This past week has brought me across three states, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. Mike had business in Atlanta so I joined him. While Mike was in meetings I drove to Irondale, Alabama, to visit my dear friend in Christ, Father Leonard.  Driving to Irondale from Atlanta was a good 2-1/2 hour drive, the roads were open, and once I got out of Atlanta it was pretty much a straight stretch, mostly with two lanes. I left early to allow time just in case I got lost, and you can’t get lost going straight. I texted Father Leonard to let him know that I had arrived. I visited the gift store and met Pat, a kind sales clerk. From there I walked over to the Chapel, and with the exception of a few people, it was pretty much empty. Much to my excitement, as I walked in, I noticed the Exposition of the Holy Eucharist (to Catholics this represents the presence of Christ). I prayed and found myself in such peace, a different type of peace, one with no thought or care, just quiet fulfillment. Father Leonard walked in and greeted me, and told me that he would concelebrate  the noon Mass. As it got closer to 12 o’clock the pews quickly filled, making standing room only. This was odd, and I rubbernecked to see many people standing.

After Mass, Father Leonard and Father Anthony and I went to lunch at a local eatery. I was double blessed to be in the company of such fun holy men. Once we returned to EWTN, Father Leonard took me on a private tour of the Global network. As we were going through the tour I kept seeing the same people that attended Mass earlier that day. It is not a requirement for the employees of EWTN to attend Mass, but many of the 300 employees were there.

This year has been a crazy year with politics and the women’s movement, but to me there is distinct difference in how a woman driven by the Holy Spirit can change the world for the better compared with those who are doing it for self gain.

In 1962 Mother Angelica started a monastery in Irondale, Alabama. This area is Baptist country with only 2% Catholics. Mother Angelica never got caught up in the demographics of this movement, but  just continued to move as God led her. Soon many Protestant  churches were inviting her to speak because her ecumenical gifts touched many.  Mother Angelica started writing small booklets that were printed by the nuns and distributed then for free. Mother Angelica made series programs at the CBS affiliate studio for CBC and PTL. She was at the station when she discovered that CBS was about to air a heretical story on the life of Jesus. This did not sit well with Mother Angelica and she complained to the station managers, telling them that if they were going to air this program,  she would no longer be part of the station. She went as far as telling the executives that she would start her own station. The executives laughed at her and told her she would never succeed. Mother Angelica transformed the garage of Our Lady of Angels Monastery into a television station. On August 15, 1981, the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the station was up and running. At first it was just 4 hours per day, until 1985, when it grew to 8 hours, and by 1987 the broadcast was 24 hours per day of domestic air time. Nothing could stop this God-driven lady from completing what she started, and she never took no for an answer, being tuned to the voice of God. Her steadfast way of thinking was all in conjunction with instruction from God, and no man could stop this force.

In 1987 Mother Angelica founded the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, a holy order of Franciscan Priests and Brothers. Both Father Leonard and Father Anthony belong to this order. They wear the brown habits with a long white cord with three knots. These knots are a visual reminder of the vows that they took for their order. The knots represent poverty, chastity, and obedience, and they share in the mission of living the Gospel and serving the poor. Every Catholic Church in the Holy Land is controlled by the Franciscans.

God has called many people to come along Mother’s side, including Father Joseph, who was an engineer for General Electric. Father Joseph wanted to volunteer, but Mother Angelica would not hear of this because she believed that a paid employee would be more dedicated. Before long Father Joseph answered the calling to become a priest, and has been with that order since it first started. Today, because of Mother Angelica’s perseverance, over 500 radio affiliates in 145 countries air programs all over the world. Eight years ago EWTN acquired the National Catholic Register, a news agency that operates in the old fashioned way of telling the facts and reporting real news. EWTN is the largest and most viewed Christian station in the world; this was never Mother’s goal but it was a gift from God for all her dedication.

In 2001 Mother Angelica suffered two strokes and no longer had an active role with EWTN. It was during these years that EWTN grew to what it is today. Mother Angelica never stopped praying; even in her declining  state of health she prayed, her intercession being a testament of what a full life should be. EWTN’s growth is largely due to her constant prayers. Mother Angelica offered all of her suffering for the spread of the Gospel through EWTN, calling her suffering purification. I always tell my children please do not end my life if I become disabled or incapacitated because if I have breath, I am praying.

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I promised the kids that we would go to In-N-Out Hamburgers to eat if they helped with cleaning my house. Maddie was especially helpful because she wanted her friend Brittney to join us.

Will and I sat at a separate table and started talking about In-N-Out, and how they place Bible Scripture on their packaging. This built up a big curiosity that I was going to get answers to. I called the In-N-Out corporate Offices and spoke to Christy, Customer Service Supervisor.  Christy shared that Rich Synder, the former president of  In-N-Out, wanted to express his faith without imposing it on others. Christy emailed me the information on the twelve verses in all the  In-N-Out packaging. In-N-Out has been placing Bible verses for more than 20 years.

The Scripture on Will’s  chocolate shake  is from Proverbs 3:5, which reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight.”  This powerful Scripture is witnessing to many as it is one of those Scriptures that does not need interpretation, providing simple guidelines for living a good life. Will also had fries, and on the fry boat was Proverbs 24:16, a Scripture which was recently introduced 2016, as follows “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” This message is profound and comes with a warning. The righteous will fall but with God’s help they will prevail, not the wicked, they will pay and repay for their misgivings. On Will’s hamburger bag was Rev 3;20, which reads,  “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” I determined that there was a special blessing on the food at In-N-Out, this verse being about Jesus standing at the door of our hearts, and lovingly waiting for us to respond. This same verse can also be found on the beach t-shirt located on the license plate of the Mustang. On the motorcycle t-shirt is Luke 10:27  (located on the trunk of the palm tree), And he answered , “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” This is what Jesus calls the two greatest commandments of the Old Testament, and is also part of Parable of the Good Samaritan.

The greatest discovery for me was that In-N-Out has Isaiah 53 on R-9 cups (used for water). Isaiah 53 is about the Passion of Christ.

Isaiah 53 is a part of the Dead Sea Scrolls  which were discovered by a Beoduin shepherd boy in 1947 in Qumran, Israel. Of all these treasured Scriptures found in Qumran,  Isaiah  is most intact, and is 1,000 years older than any previously known copy of Isaiah. In fact, it is the oldest group of Old Testament manuscripts ever found!  To Christians there is nothing more indisputable than this part of the Old Testament because it solidifies the prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

In 1993, a terrible plane crash claimed the lives of  In-N-Out President Rich Snyder and Vice-President Philip West. The private jet that they were in returning from a stop made in Fresno for the opening of a new restaurant. The plane was going to Bakersfield where the team of executives were scouting for new locations. The jet stopped in La Verne, CA, where Esther Snyder disembarked at Brackett Field. Esther Snyder and her Husband Harry were the founders of In-N-Out. The Matriarch was spared her life that day so that she could get her business in order. Esther Snyder must have done a lot of praying in preparing the only heir to the throne, Lynsi Snyder, to take over the reins.

In-N-Out is a privately held company with Lynsi Snyder the sole owner. She is the only grandchild of this empire and continues to operate the way that is was originally established. Why would you change perfection? With the patriarch and matriarch gone, The Lord has placed a hedge of protection around Lynsi Snyder and In-N-Out. Their success will continue because this organization put God first.

My grandchildren are finally back home, but not before we experienced a break in before they left. It was about 3:00 A.M. when I heard the noise. Mike was out of town and Will was spending the night with his cousins, so it was just Maddie and I. Maddie and I were sharing the same bed, we said our prayers and Maddie fell immediately into R.E.M. I was still praying the Rosary when I heard the first sound. We have two cats and I am familiar with their annoying sounds. This was not a cat. My prayers were accelerating as I tightened my grip on the Rosary. Then a loud bang. My heart was beating out of my chest and I could hear muffled sleep talk coming from Maddie. I grabbed the St. Benedict cross with my other hand and realized that I had to face an intruder. I was in the middle of a Hail Mary when the door flung open and intruder, my grandchildren ‘s  stupid dog Rosie jumped into bed with us! So frightened that I could not scream, I rounded Rosie up and secured the gate in the family room, and was finally falling asleep when the cat started meowing. It was Maxine, the 19 year old cat. This cat’s sound has changed to an eerie sound of a newborn baby in distress. I got up and locked her in the kitchen. With all the excitement I finally fell asleep at 5 A.M.

I suffered waffle foot burns from the soccer tournament and my nose was so red that it looked displaced on my face.

We finally have our home back but I miss my grandchildren, I never thought I say that!

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The English origin for the word truth is “faithfulness”

Luke 8:17 “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

When I was a junior in high school, for the first time I experienced bigotry that changed my way of thinking. The instructor was  lecturing when his eye caught the attention of three Mexican boys walking in the hall. The teacher announced, “There they go, they will get their diplomas on a tortilla.” While the rest of the class of mostly white students laughed, I could feel the emotions stirring within me and heat reaching my face to change it to beet red. I got out of my seat and left the classroom, and ran to the office of Mr. Lopez, the guidance counselor. I told him what was said and he agreed how wrong it was. This was not bullying, it was straight out racism. I do not believe that  racist teacher ever suffered any consequences because years later, I would learn that he was promoted to principal at the same high school. This was the world we live in. I never hated the teacher for his ignorance but I understood that I would never make another human being feel inferior.

There was a Jesus movement at the time, and some of the non-Hispanic students from our school were spreading the, “Good News” but we  already had Jesus at Catholic Mass with his Mother Mary and his Stepfather Joseph. I had no understanding of this “new”Jesus but the kids that were involved were loving and seemed genuine, (more about that later).

Protests against the war in Vietnam, the Black Panthers, and the Chicano movement were gaining strength in numbers and our high school was part of this. I got involved in UMAS (United Mexican American Students). We protested about every injustice, had a sit-ins at the school board demanding Chicano Studies. I can honesty say that no textbooks were written about this subject at this time, but somehow we got it into the curriculum. In my senior year I was voted president of MECHA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) a more sophisticated name change for UMAS. We continued to separate ourselves to protect us from those that did not believe as we did. I look back on these years and can see how we were a part of the big picture of what is happening on our college campuses today. All it takes is a strong charismatic leader with good or malevolent intentions to misguide a young mind. Back then, as far as I was concerned, there were changes needed to take place to make teachers and administrators understand that not only one race could succeed.

In college, MECHA rallies were more intense and the organization was to round up as many kids, by the busloads, to spread the blanket of half-truths. Half-truths work in the minds of the youth. Preach how you were mistreated and how you can make the world a better place. With the exception of the racist teacher, our high school had wonderful instructors, but with half-truths they all fell into the bad category. I knew going into this movement that it was radical;  my oldest brother Robert warned me against MECHA, but I was not ready for his wise counsel. At the last rally I attended at Cal State Long Beach, the leaders were wearing brown berets that looked like the one that Che Guevara wore. This scared me because I had recently studied about him. He was the charismatic, Marxist revolutionary with a medical degree. Che Guevara had a strong following from many Latin American countries, and ours.

In college, MECHA sponsored my nomination for homecoming queen. The victory was sweet but short lived because my beliefs had changed and I started dating a white guy. In a undignified way, I was excommunicated from the group because MECHA moved on to bigger fish.  I believe that many of these educated Black Panther and MECHA followers became the new wave of what is happening in campuses today. How did all this liberal movement infiltrate the minds of so many? I used to make homemade bread which needed just the right amount of yeast to make the bread rise. Sadly, social media is the distributor of the tasteless yeast. The truth is second nature, presented in a way of questioning doubt.

All this radical genre has spread like an unquenchable fireball of half-truths. I know this because I fell victim to this movement which started as a good cause but crossed the boundaries of uncharted waters and was no longer working for me.

God had other plans for me and I met Mike, my saving grace and husband of almost 46 years. Mike too was exposed to the radical movement, but he never caved in. He just educated himself by reading and finding his way to through all this purple haze.

Remember the high school Jesus that I placed on hold? Well, He came back to claim me. God created this passion in me for His purpose. My faith is what keeps me balanced and every time I get off track, the Lord gently guides me back to reality.  There is no color distinction with God; no race is greater than another, Jesus is alive today, just as he was when I was in high school. My troubled years had to be a part of the past to make who I am today. He created us equal and I no longer need a special organization to defend against any injustices because Jesus is the defender of all just causes. He stands for what is right and true, and asks us to follow His commandments. The ninth commandment is, “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” which means don’t  lie. When we lie, our heart tells us by a slight irregular beat; that is God reminding you to stop!

One of my favorite scriptures and possibly my personal mission statement is from Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whoever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, wherever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”