When You Become A Saint, You Will be Known as the Patron Saint of What?

St. Joseph is venerated as the Patron Saint of so many things, actually, just about everything.  He's the Patron Saint of the Universal Church, the Patron Saint of workers, the Patron Saint of a Holy Death, etc. etc. etc.

Other canonized saints, such as, St. Francis of Assisi are known for other things.  St. Francis is known as the patron saint of ecology, nature, and animals.

St. Catherine of Sienna is the patron saint of nurses.

Our newly canonized saints, John XXIII and John Paul II, are also patrons.

John XXIII is the patron saint of Papal Delegates.

John Paul II is the co-patron saint of World Youth Day.

Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of teachers, students, and  academics.

Mary Magdelene is the patron saint of tanners, pharmacists, and hair dressers.

St Augustine is the patron saint of brewers, printers and theologians.

So, since our goal is to become a saint, whether we are canonized or not, of what will you be a patron saint?

I'm thinking, I'd like to be the patron saint of those who are different, misfits, artists, and those who really don't fit into the mold.   I want to be the patron saint of those who march to a different drummer and follow a separate path. 


That sounds really good to me.

What are your ideas for you?

25 Ways to Love God

Obey His Commandments.

Prayer.

Seek His Counsel.

Be kind to others.

Be kind to yourself.

Be kind to all creatures of the earth, sea, and sky.

Give more than you receive.

Use your God given gifts to serve Him.

Almsgiving.

Fasting.



Read Sacred Scripture.

Meditate on Sacred Scripture.

Pray the Rosary daily.

Focus during Mass.

Keep holy the Lord's Day.

Attend Mass every Sunday.

Let every living moment revolve around God.

Thank God.

Teach your family about God.

Pray with your children.



Offer it up to The Lord.

Practice penance.

Treat others as you want be treated in spite of the way they treat you.

Preach the gospels using words if necessary.

Love the Mother of God.

 

Most Importantly 

Simply Love God!

Lord, Fill Me With Your Joy

Lord, fill me with Your joy,
For I am nothing without You.
When life wears me down,
And desperate tears flow,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.

When Your blessings poured forth are bitter,
The nights are long and sleepless,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
Remind me I serve You only,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.

When endurance reaches the bitter end,
When the cross becomes too heavy,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
When others reach out and see You in me,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
When the summit of my pain is reached,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.

When I seek and find you not,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
When prayer is empty, without words,
The boulder blocks Your tomb,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.

In flowers, snow, rain, and worms,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
In sorrow, pain, loneliness, and grief,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
When I fall hard and scrape my knees,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.

When I have sinned and You have forgiven me,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
When life is bleak and all seems lost,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
When l am weak and death is near,
Lord, fill me with Your joy.

Lord, fill me with Your joy.
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
Lord, fill me with Your joy.
I am Yours!

Saint John Paul II on Divine Mercy

Saint John 23 - Humility

Not Everyone can be Pope, but everyone can be a saint!

Thank you, St. John 23rd.

7 Quick Takes Friday:: The Triduum - Thoughts

1) Good Friday started out cold.  We met for morning prayer at church, then proceeded to walk through town praying the Stations of the Cross.  The temperatures did not warm up much as we walked, but the sun was shining.  We stopped and prayed.  We prayed and walked.  The walk is about 5 miles.  We were able to meditate on the Passion of Christ and a His journey to Golgotha.  We were all tired when we returned to our cars that we had parked at the final stop.  The journey was personal, and we each experienced our Camino in a different way.  No two walks are the same.

2) Holy Saturday was the last day of lent.  For me, that  meant 2 things.  1) I bought candy  so that I could  enjoy a few delicious morsels after the Vigil Mass celebration, and 2) Easter Monday, I returned  to my place in the back of the church to celebrate daily Mass.  Until next year, I will only sit in the front when a lector is needed, or when I need to practice more penance.    Now, I ask, am I a better person because I practiced these penances?  Did I grow closer to God because of these acts of penance?  I don't know.  I hope so, but I don't know.

3) Amber and I shared the readings for the Easter Vigil Mass.. She read passages 1, 3, and 5.  I read passages 2, 4, and 6.  She read the introduction.  I read the petitions.  As women, we will have  significant roles in this liturgy.  Since we have read together for the last 3 years, our readings and transitions are very smooth.  Now, I pray that we helped  to make this liturgical celebration more meaningful to all who attended the celebration.  Hallelujah!  The Lord is truly risen!

 4) During Holy Week, I spent a lot of time at church stapling.  Yes, it was grunt work in the workroom.  I stapled all the programs for The Triduum celebrations, and the programs for Easter Sunday worship.  Everything comes with a price.  The staff, in their offices, and that did include our pastor,  was forced to listen to me sing as I worked.  I turned on I Tunes on my phone,  and  I sang along with Fernando Ortega.  I guess that no one else sings as they work.  I was the only one singing.  I was most disappointed that no one wanted to join me as I sang.  Time did go by faster for me as I stapled.  I hope they enjoyed the concert.

5) On Holy Saturday, as I was paying for my candy at Walgreens, I heard a woman behind me say, "Looks like we gave up candy for Lent."  I could hear the laughter in her voice. I smiled and said that she was right.  She turned to the man next to her and said, "Honey, what did you give up for Lent?"  He replied, "Carbonated beverages."  His wife then told us he works for a company that makes these carbonated beverages.  We were all impressed.  She then said, "Beer is a carbonated beverage, dear."  "No," replied her husband, "Beer is fermented barley."  He was not going to indulge in a carbonated beverage until tomorrow, but I think he had a beer that night.  Don't you just love people with a sense of humor?  Made my day!

 6) Three women and I decorated the church for the vigil.  We started working at 9:30 AM, and I finally left the church at 1:45 PM.  Our leader, JoAnn, was a whirlwind of energy.  She’d assign a task and be gone.  You’d see a blur of energy as she moved around the church instructing us on our tasks and recruiting the members of the “Wrecking Crew” to help with the tasks that were too high for us to reach or too heavy for us to lift.  (When JoAnn tells you what to do, you do it.  No questions asked!)  We were still tired from the Amazing Walk, but we got so much done.  The church looked beautiful!  And, I still had time for a nap before the Vigil Mass.  (I'm the one with pink hair!)

7) Sunday, I drove 2 hours to visit my daughter.  We spent a nice afternoon together.  The weather was beautiful!  Our time together was great!  Pixie and I came home, tired, but happy.  Pixie headed for her couch and a nap.  I headed for my bed and nap.  Hallelujah!

For more wonderful stories, Click on this LINK.  It will take you to

Conversion Diary

It's a great blog!

30 Words Thursday - The Path

Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
    and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
    and find rest for your souls."

Jeremiah 6: 16

Thoughts on the Resurrection

“After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. “
Matthew 28: 1-6



“Therefore the Eucharistic Celebration is much more than simple banquet: it is exactly the memorial of Jesus’ Pascal Sacrifice, the mystery at the center of salvation. Memorial does not simply mean a remembrance, a mere memory; it means that every time we celebrate this Sacrament we participate in the mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.”
Pope Francis


“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.” 
Charles Colson

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song." - Pope John Paul II

“Easter is very important to me, it's a second chance.”   
Reba McEntire

Is Our Camino del Rey Really Over? 12 Ways to Continue your Walk with the King

Yes, Lent has ended.  Jesus, our brother and Savior, has risen from the grave.  He defeated satan and death.  He came that we might be saved.  We now look forward to Pentecost. 

Is our Camino finished?

If the goal of walking a camino is to grow closer to God, then, our camino will never be over. So, what must we do next?  Here are 12 easy ways to continue our walk.

1) Let us strive to be saints, not sinners. 

2)  Although grateful for the gift of Purgatory, let our goal be heaven not purgatory.

3) Let us set the example and preach the Gospel daily, and, if necessary, "use words."

4) Let us give the gift of our faith to our children and grandchildren.  Let them see us be the ones striving for heaven through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

5) Let read Sacred Scripture daily.  Read slowly and prayerfully, striving to understand what God wants us to understand from these words.

6) Let us confess our sins on a regular basis.  (Pope Francis confesses every 15 days.)

7) Let us attend Mass frequently and be an active participant in this prayer for all ages.

8) Let us daily offer up our joys and sufferings to God.  Let us be grateful for these gifts. 

9) Let us embrace our crosses.  As painful as they are, they are only a splinter on the Cross of Jesus.

10) Let us perform works of mercy for those in need.  Let us use the gifts God has given us for the benefit of others. 

11) Make time for prayer daily.  Pray a Rosary when you are stuck in traffic.  Learn the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and pray this daily.  (Divine Mercy is this coming Sunday.) Simply find a time and place to speak to God in silence.  Pray with your heart.  Strive for a daily meeting with Jesus. 

12) Let us keep Jesus in our sight at all times.  Let your choices be based on Him and your love for Him.  Remember, He walks your Camino with you. 









 

Prelude to Easter

 Good Friday

A cold Friday Morning

yet, we walked through town, 

praying the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy, and singing hymns.

People took turns carrying the cross.  

It was beautiful!

After morning prayer, we started to decorate the church for the Easter Vigil Mass.

The church is beautiful!

We started to work at 9:30 AM.  

We finished at 1:45 PM.

Now, I wish I had photos of the Vigil Mass where we welcomed 2 large families into the church.

It was beautiful!

Hallelujiah - The Lord is Risen!!!!!

We Walked the Camino - The Stations

Walking the Camino - The Seven Last Words of Jesus

The First Word:
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.”
(Luke 23:34)


The Second Word:
He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)

 
The Third Word:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)

 
The Fourth Word:
 At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[a]
(Mark 15:34)


The Fifth Word:
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)

 
The Sixth Word:
When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
(John 19:30)


The Seventh Word:
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.
(Luke 23:46)

Our Camino del Rey ends this week - Holy Thursday - The Start of the Triduum - He Knew

He knew.
  
He knew as He sat down with His apostles this meal would be His Last.

He knew, as He washed the feet of His Apostles, they would doubt Him.


He knew His friends would abandon Him.

He knew Peter would deny Him.

He knew Judas would sell Him for 30 pieces of silver.

He knew the women of Jerusalem would defy the Romans for Him.

He knew Veronica would wipe His face to comfort Him, risking her life, as the Romans continued to beat Him savagely.

He knew His Mother and the women would be with Him to His death.

He knew Simon would help Him carry His cross.

He knew He was born to be Love.

He knew His Father would weep.

He knew that when they left the upper room, the world would never be the same.

He knew.  He knew.

Walking the Camino Del Rey - The Statues Are Covered

We walk closer to the Passion of the Lord.

We look forward to the joyous Resurrection of Jesus this coming Sunday.

For now, we follow Him as He walks into Jerusalem.

Walking the Camino - Holy Week Activities

At our Church, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (SSPP), on Good Friday, we begin what I call "The Amazing Walk."  We process through our towns (two are separated only by a river) and praying the Rosary and stopping 14 times to pray the Stations of the Cross.  It is a camino that we walk this day. 

We begin our walk around 9:30.  It's usually cold as we walk, even when Easter is late.  We stop at the 4 Catholic Churches in town and venerate the Passion of Christ before we return to our home parish.  We finish before noon, and then we are ready for Good Friday services which begin at 3 PM. 

Parishoners take turns carrying the cross.  It's been very moving to see children take their turns carrying the cross. 

The Camino we walk is about 4 miles.  We are all tired when we return home, but the walk is Amazing!  You can feel the graces flowing from heaven as we process through town. 

We are often greeted with calls of "Pray for me."  We are also greeted with calls of well wishes.  The churches open their doors to us as we rest on our camino.  I've had to miss the last two caminos due to foot injuries.  This year, I intend to walk this amazing walk again. 

Please pray for us!

Walking the Camino - The End of our Camino is Near - We are Marked by God in Our Hearts

"He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

This is a cross section of a heart.  When I had an echo cardiogram, the tech pointed this out to me.  We each have a cross in our hearts.  We are all marked by God.  We really are!

Do you see the cross?

We are all marked in this way.

Walking the Camino: John 19:17

Walking the Camino - God's Love for us C.S.Lewis

7 Quick Takes Friday

Quick Take #1
Lent will be ending soon.  We begin Holy Week in a matter of days.  Soon we will celebrate the gift of our salvation and the Risen Lord.  Praise God for these gifts!


#2
I have to lector at the 5:15 Mass for the Palm Sunday vigil.  I will be reading the passion of Christ.  I am not the main lector.  I am just a reader.  I am honored to be part of the Palm Sunday celebration. 


 #3
On Palm Sunday, I will be cantoring at the 11:30 Mass.  Now, this makes me very nervous.  I usually want to crawl up in a fetal position before I sing.  Once the Mass gets started, I'm fine, but I sweat.  I don't like to go near anyone after Mass.  I think I smell!  :)


#4
Today, the temperatures are going to be in the 60's again.  That's  three straight days in a row!  After our long winter, I love these days!  I often wonder why our terrible winter was a part of God's plan.  Everything is a part of His plan.  How He makes it work, I'll never understand, but this I know:  He does it!  Things work out, and it's all for love of us.

#5
I have to find time to color my hair this weekend.  If you saw it now, you would see very light pink hair.

Sort of like this.  I want my hair pink for Easter, but not the garish pink it must be when I first begin the coloring process.  I love my hair now!  It took a little time for people to get used to it, but I think they did.  Pink hair rocks.  Thank you, Lord, for hair coloring in pink, my favorite color.

This is what my hair looks like right after I color it.  I don't want it to be THAT pink for Easter. 















#6
It's almost time to leave for adoration.  A friend and I plan to sing to the Lord as we adore today.  I'm going to go there early.  We don't sound the best, but that's okay.  God knows that we love Him, and that's all that matters.

#7
The sun is shining.  There's no snow on the ground.  There are hints of green in the lawn. (Tiny hints of green.)  The air smells like spring.  The air is still cold, the temperatures are warming up.  This is good.  Thank you, Jesus!

Walking the Camino - Pope Francis on God's Mercy

It is not easy to entrust oneself to God's mercy, because it is an abyss beyond our comprehension. But we must! ... "Oh, I am a great sinner!" "All the better! Go to Jesus: He likes you to tell him these things!" He forgets, He has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, He kisses you, He embraces you and He simply says to you: "Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more" (Jn 8:11).

— Homily on March 17, 2013


Reconcile with the Lord!  Go to confession.  Don't be afraid.  Our priests have heard it all.  The camino is almost over.  Do not end your camino without entering the confessional and saying,
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.  It's been ____ since I've been to confession.  During this time I have......"  It's that easy.  If you need help, the priest will lead you through your confession.  God is waiting.  He forgets our sins.  He loves you.

 

30 Words Thursday- Woman Behold Your Son

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”  Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”

John 19: 26-27

Walking the Camino - Prayer - Litany of the Holy Will

Litany of the Holy Will

Lord, Have Mercy.                R. Lord Have Mercy.
Christ, Have Mercy.               R. Christ, Have Mercy.
Lord, Have Mercy.                 R. Lord, Have Mercy.

For all the ways I have offended You.   
R.  Lord, Have Mercy.
For all my actions that have hurt You.     
R. Lord, Have Mercy.
For all that I've said that has hurt You.   
R. Lord, Have Mercy.
For the neglect I have shown You.        
R. Lord, Have Mercy.
For the disrespect I have shown You.    
R. Lord, Have Mercy.
When I have ignored Your Holy Will,        
R. Lord, Have Mercy.
When I have disagreed with You.        
R. Lord, Have Mercy.
When I have not trusted You,        
R. Lord, Have Mercy.
For the indifference with which I have
treated You,                    
R. Lord Have Mercy.

For those I love,                             R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those I dislike.                          R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For my family                                 R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For my children,                              R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For my friends,                                R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For our beloved Pope Francis,         R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For our world leaders,                      R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For our soldiers                                R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those in law enforcement.          R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For fire fighters                                 R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For the suffering souls                      R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For the sick and dying                      R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For the caretakers                             R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For our priests and religious,            R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those in danger                           R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those who do not feel loved.      R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those far from home                   R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those who are alone in the world.    R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For peace in our world                      R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those who are afraid                    R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those who are abandoned.           R. May Your Holy Will be done.
For those who weep.                          R. May Your Holy Will be done.

Lord, Have Mercy.                R. Lord, Have Mercy
Christ, Have Mercy.              R. Christ, Have Mercy.
Lord, Have Mercy.                R. Lord, Have Mercy.

Lord, Jesus, You are One with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  We thank You and ask You to help us live so that no matter our pain, our sufferings, Your Holy Will may be done on earth.
We praise You and We bless You.  We thank You for Your goodness and mercy on us. 

Glory to God in the Highest!
Glory to God in the Highest.
Glory to God in the Highest.            

Amen.

Walking The Camino - Finding God

I Found Him

I found Him in the mountain tops,
I found Him in the sea,
I found Him in the valleys,
Always Loving me.

I found Him in the quiet dawn
I found Him in the setting sun,
I found Him in the blazing fire,
Our God, the Mighty One.

The great I AM
The open door
 Love unending
 Refuge on the shore

The Beginning and the End
The Eternal One
The Lamb of God
The Father's Son.

I quieted my heart,
I praised His Holy Name,
He touched my heart and held me close,
I can never be the same.

Praise You, Lamb of God!
Praise You, Eternal One!
Praise You, God of our Fathers!
Praise You, Love, Unending One!

You touched my heart,
I am not the same!


And God Answered,
 
My dearest Child,
I AM your God.
I Love you.
My Love for you will never cease.
Give My Love to others.
Be My Hands and Feet.
 
Praise My Name!
Bring others to Me.
I hold you in My Heart.
You cannot be the same.
 
I AM your God.
I have touched you with My Love.
You are My gift to others.
They are My gift to you.
Be My Love as you walk your path.
Share My Love as you journey home.
Bring joy where there is no joy.
Bring My Light to those in darkness.
 
Adore Me,
Your Loving God.
I hold you in My Heart.  
I AM your Loving God!
I Love you!

Walking the Camino - Love

"If I have not love, I am nothing." 
The Gift of Love

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.  For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;  but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.  And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13: 1-13




The Commandments of Love

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,  and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”  He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the greatest and first commandment.  And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22: 34-40
Do you sense a theme? 

Walking the Camino - St. Theresa of Avila - Acts of Love

Walking the Camino - C. S. Lewis on Happiness and Peace

Walking the Camino - Five Ways to Grow Closer to Mary, the Mother of God

She walked her own Camino Del Rey.  She walked the Way of the Cross with her Son.  As He hung on that bitter piece of wood, dying, Jesus gave His Most Immaculate Mother to the rest of us.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”  Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."  John 19: 26-27

With His dying breaths, Jesus made her our Mother, too.

Now, as we walk our Camino Del Rey, we can ask her to join us as we walk this Lenten camino growing closer to Son.  As we walk together, we learn of Jesus and we learn of Mary.

Ways to grow closer to Mary, the Mother of God.

1) Pray and meditate on the Magnificat, the prayer of praise that Mary recited with her cousin Elizabeth.

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.
Luke 1: 46-55

2) Recite a Hail Mary and meditate upon this prayer.

Hail Mary,
Full of grace!  The Lord is with you!  Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

3) Pray the Rosary daily and meditate on each mystery.  If you do not have enough time to pray the Rosary, pray a single decade of the Rosary daly and meditate on that mystery.

Click HERE for directions on how to pray the Rosary.

4) Read Sacred Scripture from the Bible daily. Suggested Readings:
Luke 1: 26-38
Luke 1: 46-55
Luke 2: 1-20
John 2: 1-11
John 19: 25

Of course your reading of Sacred Scripture does not have to be limited to these verses, so feel free to read others.  There are many references fortelling the Mother of God in the Old Testament.

5) Think of Mary in her everyday life.  Imitate her example.  Perform works of charity.  Love those around you.  Hug your husband and children.   Love those who do not love you.   Visit the sick and dying.  Take food to someone who is ill.  Pray for Peace.  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  Ask Our Mother to be with you and guide your steps as you walk your Camino del Rey.   She will.  She will.  

Walking the Camino - 30 Word Thursday - The Light of God

 "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

Walking the Camino - Thoughts on Love and Prayer

Prayer is communication with God.  In a loving relationship, there must be communication between lovers because love is not singular.  Love is for the other.  Love is not for the self.  Love is for the beloved that they might know that they are loved.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful;  it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.  So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13: 1-8, 13: 

Loving communication is the expression of our thoughts, words, deeds, and feelings to the beloved. The beloved hears and cherishes this communication.  The beloved has shown His Love for us. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3: 16
God is love.  When we communicate with God, He lovingly draws each of us into His Sacred Heart and holds us dear.  God will not abandon us, and He cannot betray us because He is Love. His Love is unending.  His Love is real.  His Love centered on His Beloved Children. 

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.”  1 John 4: 7-8

Love is reciprocal.  Love only asks that:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22: 37-40
God is Love.

“For God Who is Mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name.” Luke 1: 49

Halfway through Lent - Are You Walking the Camino Del Rey?

God always seeks out His children.  Like the Shepherd who searches for the lost sheep, God seeks to bring us closer to Him.  God might be silent so that we may hear.  God might give us signs of His Love so that we may believe.  God might bind us close in His Love, so that we do not stray.  God might remind us of our sinfulness so that we may be saved.  God might make us uncomfortable as He shapes us in the Flames of His Unending Love.  God might pull back so that we may learn to trust.  God, the Lord of Creation, does what He needs to do so that when time has ended, we will share heaven with Him.

Lent is a time in which we can, through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, grow closer to God.  As we have walked this Camino del Rey, we have improved our prayer lives, we have fasted, and we have given alms.  Some of us have been strict in our adherence to these practices.  Some  of us have fallen.  (Yes, I have!)  Some have not practiced any of the pillars of Lent.  As Pope Francis has said, “Who am I to judge?” Yet, in some way, we have all walked the Camino del Ray during this Lenten season. 

If you have practiced prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent, and you have grown closer to God through these practices, I pray that God blesses you abundantly!  If you have fallen, as I did, then I pray that we be strengthened through these ancient practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  If you have not practiced any or all of these pillars of Lent, then I pray that you begin at this moment and walk this Camino Del Rey with us remembering that God’s love is unending, and God wants us to Love Him, to Talk to Him, to Hold Him Closer to our Hearts.  God wants us to sacrifice little bits and pieces of our lives to Him for love of Him, through fasting.  God wants us to give to others of our bounty.  God wants to be first in our lives.  These practices help us to put Him first.

The Camino del Rey is not easy to walk, but Jesus, our King and Savior, has already walked the Camino, carrying His cross of love for us.  Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, gave His all for us, down to the last drops of blood when He died on that tree.  The Father withdrew from the Son, and Jesus was humiliated.  He was punished unjustly.  He was tortured.  He was beaten.  His flesh was ripped off of His body by the torturous whips.  Jesus carried the weight of our sins on His back.  Jesus loved us enough to do the Father’s Will, even when He knew the pain and the suffering He would be forced to endure.  He accepted and completed His Mission of salvation.  Jesus walked the Camino.  Now, let us join Him by walking our camino with love, joy, and peace in our hearts. 

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

Jesus, we trust in You.