THE GREAT OMISSION Many of us are excited to go about the Great Commission Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended into heaven. True, as lay people, we all have a certain duty to spread the faith, but not in the same way that the apostles originally did and their successors do. One of the best ways to help fulfill that Commission is to live in obedience to the gospel, to be baptized and to observe all things Jesus commanded. If we omit working to live out what the gospel demands of us (a lifelong project), then we defeat the purpose of the Church's spreading of the gospel. It is no less important for us to live the gospel than to preach it.

Sometimes when I think of my former sins, I think, "Oh, aaargh, yuck -- what a goober! Evil b@st@rd!" But then I remind myself of God's great and tender mercy. His love is great to save a dork-and-a-half like me. We should focus on God's immense love without entirely forgetting where we came from -- and where we are even now, realistically, on our spiritual path. That's what humility is: keeping it real.

The song "Mary Did You Know?" does have some theological problems. Yet there is something good about it. This may not be well understood by certain Protestants, but it is a great example of mental prayer. "Mental prayer" is engaging the gospel story with our imagination. It includes seeing Mary and Jesus and others in our mind's eye, and interacting with them, asking them questions, reflecting on our own walk with Jesus and/or our Blessed Mother Mary, seeking their help or intercession. The heart that sings "Mary Did You Know?" or even Mercy Me's "I Can Only Imagine," is the heart that can pray the Rosary well, because the Rosary, too, is a combination of vocal and mental prayers. Whether Protestant or Catholic or Orthodox, take up the Rosary to encounter our Lord in your heart. 📿

I wonder how normie Catholics today would react if they witnessed the old Traditional Latin Mass said in ENGLISH, with all the old rubrics and gestures and music and traditions and high altars and statuaries in place -- the language being the only exception. Would they love it? Would they hate it?

It's a good habit to say "the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass" rather than just "Mass." Why? Right now, it is emphasized that Communion is a sharing of the Body of Christ as in a supper with fellow Christians. That is true, of course, but we can never forget that it is in the context of a true, literal Sacrifice. Remember the very first Passover. Yes, of course the Israelites were to eat the lamb in their households as part of their Passover meal. But there was no mistake that it was part of the *sacrifice* of the Passover. Jesus Christ is our Passover, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Drop a pic of your daily or regular prayin" #rosary in the comments. Here's mine.

When Jesus spoke from the Cross, "Behold, your mother," shoulld we believe it was an irresponsibly last-minute arrangement for Mary's fincial security? What about when he said, "Behold, your son"? He didn't call him "protector" or "provider" or "man of the house," but rather "son." Mother. Son. These are relational terms. We all stand at the foot of the Cross with John. Jesus gave Mary to us as our Mother. His Mom is now our Mom. She prays with us, for us, raising us as children of God. Don't neglect her, but honor her. Talk to your heavenly Mother. She loves you and will help you. 📿

It's okay to make artwork out of clay or whittled from wood or fashioned of metal. We see it everywhere. It doesn't somehow become an IDOL if *religious* art is carved or fashioned from these materials. The point of the Commandment is that we should have no other "gods" but the one, true God. Don't worship your Christian artwork, and you will be fine.

This morning I had a strong desire to pray the rosary well. I noticed at the end of the third mystery, my tangle-free rosary had somehow become hopelessly tangled. I couldn't fix it, but I didn't want to be distracted. And so I continued and finished well. I still couldn't untangle it afterward, which is very frustrating, so I asked for Mary, Untier of Knots, to help. Then it just came loose. She's not only Queen of Heaven and Earth; she is also our Mom.

If the apostle Paul needs to tell Christians to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), then how much more serious is the situation for souls who are not Christian? Be converted -- and then evangelize!

During times of distress and war and violence and instability, we don't need to freak out. But the chaos can serve as an impetus for us to confess our sins (yes -- the sacrament of Confession!) and get right with God now before it's too late. "Too late" can either be a nuclear end-of-the-world scenario... or something like clumsily falling off the ladder wrong when cleaning your gutters. Be ready always.

It's always weird going to a Novus Ordo Catholic parish (like I did today due to weather) while accustomed to the Traditional Latin Mass: * Lady starts us off: "Good morning! Welcome to Mass!" * Girl altar boy wearing bell-bottom jeans and athletic shoes * All prayers said while facing us * We jump Communion lines to avoid the unnecessary lady extraordinary minister of Holy Communion * It's a logistical challenge to return to our original seating where our belongings are * Plenty of piano recitals during Mass * Gay-sounding showtunes * Priest ends with "I'm sorry I don't have any dad jokes for you today to close us out" * When it's over we file past the priest near the front door who frequently administers high fives instead of handshakes I should have weathered the longer drive in the snowstorm.

God is not old. He just always is.