How God through Sirach is helping me clean up my mouth

Do not accustom your mouth to coarse, foul language,
 for it involves sinful speech. Remember your father and mother
when you sit among the great,
 or you may forget yourself in their presence,
and behave like a fool through bad habit;
then you will wish that you had never been born,
and you will curse the day of your birth. Those who are accustomed to using abusive language will never become disciplined as long as they live.Sirach 23: 12-15

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So anyway, I was pretty much relaxed before Confession yesterday. Just two sins, that I could remember. I wasn't exactly proud of them, in fact I was ashamed and was sorry and all that stuff. But after all, I hadn't killed anybody, hurt anybody, cheated anybody. Just a couple of vulgar words — yes, shouted in anger — but that was about it. I mean, hey, I was sorry, but nobody's perfect, right? God's merciful...no big deal. In and out and I'm home free, completely absolved, right?

I was actually pleased that I wouldn't take up a lot of time in the Confessional! (Give those real sinners some more time. I actually thought that. Sheesh.)

Wrong, Kelly!

After confessing my two — two — sins, I sat back, waited for my penance, all set to make A Good Act of Contrition. Sheesh, I was almost feeling smug.

Until my confessor opened his Bible, thumbed through it a bit, and read the following. (It bears repeating.)

"Do not accustom your mouth to coarse, foul language,
 for it involves sinful speech. Remember your father and mother
 when you sit among the great,
 or you may forget yourself in their presence,
and behave like a fool through bad habit;
then you will wish that you had never been born,
and you will curse the day of your birth. Those who are accustomed to using abusive language will never become disciplined as long as they live."

And I felt as if this gentle guy had just gently slapped me in the face. 

[insert reminiscing harp music here]

I shivered because I was remembering something that happened years ago. I was a very young widow. I was the darling of my family. I could do no wrong.

I was a spoiled brat.

Since, or so I thought, I had suffered a tragedy — and the death of my young husband Bill was a tragedy and more to the point (this was my take on matters) the fact that I was left alone at such a young age was an even greater tragedy. Others seemed to agree with me.

I was a spoiled brat.

Anyway, to make a long story bearable? Here's what happened once, shortly after Bill died. I went home to see my parents in Detroit. I had it all planned. Bill's friends and I were going to spend a lovely summer weekend at my mother and father-in-law's place in upper Michigan. It was all planned.

Except Bill's friends were all busy that weekend. Apologetic, but busy.

And when I was finished with the phone calls, I let loose a string of words that would make a sailor blush. I had the right to, you see. I was a Poor, Young, Widow, and People Had Let Me Down!!!

My mother burst into tears.

I figured she was feeling sorry for me and Bravely Keeping My Sobs Under Control, got up to tell her not to feel so bad. (What a bleeping saint I thought I was!)

Turns out? Mom wasn't feeling sorry for my "plans." She was ashamed of her daughter.

My Dad set me straight, in no uncertain terms:

"You make my wife, and your mother, cry one more time? And you're outta here, you got that young lady?"

I was always Daddy's Little Girl. I felt like I'd been slapped in the face...no, scratch that. I felt I'd been judged and found really, really wanting.

That was a long time ago...but after hearing Sirach's words? God's words? Seemed like yesterday.

Taking the Lord's Name in vain is really bad. But so is coarse, vulgar language. I'm trying like bleep to avoid it...because of my Mom and Dad.

But even more? Because of my Heavenly Father and Blessed Mother.

May God continue to bless you. (Thanks for your ear!)

Responding to "Shout Your Abortion:" The 12,345,546+ ways pro life people screw up

So big, frigging deal. Some poor souls have started a social media hashtag called (no, I'm not going to actually post it, but without the spaces, it's called "Shout Your Abortion."

Okay. Fine.

Some women, poor ladies, have, for reasons of their own, have decided to pretend to brag about how having an abortion has Improved Their Lives. Okay. Yes. I understand. This is Not A Good Thing. Satisfied?

Not, evidently, are the so called "pro lifers."

Why do I say this? Because I've seen these Brave, I'm Better, So Much Better Than You posts, such as:

The so called `mother' is condemned!
You're going to HELL!
No mercy for YOU!

And on and on...

Folks. Try very hard to use that God-given brain you were given. In other words? THINK!

As usual, you're trying to beat God. You're trying to play God, and you know? You're losing.

Yes, this movement is sad. Evil, even, I'll buy that.

BUT YOU DON'T COMBAT THE DEVIL BY IMITATING HIM, JERKS O' MINE!

Instead? Shut the bleep up. That's good. Shhh...be quiet.

And pray. That's what your job is. Your job is NOT condemning people. You got that?

Because if you try and do that? You're actually condemning yourself.

"But it's so frustrating, Kelly!!!!"

Deal with it. Shut up and pray. And quit your idiotic and futile attempts at assigning people to Hell. That's not your bleeping job.

Your job is to shut the bleep up and pray. Period.

Sheesh. When I was 16 years old? I had an abortion. If I believed in you folks, instead of my most Merciful God? I'd be dead by now.

Okay, you've had your spanking. Now shut up and pray.

And may God continue to bless you.

Please pray for the cure of Father Greg Staab, OMV (and the holiness of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary)

Heavenly and almighty Father,

I thank You for the gift of life, and for the newness of life in Christ Jesus.

If it be Your holy will, I beg you, through the intercession of Venerable Bruno Lanteri, to heal your servant, Father Greg Staab, O.M.V., and to increase the holiness of his brothers of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. (Abba? Father Greg kind of insists on this second request.)

This I ask as I do all things, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who, with You and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, ora pro nobis!

Our Lady, Mother of Sorrows, ora pro nobis!

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Father Greg with Father Bill Neubecker, O.M.V. Suffering from an incurable genetic disease, Father Greg strives to celebrate daily Mass from his hospital room.

Father Greg Staab insists that all prayers for him include the request for the holiness of his order, the Oblates of the Virgin Mary

John 3:16