Okay, so I realise in the last couple of issues of our magazines I have been dealing with the need for a resurgence of chivalry. Well, during my trip to Sydney on Monday I was pleasantly surprised to see chivalry so alive and well. I was travelling with my 13 month old daughter and in the course of the day had two flights and two cab rides where, inevitably, strollers had to be folded up or down, bags carried and my daughter too. At each interval where I would have asked for help - I was pre-empted by men (ranging in ages from mid twenties to fifties), who were more than happy to carry the stroller down flights of stairs, hold my daughter while I folded up the pram or vice versa, open doors and all did it with a friendly smile, sincerely wanting to help me for no reason other than I needed it. They were happy to be chivalrous. And I have to say, thank you - my faith in chivalry has been somewhat boosted. Thank you for going out of your way to help me, and to demonstrate to other men that chivalry is alive and well, and worth doing! You are all great examples of real men.

A young child was shopping with his father in a busy mall for a present for his mother’s birthday, when he became lost. He could not see his father through the crowds of people that walked hurriedly on their way. The child thought that all was lost and began to cry.

For many, this story represents the anguish and fear they experience when they can’t feel God beside them. How much stronger do we feel when we can feel God’s presence?

In today’s world, it is often hard to find God’s presence, and some times we lose sight of him altogether.

This is not God’s fault, he does not move away from us, indeed it is we who move from him. The call of the secular world is one we sometimes follow, due to our fallen nature, and this distances us from God.

Everyday in our society are beliefs are tested, this is not unusual, and has continued for centuries, yet today our culture seems to be labouring under a moral darkness where human dignity and life is under threat.

Scientific advances like embryonic stem cell research and cloning reduce life to a commodity; abortion, pre marital cohabitation and homosexual relationships undermine relationships and families, leading to broken homes and unhappiness.

How can we find God when we live in a culture such as this? It is no wonder that as Catholics we feel that we are swimming against the tide

Everyday we go about our lives, in an increasingly hectic world, living life in the fast lane. We hardly stop to think about God because of our busy schedules, in a world where many have already forgotten him. If we continue to live like this, we risk losing him too.

We too will feel that all is lost and despair like the little boy in the shopping mall. We too will feel as though we have lost God, because we can’t feel his presence in our lives.

But, of course, there is a happy ending. A stranger’s kindness saved the little child and reunited him with his father. For us, the hero of our own story is not a stranger. He is the one God, made man, who came to save us. He is our Lord Jesus Christ.

At all times he is there for us, we need only ask for his help. He will light our darkest days, and help us to reunite with our father in heaven. His guiding hand will help us back on the right track.

Our story too can have a happy ending. But it is up to us. We need to take time out of our busy lives to spend time with God. Each day we need to make time for God, to include him in our lives, and our decisions.

We need to attend Mass and the sacraments as regularly as we can, Eucharistic Adoration is a great way to spend quiet time in prayer with Jesus and to feel his presence. A daily Rosary and some bible reading would not go astray either.

I know some of you are thinking that you’re so busy how can you fit all of this in? Believe me, you can. It is worth making a small sacrifice to spend time in prayer, in the end, it is the more important way to spend your time. If you spend time in regular and fervent prayer then the rest of your life will fall into place.

For many Catholics, Mass is a weekly obligation. Getting up early on a Sunday morning, particularly during the colder months when we would rather stay in bed, our energy is focused on getting out of bed and travelling to the church.

Thus our emphasis is placed on the destination, the church, rather than the journey. This may sound peculiar but remember we as Catholics are a pilgrim people and on Sunday mornings we should be preparing to celebrate the Eucharist.

The Eucharist, the central aspect of our Mass involves a communion of like minded people and it is expected that they have prepared. That is, our preparation for and celebration of the Eucharist must begin before arriving at the church.

How many of us speed past and seldom acknowledge others as we transport ourselves to the church? How many of us are impatient with other family members as they take too long in the bathroom and we need to brush our hair and teeth before we depart?

Our focus on the physical arrival at church leads us to consider Mass as another destination in our week, another chore, an obligation.

But Mass is more than just a weekly obligation that should be fulfilled by all Catholics. Mass is a sacrifice, a reminder of the suffering that Jesus Christ endured for us.

With that said we should not take Mass lightly. We should not consider it as an inconsequential chore in our day to day existence. We should not regard Mass as a pit stop during a busy week, the thorn in our side that prevents us from sleeping in on Sunday mornings.

Instead we need to readjust our mindset we must focus on the journey and not the destination. This journey is our life, our spiritual pilgrimage towards eternal life.

Sunday mornings should be a preparation for the sacrifice of the Mass we should not get up and neglect to include Jesus in our day as we prepare to attend Church. From the moment we get up - on any day but particularly on days where we are to celebrate Mass – our focus should be on mentally preparing ourselves in readiness to receive the Eucharist.

This preparation can take place in any number of ways; through morning prayer and meditation for instance, but it should also be evidenced in the way we treat those around us. Arguing with other family members and sulking all the way to the pew is hardly an adequate preparation for Mass.

Examination of conscience and making use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a powerful way to prepare for the Eucharist, calling to mind our sins and being absolved of them puts in a state of grace to receive Communion – a state we should always be in when we receive our Lord.

Another way of preparing for the Eucharist is to fast. Many of us already observe this fast, but it seems as though this is a reflex now, we do it because we know we should, but it holds no real meaning for us. Perhaps all we need to do is consider, before we go to Mass, and whilst observing our fast, why it is that we are doing this, instead of just going through the motions.

In many parishes prior to the celebration of Mass a Rosary is prayed. This is a great way to prepare for Mass, meditating upon the mysteries of this great prayer can only enhance our spiritual experience.

Our complacency in regards to Mass, that is, the idea of Mass as an obligation needs to be changed. We should never be complacent about this truly enriching act, this commemoration of the sacrifice of our Lord.

When we fall into the trap of complacency, the Mass loses its significance in our lives, it becomes a chore, and our lives bear witness to this fact. If we have lost taste for the spiritual nourishment that the Eucharist offers us, then how can we live a life that lives out Christ’s love?

When next you find yourself at Mass, ask yourself, what exactly is happening here? Be prepared to receive the Eucharist, our Lord’s body and blood, broken for each of us. Do not come to Mass as some one fulfilling an obligation, come as some one hungry for God.

Well, my family are sitting watching the ABC News as I write this entry. One of the stories tonight is about a couple who are suing their GP and hospital for negligence in not testing their baby - whilst still in utero - for Down Syndrome. In case you are not aware, a test for Down Syndrome babies is standard for pregnant women, especially if they are mature age women. Now in this case, neitehr the GP nor the hospital undertook the test to see whether the child would ahve Down Syndrome. But it gets worse. The family are suing the hospital and GP for the expenses of raising their daughter because she was born with Down Syndrome, and had they known, they would have terminated their pregnancy. Another couple are also launching legal action over their doctor's not sending them for further testing when thier early ultrasound indicated that their child might have Down Syndrome.

If that isn't bad enough, imagine the precendent that would be set in legal terms if either of these couples were to be successful in their suit!

In my own two pregnancies, my husband and I refused to have this test for Down Sydrome done because we were going to keep our children regardless. Dear friends of us, who are about ten years older than us, were referred for this test because she was in her thirties. Upon some of the markers indicating that there was a chance their daughter might have Down Syndrome, they were referred to a genetic counsellor in order to discuss terminating the pregnancy, despite their determination to keep the child. In fact, this woman felt that she was being railroaded into terminating her pregnancy. Needless to say, they kept their baby and she is almost one now, and no, she doesn't have Down Syndrome. She is a perfectly healthy baby girl who could have been aborted needlessly.

So while I sympathise that raising a child with Down Syndrome is a tough ask and a major challenge - I know several families who have done this, and loved their children regardless. Just because your child may be handicapped or disbaled, does not make them any less worthwhile than a 'normal' child. God created us equal, despite our flaws, faults and ailments, and each of us has an inherent dignity and beauty.

Okay, so I know we have addressed this issue in 'In Sight' and 'ave maria' before, but I was watching the Today Show on Win the other day and they had a segment of the current statistics of Generation X women in the workforce. Generation X were supposed to be the first generation to 'have it all' that is, the successful career and family life.

What this recent survey has shown is that a lot of these university educated women have left the workforce, or work flexible or part time hours, so as to be at home with their young families.

Lisa Wilkinson, the co-host of the Today Show, seemed bemused at such statistics and asked why this had happened.

The answer to her question was simple, I cannot remember the name nor position of the 'specialist' they were interviewing, but he did say that women had realised the hard way, that they could not have it all, at the same time! In the end something had to give, and for the time being, Gen X women were putting their careers on hold while their young children were still at home. I was really surprised at Lisa's reaction to this and her seeming disgust that it was the women who were dropping out of hte workforce to stay atr home, whilst the men and obviosuly fathers of these children, were still able to work full time.

Now perhaps I am somwhat traditional or old fashioned, but I can't see there being any problem with women choosing to put their family first and either work part time, flexible hours, or even stay at home full time with their children who are under school age. I also have no problem with these women choosing to resume full time work sometime in the future when they feel they can juggle both their personal and professional lives. There are also cases where the stay at home parent is a father, though is the exception, not the rule, and I don't have a problem with that either. Why don't I have a problem with any of this? Basically, I strongly believe that as we as parents are the first educators and formators of our children, it is ideal that one parent is home with their under school aged children.

It is unreasonable for society to porpose that women can have both a successful career and happy family life, at the same time. It is like the Lord says, 'you cannot serve two masters' and ultimately something will crumble. Your professional work will suffer, or your family will fall apart. In the end, I think the question is a simple one. Which holds more value to you? Would you chhose your work over your family, or would you put your family first, even if it meant making financial sacrifices to do so?

And finally, if any woman chooses to put her family first, she should be free to do so without being attacked by feminists who think they got a raw deal or aren't living up to their potential.

“But” Jesus replied, “I tell you Peter, the cock will not crow this day before you have denied three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:34)

As Christians we are all familiar with the Passion of Jesus, more specifically however, we are all familiar with Peter’s denial of our Lord.

Foretold by Jesus during the Last Supper, scripture tells us that when questioned after Jesus’ arrest Peter denied any association, no matter how slight, with our Lord.

This has always been for me, one of the most disappointing moments of the Easter story. My response was always Peter, how could you?

But if we were in a similar situation would we stand up for Jesus or would we deny him?

Chances are, in this increasingly God-less society, we would deny him rather than stand out from the crowd.

How many of us, through our high school years and in our social lives have stuck up for and defended him in the presence of our peers?

Not surprisingly, most of us are ashamed that we downplayed our weekly obligation and our love of the Lord in the face of peer pressure. We denied him, not three times like Peter, but on a regular basis because we didn’t, or don’t, have the courage to follow him without reservation or fear of what others think.

Perhaps the season of Lent is a timely reminder of our human weakness, the same human weakness that caused Peter to deny Jesus, the same human weakness that too causes us to deny our Lord.

I do not necessarily mean that each of us denies Jesus in the same manner as Peter, who vocally denied, his ties to our Lord. There are other ways in which we could have denied Jesus, though they are just as heartbreaking.

Perhaps we no longer find time to spend with Jesus in prayer, in our own personal prayer let alone in Adoration or at Mass. Perhaps we failed to speak up in a situation where the voice of Jesus needed to be heard. Perhaps we no longer attend Mass on Sundays because it’s boring or no one else our age is present. Perhaps we said no to him, refused our vocation, or his influence in our lives.

Perhaps we underestimated how much we really need God’s help and took too much pride and confidence in our own abilities. Perhaps we have denied Jesus’ importance in our lives and turned instead, beckoned by the allure of the secular world to God-less things.

Disconcertingly, most of us have probably denied Jesus in our lives at some point. We have denied our redeemer his rightful place in our lives, and put first instead, something that is less important but seemed better at the time.

Knowing this, we can come closer to understanding how unworthy we are of God’s mercy, and how much he really loves us. After all, why else would you give your life for people who will deny you, or sin against you?

How we bounce back from this denial is what makes all of the difference. Look at Peter, the rock on which Jesus built his church. Only last year was Pope Benedict XVI named the next successor of Peter, a position in the church that continues to influence the world.

Peter could have continued to deny Jesus, or to wallow in his misery like his fellow disciple Judas did. But he didn’t, and thanks to him we have a Catholic church that has stood the test of time and lives on today, 2000 years later. Of course, Peter did not do this alone. He had friends in high places.

The first step for us is to repent and be sorry for denying our Lord, and the next to make reparation. Make Jesus an integral part of your life – even more than that; make him the centre, the focus of your life.

Care no longer what other people will think of you when you speak of Jesus. Who would you rather impress? Think about it carefully, your answer not only affects this life, but the next one as well.

The church of God needs saints today. This imposes a great responsibility on us, to fight against our own ego and love of comfort that leads us to choose a comfortable and insignificant mediocrity. We are called upon to make our lives a rivalry with Christ; we are called upon to be warriors, for the church needs fighters today. Our war cry has to be “Fight – not flight.”

These words, penned by Mother Teresa, are an accurate summation of the life of the church in today’s society. Our church, and indeed our world, is in desperate need of saints. The lives of people like Mother Teresa and John Paul II, both on the track to canonization, speak volumes as to what we can achieve if we fight for the church today.

One might argue that these inspiring Christians are few and far between, that there aren’t many who fit the criteria of saints, and little chance of us ‘average Joes’ achieving sainthood. However, this argument hardly seems plausible when we consider the fact that nothing is impossible for God, and if we have faith in God, then with his help, nothing is impossible for us.

The life of a saint is not easy indeed it is perhaps one of the hardest lives of all. (I would argue that the hardest life of all, is one lived without Christ). Picking up our cross and following Jesus is no easy feat, but it is not unattainable.

In order to become saints, or at the very least, to live a good Christian life we need to be fighters for the church, to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and to stick by him when times get tough, no matter what the consequence.

If we will not stand up for the church in our society, then who will? If we will not proclaim the Good News and evangelise the world, then who will? We are the church today and, like it or not, we have an obligation to help keep the church alive and active, and to defend it against the onslaughts of an immoral culture. We have a responsibility to protect the legacy that Christ has left for us.

We are all called to be warriors, or soldiers for Christ. Young and old alike are called to step away from the complacent mediocrity of life in the secular world today and to enlist in God’s army, to fight, suffer and die (to self - though physical martyrdom for some is a distinct possibility) for the salvation of souls.

Yes, it is an imposing task, and yes, there will be suffering and pain. But the path is well worn, many a great saint has walked this path before us, and each time they have been accompanied, as we will, by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Step out of your comfort zone and centre your life on Christ. Join the army that boasts the best reward of all, eternal life. I’ll see you in the battlefield.

It has been a long time coming, but we are now up and running with our blog!

Feel free to browse through and read our opinions and thoughts on issues as they arise. Make sure you share your comments here or on our online forum .