Lent Day 39: Holy Week Blessings

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

I hope you all have a blessed Holy Week! I hopped on to say that Coffee Talk is going dark for the rest of Holy Week, so I'll see you after Easter!

Peace and blessings as you journey through the Paschal Mystery this week.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 38: the EXCITING NEWS!!!

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

A blessed Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion to you all! Can you believe that Holy Week is upon us? This Lent is flying by, and soon it will be the glorious season of Easter!

I know it's still a week premature for that famous chorus from Handel's Messiah, but you can hum it, at least, while I share with you two pieces of exciting news!

Exciting piece of news #1:
I'm a day away from completing the seemingly never ending writing project for the new Parish Teacher Manuals for the Faith and Life Catechetical Series, published by Ignatius Press and Catholics United for the Faith!

FAQ:
Q: What are you talking about, Leslie?
A: Faith and Life is a religion textbook series for grades 1 - 8 that has been used primarily in Catholic schools, and they're updating the series to be comprehensive for catechetical programs in Catholic parishes. I have been writing the manuals for parish teachers (catechists) to use.

Q: How did you get hired for that job, Leslie?
A: I dunno. Really.

Q: Is it as glamorous as it seems? Describe a day in the life of a parish textbook author.
A: Picture me, sitting in my pajamas late at night, hunched over my laptop in a dimly lit room, with a crazy ponytail, until my eyes start burning or feel as though they are going to fall out of my head. It is very glamorous. And I will gladly autograph your copy when those badboys are in print.

Exciting piece of news #2:
I recently got a call from a friend I know from my grad school alma mater. Haven't heard from him in years. Just had vowed to never stay up late hunched over my laptop again after the Faith and Life thing is finally done, but truthfully knew that I cannot help myself from writing about Catholic stuff, even for my own leisure. Found out said friend was calling me to help him write a book! On Catholic stuff! Helping to explain Catholic stuff to people in terms that are easy to understand! Which is pretty much my favorite thing ever!

So he started a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the book. Look. I hate asking people for money. And it's still weird to me that people would give money to help some little ol' Catholic folk write a book. So I'm not going to ask you for money. But I am going to ask for your support in promoting this campaign, not just because I've been invited to be part of the writing team, but because I genuinely think it's a great idea, and a needed resource. People in the adult classes I teach ask for this kind of resource all the time, to be honest. So if you'd like to see a resource that breaks down Catholic teachings into terms easy to understand for the Every Day Man, would you check out the project? Put in a good word with the Big Guy (God, not Daddy Warbucks...or, on second thought, maybe both??), who has all the resources needed for said project? Spread the word to others who may be interested?

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers!

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent Day 37 (a day late): When Popes Collide

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

Sorry I didn't post this last night -- the need for sleep got the best of me again. But the great news is that I'll post again tonight. And something EXCITING, too! So brace yourselves, and stay tuned!

It may seem like I've been posting Pope-related posts almost every day...and that's because, in fact, I have been! There's so much great papal news these days, I'd be remiss to not mention at least bit of it!

So first, check out this sweet article about Pope Francis personally calling his newpaper kiosk owner in Argentina to cancel his subscription. It even made me a little teary-eyed. What can I say; I'm a sucker for touching Papal stories!

Next, the TWO POPES HAD A MEETING! What an historic moment! Check out this article by Rocco Palmo, and this entry from The Sacred Page which includes video footage of the two Popes together. (Warning: it is mostly Benedict and Francis praying together at Castel Gandalfo, so it's not a lot of high-action footage -- haha!)

Blessings as you prepare for Holy Week (now only hours away!). Stay tuned for tonight's exciting news, my friends!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 36: Washing the Feet of Inmates

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

Pope Francis has chosen to celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday in a prison, where he will wash the feet of 12 inmates. Whew.

Here's an article about it. And also, a moving related commentary which also addresses the recent Steubenville rape case. Kyrie Eleison.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 35: Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

I hope you all enjoyed yesterday's day off of Lent and celebrated the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary! I know I did. When I went in to work and told some of my co-workers about the non-Lenten fiesta, our receptionist promptly agreed to go out and buy a decadent cake for all of us to share. I love working for the Catholic Church! :)

There are usually two Lenten solemnities: besides yesterday's, there's also the Annunciation, typically celebrated on March 24. However, this year since March 24 falls on on Palm Sunday, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is transferred to the Monday after Divine Mercy Sunday, April 8. So this means we only got one solemnity during Lent this year. That also means that we'll have an extra day of Lent this year. And, of course, it means that I celebrated doubly hard yesterday!

When one of the Lenten Solemnities falls on a Friday, we can eat meat! This happened two years ago, and won't happen again until March 24, 2017. I'm already planning to have In-N-Out that day!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 34.5: The SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH!!!

Hey, Coffee Talkers!

If you're reading this one hot off the press, what are you still doing up? Ah, well, no matter. What I'm here to let you know is that, while it was day 34 of Lent a few short hours ago, right now it IS NOT LENT because it's the SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY!!! So get off of Coffee Talk! Eat some meat, sing the Gloria (but still no 'A' acclamation yet!), and do a jig! Watch the Papal Installation Mass! Have a party! CELEBRATE!

See ya back in Lent, y'all!

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 33: The Pope & the People on St. Patrick's Day!

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

Pope Francis continues (much to this dismay of his security personnel and Vatican advisors, I'm sure) to buck the trends and reach out to the people in new and moving ways. This makes me think of the early (pre-pope-mobile) days of the papacy of John Paul II. Enjoy!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

P.S. The video is not showing up right now on Blogger Mobile, so if there's a big blank space above, try clicking here! :)

Lent Day 32: Pope Francis to the Media, and How He Chose His Name

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

Pope Francis addressed communications media reps on Saturday and had lots of great things to say, including an explanation of how and why he chose the name Francis. I love it! I have included the full text below. Enjoy!

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday met with Representatives of the Communications Media on Saturday. Below is an English translation of his full text:

Dear Friends,
At the beginning of my ministry in the See of Peter, I am pleased to meet all of you who have worked here in Rome throughout this intense period which began with the unexpected announcement made by my venerable Predecessor Benedict XVI on 11 February last. To each of you I offer a cordial greeting. 

The role of the mass media has expanded immensely in these years, so much so that they are an essential means of informing the world about the events of contemporary history. I would like, then, to thank you in a special way for the professional coverage which you provided during these days – you really worked, didn’t you? – when the eyes of the whole world, and not just those of Catholics, were turned to the Eternal City and particularly to this place which has as its heart the tomb of Saint Peter. Over the past few weeks, you have had to provide information about the Holy See and about the Church, her rituals and traditions, her faith and above all the role of the Pope and his ministry. 

I am particularly grateful to those who viewed and presented these events of the Church’s history in a way which was sensitive to the right context in which they need to be read, namely that of faith. Historical events almost always demand a nuanced interpretation which at times can also take into account the dimension of faith. Ecclesial events are certainly no more intricate than political or economic events! But they do have one particular underlying feature: they follow a pattern which does not readily correspond to the “worldly” categories which we are accustomed to use, and so it is not easy to interpret and communicate them to a wider and more varied public. The Church is certainly a human and historical institution with all that that entails, yet her nature is not essentially political but spiritual: the Church is the People of God, the Holy People of God making its way to encounter Jesus Christ. Only from this perspective can a satisfactory account be given of the Church’s life and activity. 

Christ is the Church’s Pastor, but his presence in history passes through the freedom of human beings; from their midst one is chosen to serve as his Vicar, the Successor of the Apostle Peter. Yet Christ remains the centre, not the Successor of Peter: Christ, Christ is the centre. Christ is the fundamental point of reference, the heart of the Church. Without him, Peter and the Church would not exist or have reason to exist. As Benedict XVI frequently reminded us, Christ is present in Church and guides her. In everything that has occurred, the principal agent has been, in the final analysis, the Holy Spirit. He prompted the decision of Benedict XVI for the good of the Church; he guided the Cardinals in prayer and in the election. 

It is important, dear friends, to take into due account this way of looking at things, this hermeneutic, in order to bring into proper focus what really happened in these days. 

All of this leads me to thank you once more for your work in these particularly demanding days, but also to ask you to try to understand more fully the true nature of the Church, as well as her journey in this world, with her virtues and her sins, and to know the spiritual concerns which guide her and are the most genuine way to understand her. Be assured that the Church, for her part, highly esteems your important work. At your disposal you have the means to hear and to give voice to people’s expectations and demands, and to provide for an analysis and interpretation of current events. Your work calls for careful preparation, sensitivity and experience, like so many other professions, but it also demands a particular concern for what is true, good and beautiful. This is something which we have in common, since the Church exists to communicate precisely this: Truth, Goodness and Beauty “in person”. It should be apparent that all of us are called not to communicate ourselves, but this existential triad made up of truth, beauty and goodness. 

Some people wanted to know why the Bishop of Rome wished to be called Francis. Some thought of Francis Xavier, Francis De Sales, and also Francis of Assisi. I will tell you the story. During the election, I was seated next to the Archbishop Emeritus of São Paolo and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes: a good friend, a good friend! When things were looking dangerous, he encouraged me. And when the votes reached two thirds, there was the usual applause, because the Pope had been elected. And he gave me a hug and a kiss, and said: “Don't forget the poor!” And those words came to me: the poor, the poor. Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of all the wars, as the votes were still being counted, till the end. Francis is also the man of peace. That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation; these days we do not have a very good relationship with creation, do we? He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man … How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor! Afterwards, people were joking with me. “But you should call yourself Hadrian, because Hadrian VI was the reformer, we need a reform…” And someone else said to me: “No, no: your name should be Clement”. “But why?” “Clement XV: thus you pay back Clement XIV who suppressed the Society of Jesus!” These were jokes. I love all of you very much, I thank you for everything you have done. I pray that your work will always be serene and fruitful, and that you will come to know ever better the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the rich reality of the Church’s life. I commend you to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization, and with cordial good wishes for you and your families, each of your families. I cordially impart to all of you my blessing. Thank you. 

I told you I was cordially imparting my blessing. Since many of you are not members of the Catholic Church, and others are not believers, I cordially give this blessing silently, to each of you, respecting the conscience of each, but in the knowledge that each of you is a child of God. May God bless you! 

As always, thanks for stopping by. Be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 31: Of Jesuits, Franciscans, and Pope Cakes!

Hello, Coffee Talkers!


Let's begin tonight with a question from a friend and reader!

Dear Leslie: inform a Mormon. What is a "Franciscan"? It's in the news, and I feel ignorant. Also, what is a "Jesuit"? How are the two different? Why did people in the news say there is a Yankees/Red Sox relationship between the two groups? What's the skinny on that part of the new pope? 

Dear Inquisitive Mormon Friend,

You've asked some great questions! Let me try to break this down as simply and clearly as I can. First, let's talk a bit about Franciscans and Jesuits. In the Catholic Church, there are different types of priests, and different types of religious communities:

1. Diocesan Priests: some priests are known as 'Diocesan priests' because they are assigned to a geographical region and are under the authority of a local diocesan bishop. Here in the high desert of California, for example, we are in the Diocese of San Bernardino which encompasses Riverside and San Bernardino counties. We have a Bishop who oversees seminary training (the education and formation of men seeking the priesthood) and activity of priests in his local diocese. Diocesan priests here are given their assignments (in what church, office, position they will serve, and for how long), and they make a promise (or vow) of obedience to the bishop. A diocesan priest does not take a vow of poverty (but many still live very simply) and they may own personal property.

2. Religious Orders: There are also communities or congregations in the Catholic Church known as religious orders. Some priests (as well as monks, brothers, nuns, and sisters) live in these kind of communities. These communities were founded by a particular person or group of people, and are marked by a specific charism (gift of the Holy Spirit) and apostolate (the work or activity of the apostles and all those who continue to carry out the mission of Jesus on earth). Priests who are 'religious priests' are part of one of these orders, and this typically means that they are associated with the work and charism of that order, take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to their superior, and receive assignments from the superior of their own congregation which are not confined to a geographical area, but rather to the scope of the work of their order.

3. Jesuits: The Jesuits are a religious order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 16th century Spain. They are also known as the Society of Jesus, which is why priests of this order have their names followed by the initials 'SJ.' In addition to the vows professed by other religious orders, the Jesuits also take a specific vow of obedience to the Pope in regard to mission. While the Jesuits are still one order throughout the world, some individual Jesuits vary in modern times on their level of commitment to Church teachings (is that a nice way to say it?), so if you ever hear someone refer to a 'solid Jesuit', it probably means that they are still a priest who upholds and teaches what the Catholic Church upholds and teaches. Jesuits are often engaged in teaching, retreat ministry, and spiritual direction.

4. Franciscans: Franciscans are those people belonging to orders which follow the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi, who founded his order in 13th century Italy. Francis himself never became a priest, but he is considered the founder of the many Franciscan orders and of the Poor Clares (the cloistered Franciscan nuns who were also started by Francis' spiritual companion, Clare of Assisi). Francis lived a life of radical poverty and of service to the poorest of the poor. There are many different orders of Franciscans today (including the Order of Friars Minor, the Capuchins, the Third Order Regular, and the Conventual Franciscans, to name just a few), but all of them strive to follow Francis' way of life, which included renunciation of personal property and worldly prestige.

Q: Why did people in the news say there is a Yankees/Red Sox relationship between the two groups? 
A: Well, I think that there are two main reasons: 1. the media understands almost nothing of Catholicism and can only speak in sports analogies, and 2. while it is unfounded to liken the relationship between these orders to a long-standing and even vicious rivalry between sports teams, it is commonly joked about among Catholics that whenever two or more of the older religious orders of the church unite, it may be a sign of the end times or some such thing, because the different communities can have really different personalities, so to speak. But they are all part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, so the differences should be complementary rather than divisive.

Q: What's the skinny on that part of the new pope? 
A: It's interesting to have the first Jesuit Pope ever, and then to have that Pope not take the name of a previous pope, or even of a founder or saint of his own order, but rather choose the name of Francis of Assisi, who is known for his radical poverty, care for the poor, rejection of worldly power, and his response to God's call to him to "Rebuild my Church, which you can see has fallen into ruin." To me, it's a sign of something bold and new, a unifying force, a breath of new life into a Church and a world in great need of repair and renewal. I'm pretty stoked about our new Jesuit Pope Francis!

Lastly, and completely unrelated to these questions but still pope-related, I ordered a cake tonight for a Pope-themed dinner with friends, and want to let you all know that if you ever want to see something truly hilarious, ask a bakery worker to write "Viva El Papa" on your cake, and see the look they give you!

I hope this has been helpful. As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent Day 30: Pope Francis, Day 1

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

I found a wonderful article about Pope Francis' first 24 hours in office, and found it share-worthy. Click on the picture to read it, and enjoy!

As always, thanks for stopping by. Be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent Day 29: HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM!!!

I'm sure that by now you've heard the news that WE HAVE A POPE!!! Oooohhhh, I had a feeling this morning that today would be the day, and it was! I also had a feeling that we may end up with a South American Pope who would return to his home region for World Youth Day this summer, and WE DID!!! Our new Papa is not Brazilian, but an Argentinian whose home diocese of Buenos Aires is not too far from Rio de Janeiro, where he will be presiding at World Youth Day this July.

So Polish Karol Wotyla became Pope John Paul II, returning to Poland months later and establishing World Youth Days during his pontificate. German Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope after the death of John Paul II, returning to Germany months later to preside over World Youth Day in Cologne.

The last 3 Popes...together!

And now Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio is now POPE FRANCIS, who will return to South America in a few months to preside over World Youth Day Rio! Habemus Papam Franciscum!!!

Click on the picture to read Pope Francis' opening words to the world!

I was truly in awe the first moments of this papacy. Although I'm a bit delirious from excitement and sleep deprivation, allow me to attempt to name a few notable moments:

1. The realization that our new Pope is from the Americas, a native Spanish speaker, and (as I mentioned above) going to be presiding at World Youth Day in his home continent/region in just a few months. (Also of interest -- he's a Jesuit who took a Franciscan name!)

2. The look on his face when he first saw the crowd. You could almost see his eyes taking in the magnitude of the crowd in front of him, looking at individual faces of a whole world whose eyes were all focused on his now...as Pope.

3. His opening speech. It wasn't a speech, really. It was more of a brief, heartfelt greeting, followed by a time of public prayer, first for Pope Benedict XVI, and then for himself. He asked the crowd, and the whole watching world, to please pray for him and to bless him before he gave his first Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing to us. 

4. While his address was brief, he mentioned his new role as the Bishop of Rome more than once. This was interesting to me, as he seemed to place some primacy on his role as servant to his new local diocese first, and then to be the servant of the servants of God throughout the world, the universal pontiff, next. This follows the idea of the Urbi et Orbi blessing itself, which extends from the city to the world, and the image of a father who first takes good care of his own close family members, and then extends that loving concern to all those in need.

5. He did not just ask everyone to pray at a later time. Pope Francis entered into a time of sincere and deeply personal prayer, and the whole world joined him. We were waiting for an address, and instead he gave us an example of how to address God the Father while he did so himself and led us all in joining in. It was truly awe-inspiring.

6. He is the first to have taken the name Francis (which, by the way, does not need to be followed by 'I' or 'the first', because there are no others...) after Francis of Assisi, who lived a life of radical poverty and continual conversion. Francis was a great reformer who responded to Jesus' call to 'rebuild my church' in a time of crisis.

7. At the end, he finally smiled. It was as though he was warming up to us, and we to him. He seemed to have accepted more the reality of his new role. And then, according to Cardinal Dolan, he rode the bus back back to the hotel with the rest of the Cardinals.

8. Even as a Cardinal, Pope Francis was a man who was of the people and for the people, eschewing power and prestige and instead choosing to live in a simple apartment where he prepared his own meals and rode the bus to get around the city. This is a guy who walks the walk, and already his witness to the world is a breath of change, and an agent of personal conversion. When I saw the pictures of then Cardinal Bergoglio riding the bus, serving the poor, and washing and kissing the feet of AIDS patients, I wanted to do better myself. To live more simple life with a more radical following of the Gospel message. Not to gain more power or prestige, but to serve, love, and know Jesus more in the faces of the most vulnerable, isolated, and marginalized in our world. Because if the Pope can do it, so can I.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent Day 28: Coming Soon to a Vatican Near You!

Y'all! Coffee Talkers!

We're gonna have a new Pope SUPER SOON! The interregnum is flying by. (Time to coin the new phrase: 'Time flies when you're having an interregnum,' perhaps. Catchy?)

Anyway, no time to write more tonight, but click here for a little conclave-related fun from my friends at The Sacred Page. :)

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 27: The Room of Tears, and The EXTRA RED SHOES!

Hello, Coffee Talkers,

I don't know about y'all, but I was fascinated when I first heard about the so-called room of tears. It is the room into which the newly elected pope is taken to get vested as the white smoke rises and the world awaits the announcement. It is called the room of tears because it is said that the man who has been elected cries when he enters the room, realizing the gravity of the office he is to undertake, the heavy burden of the papacy.

As some of you know, I have a love for good liturgical fashion. I also have a love for shoes. (Those who knew me in junior high and high school witnessed this love first hand.) So, as you may have guessed, these two loves find a most splendid meeting place in the Pope's red shoes!

Turns out they have many pairs of various sizes set aside in the room, since they don't know who will be elected. Makes sense. But this limited information leaves me with a pressing question: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REST OF THE RED SHOES?!?

If anyone finds out, let me know ASAP! In the meantime, I just came across this cool video with footage from the now-prepared-for-the-next-Pope Room of Tears. Pretty stoked. Check it out, y'all!

The Conclave starts in just a few hours! If you want a text or e-mail notification of the white smoke rising, be sure to check out PopeAlarm.com. It looks legit, since it's run by FOCUS. And let's say a prayer together right now for the election of our next Pope:

O Lord, with suppliant humility we entreat you, that in your boundless mercy you would grant the most holy Roman Church a pontiff, who, by his zeal for us, may be pleasing to you, and by his good government may ever be honored by your people for the glory of your name. Amen.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Be assured of my prayers!

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent Day 26: Funeral for Kevin Olin

Hello, Coffee Talkers,

I am taking a break from my usual Coffee Talk-ing to share the information for Kevin Olin's funeral. I realize that not all of my Coffee Talk readers live in the area or know Kevin, but I noticed quite a few internet searches for his funeral information in my blog stats, so I want to include it here in the blog-o-sphere so anyone looking can easily find the info.

To all interested in attending the funeral for Kevin Olin, the Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Church in Apple Valley, California at 9 am on Saturday, March 16th. A reception will be held at the church following the Mass. A rosary will be held the Friday night before the funeral, at the church around 7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the Olin family would appreciate supporting the Kiva team set up in remembrance of Kevin. Thanks to all who have kept his family and friends in prayer.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 25: Must Sleep!

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

I'm too tired to type. Day 25 is a day o' exhaustion. So peace to you all, and to all a goodnight!

As always, thanks for stopping by. Be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 24: New Pope Next Week?!?

Hello, Coffee Talkers,

The Cardinals have set the start date for the conclave to be Tuesday, March 12. That's real soon, y'all! And it probably means that we'll have a new Pope by the end of next week. Eek! I squeal with anticipation!!

Here are a few things for your pre-conclave perusal:

Click here for Papal Transition FAQ from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Cool video on how a new Pope is chosen!

Man on the street interviews about our new Pope...whom we do not yet have!! Hilarious.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent Day 23: A Senseless Reflection on an Alternate Reality

Hello, Coffee Talkers,

I want to share something that happened today, but it won't really make sense. But I think I should try to share it anyway. So here goes.

I was driving my girls to their religious education classes today at the Our Lady of the Desert Family Center/Parish Hall/Whatever That Building Is Called (until it is named in honor of Kevin Olin, which I hope will happen soon). Anyway, we were pulling into the parking lot for the hall.

And as I was driving across the parking lot, I saw a man from the church with whom I have been acquainted for a few years. He was standing in the parking lot next to his car, speaking to another person whom I do not know. Probably another parent dropping off their child for religious ed.

This is when it happened. It. The it I can't really describe in words. And 'it' wasn't really a thing or an event, but a moment, an awareness perhaps? In that moment, I saw the man I know, and for a moment I did not know him. I had a sense that what I saw was, in some way, not real. Not that it was an illusion, but that there was something else, some other reality, far more real than what I was seeing or was aware of.

Trying to describe it or put words to it cheapens the experience, but human language is all I have to try to convey it. The words I use fall so short because they seem to convey something familiar. But what happened in that momentary flash was entirely unfamiliar. It was not even a moment that I can define or fully process. When I try to, I can only relate it to things that I have seemed to know. I couldn't define it as God, or Heaven, or Universe, or anything at all. This was inherently different, wholly other, entirely unknown.

Perhaps, like REM, I've said too much; I haven't said enough.

And then, after it, I had a memory of a dream I had many years ago. Not like a Martin Luther King, Jr. kind of dream, but the sleeping kind. (In those days, I had many dreams, the sleeping kind, that would come to fruition in some strange way during waking hours. I don't know why.) In the dream, I was in Colorado. I was visiting friends (whom I did not know, yet they were friends). And it was nighttime. We sat outside, in a grassy area, a courtyard near an apartment building, perhaps. And then the courtyard became a field. And the sky. I sat in a lawn chair, and something happened with the sky. I was the only one who detected the change. It was a change that, while it was entirely beyond description or comprehension, completely altered my understanding of time and space.

Alright, that's enough trying to describe things which cannot be communicated with the excessive use of italicization for one evening.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 22: Testing Out the Blogger App!

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

It's been a busy day, and it's late. But I'm going the distance with these 40 days o' Lenten blogging!

Tonight, I'm gonna keep it real short 'cause I am trying out the Blogger app on a mobile device for the first time, and my thumbs tire easily. I would guess that the folks who use this app on a regular basis have either an actual keypad, or have built up extreme strength and endurance in their right thumb.

I have neither, so signing off for now! Hope you're still Lent-ing it up!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 21: Pray for the College of Cardinals

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

I have a special request to pass on to you. The College of Cardinals are meeting in Vatican City, and they have asked us to join them in prayer on March 6th at 5 pm Rome time (8 am California time, party people!). Yes, they want you to pray with them. I don't care if you're not Catholic, or you're too old, too young, you don't pray, you're washing your hair at that time, whatever your excuse is. Just give a little divine shout out and join in this universal call to prayer.

Can you imagine what might happen if every person in the world entered into a moment of sincere prayer at the same time? Me either. But let's test it out!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 20: Novena for Work

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

I have lots of friends looking for work right now. Or for better work. Or hoping to do a better job at their current work.

So, for your praying enjoyment, here's a Novena for Work to St. Josemaria Escriva!

Quick FAQ, in case you're confused and/or reluctant to click the link:

1. Whats a novena?
   
Answer: Nine days of prayer for a specific intention. Started with the nine days of prayer leading up to Pentecost (see Acts of the Apostles). If it worked for the Apostles, it's good enough for me!

2. Who is St. Josemaria Escriva?

Answer: 20th century saint and founder of  the Opus Dei movement, which means "Work of God." It is a movement which encourages people to offer their daily work to God, and he suggests that if all of us took our faith to our workplace, we could transform the whole world!

3. Isn't Opus Dei some kind of freaky cult?

Answer: NO!

4. Why you Catholics gotta pray to saints and stuff? Isn't Jesus enough?

Answer: It's all good in the Catholic hood. Read my post, "Why Do Catholics Pray to Saints?" for more info.

5. Did you ever pray this Novena, Leslie?

Answer: Yes.

6. Did you find work, better work, or do better at your current work?

Answer: Yes, yes, and yes!! (But it's not magic. It's prayer. So it requires lots of patience, and an openness of heart to the will and timing of God.)

So what are you waiting for? Check out the Novena for Work.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 19: The Thin Line Between Hope and Depair

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

On the Catholic news front, let me remind y'all that the conclave is about to begin, so keep that College of Cardinals in your prayers!

Next, I want to close this 3rd Sunday of Lent by reflecting for a few moments on the thin line between belief and doubt, between hope and despair. It's a little heavier than my typical Coffee Talk, so maybe you wanna grab some decaf while you journey with me before you head to bed. Warning: I'm thinking as I'm writing, so this is going to be like "Coffee Talk: Uncut."

It's been a week filled with close-to-home tragedy, and I've heard many people saying things like, "This is too much," "Why should someone so good have to die?" and "Where was God in all of this?" I've had many people telling me that they are ready to hear some good news.

There's a part of me that says, "I know with certainty where God is in all of this. There's God, offering his only Son on the Cross, pouring himself out in love for us, taking on all of our sinfulness on himself, and making some meaning of the 'senseless' suffering of the innocents here on earth." I can say, "This is Lent, and Lent is not the end of the story. Good Friday gives way to Easter, and in Jesus we see that death no longer has any victory. Those who suffered and died in Christ will also rise with him in life eternal."

And then, in the midst of all of the reassurance of faith, I can also cry out to God in pain, anguish, and confusion, and sincerely say, "WHY?"

Because the truth is that the line between faith and unbelief is rather tenuous. The difference between hope and despair is not clearly delineated. Belief and unbelief, hope and despair coexist in each one of us, if we are really honest.

This is when I have to look again to Jesus, not in a superficial "Jesus was a happy-go-lucky superhero or peace-loving hippy" sort of way, but a deep look into the meaning of the life of Jesus, the significance of his suffering and death, and the ways that, in the fullness of his humanity, Jesus himself shows us the coexistence of belief and unbelief, and hope and despair. Let me explain.

When Jesus asks his Father to "Let this cup pass from me," and cried out to him from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?", there are some who suggest that it wasn't too big a deal, because he knew the end of the story, so to speak. Jesus was God, after all, so he must have just been saying that stuff, right? And the so-called 'descent into hell' is made by most people to just be his glorious jig down to the netherworld, waving his Easter banner and announcing to everybody that the strife was o'er.

But Jesus was not only true God, but also (and equally) true man. In his humanity, he experienced everything that we experience, except for sin. So with the exception of anything that was an offense to God the Father (with whom he was intimately united in the Trinitarian Godhead), Jesus experienced all other parts of the human experience. What he experienced, he could sum up, reverse, redeem. And the sin and death, which he also took on himself (He became sin who knew no sin), no longer have any power over us.

So when Jesus asked the Father to let this cup pass from him, I would suggest that this is because he was really a human who did not want to suffer. Couldn't there be another way? But still, not my will, but yours be done, he said. He willed to accept the suffering, but he didn't want it.

And on the cross, crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", I would suggest that Jesus really experienced this feeling of abandonment, even by God the Father. This is a feeling that we have all known, and it is not sinful. It is part of the human experience. And Jesus, in his humanity, took this on himself to redeem it.

Lastly, when Jesus descended into hell, we need to first recall that Jesus really died. He was dead. He was not pretending to be dead. Jesus truly died. If he did not die, what significance would the Resurrection have? If he had not died, death could not have been conquered. And so, when we consider his descent into hell, the place of the dead, we can again believe that Jesus really went to the place of the dead, the place of separation from God the Father. Was Jesus completely separated from God the Father? No, this is impossible, as he was still true God. But, as true man, we can accept that Jesus truly descended into the depths of human hopelessness.

What can we take away from this? I believe that we can see Jesus in ourselves, and ourselves in Jesus. I believe that we can see that we need not fear the thin line between hope and despair, because in our own depths of pain and human hopelessness, we can know that Jesus went there, too.

But he didn't end there. And our greatest hope is that, through him, in him, and with him, neither will we. This is the Good News for which we are all longing, as we journey through this valley of tears.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 18: Requiem for a Dear Friend

Dear Coffee Talkers,

Sometimes, when words fall very short, music expresses better what our souls want to say. To the one who first opened my mind to world of sacred music, to my dear friend Kevin, who did so much (and who was so much) for me and for so many, I pray that you are resting in eternal peace. And help us out, please, while we make our way through this valley of tears.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent Day 17: A Terrible Tragedy....

Dear Coffee Talkers,

It is with a very saddened and heavy heart that I write tonight about the sudden and accidental death of a long-time family friend, and co-worker at the church, Kevin Olin. There is so much I want to say to honor him, but I can't really sort out my thoughts right now. One of my friends, who works for our local paper, asked if I wanted to say anything about him to contribute to an article, so for now I'll just re-post what I sent to her. (Also, click here for the article about the terrible accident.) Please say a prayer for the repose of his soul, and for his family and friends. Also, pray for the person who hit him while he was riding his bike.

I have known Kevin Olin since I was a little girl growing up at Our lady of the Desert Catholic Church in Apple Valley, where Kevin worked since the church's early days. Kevin was a good friend to me and my family, and I believe that the work I am doing now (as a director of music and liturgy at Holy Innocents Church in Victorville) is in large part due to Kevin's help and encouragement. When I was in sixth grade, Kevin allowed me to play clarinet with the church choir he led, and I have been involved in music ministry ever since.

Kevin's official job at Our Lady of the Desert (where I had the great pleasure of working with him for the last few years) was as the maintenance director, but he did so many different jobs and lots of hidden work, too. I once told him that if he ever retired from his work at the church, I would not know what to do, and compared it to the end of the Papacy of John Paul II, who had been Pope my whole life.

Kevin had a wonderful sense of humor, but was also very serious about his faith, his care for his family, and his passion for environmental issues and social justice. He headed up the annual Fair Trade Market at Our Lady of the Desert, and was instrumental in getting the solar panels installed at Our Lady of the Desert Church.

Kevin also rode his bike regularly, as a form of exercise and care for the environment. And while I am so saddened and shocked by his death (I just saw him yesterday at the church), I sincerely believe that he would also want mercy for the person who accidentally hit him. Kevin's Catholic faith was the foundation of everything he did and believed, and I think that he would want the person who hit him to have a chance at forgiveness and peace with God.

Kevin Olin is truly one of the most influential and admired people in my life, and I can honestly say what a huge loss his death is to our Catholic community and to the world at large. Still, with faith we hold hope that Kevin is at peace, and that we will someday be reunited again.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie