Here is this week's installment of "Five Faith Friday" which contains five, faith-based things I found interesting and am sharing on Friday.
Which Picture I'm Reflecting On --
This one that I took outside of a Catholic Church in Dubai, UAE. I took the picture almost two years ago to date, but the reason I've been reflecting on it is because a thought struck me the other day as I was reading a reflection around our attire at Mass. Our churches have no problem posting signs mandating covid masks yet never ones around modesty. I'd go as far to say that if someone showed up without a mask they would be forced to put one on or kicked out but if someone showed up with in appropriate attire, nobody would bat an eye.
Here's the thing. If you wear the same thing to church that you wear around your house or to the bar... you may want to pray about it. If you dress nicer for work than for Mass... you may want to pray about it. Afterall, you are in the presence of the King of the Universe. Here is "The Naked Truth About Dressing for Mass" that I heard shared from the pulpit one time. It's a very charitable approach to the importance of our attire and I highly recommend reading it.
What does the Church teach?
- “...Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing...” (CCC 2522)
- “To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.” (CCC 1387)
Which Prayer I Added To My Daily Routine --
The Divine Mercy Chaplet. It's part of my prayer pillar for Lent... the inclusion of a daily chaplet. Here is a BEAUTIFUL video from the Franciscan Friars of Renewal (CFRs) reciting the chaplet with gorgeous imagery that is nice to pray along with. If you are interested in praying the chaplet but don't know how, here is a how-to guide. This link will also provide you with the history of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
What Story I Found Inspiring --
"Woman told to abort refuses; gives birth to twins who become priests." "When going in for a routine check up, the doctor performed an ultrasound and thought that what they were seeing on the screen was a gravely deformed child (by the description, probably inviable conjoined twins), a pregnancy that could put Rosa [the mother]’s life at risk. The doctor recommended a “therapeutic” abortion as the solution." As Jesus once said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” (Matthew 16:23)
What Mass Change I Noticed --
The words at the end of the Collect (“one God, for ever and ever”) have been changed to “God, for ever and ever." Did you catch it during Ash Wednesday Mass? That is when it was effective. Want to learn more about this change, what it means, why it was changed, etc.? Check out this article for a thorough review.
Which Website I'm Checking Out --
Person and Identity. This was shared with me the other week and I'm still going through it! Persona and Identity is an online project of the Catholic Women’s Forum in Washington, D.C., features information about current trends in gender ideology, scientific evidence against those ideologies, and explanations of Church teaching on the topic. Its goal is to promote a Catholic vision of the human person. The goal of the site is to educate parents, pastors, and teachers about how young people are being exposed to radical gender ideology — often without adults being aware. "So much of it is driven by social media and popular culture that parents may not really be tuned into but that their kids are being bombarded with. So it can come as a big surprise,” said Dr. Susan Selner-Wright, a philosophy professor at Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver.
Have a wonderful weekend and may God bless you and your family!
David Yingling started his weekly “Five Faith Friday” emails when the Coronavirus forced an end to his in-person “Pints & Prayers” gatherings, which he describes as “Men striving to deepen their faith over a cold one.” He’s a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in Easton.
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