the otehr night. It was kind of therapeutic because I had a bad experience my last time at ihop.

We walked around the Mall and went the the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

crocheted coral reef

I also went to the vigil mass at the shrine.

  

 

It was so wonderful and beautiful and awesome to be united with other youth for a good cause. I liked it a lot. God blessed me a lot on that trip. Nothing could get me down. I was a little worried about the trip but God provided all of the Grace. God is good All the TIME. : )

I LOVED marching.

ND and Stuebie together at last

I might want to move to D.C.

I have the orange hat - on the right

This past weekend I went to the AVETT BROTHERS CONCERT with my little sister emily, who happens to have superb taste in Music (minus half of the stuff she listens to).

THE CONCERT WAS SO GREAT!!!

My sister Emily. Pre-Concert Chilling

We also went to the Ho-Ping Chinese restaurant down the road. It turns out that it is more classy Chinese food, which I loved and she didn't love so much. I recommend it if you live in South Bend. Then we went to the book store at ND. and then the Concert.

 We got back pretty late and I crashed. I was not aware that there was a party going on in our apartment pretty late after we got back but I guess emily heard a lot of it. Sorry emily! I'm glad I'm a heavy sleeper. On Sunday we went to Mass off campus and then we went to a Campus Even called "Breakfast at Tiffany's" it was breakfast and the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was pretty cool cause we went with my friend Alex and neither Emily nor Alex had seen the movie before. 

For those who are interested my classes are going well. They are actually a lot better than I thought they would be, I have women's studies, sexuality, and a spanish lit/ women's studies course. They are all very interesting... I'm trying to keep myself on top of the work I have so that I can go this semester without getting overwhelmed. Yes., I'm actually doing my homework this semester. I keep having this nagging little worry about Graduate school but I mostly ignore it. My Field placement is wonderful! Today I have off obviously but It is just a great placement! Side note: Yesterday I got to help "evacuate" the school in anticipation of the big storm. It was kinda cool.

Y También, This semester I am trying to only drink coffee two or three times a week. I am doing surprisingly well! I usually only have coffee on the days that I have field. I've been working out every morning and making time for prayer and spiritual reading... GOD IS GOOD.

I made it back to the Catholic Worker and Saint Margaret's House last week and it dawned on me that it is kind of sad because I have gotten to be very comforatable at both places... just in time to leave.

I've been doing a lot of reading (on the side) thanks to the Kindle and just purchasing other books.
Right now I'm reading:
The Brother's Karamazov ( slow going)
Letters to his Friends and Family - Pier Giorgio Frassati
The Fathers Know best - Jimmy Akin
A Tour of the Summa - Msgr. Glenn

A bunch o' Encyclicals and Papal Letters

AND I have a bunch of books lined up after that.
AND My mom just got me A Civilization of Love by Carl Anderson

So, anyway this semester has been great so far and I look forward more greatness to come!
I might want to stay in South Bend.

~ PEACE ~

†
M

~ Katherine

painted on a wall in D.C.

Happy Epiphany!!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year Everyone I hope that everyone has a very blessed and safe 2011!!!

I am confidant that it is going to be a GREAT YEAR!!!


Listen to this great song from Regina Spektor.

PEACE
†
M

~ Katherine

Great Expectations!

The Beginning of

My Great Expectations!

On my mom's lap. The chubby one. 

To start listen to this GREAT SONG! : )




I am almost done reading Great Expectations by Dickens. Incredible. I really really liked it. (note: I LOVE love LOVE reading. a lot). It was such a good book with so many altibajos (ups and downs) and so many unsuspected twists.

This past semester I took a Medieval Spanish Autobiography Class. Specific, right? Anyway, I think I really appreciate fictional autobiographies so much more now even though the class was pretty darn boring. I especially appreciated this book because I feel like I can SO RELATE TO IT.

I tend to have GREAT EXPECTATIONS and sometimes let myself be disillusioned quite like the sometimes quite pathetically love sick disillusion Pip in the book. This book has called me into reflection of how my life must look to God. I am pretty sure I  sometimes look like a flailing-ignorant -incapable- in-denial- protagonist of my own life. Just like Pip.

As a reader, it is SO OBVIOUS when Pip is has misconstrued a situation or pathetically strives for things that will never come to fruition... but it's not so obvious in my own life. I know that some of my greatest hopes and prayers of the past seem silly, ignorant, or potentially harmful to myself now. Some of my greatest efforts go toward making plans that only set me back in my story. Some of my greatest frustrations are a joke in the grand scheme of my story.

That being said, I am so HAPPY that I did not write my life story. This book has reaffirmed my new VERY STRONG desire to FLEE  from all inklings of my will (or plans) and to surrender to the Author, knowing that sometimes being discontent with MY STORY does not REWRITE A BETTER STORY. And MAKING PLANS that aren't in the SCRIPT is a WASTE OF TIME. Unless they are in accordance with the Author's Script.

During this break I have spent a lot of time in prayer, reflection, laziness, contemplation, and reading. I think what is becoming more and more clear to me is that I was not created to write a pathetic little for myself... I was created simply to live out and follow a very well written script. Furthermore, I am called to do so joyfully praising GOD (the Author) at all times (even in sorrow and despair) because ... well, I wouldn't be if it weren't for HIM and (EVEN) MOREOVER I wouldn't be promised such WONDER if it weren't for the Author.

TaNgEnT: Okay, so... could you imagine if the Author of a book Went into a book and Adopted His protagonist, became her knight in shining armor, died in battle to save her, confessed His undying love of her  and then promised her that at the end of her story she could keep living a more beautiful story in HIS WORLD.  Praise God! So, I guess I have it much better off than Pip because I don't think Dickens' did that for any of his characters.

I guess I just need to remind myself that I TRUST my Author to finish my STORY without a pathetic attempt to go against the SCRIPT. I know that even if my story is filled with many alitbajos and many tragedies, even if it doesn't end happy... I WAS PROMISED A FABULOUS EPILOGUE that trumps the small confines of a Book; I have been promised an Eternity of Happiness... so I guess I should just lay aside my "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" and keep my eyes on THAT GREAT END!!

Lord Save me From Myself!

In Rome with my Mom!

~ peace out ~