Have You Talked to Your Mother Today?

She loves you so much!  She has told the visionaries of Medjugorje that "if we knew how much she loved us, we would cry."

She intercedes for us before the Throne of God daily.  She wants to take us to her Son.  That is her job.
She never gives up.  She never quits.
She is our Mother.  Jesus gave her to us as He was dying on the Cross.

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

Blessed Mother Teresa had an unwavering devotion to Our Mother.
She relied on Mary to intercede before the Throne of God for her.  She and her sisters would pray the 911 novena when necessary. 

The story is that Mother Teresa needed funds to travel.  The amount she needed was specific and it was important that she go.  She and her sisters gathered to pray the Memorare, a prayer of supplication to Our Lady. 

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

The sisters would pray this prayer 9 times in a row.  Usually, after this short prayer session, their prayer would be answered, or not.  If not,  Mother Theresa would assume that this request was not God's Will and go about her life.  This time, the need was urgent.

After prayer, nothing happened, but this time, Mother Theresa was not to be deterred.  She gathered her sisters and said, "I don't know why, but Our Lady has not brought us the money we need.  Let us gather again and pray."  They prayed the 911 Novena.  Within 5 minutes of completing the 911 Novena, the phone rang, and a donor gave them the exact amount of money that Mother Theresa needed to meet the need.  This included the change.  Mother Theresa was able to travel to her destination.

Have you spoken to your Mother today?  She's there, and she's waiting for you.  Whisper a "Hail Mary."  Pray the 911 Novena.  Say, "Good Morning, Dearest Mother."

When I was in elementary school, one of our teachers, a lovely nun whose name I cannot remember now, reminded us, that when we pray the words, "Hail, Mary," we are saying to her, "Hi, Beautiful!"

Hail, Mary!!!

The Roses Are Hanging In There, but what does this have to do with Purgatory?

We've had several hard, killing frosts, and the roses are still blooming.   The basil is dead.  The rosemary is gone.  The Brown Eyed Susans are seeds.  The Milkweed  are just stems and pods.  Yet, the roses are still still blooming. 

Our God is the God of Miracles.  Let us give Him praise!

Even in the midst of a storm, God walks with us, protecting us, and leading us through the storm.

On the coldest day, God sends us His warmth, surrounding us with His Love. 

Like a true Father, Brother, and Guide, He seeks to leads us in His Ways.  When we stray from His Path, and we return, He welcomes us back to His Unending Love, as the father welcomed the prodigal Son. 

God loved us into existence.  He made us in His Image and Likeness.  Our souls will live forever!  We make the choices, but there are consequences for our sins.  If we seek His forgiveness, we are healed in His Unending Love.  (A priest will forgive us our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.) 
Like the child who has broken a window and must pay for the damage, we are given the gift of Purgatory by God.  If we do not enter heaven upon death, we are not condemned to hell.    Our time in Purgatory expiates our sins. 

Once in Purgatory, we can do nothing for ourselves.  Souls can pray for those left behind, but once in Purgatory, we must rely on the Masses, prayers, and works of charity made by others for our souls.   Yes, there is great suffering in Purgatory, but souls rejoice because they are on their way to heaven.

Like the roses who have escaped the frost, the souls in Purgatory are both poor and holy.  The souls have escaped the condemnation of hell for their sins, so they are holy.  They are not yet purified, but they are holy.  Since their purification is not complete, they are poor for they suffer grievously for their sins.  They do not see God, but they yearn for His presence.  Like roses who have survived the frost, they are protected and saved.  In this they rejoice.  Yet, they burn from within, awaiting the time when their perfection is complete, and they enter heaven to bask in the glory of the beatific vision.

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
 For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods."
Psalm 95: 2-3

All Souls Day! Pray for the Souls Who are being Purified In Purgatory.

St. Gertrude Prayer

Our Lord, Jesus, told St. Gertrude that each time this prayer is recited,

1,000 souls are released from Purgatory.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with 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.

Prayer for the Faithful Departed by Blessed John Henry Newman
O GOD of the Spirits of all flesh, O Jesu, Lover of souls, we recommend unto Thee the souls of all those Thy servants, who have departed with the sign of faith and sleep the sleep of peace. We beseech Thee, O Lord and Saviour, that, as in Thy mercy to them Thou became man, so now Thou would hasten the time, and admit them to Thy presence above. Remember, O Lord, that they are Thy creatures, not made by strange gods, but by Thee, the only Living and True God; for there is no other God but Thou, and none that can equal Thy works. Let their souls rejoice in Thy light, and impute not to them their former iniquities, which they committed through the violence of passion, or the corrupt habits of their fallen nature. For, although they have sinned, yet they always firmly believed in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and before they died, they reconciled themselves to Thee by true contrition and the Sacraments of Thy Church.

O Gracious Lord, we beseech Thee, remember not against them the sins of their youth and their ignorances; but according to Thy great mercy, be mindful of them in Thy heavenly glory. May the heavens be opened to them, and the Angels rejoice with them. May the Archangel St Michael conduct them to Thee. May Thy holy Angels come forth to meet them, and carry them to the city of the heavenly Jerusalem. May St Peter, to whom Thou gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, receive them. May St Paul, the vessel of election, stand by them. May St John, the beloved disciple, who had the revelation of the secrets of heaven, intercede for them. May all the Holy Apostles, who received from Thee the power of binding and loosing, pray for them. May all the Saints and elect of God, who in this world suffered torments for Thy Name, befriend them; that, being freed from the prison beneath, they may be admitted into the glories of that kingdom, where with the Father and the Holy Ghost Thou lives and reigns one God, world without end.

Come to their assistance, all ye Saints of God; gain for them deliverance from their place of punishment; meet them, all ye Angels; receive these holy souls, and present them before the Lord. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord. And may perpetual light shine on them.
 

Pray!  Pray! Pray!

All Saints Day - Pope Francis

"We need saints without cassocks, without veils - we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies that listen to music, that hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things.

We need saints - saints for the 21st century with a spirituality appropriate to our new time. We need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social change.

We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world and to not be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theater. We need saints that are open sociable normal happy companions. we need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane. We need saints."

- Pope Francis (World Youth Day 2013)

Memories of First Communion, Confession, Catholic School, and the Nuns! (Part 2)

We left the classroom to receive the sacrament of confession.  The sun was shining as we walked across the parking lot to the church.  I don’t remember much about the walk except that we were all vert quiet.  We walked into church.  The lights at the top of the confessionals were not lit, so we all sat and waited, quietly.  There was no sound in the church.  Then, two priests came out and each one walked into the confessional.  The rest was a blur until Sister Mary Claudia touched my shoulder and said it was my turn.  My legs felt like jelly.  I folded my hands praying that I make a good confession.  I wanted to make my First Communion on Sunday.

The door opened, and my best friend came out of the confessional.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Sister Mary Claudia raise her finger to her mouth.  Sister seemed as surprised as I was, but this time, we looked at each other, and something was different.  We didn’t laugh.  She had been forgiven and was going to say her penance. 

I stepped into the darkened confessional.  The door opened.  I could see someone there, and I knew it was time for me to begin.  My. mind. went. blank.  I started to whimper.   Father was very kind.  He could hear me crying.  He said, “Is something wrong?”  All I could do was nod my head.  He asked again, “You have to tell me.  I can’t see you very well.” 

I managed to choke out, “I for-for-got what I’m supposed to say.” 

“Oh,I see,” he said.  “Should I help you?”

“Ye-yes.” I replied.

With the kindness of Jesus, Father, gave me the first few words, “Bless, me, Father,” he said.

The words came back to me.  “Father, aren’t I supposed to say that?”  I heard him laugh softly.
That was all it took.  Tears of fear became tears of joy.  “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”

I don’t remember what I confessed that day, but as I was finishing up my confession, Father asked me a question, “Isn’t there something else you have to confess?”  I gasped!  Was I in the state of Mortal Sin?  How did he know?  What did I do? 

I stuttered out anything I could think of.  I was mean to my mother 6 times.  I hid the candy bar she was taking to work and ate it, 3 times. 

Father stopped me, “Stop and think, “ he said.  Why do you sit with Sister? 

I was stunned.  How did he know?  “Yes,” I replied.  Why do I sit with Sister? 

“I laugh a lot during Mass, Father.”

“Yes,” he said.  “Do you think it hurts Jesus to know that you are paying attention to something else during Mass?”

I started to sob.  I had hurt Jesus, and I didn’t even know it.  “Father, I’m so sorry.  I’ll never do it again!”

I could hear him smile.  “Well, Jesus knows that you will try.  That’s all that matters.  Say your Act of Contrition.

I said my Act of Contrition.  Father gave me my penance.  I had received forgiveness for my sins!  I was speechless.  I felt peace pouring into my soul.  I left the confessional, and I didn’t feel the ground under my feet.  Sister directed me to my pew.  She had a puzzled look on her face.  I had changed, and she knew it.  I prayed my penance, and I was now in the state of grace!

I tried so hard to remain in the state of grace.  My mother said I was unusually quiet.  I prayed a lot in preparation for First Communion.  I did what I was told.  On Sunday, my mother dropped me off at my classroom.  She spoke with Sister Mary Claudia.  I saw Sister raise her shoulders as if to say, “I don’t know.”  I was almost time for Mass and to receive Jesus.

We lined up at the back of the church.  When the organ began to play we walked in, boys on one side and girls on the other.  We filled the pews.  All went as we had rehearsed.  The Mass began.  The time for our First Holy Communion came.  We walked up to the altar rail and knelt down.  The priest and a server with a patten came to me.  I looked at the pure white host knowing it was Jesus.  I closed my eyes and opened my mouth to receive Him on my tongue.  He was there.  I knew it.  I felt His Unending Love pour into me.  I cried.  I knew then that I would never be the same, I couldn't be the same.  I looked at my best friend, and she looked at me.  She had tears in her eyes, too. 

We walked out of church.  My mother found me.  She gave me that long awaited candy bar.  I realized I was hungry.  I ate it quickly.  The odd thing was Sister Mary Claudia came over to where I was with the rest of my family.  She knelt down so that she could look me in the eye.  She put her hands on my shoulders.  “You know, now, don’t you.”  I could only nod.  I knew.  I really knew. 

The school year ended with only a few more calls home.  I tried not to hurt Jesus, but I was at confession almost every week. 

To Read Part 1:  Click HERE

Memories of First Communion, Confession, Catholic School, and the Nuns - Part 1

As a cradle Catholic, by the age of 6 I was well schooled in learning how to please God.  Every morning I would pray, “I offer you all of my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day.”  I trusted that God would be with me, and He would bless me and protect me.   I attended Catholic School, and Sister Mary Claudia was my teacher.  I know it was she who blessed me with Fear of the Lord.  I looked at Sister as she taught.  She had to be more than 14 feet tall!

Sister drilled us well in the Baltimore Catechism, and we had to review the day’s lesson with our parents at home. 

“What is the purpose of your life?”  she would intone.
In our sing song voices we would reply, “Our purpose in life is to know God, to serve God in this world and in the next.” 

We would say this with sincere hearts and souls, even as poked the kid in front of us, not that I  ever poked or pushed anyone! 

We attended Mass as a school once a week. We were expected to behave in a manner that would not embarrass our teachers or our parents.  We were expected to genuflect with heads bowed when we entered our pew.  We were expected to be quiet in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  We were expected to sit, stand, and kneel at the proper times in the Mass.  We were expected to focus on the Mass without allowing distractions to enter into our time at Mass.  If these things did not happen, our parents received the dreaded phone call about our behavior. 

I can’t explain this, but there were times, for no reason, my best friend would dissolve into tears of laughter, unable to stop, because we knew we had to be quiet.  I had to sit with Sister Mary Claudia many times during Mass, and, each time I did, the phone rang at my house!  The school year ended, and we  returned the next year as 2nd graders. 

We were much more mature, at least we 2nd graders thought so.  We began our preparation for the Sacraments of Confession and our First Reception of the Eucharist.  We agreed with our teachers who reminded us  that we had to set the example for the younger students.  We did our best, but I was still escorted to join Sister Mary Claudia in her pew.  Sister had been moved up to teach 2nd grade that year.  Yes, the phone continued to ring at my house. 

In spite of these trials of learning not to laugh at the wrong times, Sister taught us well.  We learned about the love of Jesus and how our living and true God would come to us when we received our First Communion.  This was serious now.  We were becoming true Catholics,  almost adults.  Sister taught us well.  We learned that we would not  be able to receive Holy Communion if we were in the state of mortal sin.  The thought of mortal sin made me guIp, so I tried harder not dissolve into laughter when my best friend and I looked at each other at Mass. I did not want to commit a mortal sin.  I wasn’t sure if that was a mortal sin, so better safe than sorry.

My efforts were a penance.  I was told to “offer up this sacrifice up to God so that I might become a better person and more worthy to receive Jesus on the day of our First Communion.  Our efforts were hopeless. My best friend and I were not allowed to sit near other.  Sister Mary Claudia no longer needed to escort me back to sit with her.  It was just easier to sit with her and be done with it!  I did not want to commit a mortal sin!

Our preparation continued through 2nd grade.  We were so near the day of our First Communion and our First Confession.  Sister taught us what we should say when the door on our side of the confessional would open.  “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.  This is my first confession.”  Later, Sister told us, we would say, “It’s been 2 weeks, or however long it’s been, since our last confession.”  We were also told to whisper since we did not want anyone else to hear our sins.  We were taught the Act of Contrition.  We were reminded that we needed to say the penance we were given immediately after we left the confessional.  There was no way we would ever forget what we were taught.  I could say it in my sleep, and I did on occasion.

My mother had bought my beautiful, white dress and veil for first communion.  She said that if I did not laugh during Mass, yes, it was still an issue, she would have a candy bar ready for me to eat after Mass.  This was in the days when we had to fast 24 hours before receiving Holy Communion.  The day was nearing.  We were so excited, but first we had to go to confession.

By now, I was walking with Sister Mary Claudia when we left the classroom to go to church.  She had begun to encourage me to sit with my friends.  I knew it was still easier to sit with her.  I’d be asked, during Mass,  to sit with her, anyway. 

Part 2:: Stay Tuned, tomorrow.

Women of the Bible I'd Love to Meet, Part 3:Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist

Elizabeth, Cousin of Mother Mary
Mother of John the Baptist
Married to Zachariah, the High Priest

Elizabeth, did you ever think you would bear a child?

Were you surprised when Zachariah came home from the temple that day and could not speak?

Was he able to tell you that an angel had appeared to him and told him that you would have a child?

How did you feel about that?  Did you dare hope that would be true?

How did you feel?

Did you have morning sickness with your baby?

Were you aware when you became pregnant with John?

Did the women of the village talk about you?

Were they amazed that you were actually going to have a baby?

What about Mary?  How did you know that she was pregnant when she arrived?  Was she showing yet?

You said that your baby jumped when Mary arrived?  John knew that she was carrying the Messiah?

Did you know that your baby would be a boy?

Did you and Mary pray often?

How did your heart feel when you heard her pray the Magnificat?

Were you full of Joy when you were around Mary?

How long did she stay and take care of you?

Was Mary there when John was born?

Did she hold your baby boy?

Did she rock him to sleep when you were tired?

Did she stay a while to help out before she went home to face her parents, Joseph, and the village?  By then, she most have had a baby bump.

Was John a sweet little boy?

Did you have to have a lot of faith that John would be taken care of by God even after you and Zachariah left this earth?

Did Mary come back with her baby and visit after He was born?

Someday, Elizabeth, I hope we can meet and you can tell me all about the birth of your son, John the Baptist.