Coach Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Restoration Bags

Earlier this year, Coach marked its seventy-fifth anniversary.  As a tribute to their history and craftsmanship the handbag brand rereleased a vintage capsule with three of its most iconic styles: the Dinky, the Saddle Bag and the Slim Satchel. What caught my attention is that the brand scavenged flea markets, secondhand stores, and online auction sites to buy back their vintage gems.  After acquiring a good amount of bags from the 70’s and 80’s they were sent to a restoration factory in Montana before going back to New York for unique-one-of-a-kind-modern details.  They added suede stripes, leather patches or fringe to give the vintage bags a modern vibe while still keeping the integrity of the vintage shape. Then the newly restored bags went up for sale exclusively at Barney’s with a special collectors tag next to the coach creed.  These bags are currently up for sale and range from $595 - $1195.  When I read the press release on this I seriously couldn’t help, but smile because I love refurbishing vintage leather purses.  To see a popular brand like Coach take such a creative, thoughtful approach to commemorate their diamond anniversary, made this thrift-store junkie heart of mine do the Cha-Cha.  Of course when I saw the price tag, I realized that I would continue to be happy with my own secondhand finds.  However, I really hope this becomes a trend among leading handbag designers because it’s just such a good example of reusing and a great environmental practice.

I have three Coach vintage purses of my own (none of which are the selected styles above) and this weekend I spent some time refurbishing a crossbody that is a minimalist’s dream.  I found this baby for eight dollars and in dire need of a makeover.  She had a lot of scars from her journey, I think she might date back to the seventies!  After welcoming her into the family I gave her a good inside cleaning using a toothbrush to reach the crevices then continued to the outside with Cadillac Boot and Shoe Care.  After, I let her rest while she dried.  I pondered what the best treatment for her would be and looking at my supplies I figured a full black dye job needed to occur to get rid of the lightening of the leather due to use.  I don’t have the tools that a Coach Restoration Factory does, but with my at home supplies I am excited for my new to me bag.  Bag restoration is one of my hobbies and I do restore quite a few bags, but usually I resale them for a profit.  I just like the whole process of taking something that was ready to be trashed and to restore it for another chance at life.  Finding them happy homes gives me a sense of purpose (smile).        

This bag was in good shape considering how old it is, it just had a lot of scratches to the leather and the corners had lost its blackness.  But with a little tender love and care she looks as good as new!

You can read more about Coach's restoration capsule here: Coach Vintage.

Some Lessons Need to be Taught

What is the first thought that comes into your mind when you wake up every morning?  If you are an avid Liturgy of the Hours type, I am guessing that God and a big “thank you for one more day.”  At least, that’s what I have heard Benedictine monks say.  The practice of praying the Liturgy of the Hours helps discipline and elevate the mind to God throughout the day especially at the beginning and closing.  “It was during my two years at the Valyermo Monastery that I learned to wake up every morning with God as my first thought because I was so used to praying the Liturgy of the Hours,” my new professor stated on Monday night.  This observation rattled me because sometimes I think that holiness is easier for some and not necessarily me.  When I think of holiness I sometimes over mystify it and the term my professor used “learned” indicates that while holiness comes from God – there’s some learning involved in the part of the recipient.  Holiness is a living stream that requires action, a personal "yes" to bear fruits and these fruits enrich the person and his community.

Some lessons need to be taught.  I’ve been reading a biography on Saint Francis of Assisi in which the author shares the life of the happy saint during his initial conversion when his heart and mind were in opposition.  Like the majority of people in his community, Francis was repulsed by lepers but slowly with the help of God he learned to love and care for them.  Leaving behind the wealth that surrounded him, Francis learned to see God in nature and creation; especially, in the most vulnerable.  He didn’t wake up one day reborn into Francis the saint it was a lifelong gradual change.  Sometimes when we study the lives of the saints we look at them after their sanctification, but they were men and women like you and me. That through a series of lifelong changes, of prayer and learning to do the will of God they transformed into the men and women we seek today for intersession. 

Most mornings and afternoons as I drive to and from work I am able to enjoy the sky.  Yesterday, the clouds were beautifully scattered across the blue backdrop and the sun peaked at the center of a group of cotton balls.  No artist could do justice to the splendor of that moment’s sky and I was so happy that while the roads were crowded the sky was all mine to enjoy.  Yet, I haven’t always been the type to delight in a sunrise, or a blooming bloom – I really had to be taught.  Like many in this country I was always rushing and preoccupied with my duties too busy to ever acknowledge the natural beauty around me.  I took it for granted and expected nature to give me day and night; but, who is worthy of a sunrise?  Not only are we unworthy of this wondrous world given to us; but many don’t even appreciate it.  A wise farmer once said that when people stopped working directly with the land they stopped caring for it.  This broken relationship has been the cause of serious abuse against creation…    

Imagine what learning to wake up with a thank you on your lips would do for your life?  “Thank you my sweet, loving Jesus for one more day of life, for one more opportunity to do good…”  Just the thought of waking up with a song of thanksgiving makes my day’s outlook seem worthy of my rising and leaving the comforts of my bed.  The great thing is that if this isn’t your natural morning response, with the help of God it can be (smile).  God pours His holiness, but we are active participants that absorb His grace to glorify Him step by step in our daily encounters.  Sanctification requires a little learning, who would’ve of thunk it?!

New Studies Show that Leggings are Not Pants

A few months ago a woman blogger wrote about her personal decision to stop wearing leggings because she felt immodest in them.  She wanted to help men with custody of the eyes by not wearing a garment she felt was provocative.  This post created a storm from all sides of the spectrum.  People accused her of body shaming, of being a prude- while others praised her decision.  This reminded me of the long debate among fashionistas about whether leggings are pants or not.  Secular fashion magazines have done surveys and the leading majority still agrees that leggings are NOT pants.  Even famous fashion designers have a problem with “when did leggings become pants?”  It seems like no credible fashion source has yet to come forth to support leggings as pants (smile).  In recent years, they have become a great wardrobe staple, but most agree that they cannot be worn alone. 

I love and live in leggings because they are so perfectly comfortable and easy to style.  At a recent birthday party, I was having a conversation with mommy friends and they couldn’t stop raving about LuLaRoe leggings.  LuLaRoe is a consultant brand that claims to produce exquisitely soft clothing and their printed leggings are the most popular item, at twenty-five dollars a pair.  Being a thrifty girl that never pays retail, I decided to wait and keep an eye at my local thrift stores until I found a pair.  Last week, I found four brand new pairs in my size on a day the store was having a half-off sale!  I got all four pairs (the prints are just darling) and paid twelve dollars- at just three dollars a pair!  My favorite are the ones covered with cute heads of Little Miss Piggy.  I was a little apprehensive about the material, while it is very soft it also feels very thin.

Now, because I live in leggings and know that they are an article of clothing that require some fashion sense I have high standards for my body hugging friends.  First, I like them thick enough so that in the light they are not transparent.  I think one of the arguments against leggings being pants is that some are so see-through that they leave little to the imagination.  A big “no-no” in my book.  I’ve had some of my RCIA students wearing them and I could totally see the heart print of their panties.  Which brings me to my second point, I like quality materials because I like them to last more than a couple times in the wash.  I also notice that with higher quality fabrics less of my dog’s hair sticks to them; which is a major plus if you have a pet that sheds.  This weekend I put to the test a pair of my LuLaRoe leggings and I absolutely love them!  They are comfortable, they fall nicely on my curves and the material while lite is not see-through.  I haven’t washed them yet so am not sure how they will do in the laundry.  The prints are so fun and the material lives up to the “buttery-soft” advertisement.  I normally wear my leggings with long tunics, long shirts or layered in some way which is the secret to wearing leggings modestly.  Requiring long tops is what makes this article of clothing a hybrid between pants and tights- they are similar to both, but are their own unique species; not quite pants and not quite tights.  However, definitely modest with a little creativity (smile).    

On the subject of leggings, this video is pretty funny. 

The Church and Unity

I think this is an appropriate time to dedicate some time to understanding the complex definition of terms like “church” and “unity.” Terms that in my daily life are thrown out regularly.  After doing some personal research, the many articles (from various Catholic sources) and different point-of-views read, gave me a better understanding of my faith.  In addition, to showing me that a lot of thought goes into church writings.  Today, I would like to pay close attention to terms like “church” and “unity” and explore the various ways that they can be applied in discussions because ultimately understanding how terms are used makes for clearer dialogue.  

In setting the stage, an in-depth look into church as both in heaven and on earth (with greater focus on the earthly church) is important.  This view takes me from my little parish community to a more complete understanding of church.  After making the distinction (that church surpasses this world) and clarifying that the meaning of terrestrial church is connected to Rome and the Apostles we begin to understand that church encompasses history, having a beginning with key human players led by the Holy Spirit to aid the spread and the continuity of our faith defines church as something that transcends history.  Christ gave special authority to Saint Peter so that we would be united in one church and not little pods of Christian denominations.  Catholic Priest Tarsicius J. Van Bavel proposes that church exists from Abel onward, “from the moment people are called to holiness, there is church on earth.”  I often heard that church began with Christ on the cross so this claim surprised me.  Yet, as expressed by Van Bavel, Augustine’s way of thinking viewed the church as having started before Pentecost.  I agree with this view because when I think of who will be in heaven (the afterlife being a strong concept in my reversion) I like to think that all the holy people in the Old Testament will be there.  Thinking through Augustine lenses of church having an earlier beginning makes this point easier to understand.  

Theologian Peter De Mey states that Pauline literature understands church “as the local community of faith” and uses three metaphors to provide different meanings to church: the church as Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit, and People of God.  I found that while I have been using all terms as synonyms they actually have very specific meanings for Paul and these meanings give church a broader definition.  As the Body of Christ, we gather together in one faith (one faith in Christ) this stresses the importance of baptism to receive this new life in Christ.  There has to be an action that takes the believer to a position of receiving new life and afterward an expressed commitment to live a Christian life. Thus, belonging to the church means being initiated into it through baptism, this is great because all people can become part of the church.  Baptisms makes us temples of the Holy Spirit, which De Mey describes as a community that inspires each other to grow.  We not only gather together in one faith, but we also help one another reach heaven.  This means that the mission we receive at baptism is a mission we share with our community, we have a common goal and are part of the same team. Finally, as people of God we have a history that dates back to God’s first covenant with man, this is great for interfaith dialogue with Jews.  The good news of Christ is for everyone.

Peter De Mey’s essay, “Church as Sacrament,” offers a deeper explanation which I found the most complex, but which is a good segue into unity. The church as a Sacrament means that the assembly of all believers gather together as a visible sign of God’s love and together are an instrument of unity with our Trinitarian God; thus, the human and divine is exemplified in us, the church: “the church is believed to be sacramental in nature, because she fulfills the divine mission to take care of unity of all people among one another and with the triune God.”  This definition of church seems to be the most controversial within the Christian sphere because it leads to many questions.  One of the debates I found most interesting was in how the church can be a sacrament when it’s composed of sinners, the answer being that people are sinful not the church.  There is sin within it, but the church remains sinless.  I wasn’t really satisfied with this answer, it sounds too ambiguous or too poetic; but sometimes matters of the spiritual nature have a bit of mystery to them as do our seven Sacraments.

The goal of the church is to unify the world to the life, passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ because there is no salvation outside of Christ.  Contrary to common belief in regards to religion, Christ isn’t divisible he spoke to and for everyone.  De Mey makes many references throughout his essay to the importance of having the goal of our faith to be one that promotes and attempts to bring unity to the body of Christ and even to the secular world.  He states that for all people (no matter the differences) the church should be a place where the many parts of the body come together, remain together and grow together.  De Mey, states that the term Catholic has been attributed to express oneness or unity of the church, “I also believe that the Council fathers had the new understanding of catholicity in mind when they reminded the believers that Church of Christ is, “one, holy, catholic and apostolic.””  God’s plan has always been to unite the world to the Father through Christ.  Through baptism we come into the church, but this entrance is to some degree conditional because the choice must be made continually to remain in the church.  This is where we differ from Protestants, they see unity only in acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ and we see it as that plus offering ourselves as living sacrifices until we die.  Thus unity begins to get complicated because how can we achieve unity if our understanding of unity is different?

I think the solution through the studied materials is that unity is broken down into three parts: unity within Catholics, unity within Christianity and unity with other faiths.  De Mey expresses that diversity should be embraced because variety enriches the church as does the acceptance of various styles of worship.  This is an issue that parishes that have various groups based on the different necessities of the parish have.  Sometimes to people church can be that small group of charismatics they belong to and De Mey is saying that while charismatics are awesome so are the more orthodox groups because though our expressions of worship vary our beliefs unite us, “it is the Holy Spirit who “for all time “unites” the entire church in fellowship and in ministry, and furnishes it with different hierarchical and charismatic gifts”.”  He does make a strong warning that acceptance of different expressions of faith should not lead to a diluted Christianity.  So, though there’s room (a lot of room) into what constitutes catholicity, there’s still boundaries to keep the body united in Christ.

The articles that I read about church and unity were very enlightening, I did not realize the importance of having correct definitions for every word in our creed nor did I understand the labor of theologians in handing down the faith.  Learning the many correct meanings of terms really does help in leading discussions that promote growth and can be quite helpful in promoting proper respect and understanding in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. 

Ensenada Travels & Insights

Over the long weekend I was able to visit Ensenada and spend sometime with some of my mom's family, my aunt, the one that shares the same birthday as my mom only plus fifteen years.  She's the sweetest woman who loves hugs as much as I do, all my memories of her include her arms wide open and kisses galore...  

It always shocks me how a five-hour drive south into Mexico reflects such a  difference in lifestyle, where social injustice and poverty are so visible.  Stray, malnourished dogs walking the streets in hopes of finding food, people on corners asking for alms, old people with bent backs still working for sustenance, and small children with dirty faces selling gum packets.  These sights usually depress me even when I mentally prepare myself ahead of time.  This time, however, I saw hope in the many faces of poverty.  I thought of Pope Francis and how he encourages us to see the person behind every social ill - a life worthy of God.  Our society sees the value of the person based on what that person is able to contribute usually his profession, but God tells us that we all have the same God given dignity.  Our value doesn't depend on our talents, but in the fundamental principle that we are all created in the image and likeness of God.  

In a perfect world we would all feel pain when we see one of our brothers suffering.  As I got into a taxi cab, a man in crutches asked me for alms and as I gave him a few pesos the cab driver said, "many of these people, fake an illness to make money."  Unfortunately, that's a prevalent opinion by many, that the poor are untrustworthy or poor because they choose that lifestyle.  My mom has this great practice where she constantly asks God to place before her people He wants her to help and without an examination of whether a person deserves her help or not she helps.  Based on her example, I see that our responsibility is to help not to judge.  

I had a wonderful trip with lots of family time.  I got to play with my aunt's pets and even if they have a humbler life than my Dollar they are happy to have a home.  My aunt too lives quite humbly, but with a heart rich in love.  While we were there we spoiled her rotten and she was so joyful mostly because of our company.  Yet, as I spent five hours commuting back I realized that I want a simpler life.  I can be quite materialistic in my spending and have acquired quite a lot of stuff.  After this trip, I realize that I don't need to have so much stuff to be happy.  That's going to be a new challenge to work on owning less and to not shop as often.  As I simplify my life, I want to take you on this journey in case you too have similar issues.  

Dooney and Bourke DIY Purse Restoration

When I was a poor college student (working as a Big Lot’s cashier), I would see customers carrying colorful Dooney & Bourke bags either in monogram or heart prints.  Oh, how I coveted one of those rainbow purses, they were named the “It Bag” for good reason.  Carrying a Dooney & Bourke created an immediate class distinction between the girls that could afford the brand and those like me who could only admire them from afar - with a part-time, minimum wage salary those designer purses were always out of my reach.  While my cashiering gig couldn’t afford me a prized designer bag, it did begin my education as a consumer.  The tragedy of being born poor with expensive taste meant that I needed to get creative.  My first handbag purchases were real leather vintage beauties without brand tags.  I carried those babies for years and when it was time to retire them I held a sad letting go ceremony.  Those bags taught me that what I loved more than a brand name was quality.  Famous designer Coco Chanel said, “The best things in life are free.  The second best things are very, very expensive.”  Don’t let the snobbish literality of her comment distract you from the true meaning.  Things that are usually expensive (and worth the expense) usually follow the principle of quality.  In terms of purses the materials used to produce the handbag as does the craftsmanship dictate the quality and price of the end product.

This is the before picture after I had washed it and dried it.  

I forgot to take a picture of the very initial sad state.

A few months ago I came across a Dooney & Bourke purse at my local Goodwill, it had seen better days, but it brought back memories of that one bag that got away.  After full examination: the leather was full of stains, the lining dirty, the edging fraying and the shape crushed (from bad storage) and thinking that I had probably blown seven dollars I decided to try to revamp it anyway.  I did some research and discovered that the purse I had in my possession is an All Weather Leather Satchel, it probably dates to the eighties and it was made back when things were made in the USA!  Everything about this information excited me, I felt like a girl whose grandma had passed on a family heirloom.  All this information came from the tag inside my purse and the serial number on the back of it.  Usually designer bags have a way of dating their bags, stamping the style in addition to sharing where it was made because they are proud of the craftsmanship.  My research also suggested the dunking method as a way to restore the purse.  Thus the following will be a description of how I resuscitated her back to a second chance of life.  

 The dunking method consists of dunking the bag into a tub of soapy water and letting it sit for thirty minutes on each side, then scrubbing the grime away.  Once washed it can air dry with something inside to help reshape the bag. 

I used Angelus products.  Cream leather paint, light brown dye and a satin finish.  

I used painters tape to make sure I did a neat job on the trim.

 The dye is a little tricky and messy.  You have to be quick with the brush to spread it evenly without leaving trails of the brush.

Little details like polishing the hardware take years away. The right side has been polished so that you can see the difference.

I have worked on this bag off and on for a month, doing the steps slowly in my free time.  We have grown quite close through this period of reconstruction.  In the mid-eighties and early nineties this baby sold for two-hundred-ninety dollars, the price even today sounds high; but look at the testimony of life.  This purse is almost as old as I am!  On Facebook a friend expressed her frustration with people spending over two-hundred dollars on a Michael Kors purse instead of buying something less expensive and donating the rest to charity.  While her remark sounds quite reasonable, I disagree with it completely.  Cheap fashion hurts people and the planet in the making, paying a little more for an item means more use and less discards.  If you are clever like me, you will have someone else pay the high fee and wait patiently for it to reach your local thrift store.  In another post I will go over the many hands that an item goes through before it reaches the store to continue my argument that spending more on quality verses less on quantity is the best type of consumer to strive to be.          

New Rehabilitated Purse!

Four Years Blogiversary

I have been in a bit of a blog funk, lately… Thanks for sticking with me, even if my posts are lacking original photos and the topics have been a little redundant…  Life has been a bit hectic, so hectic that I forgot to commemorate year four of my blogging.  Yes, it’s been four years of writing things that pop into my mind early in the morning; but, after four years, I feel like it’s time for a change.  I just finished a four week course on Catholic Social Teaching and I learned that change requires small actions.  It’s easy to say, “All we can do is pray” when issues around us seem too big for our little hands or to become overwhelmed and pessimistic about the many needs we see in our society.  “Starting by doing what’s in front of me” is something that lately has been my motto adapted (of course) from Mother Teresa.  There’s seven principles of Catholic social teaching:

Dignity of the Human Person

Call to Family, Community and Participation

Rights and Responsibilities

Preferential Option for and with People who are Poor

Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

Solidarity

Care for God’s Creation

Having an awareness of these principles has taught me that there’s no issue that is too small.  I have always been fascinated by nature, once in a young adult group I shared about my ways for caring for the planet and how I felt called to work with no kill shelters and this guy asked me to get more important causes.  As I journeyed back into the Catholic Church; my love for planet earth and his creatures has many times been taken as a liberal stand that needs conservative enlightenment.  People often made me feel like I needed to get “real important” causes and this attack made me keep quiet.  Thanks to this class I now see that caring for God’s creation is one of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching- so this passion that has always motivated my actions is not a liberal stand that I picked up in my public education- it’s a gift given to me by God.  Just as people feel called to fight for the rights of the unborn, homeless, imprisoned, human trafficked… Our church calls us to be good stewards of God’s creation and that means the planet as well as all the creatures that live in it.  Thus, this fourth year of my little writing space, I plan on voicing my thoughts on issues and causes that I fight for on a daily basis.  I hope to raise awareness on issues like recycling, reusing, good shopping practices, fast fashion, fair trade, ending sweatshops, rights of workers, spaying and neutering pets, visiting abandoned seniors- among other topics. 

Thank you so much for your continued support!

The Catholic Church: Too Many Rules

One thing that I found most unattractive about the Catholic faith were the many rules that seemed to overshadow the beauty of Catholicism.  As I shopped for a church to join, my journey took me to many different protestant churches; but, the Eucharist called me home.  When I arrived (home) I still had quite a defensive stance.  Any mention of rules and my mind would begin to formulate arguments and attacks to defend my image of a hippie Jesus.  I had issues with anything from the simple adhering to an expected dress code if I wanted to serve during mass, “At Calvary Chapel they wear shorts and flip-flops for Sunday service because Jesus is our BFF.  Isn’t simple dress a sign of humility?”  I wasn’t shy about voicing my opinions or of sharing my beliefs in how much the church needed a makeover.  Looking back I want to thank the many speakers, teachers, religious, priests and friends who allowed me to ask these naïve questions and who provided answers that challenged my immature faith.  Most importantly, who waited patiently for me to grow!  Years later, I’ve come to realize the importance of structure and to appreciate the laws that govern my faith.  In fact, all societies need boundaries.  For example, if a car driver doesn’t respect a red light, he is placing himself and others in danger; thus, traffic rules are implemented for everyone’s safety.  So, if our secular society accepts the importance of laws why does it have such a hard time accepting that God also gave us standards to live by.

A friend jokes with me that though I set on finding the most liberal church the one that asked the least of me, I ended at the one that asks the most.  I traveled the world of protestant churches all over Orange County, looking for a place to grow roots.  I began at a small Old Catholic Church in Old World in Huntington Beach.  After attending a couple years the priest told us he would be leaving to start his own parish because he had disagreements with the head reverend of that community.  Not knowing any better I followed the priest to the new church which met in a small office building.  Eventually the drive was too far so I moved to Saddleback, Calvary Chapel, Crystal Cathedral among others – until I realized that I missed the beauty of the Mass and the Sacrament of Communion.  All these churches that I attended commonly were started by a man who felt a calling to begin a new congregation for Christ.  They felt that the place they were attending was not suitable or that God was sending them on a mission to begin a new church.  For many, like my former self, this doesn’t seem like a big deal because we assume that the people are honest and holy, but who keeps them accountable?  In the Catholic Church, we trace our lineage back to the apostles, back to the day that Jesus gave the key to Saint Peter.  Our history and tradition is important and since its beginning, the church in its wisdom, has developed canon laws and a magisterium to protect the authenticity and integrity of the faith, to safeguard it against abuses and to keep us united under God.  

Many of the saints speak of obedience as a path towards sanctification.  While following rules is not very popular in our society one of the aims of Canon Law is to help us reach sanctity.  It shows us a path to follow that will help us become saints.  I have spoken about how outside the church people can feel inspired to begin their own Christian parish if one is unhappy with the current selection.  Yet, in the Catholic Church there’s an order and rules that protect communities from people who decide one day to begin their own movement.  If a priest can’t get along with another fellow priest he’s encouraged to try to work it out and to pray.  The Old Catholic Priest that I used to follow told us he was starting his own church because he couldn’t get along with the bishop of his parish.  He felt that he had been instrumental in bringing people into the community and helping it grow; but the bishop didn’t recognize his efforts.  So, in his homily he told us that he would be leaving that he had rented a venue to have services and we were encouraged to follow him.  This should have been a warning sign for me; but I followed him thinking that he was behaving in a very reasonable way.  He didn’t like his boss so he was taking the measures to address the situation.  Instead of promoting unity he was asking us to follow him to his new church and many of the people in the congregation did.  While I (like many others) didn’t see the fallacy in his actions, I now see that if a priest is unhappy with his post leaving to begin his own congregation is not an action that promotes unity. Our faith and tradition tells us that how we deal with our trials is of great importance in our process of sanctification.  When we have a challenge we must fervently pray and practice humility before we decide to go rogue.  I think of Saint Therese of Lisieux she speaks of having difficulties getting along with some of the nuns in the convent, yet she saw these opportunities to grow in charity, virtue and holiness.  We have many examples of the saints who had difficulties getting along with other brothers and they didn’t run away, but humbled themselves.  They took these challenges as opportunities to grow in holiness and please God.  The Catholic Church has rules that clearly state how priests are to deal with their superiors, I believe it clearly explains their role before taking vows.  There’s this spirit of service of brotherhood of working together towards the common good and salvation of souls.  And that’s precisely why the Catholic Church has a well-developed canon, so that instead of running away we come together united in one faith and one body. 

Beauty Free From Utility

Science can’t explain why something is beautiful…  Yet, one of the paths that constantly connects people to God is beauty.  The liberal arts are not practical, but in their impracticality lies a secret passage towards the majesty of God.  Hum… When I was younger I always used to think that I was useless because my talents were so impractical.  In Mexico, my sister had gone to several trade schools; nursing and seamstry gave her skills that made her a creator an asset to the community.  People sought her for dress making or nurse related reasons.  However, my talents “book smarts” (writing and an avid reader) didn’t compare with the hands on talents I saw in all members of my clan: mom a great cook, dad a great farmer, brothers a super mechanic and construction worker…  Being part of a family with so many talents that helped the community always made me feel like a weirdo.  Other than perhaps using a book as a weapon in the case of a robbery- I didn’t see my skills as gifts that benefitted anyone else other than give me great enjoyment.  Then I returned to the Catholic Church and I saw the Cathedral walls covered in art, the windows in colorful stained-glass and heard poetry from the pulpit.  You would think that these encounters with beauty would serve as encouragement; but, I criticized the church misunderstanding why we keep all this beauty- instead of selling it to help feed the poor.

Last night, I went to a concert with my buddy to enjoy a band that we mutually like.  The stadium was quite full and I thought we all seek beauty whether in music, film, poetry, art… BECAUSE Man can’t live on bread alone, he needs another type of sustenance a sustenance that feeds the soul in ways that a meal cannot.  There has always been this fight between those who think that nothing in the world is God so we must reject everything in the world and what our church teaches that everything in the world speaks of God and can lead us to Him.  When I went to Rome, I remember entering the city and seeing many large statues of the saints on the rooftop of a church, I looked admiringly at the art before me and I had tears in my eyes because I knew that I was surrounded by God.  Those larger than life statues showed me that God is always close.  That’s when I understood that beauty leads people to God and our Church guards these artistic masterpieces because they draw us closer to Him.  The liberal arts are impractical, but it’s this impracticality that makes them so endearing- because a true writer like a true artist writes simply to create beauty free from utility.  A beauty that ascends towards the heavenly realms because “the heart has its reasons that reason knows not.”

As I sang along to some of my favorite songs with HA*ASH I thanked God for giving us the arts because a life with music, poetry and art sure elevates the soul (smile).  

A Correlation Between Happiness and Thankfulness

These past two months I have been studying Bishop Barron’s “The Pivotal Player’s” series and I have come to know a few dynamic Catholics a whole lot better.  The most recent GK Chesterton.  Through the videos I’ve learned that gratitude was a huge influencer in Chesterton's conversion.  He realized one day that he had so much to be grateful for and if there was this desire in him to be thankful, then there must be someone to thank.  I found his tipping point into the Christian life to be so genuine and beautiful because I am not a grateful person by nature- I don’t think many of us are.  I have been working on this with my nephew because he has trouble remembering to say thank you after people help or do something for him.  As I have been working on reminding him to verbally express his gratitude, I realize that I also need a reminder to stop and thank God.  Most of the time I am so preoccupied with getting all my tasks and commitments done that I forget to take a moment to just be grateful.  I am not sure if I shared this quote on here before, but here it is (again):

Thankful for my friends.

“You say grace before meals.  All right.  But I say grace before the concert and opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in ink.”

GK Chesterton is remembered for his genius, he was a charismatic Catholic apologist; but he is also remembered for his joy.  He had a great sense of humor.  People loved him because he lived like a Christian on Easter morning.  And someone who is constantly happy (truly joyful to the core) is also someone who is as thankful for the smallest detail as for the most expansive, blue sky. 

Some old pictures I never got to share.

This morning I am thankful for mind and my sanity.  I was watching a show last night on UK teens that suffer from mental illnesses and a last resort hospital that tries to help them get well enough to return to society.  It made me think about me and my friend (Lud) who has autism and how we are two of the lucky who get to live “normal” lives even with our challenges.  It made me thankful that God healed me and that I have so many people that love and support me.  In American society, life moves so quickly.  I read somewhere that we have built all these machines that help us do things and get us places faster, but instead of giving us more time – we use these advances to pile more things into our days.  We are so used to activity that when we have a moment to reflect we don’t know what to do with it.  Thus, learning about GK Chesterton’s conversion stemming from his desire to thank the Creator for His creation really shows that it’s necessary to stop and smell the roses and thank God for their perfume.  I forgot what saint said that if the only prayer that we ever learn is, “thank you,” we would need no more… What are you thankful for this morning?