So as you know, I've retired our all-natural Trader Joe's toothpaste because it contains glycerin, which we have discovered is not good for teeth. I decided to keep it in the kitchen to use on the sink. I tried it today, and my sink has never been cleaner! I just squirted a few globs around the bottom of the sink, sprinkled on some baking soda, and scrubbed it to death. It nearly has vanquished the coffee stains, and totally conquered some unknown stains on the side of the sink. Fantastic, and its scent is so pleasant- fennel and peppermint.
In other news, my husband's beautiful 90-something-year-old grandma has died. She passed away on Easter Sunday. I told him, "She rose with the Lord." The father of a friend of a friend also died on Easter. Last year, Mother Angelica died on Easter. There's something very special about this. As for my husband, I feel badly that he did not get to visit his grandma, since she lived in Mexico. His mom had planned to fly out to see her on Monday, but now we know that was too late. We just found out today. I hope his mom went anyway, to be with the family. I never met my grandma-in-law, but what I know about her is that she was a hard-working, resourceful, active and devout woman. May she rest in the arms of Jesus.
Speaking of Easter, holy cow... We went to the Cathedral of Christ the Light for the noon Mass. I don't really like going to the Cathedral for Mass, because it is so cavernous that I have a hard time hearing the priest and lectors. Also, they too frequently sing songs in Tagalog that nobody knows. But we went to the Cathedral for Easter because we woke up too late to go to our local church. One good thing about the Cathedral is the parish's diversity. Our parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel, is predominantly Filipino (but they don't sing as much Tagalog as the Cathedral choir! Ha!), and nearby St. Felicitas is predominantly Latino. But the Cathedral has a little bit of everybody, including a large number of African-Americans (not as many of course as the Afrocentric St. Columba).
So, the Cathedral Mass... I observed a beautiful African woman wearing her traditional costume, and many pretty Easter dresses on other women and little girls, and men in nice suits, and then... the young women in mini-dresses. What??? Not just mini-dresses with leggings or hose, but bare legs. Mini-dresses which covered the derriere by a centimeter, not to mention the front lady parts. I was burning with anger and prayed for help so as to not judge the character of these women, but it was so hard. It took me the better of ten minutes to get my mind off the blatant disrespect for our Lord that these women showed in their choice of dress. I reminded myself that they probably had no idea what offense they were causing, and that they were just following the fashions of the day. It's highly likely no one has ever instructed them in modesty, and I shouldn't be surprised by this.
I prayed that my husband hadn't seen them. I don't think he did. There were, of course, other frustrating choices of dress in others, such as jeans, leggings, and hoodies (for Easter???), but the mini-dresses took the cake. In fact, I wouldn't have been surprised to see those girls jumping out of a cake. Anyway... I prayed for them once I had gathered my wits. And I prayed for myself to prevent an undue judgmental attitude. We can judge the actions of another, but not the soul, not the heart.
I also prayed for the priest who had to look upon these barely-dressed women as they approached the table of the Lord. God help us. At least their tops weren't low-cut. That would have been too much.
We need a revival of modesty, a deep study of the Scripture that instructs women in their adorning. I don't know how to effect this. My friends dress mostly modestly, and so do the women at my parish, for the most part. We still have an issue with many being too casual, but at least they're covered up.
I guess all I can do is be an example. And pray the Rosary. The Fatima children have told us what Mary said about the many fashions that will offend the Lord, and that the sins of the flesh are what send most souls to Hell. I know that the Rosary is an effective tool against this. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
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