Author Archives: jptomey

(In)Formed Conscience: the Role of Virtuous Habits

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Francois Chifflart – “Das Gewissen” (“The Conscience”)

Have you ever noticed that your conscience is less bothered by certain vices than by others? I know mine is. There are some big sins that would probably set off all kinds of alarms, but then there are those that we may continually commit without much pause or remorse. Why do some unvirtuous behaviors make us uncomfortable and others not?

I think it’s less because we have uninformed consciences and more because we have unformed ones. We basically know (intellectually) the difference between virtue and vice, what sin technically is and is not. But our intellectual understanding of sin doesn’t have a direct correlation to how comfortable we are or aren’t with our offenses. I find that the more habitual my vices, the more comfortable I am with them. On the flip side, when I commit a sin of which I am not in the habit, I feel the internal churning of that incongruity. Continue reading →

3 Years Catholic: Converts and Cradlers

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June 22, 2013 – Holy Comforter, Saint Cyprian Church – Washington, DC

Three years ago today our little family of four became part of the Catholic Church. These have been three beautiful grace-filled years that warm my heart with gratitude. We are now a family of five. Since our oldest was only two at the time, my husband and I are two converts raising, essentially, three cradlers. I’m grateful for the perspective that we bring to our kids as converts; I think we are less likely to take the Church for granted, and I hope that translates to a deep appreciation of their Church as they grow up.

I’m also a little envious of them; Catholicism will be all they have ever known, a constant in their life of faith and walk with Christ. Yet, living as a family of converts and cradlers together, I see what a gift we are to each other. And I think that all Catholics should embrace this gift. Here are just a few opportunities that I see for each perspective to benefit the other:

  • Converts can bring a fresh understanding of the sacraments, while cradlers can instill an understanding of sequence in the sacraments.
  • Converts can give birth to an energized faith; cradlers can embodied a constancy of faith over time.
  • Converts often bring the awe of discovering Christ in the Eucharist; cradlers have experienced years of meditating on the mystery of the Eucharist.
  • Converts embrace Church teaching as much-needed guideposts for their walk with Christ; cradlers preserve Church teachings as the pillars that have sustained the Church throughout the ages.

The list could probably go on and on. Whether you are a cradle-Catholic or a convert, you bring a needed perspective to your brothers and sisters in the Church. We can learn from each other’s experiences and we can help edify each other’s faith in unique ways. After all, as the Church, we are just a big family of converts and cradlers living under one roof.

What about you? What are additional ways that you as a cradler have benefited from the perspective of a convert or vice versa? Post in the comments!

5 Ways to Read More This Summer

Read More SummerMost people wish they read more. I know no one who says she would like to read less. I am constantly hearing people say that they want to read more often, especially books that impact them spiritually. (By the way, there are a great many books that will profoundly impact you spiritually that are not shelved within the “religion & spirituality” category. For example, Haley at Carrots for Michaelmas has said that Brideshead Revisited is the novel that made her Catholic.)

All that being said, carving out the time and space to read as much as we would like is a struggle for all of us, especially with many other responsibilities and distractions in front of us. So here are five strategies that I am trying this summer that might help you too. Continue reading →