Where have all the nuns all gone . . .?

After Mass, yesterday, two ladies in matching beige skirts, white shirts, and beige sweaters walked past us. Only by word of mouth, on other occasions, did we know they were nuns. An older man looked after them and then to me and said, "Where have all the REAL nuns gone?" Okay, we both realized they WERE real nuns but, from outward appearance, they just looked like two, middle-aged women with similar outfits.

I wonder how many vocations go missing because young girls do not have the example of nuns in their lives. Although I know that clothing does not make the person, or, in this case, the vocation, example does!

I grew up around nuns. Almost all my teachers were nuns. After school, we'd see them all head for the convent and wondered what 'nunly' things went on to keep them so happy with their road in life. WE wanted to BE a nun and wear the wonderful sign of their Faith and vocation. Seeing a whole row of nuns at Mass was truly an uplifting experience and made me want to pray as hard as they were to attain that gift. Every time a nun would come onto the playground, the children, especially the girls, would be immediately by her side.

Today's modern nuns, I'm sure, have just as good a prayer life but they don't stand out in the crowd. It is often hard to tell a nun from a middle-aged woman attending Mass. Yes, a devout woman IS a good example but a nun in full 'uniform' makes a profound statement.

We used to have a sweet nun at our parish who didn't have a habit of any sort but pretty much dressed like the rest of us. My girls loved sister but never really got the point that she was a nun.

I know I'm old-fashioned but I think the various orders gave up a lot when they decided to give up their habits. It is also interesting to note that the orders that still respect the dignity of wearing a discernable habit seem to have more vocations. Wonder if any of the powers that be have made this connection?

How come I didn't get one . . .?

Our credit card company called today to verify that some debits to our account were actually made by us. They do this periodically so I was ready to okay whatever she was going to read out to me . . . Until she got to a $460 debit from an on-line computer company. I KNEW I would remember something like that and I was pretty sure we weren't in possession of or waiting for $460 worth of any kind of state-of-the-art gadget. As we got further in the list of debits, it became apparent that someone, way, way outside our family circle, had obtained our number and treated themselves to a touch phone/computer deal and took the open opportunity to also download some tunes to go with it. I joked with the credit card company that I didn't even have such a neat item and he said he didn't either. He went on to say that whoever was helping themselves to our credit line was also going to be disappointed as he was closing out the card immediately, refusing payment to the stupid company that just took the card, and issued us new cards.

I also called LifeLock and they jumped on the situation with a vengence. Someone is going to wish they hadn't put dream to reality when they tried to steal our identity via our credit card. Poor person (NOT!) who either hasn't received his longed-for item yet or has it and the credit card company, the on-line store, and LifeLock on now on his case.

What if . . .

I had an interesting thought in connection with the proposed national health care that would so totally include abortion. The Catholic Bishops have already written a letter to the president stating that if the Freedom of Choice Act is passed, they would close down all Catholic, medical facilities rather than compromise their mission by allowing abortion in their hospitals. The FOCA has kind of taken a backseat to the national health care proposal yet national health care, as written, would provide as much access to abortion. This would probably include Catholic hospitals, etc., too.

We've had events such as 'a day without illegals' to showcase, according to the press, how much they contribute and what would happen if they weren't here. Seems that if the bishops were serious about defending our Ten Commandments, more especially the one about 'Thou Shalt Not Kill', they would stage a national event and call it 'a day without Catholic hospitals'. Yes, we can close them if FOCA is passed but a warning with impact might make more of a serious statement. If our Catholic medical facilities are permanently closed with the passing of FOCA, it is kind of a done deal. However, if we provide of day without Catholic hospitals, it is of short duration and gives people a taste of what the long-run effect would be. It is easier to take a stand before a stand is actually needed.

All too true . . .

"The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer."
-- Henry Kissinger

"Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking."
-- Clement Atlee

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I'll waste no time reading it."
-- Moses Hadas

Quilting aside . . .

I broke from daily tradition and didn't quilt all week! Yes, there is a touch of withdrawal symptoms. However, sewing didn't stop even if it didn't result in a quilt. I made a jumper for one of my college daughters. In order to keep it modest, I delved into my vast collection of ancient patterns, back when there was some modesty. The pattern we decided on was a bit narrow in the skirt and threw me into a contemplative mood for two days until I figured out how to work around it! The solution came to me at Mass! I measured, cut, measured, thought, measured, and cut some more but finally put in two side panels with tiny gathers at the waist. Happily, it looked like a 'planned' pattern, my daughter was pleased, and it was done.

Next project is All Saints' Day costumes. I sold a few on-line last year and they were gone almost before I finished the posting. I'm going to try it this year to see if I can make some spending money. Oh, yeah, and I suppose I'll have some fun designing and sewing them, too!

It's getting beyond the element of surprise . . .

The president recently awarded 16 citizens with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among the criteria for their selection of this award was 'promoting world peace'. Some of these recepients are anti-life promoters. I found this yet another sad statement on the well being of our country that people would be valued for their work in seeing to the murder of the innocent. Anyone who voted for this president, take heed because you are actively sharing in any abortion committed on an unborn baby since your vote made it possible.

The national health care proposal not only targets the unborn but the elderly. Many of the people who have chastised me for not supporting the president's policies are elderly. If the national health care fiasco goes through, I wonder if they realize they may have cast a vote for a very early retirement from this world?

Naturally, you can't constantly dwell on all the evil being put forth into our nation by elected officials and the president. We have to continue to live our own lives to the fullest, pray harder. There is, however, that few minutes upon waking when you have that pit in your stomach like everything isn't quite right with the world. And it isn't . . .

It's only a matter of time . . .

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