Novena to St. Clare - Day Seven

Dear St. Clare, as a young girl you imitated your mother's love for the poor of your native Assisi. Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit.

All through your life you offered your great suffering for you Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death. Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor.

Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.

GR6: Holy Young Ladies

GR6 was, as expected, wonderful. It was the largest group of girls we've ever had and each of them was beautiful in body, mind and spirit. Each of them was happy to be there and engaged in everything. There was literally not one complaint the whole retreat - and this retreat is HARDCORE. We prayed Liturgy of the Hours 4 times daily, went to Mass and confession, prayed the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet, and spent countless hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

We started out the retreat with a fun event. We went to Magic Time Machine which was a lot of fun for everyone - especially since only about four of us had ever been before (we had a group of about 20 in total - volunteers and retreatants together). We were in the school room with Waldo as our waiter... who WOULDN'T have fun?

The second day of the retreat was Desert Day. The girls did so well with it too! Desert Day, for those unfamiliar with it, is a day of solitude. You spend quiet time with the Lord, allowing Him to speak to you in whatever way He desires. You focus your time on hushing yourself - in body, mind and spirit.

Desert Day was taught to us by the brothers of the Community of St. John in Laredo. On a lenten retreat, many many many years ago, we were supposed to be doing work in Mexico. Unfortunately, none of us were expecting to have to pay as much as they were asking to cross the border. So our leaders went to the brothers and asked them what they were doing. They told them they were having their Desert Day and explained what it was. That's all it took. We too had desert day that next day and the rest is history.

We told the girls the night before all about it and had a good laugh about it before saying, "No. Seriously." Some of them looked a little panicked but they handled it with grace. They were all very respectful of each other and the intimate conversations each of them was having with the Lord. As with every other desert day, there were many beautiful testimonies. Each of them learned something powerful from their quiet time and they were all very eager to do it again! (Praise God!)

The next day begun our series of talks and they were all very good. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, we had talks on our patron saint, Saint Maria Goretti, ettiquette, Servant of God John Paul the Great's Letter to Women, discernment, just saying no, and of course, 'what now?' We never could stick to the scheduled time slots but it was okay because the discussions we had were very, very good. We discussed those things which needed to be discussed and it really gave the ladies a chance to open up and get real about issues in their lives.

Saturday night we had a BEAUTIFUL night. It was all-night adoration! We each signed up for 30 minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament. (We would have taken more time if we had had it! With so many young ladies, we just didn't have time!) Each girl would go in for her 30 minutes and, when her time was up, wake the next girl for her time with Jesus. It was awesome to know that you were the only one awake with Christ. You and Him... alone. SO GREAT! What was even better than my time with Him? Knowing that each of the girls enjoyed it immensely! What holy young ladies!

The 'What Now?' talk is the VERY last part of the retreat and is when we all make commitments to ourselves and to God. We take what we learned on the retreat and commit to making it a part of our lives. It was so beautiful to see the huge revelations that took place in such a short amount of time. No commitment was small because each was huge in that person's life. It is very moving to see the love these girls had for themselves and for their God - what levels of respect!


Honestly, I could go on for a while talking about the retreat and how very wonderful it was. I'll let what I've said already be it for now. Let me thank each of you that prayed for us. Know that I prayed in thanksgiving for you all during Mass on Sunday and I praise God for that blessing.

Please Excuse My Absence

The Girls' Retreat officially starts at 3 pm today but having not had much time in the past couple of days, all of my attention today will be focused on preparing for it and getting there. I will be gone for four days so I won't be posting the novena days. Sorry! Bad timing.

Please keep us in your prayers - our safety, our health, and our sanctity!

Novena to St. Clare - Day Three

Dear St. Clare, as a young girl you imitated your mother's love for the poor of your native Assisi. Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit.

All through your life you offered your great suffering for you Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death. Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor.

Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.

Novena to St. Clare - Day Two

Dear St. Clare, as a young girl you imitated your mother's love for the poor of your native Assisi. Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit.

All through your life you offered your great suffering for you Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death. Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor.

Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.

Novena to St. Clare

Dear St. Clare, as a young girl you imitated your mother's love for the poor of your native Assisi. Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit.

All through your life you offered your great suffering for you Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death. Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor.

Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.

GR6 Preparations

Well I made the trek out to Keller today to make copies, fold and bind Liturgy of the Hours, and stuff folders. Getting there was quite the adventure as I had never made the trip alone. In my anxious excitement, I jumped the gun on exits and turns more than once. It was never anything huge but I was definitely ready to be there.

What was supposed to be four people working turned into two and I was 45 minutes late! Oops. Still we managed to finish.. and finish early! That was good. I feel better (and I'm sure Al does too) knowing that it's done. That's one less thing to do tomorrow.

I'm still working on preparing my talks for the retreat so if you get a chance, pray that, should it be His will, the Holy Spirit works in and through me during those times. They are probably two of the top three most important talks at the retreat in my mind. I'm a little nervous and a little excited. (Being so tired though I couldn't tell you which is dominating.)While discussing the talks with Al, she showed me something she had run across while cleaning out her house. It was a paper, about three pages long, that I had written about five years ago (at least). It was about living a good Catholic life and not being luke-warm in the faith. Apparently I wrote it simply because I felt like it. That was kinda cool. I had to laugh though because I compared a car and it's manual to our life and God. (Poopy brownies anyone?)

I'm very ready to see all the girls and I'm very ready to experience this again. It is one of the most beautiful retreats I have been on and what's great is that I know it will be back. Where there is a will, there is a way. And I believe this retreat continues not because we will it, but because God wills it.

+May the Lord bless us and keep us from all evil. Amen.

Discerning? Don't know where to begin?

Look no further...

How to Discover God's Plan for You
8 Steps for Discernment

Be Quiet in order to hear the Lord's voice calling. Take time to pray and meditate in silence about your vocation, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Find a spiritual director - somebody you can be open with - who can help you to develop your relationship with God and to know yourself better.
Ask a priest, brother or sister in your parish to put you in touch with a vocation director.
Read up on religious life. Look at a good periodical on vocations and check out the ads.
Write to the communities that interest you.
Visit the ones you feel called to.
Build a relationship with the one where you have a sense of coming home. Get involved in its summer or monthly programs. Don't just talk the talk - walk the walk with them as well.
Wait for the Lord. Discerning your vocation is a process. God's timing is always perfect - but seldom seems soon enough!

Remember, if you ASK, SEEK, KNOCK, you may not find the vocation you thought you would, but by trying you'll have found out one of the most important things in life - self-knowledge.

-------

Discerning (discernment) is, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, to recognize or identify as separate and distinct –or- to come to know or recognize mentally. So then discerning is to recognize or identify within yourself (your heart, mind, and soul) the will of God for you in your life. It is a time of great prayer and contemplation. It is not by any means a quick process; it takes time and a lot of commitment. Our lives have no meaning outside of Christ; indeed, all purpose flows forth from Him. We are called to Him and to follow Him, therefore, our purpose (and the discovering of our purpose in discernment) is made clear through our union with Him. (This is why prayer and the sacraments play such a VITAL role in discernment – and simply, in our lives as Catholics.)

A Prayer for Guidance:
"Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and grant me, Lord, a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge, so that I may carry out, Your holy and true command."

Already?

Yep. Already.

I decided I didn't really feel comfortable in my new car and took it back (thank goodness I had that option). I decided on a new car today and I'll go back to return this one and sign on the new one tomorrow. I think this will be the end of my car buying adventure. No... it WILL be. I'm very excited about the new one I've chosen and can't see taking it back. I'll get off of work tomorrow morning and go to the dealership to sign tomorrow afternoon.

Hopefully I'll stop getting negative vibes from people. I'm way too tired and strung out to deal with mixed signals and controlling natures. +Lord, grant me clarity of mind and patience in dealing with those around me.

Soothing Psalms

Today during Mass I felt very at peace. The readings, the psalm (the one we sung), and all of the music was so perfect for me. I can't really begin to describe the ways it touched my heart but there was, during the psalm, a time when the music changed. It went into this beautiful legato passage. It said, "You have set me a banquet of love in the face of hatred, crowning me with love beyond my power to hold." I was so moved by this. We are truly blessed. The Lord, in His great mercy, sets us a banquet of love beyond our power to comprehend. He crowns us with His endless and abundant love despite all that we have done to Him. How unworthy are we!

+Thank you, Lord. I am truly blessed.

Oo fun!

In about two hours I will officially be a proud owner of a ... CAR! It's my first car (yes, really) and I'm very excited. I thought I would have to wait at least another four months to get one but thanks be to God and His beautiful children I get to sign today. I'm psyched. (I get five days to see if I want to keep this one or get the other one I liked so much.) I'm glad I waited and now make my own payments on the car that IIII own. It's nice to know I accomplished a goal.

Vocation Talk

from phatmass - something I have learned in time...

I am lost. I feel a call to the religious life. I was wondering if anybody else felt like this tell your stories please and the way you helped to accept your Call. ...

Women who would make great mothers (great mothers have to desire to be great mothers - don't forget that) would make great sisters. In the same respect, women who would make great sisters would make great mothers.

The desire for motherhood that you feel in your heart - or perhaps for the different aspects of motherhood - are good and holy and right. God has placed them there for a reason and I would dare say allows them to always be present in a woman's heart. To desire such a blessing is natural and pleasing to God. It must be known though that following your heart to Him and Him alone, without an earthly family of your own seed, is good and holy and right too. God calls us to Himself and it is pleasing to Him that we should answer and follow the path He lays for us. Those women who are called to the sisterhood can (and do) use their natural desires to better serve the Lord and His people. The gifts God gives to you in your womanhood are not squandered upon entrance to a religious community. No, I daresay they are enhanced.

In your prayers, focus not on your mind but on your will to do what God desires. As someone has already said, if you feel you may be called to religious life, pursue that vocation as if you know you are. Find a spiritual director, continue to pray and receive the sacraments often, and allow God to work in your life.

Embracing your vocation does not mean a lack of anxiety or fear. Certainly many people are frightened or nervous at first. Every vocation is huge and is such a merciful gift from the Lord. None of us are worthy. However, if you allow God to move in your heart and you allow your will to be conformed to His own, you will know true joy. Your vocation will bring you all the happiness your heart can hold. No one will ever tell you it will be easy (because no vocation is) but they will tell you how greatly God will bless you.. for turly, religious life is not easy (nor is married life), but if He truly calls you, it is the greatest thing. Above all, if you follow Him, He will not cease to amaze you.

Let Him win your heart. You won't regret it.

GR6

The 6th annual Girls' Retreat is next weekend and I am so hopeful for it. I know it will be amazing and God will be blessing the girls abundantly. This retreat means so much to me and I am so happy to be helping to put it on this year. It seems to be the biggest group of women we've ever had putting it on and I'm honored to be working with them on it. They are all truly amazing women. (I'm the youngest in the group and let me tell ya, I have so much to learn from these ladies! I'm excited to be a part of them.)

Our patron saint this year is Saint Maria Goretti - also my patron saint! I'm so thrilled that she is our patron. She is a wonderful saint. When we sat down for our first meeting to discuss all of the big stuff for the retreat we all threw out a handful of saint names each. We had some really great ones on the list (which ones aren't, though?) but a few kept being repeated. Maria was one of them. We didn't actually decide on a saint that day, however. Since we usually do t-shirts (we sadly won't be able to afford them this year) we also choose a movie to go along with our patron saint. It doesn't have to be an appropriate movie because we always twist it to fit our meaning. (Though in recent years we have aimed to find movies appropriate to view so that we could watch that as part of the retreat.) We weren't able to come up with a saint and movie so we left with an assignment: pray. We knew that God would show us who our patron would be.

The first year our patron was, of course, Mary. Our movie? Easy. "There's Something About Mary" - hah. It was awesome. We had a quote on the back and a picture of Mary, with the movie (title) logo on the front. I often confuse the order of the years following and can't seem to keep track of them all (I believe I've only ever missed one). The next year I believe it was Saint Agnes, Silence of the Lambs. One year was a saint I never forget but am forgetting now (Saint Teresa of Avila? No...) and after her was Mother Teresa (she was the year I missed). Last year was Saint Maria Faustina, A Series of Fortunate Events.

Anyway, I am beyond thrilled. My heart is truly joyful. I have seen so many wonderful things come from these retreats and I just KNOW something great will come of this. Oo.. I can hardly contain my joy.

Pray that I do Saint Maria Goretti justice in my 'talk' about her. She is such a beautiful Saint and words seem so futile. Especially now that she is in heaven with our Lord, how beautiful is a soul in that state? Also please pray for the girls who will attend and put on the retreat. We all have so much to gain from our time together and our time together in front of the Lord (in the Holy Eucharist which we will have in a tabernacle in one of the rooms).

+Lord, thank you for the graces you shower on us. Thank you for 'Al', for each of the other women and thank you most of all for providing me the opportunity to know each of them and work with them, especially on this occassion.

Dear Catholic Priests, ... and all religious for that matter!

I was waving my arms in the air wanting to shout "I agree" reading through the post 'Dear Catholic Priests' at Back Home to Rome (thankfully linked to by Happy Catholic -- what would we do without her 'Blogging Around'?). I thought it might be a little much though. I was already feeling pretty silly with my waving arms.

Twice now I have heard this story:

Once there was a young nun in plain clothes walking from someplace, not exactly near her convent. She was young and attractive with bright eyes and a sweet smile. As she was walking she could feel something was wrong. She glanced around, side to side. She saw nothing. She looked behind her. There she saw a man walking. It was soon obvious that he was not only walking, but walking after her. He was most certainly in pursuit. She picked up her pace and he did as well. Before she knew it she was jogging and then running. To her relief, she soon spotted a police officer. She ran right to him and said, "Officer, I am a nun and there is a man following me. I do not know him." He instructed her to get in the squad car. She did. He asked her how to get to her convent and chatted with her, calming her some, as he drove her home. When they pulled up the officer stepped around the car to let the sister out. Before letting her go he said to her, "Sister, how did you know I was a police officer?" She replied, "I saw your uniform." He smiled, nodded, and said, "Exactly. Now the more important question: how did I know you were a sister?"

I cannot even say how many ways the habit, cassock, or collar are beneficial. There are just too many! So many times I have heard stories about what the 'uniform' does for people. Certainly religious in harsh areas are somehow protected by their dress. They are known and revered as men and women of the Lord. Even non-Catholics know that they can approach and ask anything. They ask for prayers or advice. Oh... how long it would take me to count and describe the examples.

How I hope and pray every day that the return of cassocks and collars and habits will be soon and permanent!

WOW: Saint Edition

A longer "WOW: Saint Edition" than in the past but I believe it a worthy read... (I love it when the Saints say what I think and feel in a more profound and certainly more beautiful way than I ever could.)

In the world, yet not of it
Gregory the Great: Homily on the Gospels

I would like to urge you to forsake everything, but that I do not presume to do it. Yet, if you cannot give up everything of this world, at least keep what belongs to the world in such a way that you yourself are not kept prisoner by the world. Whatever you possess must not possess you; whatever you own must be under the power of your soul; for if your soul is overpowered by the love of this world's goods, it will be totally at the mercy of its possessions.

In other words, we make use of temporal things, but our hearts are set on what is eternal. Temporal goods help us on our way, but our desire must be fore those eternal realities which are our goal. We should give no more than a side glance at all that happens in the world, but the eyes of our soul are to be focused right ahead; for our whole attention must be fixed on these realities which constitute our goal.

Whatever is vicious must be utterly eradicated, wrenched away not merely from being put into act but even from being so much as thought of. No carnal pleasure, no wordly curiosity, no surge of ambition must keep us from the Lord's supper. But further, our minds should merely skirt even the good deeds we perform in this life; in this way, the physical things which give us pleasure will serve our bodily needs without hindering the soul's progress. You see, my brothers, I dare not say to you, give up everything. Yet, if you will, you can give everything up even while keeping it, provided you handle temporal things in such a way that your whole mind is directed toward what is eternal. A man can use the world as if he were not using it, if he makes all external needs minister to the support of his life without allowing them to dominate his soul. They remain external to him and under his control, serving him without halting the soul's drive to higher things. For such men, everything in this world is there for their use, not to be desired. Nothing should interfere with your soul's longing; no created pleasure in the world should ensnare you.

If the object of love is what is good, then the soul should take its delight in the higher good, the things of heaven. If the object of fear is what is evil, then we should keep before ourselves the things that are eternally evil. In this way, if the soul sees that we should have a greater love and a greater fear about what concerns the next life, it will never cling to this life.

To help us achieve all this we have the help of the mediator between God and man. Through him we shall obtain all this the more quickly. The more we burn with a great love for him, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

In this way of living we all take a vow of poverty. How beautiful is a life lived in such a way! The religious who take that vow of poverty are not crazy, they simply live out what each of us is called to in the more radical fashion. A man and woman need not give up all that they own in order to live without goods for if they live with the goods as if they did not own the goods, giving God all of their attention and focus and praise, then they would indeed be living without the things of the world. They would use their possessions only to further their relationship with God. They would sustain life and live comfortably without becoming vain or prideful. Truly this is the way we should strive to live.

Again? Seriously?

Julie D is going to think I'm ... crazy - if she doesn't already that is! hah!

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"Nice doggy."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Preach It!

Hopefully to become a regular...

"It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live life after our own;
but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."


2 points to the person that names the author of this quote. 5 if you don't use google.

Feast of Blessed Kateri

Today is the feast of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. I first learned about Kateri in middle school at a youth night close to All Saints Day. We were divided into groups of about four and each group was given a pumkin, saint card, and craft materials. The challenge was to make your pumkin look like your saint. I can't remember if we had to guess the saints but if we did I'm sure no one guessed ours. (We had Blessed Kateri.) We also had to tell everyone a little bit about our saint. At the time, I just thought it was cool that she was the first person born in North America to be beatified. Later, I respected her more and more for her life and her struggle against her culture and everything she knew. I admit though that I probably wouldn't have given her much thought if I hadn't had the honor of visiting the shrine for her in Canada (near Montreal). During the pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, we stayed in Montreal for a few days. During that time we visited many places, one place of course being the shrine. We were told all about her life and her struggles. They danced for us, let us have a little fun (canoeing races), and then showed us the CHURCH on the reservation. Yes, a church. It was awesome. I loved that trip so much and I have kept her prayer card on my little bulletin board ever since. Blessed Kateri is, for lack of a better word, cool.

+
Lord God, you called the virgin, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, to shine among the native American people as an example of innocence of life. Through her intercession, may all peoples of every tribe, tongue, and nation, having been gathered into your Church, proclaim your greatness in one song of praise. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

+Blessed Kateri, pray for us!

Testing Testing 1 2 3 Testing

I think my managers are testing me this week. I've worked a 12 hour shift with a short break before pulling a double and then almost pulling a second double the next day (today). Thank goodness I got some relief. I don't know that I would have made it through the night!

+Now I lay me down to sleep. Pray the Lord my soul to keep. Should I die before I wake, pray the Lord my soul to take. (or) May angels guard me through the night and wake me with the morning light. Amen!

Please accept my apology...

Did you ever fight with someone and regret it later? You want to apologize but not sure it would do any good. You want to say what you feel but are scared they'll take it as 'saying what they want to hear'. Even when your intentions are good, you're nervous that they'll be misconstrued. So do you apologize or do you not? I guess a good lesson in humility is to go ahead and do it. If you were in the wrong, you should apologize - no matter what. So you apologize and you hope for the best. If they take it the way you predict, you want to get mad. You want to be angry that they are questioning your intentions. Whether your history gives reason for it or not, you don't like having your sincere apology questioned for honesty. Again, a lesson in humility. Instead of getting mad you have to be calm and understand why, especially after several similar occasions, these apologies might seem rehearsed. You have to suck up your pride and remember that you apologized for a reason. And then, as your pride is beaten out of you with every glance (because you think that every time anyone looks at you they look at you with shame), you have to keep going and keep trying. You have to, in every word and action, let them know that you are sincere - not for you though. For them. It's a hard battle. Pride is hard to beat down. But with lots of prayer and confession and Mass, it can be overcome. +Lord, teach me humility.

Oh God, You Are My God

Psalm 63
A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, you are my God-- for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, Like a land parched, lifeless, and without water.
So I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory.
For your love is better than life; my lips offer you worship!
I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.
My soul shall savor the rich banquet of praise, with joyous lips my mouth shall honor you!
When I think of you upon my bed, through the night watches I will recall
That you indeed are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek my life will come to ruin; they shall go down to the depths of the earth!
They shall be handed over to the sword and become the prey of jackals!
But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by the Lord shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut!

As Sweet As Pie...

find your inner PIE @ stvlive.com

via Julie D. at Happy Catholic, who, surprise, surprise, is apple pie as well.

... Priceless.

Zinedine Zidane:
Annual Salary: $8,000,000
Bonuses: $500,000
Endorsements: $8,500,000

Ending your career with one angry head-butt, being red-carded
and costing your team the World Cup in the process:

PRICELESS.


[thanks to Ash Wednesday, author of For Lack of a Better Term, for this laugh]

Tragic Accident -- Please Pray!

Yesterday evening the following was posted by a friend to a site I frequent:

This evening my husband's nephew passed away. Joshua was the 4th of 6 children, and would have been 5 years old later on this month. He was behind a vehicle playing and when they went to pull out didn't see him. He was taken to the ER where they worked on him for over an hour but were unable to save him. Please keep the family in your prayers, especially his poor mother. I am heartbroken and I can only imagine how she is feeling right now. I know that they would appreciate any prayers you can offer, and it will help carry them through this terrible time.

Thank you so much, pham.

Joshua

I cannot even begin to imagine the pain this family is feeling. Please - PLEASE - keep this family in your prayers. All of this was so sudden and so unexpected. I can't even begin to imagine...

Music Review: "Coming Up To Breathe" MercyMe

I have always enjoyed the music of the Christian group MercyMe. I've been to one concert, purchased two clothing items, and listened to all of the CDs. They have constantly captured a sound which is pleasing (not exhausting) even after twenty or so runs (okay maybe that's a little bit exaggerated but you know what I'm getting at!). Even when you think you've had enough, you haven't. It's great.



They've recently put out an album called "Coming Up To Breathe". It is my favorite so far. I don't own it yet but I've heard a good number of the songs in the car with friends who do. One song, featured on the radio, is definitely my all time favorite and the inspiration for this post.

Humility is the key to all holiness and the song "So Long Self" promotes it. Since I don't have much else to say about it (at least for now - when I get my hands on the album y'all had better watch out), I'll post the key lyrics.

So long self

Well it's been fun but I have found Somebody else

So long self

There's just no room for two so you are going to have to move

Farewell, oh well, goodbye, don't cry

So long self

I truly enjoy that song and can totally jam to the lyrics. Every once in a while I feel the urge to get back to secular music (for the ACTUAL music, not the lyrics necessarily) but usually I can toss MercyMe in and still feel great, grooving to the music. They can definitely hold their own. You should check it out.

Virtues of Mary - Angelic Sweetness (Part 3 of 11)

I apologize for not finishing this series of posts (I forgot) and again, you'll have to forgive me for not doing these in order. I will do them in the order in which I see fit for any number of reasons. It should be understood that mastery of any one of these most likely means mastery of all. This is what we should strive for.

My notes on angelic sweetness: "Angelic sweetness: sweetness like the angels - stems from a prayer life that is constant - always being centered on God"

So angelic sweetness will fall back on continual mental prayer. Angelic sweetness, like continual mental prayer and likely every one of the other virtues is, quite simply, exactly what it says. It is a mindset, an attitude, a way of life. To be sweet in all things. I would believe that when one achieves angelic sweetness he or she would no longer have to try to be 'sweet' in all things but would, by the grace of God, find sweetness and joy in all he encounters. Thoughts of hatred and malice (on any level) would subside and only God's brilliant face would shine through the darkness. For when we allow only God's to fill our hearts, what evil could there be?

So then, in striving for angelic sweetness we must also strive to practice continual mental prayer (and heroic patience and all other virtues..). Angelic sweetness is not easy by any means, especially when we do not surrender our vile spirits to the love of God. For if we allow Him - if we TRULY allow Him - He will transform our hearts so that angelic sweetness would not be something extraordinary, but ordinary. But in God, all that is ordinary is also extraordinary.

Let us all strive to focus our lives on our one true God and may He guide us to Himself in all things. In this journey, let us strive to be sweet in all that we say and do, doing our best to love and be loved by the one who is Love itself.

Homecoming

My family returns home today after more than a week in my dad's home state. I'm very ready to see them. Blogging will resume later today or tomorrow. (BTW - When I typed homecoming as the title I got feelings of nostalgia thinking about parades and dresses and MUMS. Ahh. I loved homecoming.)

Perfect Timing

+Lord, your timing is indeed perfect. I am a sinner truly blessed. Your mercy is never ending and your love unfailing. Please wrap me in your arms today and hold me close. Teach me to love you like Saint Maria Goretti did. Give me her courage and her passion to serve you in all things. Allow my heart to be transformed by your love and help me to conform my will to yours, most perfect, in all things. Bless me, Lord, and keep me.

Saint Maria Goretti, patron of mine, pray for me today and every day. Ask that the Lord keep me forever enfolded in the mantle of His love. If you can, help to shed light on the path of holiness, the road that leads to Him.

In all things, your will be done, Lord. Amen.


Today is the feast of Saint Maria Goretti, my patron saint. Please remember me in your prayers today.

Preparing for the Feast

Tomorrow is the Optional Feast of Saint Maria Goretti, my patron saint. I am preparing for this day on my own and as part of that process I will ask you to please remember me in your prayers tomorrow. Please ask that Christ grant me the courage that Maria had and to allow my heart to be all for Him. Please also ask the intercession of Maria Goretti in these requests.

Thank you in advance. -- God bless and Mary protect! Be holy!

WOW: Saint Edition

To live by love is to banish all fear, all remembrance of past faults.
-- St Therese of the Child Jesus

Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little child too feeble to walk.
-- St Therese of Lisieux (same saint)

When we cast our faults into the devouring fire of Love with total childlike trust, how would they not be consumed, so that nothing is left of them?
-– St Therese of Lisieux

I'm trying to keep WOW (Words Of Wisdom) a regular thing. We have so much to learn from the Saints!

Independence Day - USA

Does it say that on calendars in Canada and Mexico? We have theirs on our calendars so I wonder if they have ours. Just a thought...

The 4th of July (Independence Day) is probably my favorite national holiday. I don't really know why I'd be jumping up and down in excitement on Labor Day or Memorial Day but even still, the 4th is my favorite for a reason beyond the fireworks, parades, and cheesey songs. (By the way, the songs most people call 'cheesey' actually make me very happy. I don't think they're cheesey at all!)

There is something about being an American citizen that really makes me smile. I love this country and I am proud to call it my own. It is comforting too to know that patriotism is a noble thing.

I want to say that again. Patriotism is a noble thing.

I don't remember how long ago it was when I was watching some grown men fight over loyalties to different countries. The argument on one side was basically that we shouldn't show pride of our citizenship because we are part of a larger body that is not encompassed by one nation. On the other side then was the argument that loyalty to one's country must always come first and foremost, even before the body of Christ.

The extremes seem unrealistic but they exist in so many people. But my question to those people is this: why must we ignore the country that we call our home? Why must we never speak of our country that we help to build stronger every day, the country that we help to run, the country that we have chosen for ourselves and our families? And to the others: what element forces us to ignore the spiritual body of Christ on earth in order to make our country seem more important? Why must there be such a huge focus on our nation outside of God? Something is surely wrong or missing if we must denounce the body of Christ as our own in order to respect our country.

There is a balance of God and country that is good and right. The catechism tells us so. I have always been and will most likely always be proud to call myself an American. I'm even more proud to call myself a Catholic American.


On this day 230 years ago, our land was born in a new way. Every year we grow in numbers and in spirit. More men, women, and children than you can count on all your fingers and toes leave their homelands and come to discover the 'American dream' every year. They come here seeking refuge from all kinds of unimaginable situations... and I welcome them with open arms.

I love America for the people. They are not perfect, but they try.

I love the street workers, the businessmen, the bankers, doctors, lawyers. I love the birds that soar in our skies. I love the trees that grow in our yards. I love the rivers and streams that gave birth to our cities. From the mountains in Montana to the skyscrapers of New York, from Hollywood to Portland, 'from sea to shining sea', I love all that America is and stands for.

Never allow yourself to pass a flying flag without remembering where you are and where you came from. You may not have started here (or you may have) but this is where you are now and chances are, you chose it. You chose America and America chooses you. We are ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBEERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. Never allow yourself to listen to the national anthem without really listening to the words - those words written so many years ago, those words written about the tragedy of war but the joy of freedom. Never allow yourself to forget those people who in so many ways have courageously given of themselves - and continue to give of themselves - for our home.


Boy on Float
Fourth of July Parade.
Vale, Oregon
Russell Lee, photographer, 1941.

However you celebrate today, you do not celebrate alone. Don't be scared to share the joy of freedom with others as you pass them today - or any day - in the store, on the sidewalk, or in your car. May God bless America (land that I love) and all of her people!

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Happy 4th of July to you and your family!

-- Be happy I didn't post all of my favorite patriotic hymns and songs. The list is LONG. --

Absent Again

I've been absent here due to some friends' wedding. Yes, I am friends with both the bride and the groom. I knew the groom better than the bride in the beginning but that quickly changed. I was a bridesmaid this time and while extremely exhausting (in so many ways), it was a lot of fun.

It's crazy to think that people my age are getting married. Of course... there are people my age entering convents too.

I'm getting old.