Do you ever have days like this?

Yesterday was a two plus rosary day. I slept with my rosary last night, as I have been known to do in difficult times, and prayed throughout the night when I tossed and turned, partly due to the day I had and partly due to the corticosteroid that is revving me up.



First was Mass with Josh and Taylor and then RCIA with Taylor. The subjects: morality. Specifically: chastity, homosexuality, cohabitation, contraception. It required all my energy not to argue, I mean really argue. Did you know there are a lot of gray areas in those subjects? I didn't either. I thought that all Catholics are called to follow the laws of God, and that's pretty black and white. Thou shall not commit adultery is pretty clear. I said what I felt needed to be said and then felt dismissed with the back of a hand. In fact, I think Father probably wanted to ask if anyone but I had a question or comment please say the word. Anyone but me. He knew what I had to say. Thank goodness Taylor and I are close enough to talk about these issues together. I pray for the remaining candidates and catechumens to be enlightened.



I came home to rancor. I struggled to put dinner on the table quickly (I had not put the roast in the crock pot before I left so I had to scramble to get dinner on) and almost as soon as we sat down and finished prayer (I believe our dinner prayer invites satan to come and dine with us) Noah started his nightly glaring at his sister. She can't do anything right in his book, and if she so much as makes herself known at the table, she gets a glare. Doug had had enough all day between the two of them, and a fight between the two of them erupted. Faith and I left the table in tears. Noah left and no one ate. Do you ever have days like this? Where you feel almost nothing, not even a nice dinner, is going to go right?The rest of our evening was spent each in our own silence and sullenness.


Satan is really tying some tight knots in our family right now. Do you think maybe bringing another Catholic into our family has him riled? He is taking every opportunity to work his way between us and God.

How many novenas can I pray? Mary, Undoer of knots... Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Monica, St. Anne, pray for us.


I like this prayer from Pope Francis, who has a long-standing dedication to Mary, Undoer of knots. Free us from the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks...

Holy Mary, full of God's presence during the days of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father's will, and the Devil was never capable to tie you around with his confusion.

Once with your Son you interceded for our difficulties, and, full of kindness and patience you gave us example of how to untie the knots of our life. And by remaining forever Our Mother, you put in order, and make more clear the ties that link us to the Lord.

Holy Mother, Mother of God, and our Mother, to you, who untie with motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands (the name of person), and to free him/her of the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks.

Through your grace, your intercession, and your example, deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. 

Amen