October is halfway over - but don't forget it's the Respect Life Month and the month of the Rosary!

It’s the 15th of October - which means the month is halfway over!

I’ll be joining Morning Air this coming Tuesday at 7:10 am. There, I’ll be discussing that even though it’s halfway through the month, it’s time to recommit our focus to two important themes of this month: Respect Life and the month of Our Lady’s rosary.

See below a preview of our conversation:

The month of the Rosary

When it comes to the rosary, a couple things:

• The first is - pray the rosary! Make the time however you can, ideally every day, but even once a week is wonderful. Pray with your family.

• Learn about the power of the rosary. Earlier this month on October 7 we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which commemorates the victory of Christians over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto—a victory attributed to the praying of the rosary and Our Lady's intercession.

• In terms of its power: the rosary has been said to be like a powerful sword that cuts through sin. If there is a particular sin you are struggling with, bring it to prayer in the rosary.

• Learn the promises of the rosary. Our Lady revealed to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche additional benefits for those who devoutly pray the Rosary, and there's 15 total.

• They include: that praying the rosary will cause great works to flourish in the world, and that all who pray the rosary will be aided by Our Lady in their necessities.

Respect Life Month

• For respect life month, remember that as Catholics we "respect life" from natural conception to death. That means we are not just remembering unborn babies and their families this month (and always), but also those approaching the ends of their lives, or those poorer or less fortunate than ourselves.

• Respecting life certainly includes prayer, but it's also an active mission that allows for a lot of great volunteer opportunities to get involved.

• Find your local pregnancy support center and support them through donations or volunteering.

• Visit a nursing home or find out from your pastor if there are homebound parishioners you could visit.

• Volunteer to feed the homeless, work at a food pantry, or otherwise share your gifts with others less fortunate.

• That's what respecting life - and overall, creating a culture of life - means!

• And don't just include these things during October. Live them throughout the year, as we are called to be a witness to the faith every day of our lives.

Also, look ahead: we end the month with Halloween, but as Catholics we also want to be thinking about Tuesday, November 1, which is All Saints Day and a holy day of obligation. So, check with your parish about their Mass schedule for that day and plan ahead.

Like I mentioned in my last post, I am already getting emails advertising Advent books, calendars, prayer resources, etc. So, if you really want to jump the gun and be a big ol’ Catholic overachiever, go ahead and be thinking about your Advent game plan - not because it’s a competition (it’s not), but because being present in a liturgical season can bring a lot of blessings. Namely, internal peace, and closeness with God.

Good stuff ahead, folks. Enjoy your weekend!

Things I'm thinking about

Seasons greetings, everyone. And I mean the glorious fall season that is upon us. These are the things I am thinking about:

1. Seasons, and the imperative to accept each one as it comes. “Seasons of life” is an overused phrase, but precisely because it works perfectly. There are literal seasons, and then there are those that come and go in our individual lives. God asks us to accept both, including the tough times - you just have to get through it. But therein lays the opportunity to grow closer to God and ask him to help you carry your cross. Easier said than done.

2. Jerzy Popiełuszko. A couple weekends ago Bishop Robert Barron included him in his weekly homily, “Stand Strong in the Spirit.” Jerszy was the spiritual leader of the Polish anti-Communist Solidarity movement and was ultimately martyred. After hearing that, I came across him again mentioned in a newsletter somewhere this week. I am in awe of his heroism, and pray for his intercession.

3. Advent. I received multiples newsletters this week excitedly sharing that it’s not too early to be thinking about Advent! That’s true. I also pose the question: is this like putting out the Christmas decorations October 1? I don’t know.

4. The phrase “bright as the sun,” which is the nickname of this blog and which derives from the Catena, the prayer of the Legion of Mary. This week I learned from a fellow Catholic Stand writer that the phrase “bright as the sun” will be used in a new song for World Youth Day 2023. There is no mention of the catena, though.

5. Don’t forget - catch me on Morning Air this coming Tuesday, October 18 at 7:10 am.

6. There’s no such thing as too much pumpkin spice.

Have a good weekend!

Audio from my 10/4 convo on Morning Air: Recognizing Jesus

Hello everyone! I had the pleasure last week of speaking with John Morales on Morning Air about my recent Catholic Stand article, Recognizing Jesus. You can listen to the playback here, starting around minute 7:45.

FYI I will be back with John and Glenn and the Morning Air crew this coming Tuesday, October 18, again at 7:10 am, for my recurring every-other-week time. There are a couple things I’d like to discuss, but I’m leaning toward a reminder for people that October is both the month of the rosary and to respect life. What are you doing on these fronts, in your life? More to come.