Let it Be

“Each one of us needs time and space for recollection, meditation and calmness…Thanks be to God that this is so! In fact, this need tells us that we are not made for work alone, but also to think, to reflect or even simply to follow with our minds and our hearts a tale, a story in which to immerse ourselves, in a certain sense “to lose ourselves” to find ourselves subsequently enriched.” -Pope Benedict XVI

FAILURE

"So you have failed? ... You have not failed; you have gained experience. Forward! St. Josemaria Escriva

God is so good to us! Like a good Father he picks us up when we fall.

Give Me a Sign

Dear Lord, Make us signs of Faith Hope and Love that point to you. Amen

The Meaning of Suffering /Thirsting for Love

It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed,but rather by our capacity for accepting it , maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ , who suffered with infinite love"..."Dear brothers and sisters, let us look at Christ pierced on the Cross! He is the unsurpassing revelation of God's love.... On the Cross, it is God himself who begs the love of his creature: He is thirsty for the love of every one of us" Pope Benedict

Prayer in Times of Distress

If you ever feel distressed during your day – call upon our Lady – just say this simple prayer

"Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be my mother now." I must admit – this prayer has never failed me "Blessed Mother Theresa

St. Peter Julian Eymard

"Happy is the soul that knows how to find Jesus in the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in all things!," - St. Peter Julian Eymard"

New Years Resolutions- Everyday is at the Christmas Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament

Yep, It is twenty-five days past Christmas 2012 and my tree is still up. How about yours? Did Santa bring you what you asked for this past Christmas? I know what you are thinking, there are are more serious questions to answer than that. Well,here are a few questions,I heard a priest mention in a sermon, few weeks after Christmas. -How did your preparations during Advent prepare you to Meet Christ on Christmas and to bring the good news of his birth to others? -Did you experience an epiphany and if so what has Jesus asked of you? -In seeking Jesus this Advent, what new mystery did you find at Christmas? -Did you come to really believe that he came as a child because He wants you to know that you are His child? - Did this Christmas teach you to love Him and neighbor more? Did you have JOY?

These seemed like Good questions and thoughts for reflection. Did you experience real joy this Christmas? Thankfully, I did because my kids sent me away. LOL, I know what you are thinking but let me explain. At Christmas my kids and husband promised to send me away a few weeks before Christmas. (No, they don't hate me) They did this because they knew I would be tempted to work as hard as I did last year( on preparations) and consequently,make myself sick and tired. So instead, I got myself sick and tired going to the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville Alabama. :) And it was soooo worth it! Actually, although traveling is always tiring I did really well. It was the best Christmas gift I ever received! The photo here doesn't do it justice. It is wonderful peace filled place to contemplate the infancy and love of Christ at Christmas time or anytime of the year. His kingship is so respected in all the architecture and worship services and yet He is so approachable. The people there were outstanding. I wish everyone I know could have a chance to go,because no matter what time of year one visits it is always Christmas there and a remarkable place of pilgrimage, of peace and of hope. It is a perfect place to seek and find the Christ child. Still if you can't travel to Alabama, we know Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is always present in every Catholic Church. He is waiting for us to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament where we can bring Him our joys and sufferings as well as learn to trust Him with our hearts, as He has entrusted His heart to us. This is where I find my strength to cope with MS and the various trials of life. Spending more time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament would make a good New Years resoltuion. But then again, if resolutions are meant to be broken, I may think of something different as resolution this year. If you think you may want to travel you can check it out on their website. http://olamshrine.com/ "The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength"Nehemiah 8:10

O Come Let Us Adore Him in Eucharistic Adoration

O Come Let Us Adore Him O Come Let Us Adore Him.  

Praying for Newton

In the mystery of the finding in the temple we contemplate how Mary and Joseph having celebrated Passover, left the temple to journey home. On the way they realized that they had lost Jesus. Joseph and Mary were the two people who were the closest to Jesus and still they lost Him. At first, they did not know where to find Him. They assumed He was with them among their relatives and friends but then found Him in the Temple.(Do we assume Jesus is with us just because we are so familiar with Him, or because we go to church every week or do an occasional good deed?) We can go to church and celebrate the Mass each week and assume Jesus is traveling with us, when in reality we leave Him in the pews or we forget that we carry him with us. The Church reminds us that we can resolve to make sure we take Him with us by remaining prayerful, seeking Him daily in His Word,in silence,in each other and even in

every moment. I pray that the events in Newton will help us to resolve more than ever to carry the light of Christ to the world. I pray that the busyness of this Christmas season would not distract us from what is truly important; spending time daily with Christ in His word and seeking Him and to serve Him at all times. Let us pray that the joy and peace of Christ is not lost and left in the pews this Christmas and that when we leave Christmas Mass we would continue to seek Him with all our hearts. I pray we may keep Christ in Christmas and in every day. Matt 7:21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Wisdom from St Theresa of Avila

Unglued and Set Free

It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen happen to a little bird and then…a miracle happened. Let me explain.  

I walked into my garage and came upon a poor little bird caught in a glue trap designed to catch insects and rodents. Its legs, belly, wing, head and beak were pinned to a rectangle covered with glue like substance. This substance was so thick and instantly formed a bond to anything it touched. As I watched the bird helplessly struggle to set itself free I remembered how our son had stepped in one of these glue traps recently. Trying to remove it from his shoe was worse than removing gum from hot pavement or someone’s hair. Ultimately, we gave up and we had to throw the shoe away.

How was I going to save this bird? Impossible! I had no idea this trap could be so cruel. Perplexed at what I could do about this impossible situation I watched as the bird tried to free itself , but only managed to cause itself more harm.  Picking  up the panicked sparrow attached to the trap, made me see how hopeless the situation was.   My attempts to set it free on my own were fruitless. My attempts, just panicked the bird and risked injury to it as I could not assert enough pressure on its beak, wings or limbs to pull it away from the glue. And making matters worse my fingers kept getting stuck to the trap.

 Remembering the scripture that says God knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, I prayed to God, “please give me an idea.” I prayed to St Francis, “Please Help God’s little sparrow”.

A moment later it suddenly occurred to me to bring the bird over to the dirt. It was a crazy idea but anything was worth trying. I spread dirt all over the trap and all over the bird, paying special attention to it’s wings and legs. First, I managed to get one leg free. Next its beak and its head were set free. She gave me a little peck but then remained calm. Lastly using the sand to dry the glue, I freed its belly and its other leg. I felt the he little bird calm itself as it remained still in the palms of my hands while I rubbed sand all over its glue ridden belly.  (I did this with the concern that it would try to clean it’s chest feathers and by doing so, accidentally glue its own mouth shut.)

  There I stood gazing at the bird I was holding with amazement at how calm it was and at how the idea I was given had worked. 

 The bird was free from the trap. 

I set it free to fly and watched as it met its mate on a nearby tree branch. In this moment I was reminded how God wants us all to be set free from what binds us. What binds you? Is it fear, guilt, anger…?

 I know I was in a funk that day and when I held that bird and set it free, it was as if God our Father said to me that He holds us in the palm of his hands and we need not struggle so much but trust in his care and his plan. You know sometimes we all can get stuck in a rut or a funk. Sometimes situations can make us feel so trapped and it seems like there is nothing we can do and nowhere to go but, if we can keep faith we will find that God is really in those moments. This little bird showed up on a day when I felt like that about a certain situation.  I felt the Holy Spirit use this bird as a reminder that with prayer and perseverance and maybe even trusting in doing the ridiculous, nothing is impossible with God! I needed to be reminded that God is always with us and that he holds us in the palm of his hands. I hope as you read this it helps to be reminded of the same.

Luke 12 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

The Cross is the Key

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We are children who know our Father loves us. I wish I always acted like a child of God. You know like the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Sometimes I come to the conclusion that I will never be able to attain any likeness to Christ by way of virtue. That is to say; I often fail at my attempts at it. So then how will I get into heaven? Grace, I know but more than that we all called to be like Jesus. We want the Father to see Jesus when he sees us.
What is the key? “Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life”, our savior once said. And so I imagine, the only way myself and maybe all of us poor human beings will ever attain any likeness to Christ is through our sufferings. And more than that, through our abandonment to the cross that we carry, that will be the key. In our sufferings we become like Christ when we trust in God’s goodness to save us, bring good out it , forgive us and to help us to persevere in it. The Cross is the key to heaven.

Not Seeing is Believing

It was pouring rain and I was sitting in my car, outside my daughter’s school. I had parked right in front of a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was such a consolation to see him there, arms outstretched calling me to contemplate his love for us. And then I realized that my car had been running too long and so I had to turn off my car. The windshield wipers were turned off as well. Suddenly the image of Jesus disappeared and became distorted by the rain pounding on my windshield. It was a perfect meditation of how faith calls us to trust that Jesus is always in the storms of our lives, even when we can’t see him. It made this reality visible to me on a day when I really needed to be reminded of his love for me and his presence for me despite the fact I could not see or feel him. Through this experience I could hear  God say:  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a] Hebrews 13:5 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Luke 2:22-40 The Presenation of Our Lord in the Temple

"Faithful to the religious observances of their faith, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple forty days after his birth to dedicate Him to God. This was an important custom of the Jewish religion. It was also customary for a wealthy family to bring a lamb and a young pigeon or turtle dove to be sacrificed. Poorer families, however, were permitted to offer two pigeons or two turtle doves for the offering. When the Holy Family arrived at the Temple, they were greeted by a just and pious man named Simeon." Grace Lines [lhlaweb@lhla.ccsend.com] Scripture tells us that, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying:


Many of us meditate on this joyful mystery thinking about how these words brought with them the first of Our Lady's sufferings and yet this scripture is part of the Joyful mysteries of the Holy Rosary. We are being called to reflect on the power of Joy that God gave Mary in this moment. Could it be that Mary's Joy in this moment,when she saw Simeon give witness that her son was indeed the messiah ,outweighed her sorrow. Mary suffered so many trials. She must of been more than a positive thinker to overcome so many sorrows. When we truely Love we are willing to suffer for the one we love. The joy of Lord was her strength. Can we say the same? I pray that when we see difficulties and challenges we would remember to look seek the Joy of the Lord and the good in everything. Dear Lord help us to follow the example of Mary. May the joy of the Lord be our Strength.

Pray Always

Pray everyday and when you pray ask Mary, the Mother of Jesus to pray with you.
When you approach the throne of God in Prayer,with our Lady,it is very powerful.
Why?
Because she never denied God anything. She gave him all including her Son. ..and so
it is said that the Father can not deny her prayers be answered.
Our Lady will help us. Her prayers assist us in knowing what it is we really need and what it is we need to accept. She is a good mother. Trust her and she will lead you to trust in God. Let us pray the scriptures in Luke 1:28.
Hail Mary!
Full of Grace.The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amoung woman and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Holy Mary , Mother of God pray for us Sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Christmas Joy

I was listening to a priest preaching about the Gospel today. He spoke of how we belong to Christ. I found myself asking the question, “Today did I act like I really believe that we belong to Christ or did I behave as if I belong only to this world?" Today, Am I living like I believe that I am His, bought with the sacrifice of His life, the shedding of His precious blood. Am I living in the joy of knowing that God is my Father, I am not alone, and I am a child of the King? Can I take a moment to rest in the joy of knowing that Christ came to a tiny, dirty stable in Bethlehem? He accepted all its imperfections for love of me and You. ..I don’t want to be so busy with life that I don't rest in that knowledge so as to let it permeate all that I do. Come Holy Spirit, lead us this Advent to Bethlehem where we can encounter Christ in a Spirit of Joy and contemplation. Deliver us from the spirit of consumerism and restlessness. May the heart of the infant Jesus move our hearts to joy and peace overflowing?
Like the centurion we can pray, Lord I do believe, please help our unbelief that we may receive and live out the joy, and the graces you have won for us. Amen

Running from God

Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,
"How could you do such a thing!"
They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,
Because he had told them."...Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,and the sea's raging abated. Struck with great fear of the LORD,
the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights. to read more go to Jon 1:1:2:1-2,http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100311.cfm 11

Even when Jonah fled, the Lord showed him mercy but how much better it would of been for Jonah and all involved if Jonah had obeyed and answered God's call. I wonder if God is asking;
Are you fleeing from the Lord? Afraid He may ask too much of you? Forgetting that He will never be out done in generosity?

His Love

In Ephesians 3:14-20 [14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

Patience

"Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew."

-St. Francis de Sales

Seeking God

"Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to Him, " Lord, I am here. Tell me what You would have me do"
If He gives me some task, I am content and I thank Him. If he gives me nothing I still thank Him since I don not deserve to receive anything more that that. And I tell God everything that is inmy heart. I tell Him my pains and joys, and then I listen..
If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speakes to you when you approach Him plainly and simply."
Saint Catherin Laboure Her story and the story of the Miraculous medal can be found onMiraculous Medal Association - Marian Prayer, Spiritual Reflections ...
www.cammonline.org/ - I prayed the Novena and I was healed of a cyst , Thanks be to God!