Happy All Hallows Eve or Happy Halloween!

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.
Saint Michael, Pray for us.
Saint Gabriel, Pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Pray for us.
All ye holy angels and archangels, Pray for us.
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, Pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for us.
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets. Pray for us.
Saint Peter, Pray for us.
Saint Paul, Pray for us.
Saint Andrew, Pray for us.
Saint James, Pray for us.
Saint John, Pray for us.
Saint Thomas, Pray for us.
Saint James, Pray for us.
Saint Philip, Pray for us.
Saint Bartholomew. Pray for us.
Saint Matthew, Pray for us.
Saint Simon, Pray for us.
Saint Thaddeus, Pray for us.
Saint Matthias, Pray for us.
Saint Barnabas, Pray for us.
Saint Luke, Pray for us.
Saint Mark, Pray for us.
All ye holy apostles and evangelists, Pray for us.
All ye holy disciples of our Lord. Pray for us.
All ye holy Innocents, Pray for us.
Saint Stephen, Pray for us.
Saint Lawrence, Pray for us.
Saint Vincent, Pray for us.
Saints Fabian and Sebastian, Pray for us.
Saints John and Paul, Pray for us.
Saints Cosmas and Damian, Pray for us.
Saints Gervase and Protase, Pray for us.
All ye holy martyrs, Pray for us.
Saint Sylvester, Pray for us.
Saint Gregory, Pray for us.
Saint Ambrose, Pray for us.
Saint Augustine. Pray for us.
Saint Jerome, Pray for us.
Saint Martin, Pray for us.
Saint Nicolas, Pray for us.

All ye holy bishops and confessors, Pray for us.
All ye holy doctors, Pray for us.
Saint Anthony, Pray for us.
Saint Benedict, Pray for us.
Saint Bernard, Pray for us.
Saint Dominic, Pray for us.
Saint Francis, Pray for us.
All ye holy priests and levites, Pray for us.
All ye holy monks and hermits. Pray for us.

Saint Mary Magdalen, Pray for us.
Saint Agatha, Pray for us.
Saint Lucy, Pray for us.
Saint Agnes, Pray for us.
Saint Cecily, Pray for us.
Saint Catherine, Pray for us.
Saint Anastasia, Pray for us
All ye holy virgins and widows, Pray for us.

All ye holy men and women, Saints of God, Make intercession for us.

Be merciful, Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin, O Lord, deliver us.
From Thy wrath, O Lord, deliver us.
From a sudden and unprovided death, O Lord, deliver us.
From the snares of the devil, O Lord, deliver us.
From anger, and hatred, and all ill will, O Lord, deliver us.
From the spirit of fornication, O Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest, O Lord, deliver us.
From the scourge of earthquake. O Lord, deliver us.
From pestilence, famine and war, O Lord, deliver us.
From everlasting death, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy coming, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy nativity, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy Cross and Passion, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy death and burial, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy holy Resurrection, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thine admirable Ascension, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, O Lord, deliver us.
In the day of judgment, O Lord, deliver us.

We sinners, We beseech Thee, hear us,
That Thou wouldst spare us, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst pardon us, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance, We beseech Thee,
hear us.
That Thou wouldst govern and preserve Thy holy Church We beseech Thee, hear us.,
That Thou wouldst preserve our Aposto-lie Prelate, and all ecclesiastical orders in holy religion, We beseech Thee,
hear us,
That Thou wouldst humble the enemies of Thy holy Church, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst grant peace and unity to all Christian people, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst confirm and pres-erve us in Thy holy service, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations and benefactors, from eternal damnation, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst give and preserve the fruit of the earth, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst graciously hear us We beseech Thee, hear us. Son of God, We beseech Thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father.. (silently)…. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Psalm 69


Deign, O Lord, to rescue me; O Lord, make haste to help me Let them be put to shame and confounded who seek my life. Let them be turned back in disgrace who desire my ruin. Let them retire in their shame who say to me, "Aha, aha!" But may all who seek Thee exult and be glad in Thee, And may those who love Thy salvation say ever, "God be glorified!" But I am afflicted and poor; O God, hasten to me! Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, hold not back!

 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

 

Save Thy servants.

Who trust in Thee, O my God.

Be a tower of strength for us, O Lord,

Against the attack of the enemy.

Let not the enemy prevail against us.

And let not the son of evil dare to harm us.

O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.

Neither requite us according to our iniquities.

Let us pray for a true Sovereign Shepherd

The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

 

Let us pray for our benefactors.

Deign, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. Amen.

 

Let us pray for the faithful departed.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord;
and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

 

V. For our absent brethren.

R. Save Thy servants, who trust in Thee, my God.

V. Send them help, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary.

R. And sustain them from Zion.

 

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

 

V. The Lord be with Thee.

R. And with Thy spirit.

 

Let us pray.
O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition, that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the chains of sin, may, by the compassion of Thy goodness, be mercifully absolved.

Graciously hear, we beg Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy suppliants, and pardon the sins of those who confess to Thee, that in Thy bounty Thou may grant us both pardon and peace.

In Thy clemency, O Lord, show us Thy ineffable mercy, that Thou may both free us from all our sins, and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.

O God, Who by sin are offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy anger, which we deserve for our sins.

Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him according to Thy clemency into the way of everlasting salvation, that by Thy grace he may desire those things that are pleasing to Thee, and perform them with all his strength.

O God, from Whom are holy desires, good counsels, and just works, give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts be set to keep Thy commandments, and that, being removed from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in peace under Thy protection.

Burn our desires and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and with a clean heart be pleasing to Thee.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that, through devout prayers, they may obtain the pardon which they always desired.

Direct, we beg Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with Thee, and through Thou be happily ended.

Almighty and everlasting God, Thou hast dominion over the living and the dead, and Thou art merciful to all who Thou foreknowest will be Thine by faith and good works; we humbly beg Thee that those for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still detain them in the flesh, or the world to come has already received them out of their bodies, may, through the intercession of all Thy Saints, by the clemency of Thy goodness, obtain the remission of all their sins. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

 

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us. R. Amen.

V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen.

Ending the Week in Praise and Thanksgiving

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

 

1) Yesterday was a bad day.  I thought and thought, for what can I be thankful today? It finally came to me.

The day is over, and I can sleep!

Yes, there is always something.

2) Earlier this week, I found these 3 ginkgo leaves.  

3) I also decided that I had to thank God for the people who were so unreasonable yesterday.  I suppose they felt I was unreasonable, too.

They taught me that I should never behave unreasonably.

That is a lesson that was needed for me.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!!!!

Moments With God

Other than the sound of rain hitting the windows, there is a quiet that is near silence.  Pixie sleeps soundly on my bed.  Fred, the cat, rests on the window sill, ready to pound Pixie into obedience if she moves.  Right now, though, he’s quiet and enjoying the rain.  Marvin sleeps on his pillow on the love seat.  My daughter sleeps silently in her bed.  The low light relaxes me, too, and I think of my blessings.  I am blessed, and this moment fills me with gratitude.  Graces, like rain, pour down from heaven and into my heart.  God is good.

Worth Repeating: Purgatory

The place of final purgation before the soul is cleansed of all that is imperfect and not of God.  Purgatory, a place of hope to the souls who wait to be lifted into the arms of God for all eternity.

At death, the soul given the gift of Purgatory, knows that at some point, it will be with God.  However, a soul can no longer help itself to gain spiritual perfection.  A soul can only wait and suffer the pains of purgation that will bring about perfection.  Souls in Purgatory need our help.  Our prayers and sacrifices can shorten the time a soul spends in this place of great longing for God.  We, as the Church Militant, can help the soul move through Purgatory into the arms of God.

 

The prayer of St. Gertrude is said to release 1,000 souls each time it is recited.  Think of how many souls you can send to God if you recite this prayer only once a day.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with all the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

Do You Believe in God?

Thomas Aquinas: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
Do you believe in God?  As Catholics, our faith teaches us that there is God, but do you really believe it?   Is God real?  Is God just a figment of someone’s imagination? 

Since Jesus established his Church on earth, millions have given their lives for the love of God.   They have been crucified, burned, beheaded, pulled apart, tortured, raped, murdered, all for the love of God.  Could so many magnificent martyrs be wrong?  Could they have given their lives in vain? Few of these martyrs encountered the living God during their lives, but they continued to believe. For them, life without God, was not worth living.  God was the center of their lives, and they chose to give their lives for love of Him.  It was better to die than to deny or blaspheme His Holy Name.

Of course, we cannot see that which is invisible.  We cannot see God.  We cannot hear God.  We cannot feel God.  We cannot touch God.  We cannot taste God.  God’s realm is not that of earth but of heaven.  

If there is a God, and this is a question, many people ask, why do bad things happen to good people?  Why does a loved one die from cancer?  Why are there those who would seek to rule the world and kill those who oppose them?  Why is there hunger, plague, poverty, and death?  Why is there genocide?  Why are children murdered because they are born into Christian families?  Why are there earthquakes, storms, and fires? 

I wish I knew.  That question is best answered by theologians.  I don’t know.  All I know is what I have learned in my life journey.

God allows trials in our lives to make us stronger and to help us to grow in His love.  Some challenges are greater than others. God is a loving God, and He sends us His graces. His graces are invisible, but the effects of these graces are not.  Strength.  Hope.  Courage. Love. These can be fruits of our sufferings.  Sometimes, when we feel that God is far from us,   He  is waiting for us to long for Him.  Sometimes God when we feel He close to us, we feel His love over flowing in us.  In all our sorrows and trials, we are told, is when God is the closest to us. 

In her message to the world of October 25, 2015, Our Lady of Medjugorje said,

“Rejoice in the love, little children, that in the eyes of God you are unrepeatable and irreplaceable, because you are God´s joy in this world. Witness peace, prayer and love. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

In the eyes of God, we are unrepeatable and irreplaceable!  We are God’s joy in this world!


There is no one who has been promised a free ticket through life without enduring suffering.  God knows how much you can take.  He will not give you more than you can handle.  God has a plan for you.  God wants you to understand that asking “Why me?” is not the correct question.  The correct question is “Why not me?”  Then you can embrace your cross with joy.


“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16


Jesus asks us, as He did Bartimeaus, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Bartimeaus replied that he wanted to see, to be healed.  Bartimeaus had to acknowledge his need and then ask for the healing.  (Read Mark 10: 46-52 for the complete gospel reading.)  Jesus, the only Son of the Living God,  healed him.  Jesus wants to heal us.  He wants us to know Him and love Him and serve Him, not only in this life, but in the next. 

To answer the first question, yes, I do believe in God!  I not only believe in God, but I believe in a loving God who pours His graces down on us.  If we go astray, He waits for us to return.  No, I don’t understand His ways, but He has a plan.  We are unique and unrepeatable.  There will never be anyone like us on earth again. 

God, do You exist?  I think so.  “Nuff said.  Amen.

Snippets of Grace and the Word of God

"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Colossians1: 16-17 

"God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."

Genesis 1: 31

"Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing."

Isaiah 40: 26

"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God has shone forth."

Psalm 50:2

“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. “Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you. “Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this."

Job 12: 7-9

 ^"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."

Ecclesiastes 3: 11

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

 

"A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 

 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up. 

 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes3: 1-8

 

 

 

Sometimes, the Gifts we Receive From God Are Not the Gifts We Want, but They Are the Gifts We Need...

I'm sick.

I'm going back to bed.

This is not a gift I wanted from God,

but,

I think it's one of His Great Mercies

to me.

I'm being forced to lay down and rest,

which is, probably, something I needed.

Well, it's not something I

"Probably"

needed.

It is something I needed.

I had to miss activities yesterday.

I missed a birthday party.

I didn't get to Mass.

I'm not sure I'll make Mass today.

It is what it is.

I'm sick.

I offered this illness to God.

I know he'll do with it what He feels is best.

I ramble.

It's after 7 AM, and it's not light yet.

I ache, but I think the fever broke.

Maybe I'll feel better soon.

I'd rather go to Mass today than not.

This is not a gift I want,

but 

it's a gift I must need.

Patience.

Submission.

Humility.

Sigh.  None of which I have learned.

Please say a prayer for me today.

I will feel better soon, I know.

For now,

Thank You, Lord, for this gift.

Amen.

You Have to Laugh. God endowed us with the Gift of Joy, too.

Notice anything different?

I decided to have a little fun.

It was fun to wear the red nose.

I smiled.

People smiled.

There was a little more joy in the world 

because of a silly red nose.

The wine didn't hurt either!

Jesus laughed.

Even though most depictions of Him do not show Him laughing,

I posit that people would not have been attracted to Him if they could not feel His joy.

He went to parties.

He had fun.

That's part of being human,

and,

it's okay to laugh at the appropriate times.

Sometimes, we can't help but laugh at inappropriate times.

I used to get in trouble, as a kid, for laughing in Church.

I had my ear pulled many times for laughing, 

but,

the problem was that when I got in trouble for laughing,

I would only laugh more

resulting in expulsion from the front of the Church to the back of the Church, and

walking the 

walk of shame to the last pew.

Often times, that was not enough to squash the laughter.

Yes, there's more.

A phone call home, well, that stopped the laughter for a bit.

I wonder if Jesus laughed in the synagogue?

I'm sure His joy overflowed onto the congregation.

I think for someone to feel joy,

you have to be receptive to that joy,

then you have to pass on that joy to others.

Dearest Lord,

Fill me with Your Joy.

Help me Always to remember that You are God.

Help me to remember that You were filled with joy.

Help me to remember that YOU ARE JOY! 

Tempt me with Your Joy.

Make me a joyous person so that I may share a little of Your love and joy with others.

Amen!

Ending the Week in Praise and Thanksgiving!

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

 

1) St Jude came through yesterday with a very special favor!  Thank you, St. Jude!  You are amazing!

2) The prayers are powerful and God is blessing the work of the 40 Days for Life Campaign!

Please continue to pray to end abortion and end the power of the beast.

Please pray for the women who have been wounded and traumatized by abortion.

 

3)  Today there is an anointing and healing Mass at Church!  Praise God for this time of healing!

 

Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!!!!

When You Listen to the Promptings of the Holy Spirit and Risk Looking Stupid...

Well, I did that today,

and 

I not only felt stupid,

I think I looked stupid, 

but,

maybe I was supposed to do just that.

God knows how to humble the proud,

He also helps us to achieve a greater degree of 

humility, 

even if what we had was small,

and

God has a marvelous sense of humor.

I had just finished my prayer time at 

planned parenthood.

It was supper time, 

and I needed to stop at the grocery store

for a few items.

When I drove into the parking lot, trying to find a place to park, I saw a young black man standing by the door, speaking to a woman.  He wore a black doo rag on his head.  

As I walked by the couple, I felt my rosary in my pocket and an inner urge to give him the rosary.

I was like, what?

The rosary was pink.  He looked tough.

As I walked through the store, I saw he and his companion in every row.

They weren't following me, it was just coincidence.

Finally, I turned a corner, and the young man was there alone.

I said, "You're going to think this is really weird, but I think I'm supposed to give this to you."

Of course, he was shocked.  He smiled.  

"It's a rosary," I said.

He smiled.  "You're giving this to me?"

"Yes," I replied.

He looked at me, holding the rosary in his hand,

still having a shocked expression on his face he said,

"God bless you."

I returned the blessing to him.

By this time, the woman, who might have been his mother, came and stood next to him.

I saw him give her the rosary.

Maybe, just maybe, the rosary was meant for her.

I don't know.

I only know that I did feel silly walking up to someone I didn't know and giving him a rosary.

God does have a sense of humor.

I think it was worth the risk.

Worth Repeating: Inviting the Holy Spirit into Your Life

I asked myself today,

"Do I understand the Holy Spirit?"

No, I don't, but here's what I have learned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity,

equal to the Father and Son.

He is called::

Paraclete,

Advocate,

Counselor.

 

 

 

He is also called::

Spirit of Truth,

Spirit of Promise,

Spirit of adoption, 

Spirit of Christ,

Spirit of the Lord, 

Spirit of God.

He is Holy.

He anoints.

He Heals.

He Transforms.

He writes on the human heart.

He teaches.

He lives.

He gives strength in our weakness.

He brings us into communion with God.

If you invite the Third Person of the Trinity into your life, I promise you this, 

YOUR LIFE

WILL

NEVER

BE

THE 

SAME!

As with Jesus who challenges us to live as His disciple, 

the Holy Spirit loves a welcoming heart.

He will guide us.

He will inspire us.

He will help us to understand truth.

He will shake up your life.

You will do what you never imagined you could do!

He is God.

God can do anything.

Pray and invite the Holy Spirit into your life.

Then wait. 

You will be loved as you have never felt love before.

 Be ready.

Through the fire of His love you will be transformed.

Holy Spirit,

I give you my life.

I offer myself to You.

Come into my heart.

Change my heart.

Purify my soul.

Inspire me to live, as You would have me live.

Send me where I will serve.

Inspire me to love more than I thought I could.

Transform me with Your Love and set my soul on fire.

Holy Spirit,

Come.

Shake up my life.

Set me free.

I am Yours.

Let my conversion be only for

The Greater Honor and Glory of God.

Use me.

My heart belongs to You.

Amen.  

Asking for Prayers

Pope Francis' trip to America was marked, at each stop, by a request for prayers.

He asked for prayers from the believers,

and he asked for good wishes or thoughts from those who did not believe.

Blessings upon blessings.

Graces upon grace.

Do you ever follow the Pope's example and ask for prayers?

I do, 

all the time!

 I firmly believe that I am broken.

Prayer is the glue.

Jesus is the Divine Healer.

He mends the broken with prayer.

Of course, not everyone will pray for you, even though, they have good intentions.
I frequently forget to pray for those who have asked. 

It's then that I say,

"Lord, I know I'm not remembering everyone.  Please bring to mind those for whom I need to pray, and for those whom I have forgotten to pray,

bless them.  You know them by name.

Please bless them."
 

On the other side of the coin, I am not shy about asking for prayers.

 If someone offers to put me on a prayer chain, my answer is always 

YES!

If someone says, "I'm praying for you," I do a little dance.

If someone sends me good wishes, well, I'd rather have prayers, but I'll take the blessing of good wishes.

Prayer is joyful to me,

both prayers received and prayers given.

We are in the community of the world.

If you'll pray for me, I'll pray for you, and if you don't pray for me, I'll still pray for you!!

 

the beast Can Be Defeated

The 40 days for Life Campaign has proven that 

the beast can be defeated.

In the face of prayer,

the beast runs.

he cannot stand sincere prayer.

(I deliberately did not capitalize

he.  he does not deserve that honor.)

Because of those who were praying at the infected site,

a baby's life was saved.

A young woman approached one of the women who was praying.  She asked,

"Do you hate people who have abortions?"

The woman replied, "Of course not.  We love them, and we pray for them."

The young woman went into the beast's office.

She came out later, but did not approach the group again.

The next day, an older woman came by the group and stopped to talk to the same woman who had been there praying the day before.

She told her,

"My daughter was here yesterday.  She didn't make an appointment for an abortion, but came home to think about it.  That afternoon, she called her OB/GYN to see about prenatal care for herself.  She has an appointment this week."

A baby's life was saved because of prayer.

Prayer works!

If you haven't had a chance to participate in the 40 days for life campaign, it's not too late.

I went today and prayed for the first time.

A young man driving in a car yelled out at us,

"You better get used to hell because you are going to burn there." 

I said a silent prayer for his soul.

What he said doesn't matter.

What matters is that a baby's life was saved because of the dedicated women and men who have been praying at the site of the beast.

Other lives might have been saved.  We don't know.  

God saves!

God loves!

God is great!

Prayer works.  

Amen!  Amen!  Amen!

 

St. Thomas Aquinas

Robins, Fall, and the Will of God.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34

I had been wondering if the robins were still here.  I hadn't seen any of these harbingers of spring in a very long time.

Today, was different.

As Pixie and I walked, we saw so many robins swooping down and landing on lawns of leaves to find the worms and whatever else they could scavenge to eat.

Usually, robins don't fly together, but when they travel south, they do.

Not all robins will fly south.

In the dead of winter, there will be those few who need food and water to survive.

Each day, these lovely birds of spring face the challenge of survival.

Season upon season, the critters follow their instincts to survive.  

Birds, cats, dogs, cows, goats, moose, deer, pheasant,

well, you get the picture,

they do what God intended them to do.

They are born.  They mature.  They reproduce.  Eventually, they die.

One thing they don't do is to live in the past or the future.

They live in the present.

They do God's Will for them.

As human beings, we can make choices.  God gave us the gift of free will, and what a gift that is!

We can choose to behave in such a way as to grow closer to God or to grow away from Him.

There really isn't any in between.

It's not easy.  We live in a world of secularism where it's accepted to be "spiritual," but not religious.

We live in a world where "organized religion" is scorned.

We live in a world where our beliefs are challenged daily.

We live in a world where Christians are increasingly persecuted and hated.

God has been discarded.

Abortion kills babies everyday.

To choose euthanizing rather than suffer for the sake of Jesus and souls is accepted.

Assisted suicide.  The killing of the elderly.  The term"post birth" abortion is being bantered around the medical profession.

When will it stop?

Can it be stopped?

 

Mother Mary has promised us that, in the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph.

She will crush the head of satan as he is locked in the bowels of hell.

In the meantime, what can we do?

 

"Oh, My Jesus, forgive us our sins.  Save us from the fires of hell.  Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of they mercy."

 

Even if you don't pray your rosary daily, and I would encourage you to pray at least one decade of the Rosary, if not an entire Rosary daily, say this prayer 9 times a day.   Make a daily novena saying this prayer.  

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love You.  Save souls."

 

Say this prayer 9 times daily.

Then remember all who have died.  Say the St. Gertrude prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer You the Most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with all the masses said throughout the world today, in reparation for sins,  for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those within my own home and within my family. Amen."

 

I always add:

"All praise and honor be to the Precious Blood of Jesus, for it wrought our salvation and our redemption.

Amen. "

You will save souls.

Like the birds of the air, the creatures of the earth and sea,

You will do the Will of God.

 

 

Ending the Week with Thanksgiving and Praise

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

 

1) My daughter's cats have finally decided that I'm okay, even though I own a dog.  I'm now included in their clowder.  That's a good thing, I think.

2) I was thinking about a good friend of mine, a nun, who died several years ago.  I remember how Sister Sharon made me laugh.  It was always fun to be with her.

3) I had a great night's sleep last night.  That was wonderful!

Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!!!!

The Squirrels Have Been Busy...

They run all over the yard searching for nuts, eating the nuts, and burying the nuts.  

A few have grown quite fat getting ready for their time of hibernation.

They might wake up a few times, as they sleep the winter away, but when they run out of food, they will scamper over the yard trying to find the nuts they have buried.  

It's all instinct.

God, the Creator, gave them a way to survive the winter by sleeping and digging up the nuts they have hidden.

Instinct.

They just know how to do what they need to do to survive.

 No one taught them.

They just knew how to do this when they were born.

Instinct.

God also ensured the propagation of trees through this instinct of the squirrels.  The squirrels do forget where they bury all of their nuts and seeds.  Where they are buried is where new trees will grow when the squirrels forget.

This reminds me of what Jesus said to His disciples.  This is a go-to set of verses for me when 

anxiety rears its ugly head and I forget the goodness of God.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!  Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6: 35-33 

We have more than instinct.

We have God who not only loves His creatures, but who loves His children even more.

 

Worth Repeating: Prayer Journal: Change

When I was a child, I’d look forward to the start of fall.  Fall meant the start of school.  Who didn’t want to see their friends, and I loved school!  Fall meant walking home from school, crunching the leaves under my feet.  Fall meant dark mornings when we went to Mass.  Fall meant comfort foods that were too hot to cook in the blistering New Mexico summers.  Fall meant the smell of green chiles roasting in the kitchens.  Fall meant wearing clothes to school that were just too hot, but your summer clothes had been put away, so you did anyway.  Fall meant homework and reading.  Fall meant praying the family rosary after supper when it was dark outside.  Fall meant already starting to look forward to family and Thanksgiving. Fall meant looking forward to Christmas after Thanksgiving.  Fall meant coming out of the wonderful, lazy rut called summer.  Fall meant movement and silence when the birds began to migrate even farther south.  Fall meant the lizards would hibernate.  Fall meant coats and sweaters.  Fall meant the state fair.  Fall meant my birthday!

Sweet Jesus, I remember those days of childhood.  I saw the seasons through the eyes of a child.  I saw You through the eyes of a child.  I saw You as a God who loved me beyond measure.  I saw You as a God of great love for all of us. I tried to be good, not just because of Santa, I really wanted You to know how much I loved You!  


Now, I am a retired teacher, and fall means that I don’t have to go back to school.  Fall means that I need to rake leaves.  Fall means that here in the Midwest, I no longer roast green chiles, but, that’s okay, since my stomach does hurt a bit from the bite of the chiles.  Fall still means dark mornings when I go to Mass.  Fall means trying to figure out which clothes to wear, or wondering if I need boots so that if I hit a small patch of ice from an unexpected cold, freezing rain, I won’t fall.  Fall means finding clothes that are warm enough to keep my hands warm.  Fall means wondering if the kids will be able to make it home for the holidays.  Fall means winter is near.  Fall means that I don’t hear the sounds of birds singing in the mornings.  Fall means praying the Rosary in the silence of my living room.  Fall means I don’t have to go to the State Fair.  Fall means my birthday!

Sweet Jesus, now, I’m getting old.  I’ve seen many seasons in my life.  So much has changed.  You’ve given me many trials.  Loving You has been a challenge when I walked a rocky road.  Believing that You loved me has been a challenge.  My hands get cold when fall starts to come.  I miss my husband and children.  Life has not been easy. I wish I could see life as I did when I was 7.  I miss that part of me.  Where did that little girl go?

When in prayer, it is sometimes necessary to wait and listen to hear God speak to our hearts.  In silence I wait. 

My beloved Child, yes, it’s true you have changed.  It’s also true that you have faced many challenges in your life and that your heart has ached because of these crosses.  In many of these difficult times, you turned to Me and asked for My help which I rendered to you with great love.  There were other times when you felt alone in your journey, but what you didn’t know is that I walked beside you holding your hand.  Even when you turned your back on Me, I was there, ready to welcome you back into My loving arms.  Where is that child who loved Me without question?  Where is that child who ran gratefully into My arms?  That child has grown up.  That child has become a woman.   

Yet, it is still possible to love Me without question.  It is still possible to run into my arms where I can hold you in my loving embrace.  You must let go of the past.  You must forgive those who have hurt you.  You must trust that in spite of the trials of life, I know what is best for you.  I AM your God.  I love you.  Seek My Love.  Ask for the grace of Love.  Of all the virtues, love is the greatest.  Through love, you will find Me. 

Seek Me now through prayer.  Open your heart to healing.  I wish to heal you, but you must step aside and let me be God. 

My beloved child, I AM with you.  I will not turn my back on you.  I will hold you up when the trials of life beat you down.  Trust that I love you.  Turn your heart to Me.  I AM waiting. 

Tweaking our Xmas traditions to Make them more Christ Centered

I was browsing Pinterest today.

I know that the season of Advent has not begun, but there are already a plethora of ideas for celebrating 

Advent.

This year, Advent begins on November 29.  In many families, the tradition is to have an Advent Calendar to help the children prepare for Christmas.

The majority of the Advent calendars I have seen have a small or large gift attached so that each day, a gift is opened by the child or children.

As I express my opinion, please remember, that I am not one who appreciates Advent calendars.  This was not a tradition in our home as the kids were growing up. 

We did other things to teach them about 

Christmas, but calendars were the last on the list.

That said, I still have concerns with the use of Advent Calendars for the giving of gifts, each day, to prepare the child for Xmas.

When we prepare children for Christmas, I feel, that it is our duty to prepare them for the birth of Jesus and not for the receiving of gifts.

When a child is given a present each day in Advent, and many times, these are not small presents,

what are they learning?

They are learning that they are entitled to be given a gift daily without earning it.

They are learning that it is better to receive than to give.

This becomes entitlement.

 I'm not saying that you shouldn't keep traditions going if you use an Advent Calendar with lots and lots of gifts and presents for the kids.

I'm saying, maybe you should tweak the tradition a bit.

If you want to give small presents,

give your children Holy Cards with the lives of the Saints on them.

Give your children their first rosary.

Give your children a Catholic book on the birth of Jesus.

Put small notes in the Advent Calendar telling them how much Jesus loves them.

Write them small notes telling them how much you love them.

Encourage other family members to send small notes  of love to your children.

Give your children small chores to do to offer up in Thanksgiving for Christmas.

Plan outings to a nursing home with your children on a particular day.

Set up dates with your children to teach them about love and giving.

Pray with your children.

Get them ready for the birth of Jesus.

On occasion, tuck a small gift into their calendar for the day.

Make the emphasis of Advent on preparing for Jesus to come!

It's amazing how quickly children learn and respond to the love of God.

Just like our Christmas tree past,  that was lopsided and ugly, we need to embrace the beauty of Christmas remembering that the first Christmas was celebrated by a single family, in a smelly manger with sheep and other animals present in the cold.

The mother and baby shivered, and the father stood guard to protect them.

Maybe, I'm just a romantic, but the beauty of that moment, when the King of Kings, who would one day die a miserable death on a cross for our salvation, was born to a woman...

Words just aren't enough.

If I had been a sheep in that stable, I would have bowed to my God and my King.

If we are to bring back the true meaning of Christmas, it must begin in the family.

Pope Francis said that the family is the beginning of society and it is through the family that the world will be saved.

I know, it's just the middle of October, but think about this.  You might not agree with me, and that's all right.  I would just ask that you think about this.

Christmas is more than just presents and food. 

Christ has got to be there, somewhere.

Teach your children.

Are You a Sinner?

If you are my age,

and 

you went to Catholic School,

you

KNEW

what

sin

was.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,

"Sin is an Offense Against God."

 

Did you know it's a sin to miss Mass on Sunday, without extenuating circumstances?

 

Did you know it's a sin to gossip?

 

Did you know it's a sin to have sex out of wedlock?

 

Did you know it's a sin when you don't put God in first place?

 

I would posit, that when it comes to sin, most of us don't realize that we are committing sin each and every day.

 

There are two types of sin:

venial and mortal.

 

A mortal sin can cause us to loose heaven.

 

What is a mortal sin?

 

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for a sin to be a mortal sin,

 "...three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."

For example, murder, premeditated murder, would be a mortal sin.

Abortion is a mortal sin.

To plan and execute a murder is the commission of a mortal sin.

If you didn't know that deliberately missing Mass on Sunday is a mortal sin,

you might not be committing a mortal sin, 

however,

now you know.

When it comes to sin, though, there is hope.

WE ARE ALL GRIEVOUS SINNERS!

Let me say that once again:

WE ARE ALL GRIEVOUS SINNERS!

As Catholics, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This gift from God is an Act of Divine Mercy to His Children.

The Priest, through his anointing in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, is given the ability to forgive our sins on earth.

When we confess our sins, in this amazing Sacrament, with a sincere and contrite heart 

 

WE ARE FORGIVEN!!!!

 The slate is wiped clean.

 

God is Kind and Merciful!

 

Yada Yada Yada...

but 

IT'S TRUE!

 

God loved us so much that He sent His Own Divine Son to die for our sins so that we might have the gift of eternal life.

 

So, what to do.

1) Recognize that we are miserable sinners.

2) Learn what is sinful.

3) Seek reconciliation using the Sacraments of the Church.

4) Change your ways.

 

You will find a peace that this world cannot give, 

that only God can give.

 

Let us pray for each other.

I will pray for you.

Please pray for me.

 

 

 

 

 

Ending the Week in Praise and Thanks giving

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

  

1) Today is my birthday, and I am getting old!  I never thought I'd get old.  I really didn't.  I thought I would die at a young age, but now I'm old.  It's part of God's plan for me, and I praise and thank Him for that gift.  He's given my life through my parents.  They chose to allow me to live.  For them, there was no choice.  I was a gift from God.

My life was cherished by them.

I thank God for the gift of life.

2) I have two amazing children who are no longer children.  They have grown and developed into adults whom I am proud to know.  They make the world a better place in which to live.  They are kind, loving human beings.  

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of these beautiful souls in my life!

3) If I could sum up all the blessings in my life in one post, no, I know I can't.  There are just too many for me to begin to count.  I wouldn't know where to begin, so I can only say,

Thank you, Lord!  You walk with me and hold me up.  You know better than me, and even prayers answered or seem not answered, are a gift from You.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!!!!

Thoughts on the Eve of My Birthday

Yes, tomorrow is my birthday.

I will be ending my 67th year and beginning my 68th year of life.

(I'm speaking of conception to the present time.)

I thank my parents for giving me life.  My journey could have been so different if they had chosen otherwise.

For them, my life was not a choice, it was a right.

They believed that life is sacred, no matter at which stage it is.

I was blessed.

I look back on my life.

I guess as we age we become more retrospective.

I know that God has been directing my life, and that He has His reasons.

Anyway, here are some thoughts.

1) I am shocked that I have lived this long.  I never thought I'd make it this far.  Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm alive, but I am surprised!  

2) You know the picture of the angel weeping, I think that is my guardian angel.  What a job my angel has had.  God knew that my angel would be busy protecting me from evil and pushing me back on the right path.  I'm sure my angel is either bald or gray haired.  My angel has been busy!

3) In spite of the bad, in spite of the sorrow, I was blessed!  God gave me a life to live.  In that life He included two beautiful children who have become amazing adults!  What else could be better than that?  Nothing.  

4) I was blessed with the Catholic Faith.  I grew up in a home where the Rosary was recited nightly by the family.  That was my grandmother's gift to me.  She believed in the power of prayer!  

5) I've learned that, in some cases, you cannot substitute one ingredient for another in a recipe, but I still have to try.  Last night, I made crockpot French Onion Soup.  Since I was out of butter, I used coconut oil.  Well, the soup has a unique taste, but it is a little bit oily.  I'm sure it will be filling, but I think butter would have been a better choice.  Can you see a connection to life?  Think about it.

Well, my mind is empty now.  Is that old age or just tired?  I don't know.

Reflection comes naturally sometimes.

Today, not so much.

I ask God to bless you and keep you.

Thanks for reading this blog.