International Nativity Display at Our Lady of LaSalette Shrine

Our Lady of LaSalette

Saturday night Paul and I went to the Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette, in Enfield, NH to enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Last year I came to the shrine with a church group during week when it was snow covered and very cold. This year it was a balmy warm evening with no snow and a lot of people.

One of my favorite things about the shrine is the display of over 450 nativity sets from all over the world. I took pictures, some of which are attached. The nativity sets were encased in Plexiglas and there was much glare and reflection to deal with in trying to get some good pictures.

Who is Our Lady of LaSalette?

APPARITION of the BLESSED VIRGIN on the Mountain of LA SALETTE, Lecce France, the 19th of September, 1846. read more at: http://www.catholicapologetics.info/catholicteaching/privaterevelation/lasalet.html

Paula

Canada

Brazil

Colorado, USA

Knit

Ecuador

Eskimo

Germany

Inuit

Kenya

Laos

Mexico

?

Peru

Taiwan

?

USA

Compassion

What thoughts and feelings does the word compassion bring to mind? Maybe a heartfelt sorrow for the people of the world who are being persecuted. You feel compassion for the homeless person begging on the street corner. Maybe it's for the child with a learning disability who is working so hard trying to learn to read. You feel compassion for your friend who just lost their job and may lose their home.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines compassion as: a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc. Jesus expands this definition to a much deeper level and asks us to bring his "compassion" to the world.

In Gabrielle Bossis' book, HE and I, she records the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, "If you only knew what compassion really is-the compassion you must strive to imitate. Overlooking everything to stoop to a heart's needs, paying no attention to any disappointments or ingratitude, being even kinder to those who have hurt you. Just be your Christ for them. If you make this your intention I'll be seen in you. (HE and I, pg. 193).

Can you feel compassion for someone who has disappointed or hurt you in the past? In spite of outward behaviors or past experiences, try to look to the needs of their hearts. In order to bring the love of Christ to our neighbor (friend, family member, co-worker, stranger...) we sometimes have to press though uncomfortable feelings and forget past hurts. Know that each and everyone of us carries hurts that only Jesus fully understands. By showing compassion to our more "difficult" neighbors, we can bring the light and love of Christ to them.

References:
HE and I, Gabrielle Bossis, translated and condensed by Evelyn M. Brown, Imprimatur: Msgr.Jean-Marie Fortier, Archbishop Sherbrooke, Nov. 14, 1969, Editions MEDIASPAUL,QC
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compassion
Picture:Depictions of Jesus have often shown him in terms of animal-related imagery such as that of the 'good shepherd', an example being this 16th century work by Philippe de Champagne. From Wikipedia.

He and I

"He and I" is the title of a book I am now reading for the third time. Years ago a friend gave me this book and reading it opened the door to a deeper and more personal understanding of who Jesus Christ is and how much He loves us.

Amazon.com has this lovely product description of the book, “In this timeless spiritual testament, readers enter into the intimate, interior conversations between Jesus and Gabrielle Bossis, a French nurse and playwright. Recorded in her diary from 1936 to 1950, their tender exchanges capture Jesus' enduring presence in our daily lives, his insistence on kindly serving others, and his encompassing love for humanity--and show that ordinary individuals can experience an intimacy with Christ.” 

During my first reading I thought, how fortunate Gabriele was to have this long and intimate relationship with Jesus. This time, when reading the book I noticed the message from Jesus,” Each soul is My favorite… I choose some only to reach the others.” This time I am read the book and realized that the book was written for me and for you. The message is universal and this is how Jesus feels about each and every one of us. The tender words of Jesus bring comfort to the soul and will fill your heart with joy. This book has been an incredible blessing to me and probably the most powerful spirit filled reading I have ever experienced. I just read a couple of pages a day because the reading is so deep, you have to take it slow to soak up the awesome feeling of Jesus to talking to you!

Excerpts

“Treat Me as the most intimate One who not only excuses the sins confided to Him but who takes them upon Himself in order to obtain the Father’s pardon” (pg. 78)

G.” Lord, can we always make amends, even for the faults that we are not aware of, but that Your sensitivity sees?”

Jesus. “Don’t you know that because of My compassion a single act of perfect love atones for a whole lifetime? that one humble and tender look from you pierces My heart with love? that I am sensitive to every cry of your hearts?” (pg. 95)

“Don’t get the idea that it is the greatest number of prayers that touches your God. It’s the way you speak to Him. Be irresistible in love, abandonment and humility. “ (pg.103)

December 15, 1949 - Holy hour. Coming back from Mass in the dark at 7am in the freezing rain. "This too, Lord, may I offer for Your sinners in this Marian year?

"I take all sufferings little and big, and place them in the treasury of the Church - the treasury used for the making of saints. You forget your past sufferings, but they continue to bear fruit in My sight. You have already forgotten your travel weariness, weather annoyances, desert thirst, the fears, exile in distant countries, the slow journeys back, the long tests of endurance, times of illness. But remember that you offered Me everything and that I've kept everything.” (pg. 363)

The book has an imprimatur, an official license by the Roman Catholic Church to print an ecclesiastical or religious book.

HE and I, Gabrielle Bossis, translated and condensed by Evelyn M. Brown, Imprimatur: Msgr.Jean-Marie Fortier, Archbishop Sherbrooke, Nov. 14, 1969, Editions MEDIASPAUL,QC

Sins of the Spirit

I am a big fan of the late Father Leo Clifford and always enjoy his “reflections” on EWTN. His reflections are 5-10 minutes stories that teach biblical lessons. I was thrilled to see videos of his reflections pop up in my YouTube menu. My first selection was this reflection on sins of the spirit or respectable sins. It is a very humbling reflection and a good examination of the conscience.

Father Leo begins by telling the story of the prodigal son to point out the sins of the “good” brother. He makes comparisons of what we normally consider bad sins, the crimes in the daily news, and those other “respectable” sins that are far greater in number and worse in the eyes of God. These are the sins of the spirit: pride, selfishness, coldness, indifference, haughtiness, and condescending attitude.

Fr. Leo quotes Dickens, “There is so much bad in the best of us, and so much good in the worst of us, that it ill becomes any of us to speak about the rest of us.”

Pray for Pope Francis

We pray for the Holy Father that the heavenly Mother intercedes for him and protects him in his ministry:

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among
women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of
God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Weep not for what you have lost, fight for what you have.

Weep not for what is dead, fight for what was born in you.

Weep not for the one who abandoned you, fight for who is with you.

Weep not for those who hate you, fight for those who want you.

Weep not for your past, fight for your present struggle.

Weep not for your suffering, fight for your happiness.

With things that are happening to us, we begin to learn that nothing is
impossible to solve, just move forward.

In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Amen

Prayer for my family

Loving God, I offer thanks for the gift of my family.

Help us to work together for peace and harmony in our relationships.

Grant us the grace to accept each other’s faults and weaknesses.

Protect us from harsh words and hurt feelings.

Assist us to encourage one another’s strengths and abilities.

Lead us to mutual understanding and support.

May we always forgive each other’s failings and rejoice in one another’s successes.

Watch over my family, Dear Lord.

Bless us with good health and happiness.

Fill our hearts with love, patience, and kindness for one another, now and always.

Amen

From My Saint Pio Prayer Book

Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Morning Prayer

Last November I wrote down one of the morning prayers from the daily prayers (Lauds) from the Universalis website. I enjoy the poetic rhyme and rhythm of the prayer and read and meditate on this prayer frequently. It is so simple yet full of wisdom. This morning I decided to share this prayer. I went to Universalis to get the URL for my blog post and there it was again!

Hymn (from Morning Prayer 9.2.15)

Now that the daylight fills the sky,

we lift our hearts to God on high,

that he, in all we do or say,

would keep us free from harm today;

Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife;

from anger’s din would hide our life;

from all ill sights would turn our eyes;

would close our ears from vanities.

Would keep our inmost conscience pure;

our souls from folly would secure;

would bid us check the pride of sense

with due and holy abstinence.

So we, when this new day is gone,

and night in turn is drawing on,

with conscience by the world unstained

shall praise his Name for victory gained.

  

Morning Prayer is part of the “Hours”, day long prayer typical of monastic living.

“Seven times a day I praise you.” – Psalm 118(119):164

The Lord has commanded us to pray without ceasing, and this is what the Hours help us do.

Morning Prayer – at the start of the day's work and the coming of the light.

Daytime Prayer – at mid-morning, noon and in the afternoon, to unite us with the one for whom and through whom we are working.

Evening Prayer – at the end of the day's work, to offer up what we have done.

Night Prayer – last thing at night, to commend our souls to God.

And finally, there is the magnificent Office of Readings, at whatever time of day is best for us to reflect on the mystery of salvation, with the help of Scripture and the writings of the Fathers of the Church.

http://www.universalis.com/index.htm

Abortion

I have thought about writing on the current news of the abortion industry and have hesitated because I don’t want my blog to be political. However, I have felt a push several times and after reading Isaiah 66:1-4, I felt it was time to write.

Isaiah 66:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

Judgment and Hope

66 This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
Where will my resting place be?
2 Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.
3 But whoever sacrifices a bull
is like one who kills a person,
and whoever offers a lamb
is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
whoever makes a grain offering
is like one who presents pig’s blood,
and whoever burns memorial incense
is like one who worships an idol.
They have chosen their own ways,
and they delight in their abominations;
4 so I also will choose harsh treatment for them
and will bring on them what they dread.
For when I called, no one answered,
when I spoke, no one listened.
They did evil in my sight
and chose what displeases me.”

When I hear the new stories that are broadcasted daily about the barbaric acts that compound an already murderous society that kills it’s most vulnerable citizens (the pre-born), I can’t help but wonder, when judgement day is coming. Throughout the bible God has ended this evil by wiping out the evil people involved with killing. Here we are a modern and much uncivilized society that sets up institutions of murder on street corners of our cities next door to schools, churches, and our homes. As a nation many have become desensitized to the horrendous acts being performed in our communities. People watch the news and are outraged (rightly so) at the injustices happening around the world, yet they condone the murder of the God’s creation in our country. Who are we to judge others when this country allows that most horrific acts imaginable to be performed daily with our government’s stamp of approval and funded by our tax dollars?

I pray for the healing of mothers who have suffered from abortions and for them to know their babies are with Jesus. I pray for the hearts of those in the abortion industry to be turned to God and that they escape the hell they are in and receive God’s forgiveness and mercy. 

Saint Anne's Shrine

For an extra special birthday weekend my husband and I took a road trip to Sainte Anne’s Shrine in Isle La Motte, Vermont. Isle La Motte is one of three islands on Lake Champlain in Northern Vermont close to the Canadian border. We took off early Friday morning and managed to get there in time for morning mass. Mass was held in an outdoor chapel. It was such a beautiful road trip and the island is gorgeous. It’s quaint and quiet, not at all touristy. Getting there we passed farms and windmills and more solar panels than I have ever seen in one day. Go green Vermont! The shrine owns a stretch of waterfront beach and it’s free and open to the public. After mass and lunch we parked ourselves on a grassy knoll and relaxed for the afternoon. I also took some time to pray the Stations of the Cross at an outdoor sort of park area they have set up with the stations. We both loved it so much we can’t wait to go back and stay for two nights next time.

The shrine is dedicated in honor of Saint Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The shrine is nestled among pines and bordering Lake Champlain. I went there once before with my dad when I was a young girl. I never forgot how beautiful it was and I always wanted to go back to see it again. Thanks to my sweet husband, I made it back, 48 years later.

My birthday is the feast day of Saint Ignatius Loyola who is also the founder of the Society of Jesus, ie, “Jesuits”. I adopted St. Ignatius as my patron saint not only because his feast day is on my birthday, but also because his story of conversion sounds so familiar to me. Basically, St. Ignatius was a man of the world and only converted after he was recuperating from a war injury and had nothing to read except the bible and some other religious books. The Word of God softened his hard heart and he was on fire for the faith. His path was not an easy one and he made mistakes and learned from those mistakes. Eventually he started the Society of Jesus (16^th century). I am currently reading his spiritual writings and will surely write about that eventually.

See my pictures below. The pictures at Saint Anne’s Shrine website are even better. 

beach in front of the Shrine

Statue of "Our Lady of Lourdes" overlooking Lake Champlain at St. Anne's Shrine

God's Wife

An eye witness account from New York City,

on a cold day in December, some years ago:

A little boy, about 10-years-old,

was standing before a shoe store on the roadway,

barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.

A lady approached the young boy and said,

'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'

'I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,’

was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand, went into the store,

and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks

for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water

and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. 

She took the little fellow to the back part of the store

and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed

his little feet, and dried them with the towel.

By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks..

Placing a pair upon the boy's feet,

she then purchased him a pair of shoes..

She tied up the remaining pairs of socks

and gave them to him.

She patted him on the head and said,

‘No doubt, you will be more comfortable now..'

As she turned to go, the astonished kid

caught her by the hand,

and looking up into her face, with tears

in his eyes, asked her:

'Are you God's wife?'

In the story the women is washing the child’s feet as Jesus washed the apostle’s feet. The modern day setting reminds us that we as disciples of Jesus are called to serve the poor and each other. We can bring the light and love of Jesus to the world by reaching out to those in need.

John 13:12-16 NIV

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

In Jesus’s time the roads were dusty and people wore open-toed sandals. Their feet often became dirty. It was the job of the lowest servants to wash the guests' feet.

Water of Life

I love summer time and gardening. Everything about gardening makes me think of God. The flowers and vegetables are gifts God gave to feed us and surround us with his beautiful creations. Punning and transplanting are other things I’ve been doing a lot of this summer. I had some invasive perennials that I decided to dig up and replace with some colorful plants that will bloom all summer. I moved a few plants around because they weren’t thriving where they were planted. We had a few hot days and the garden looked parched and wilted so I gave it a good watering. Within a few hours the garden was transformed and radiant. It seems like everything we do in the garden has biblical connections.

Isn’t God the ultimate gardener? The world began in the Garden of Eden where everything Adam and Eve needed was present.

Genesis 1:29 (NIV)

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

God prunes us when we are out of control or too tangled up in worldly things that are not bearing fruit for the kingdom and plan God has for each of us.

The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-4 NIV)

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

At the Resurrection, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene as a gardner.
John 20:15 (NIV)

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Our gardens need water to grow. We need the water of life that only God can give us. In the Bible water represents the Word of God, baptism, salvation, and eternal life.

Revelation 21:6-7

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Not to forget the infamous women at the well.
John 4:10-16 (NIV)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

We give our gardens water to grow. Only God can give us the water of eternal life.

my backyard garden

Do Not Worry, Trust in Jesus

The following “poem” came to me in at a time when I most needed it. When your children are young you worrying about many things. When they grow up it isn’t any easier, just different.  

TRUST ME

Do you believe that I am the Son of God?

And do you believe that I died for all men and women and that I rose from the dead?

Then why do you continue to be distracted and anxious about your loved ones?

Do they not also belong to me?

Would I refuse to work in their lives as I work in yours?

I have not put you in charge of saving them.

I have already done that.

Nor have I charged you to change them.

Your task is to love them, forgive them and pray for them and to turn them over to Me.

Come closer to Me yourself.

And I will do the rest.

TRUST ME!

More of Jesus’s teaching on the fruitlessness of worrying from the gospel of Luke

Luke 12:22-34 NIV

Not Worry

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Joseph Story

In the Jesus in Scripture and Tradition MOOC from Notre Dame University, the professor says, "Genesis 50:15-21, is one of the most profound passages in all of scripture.” Wow!

My lectio divina of this passage:

 Joseph is the 17 year old favored son of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob gives Joseph a very special coat, which might have been a type of vestment. At that time Joseph has at least 10 brothers and probably an equal number of sisters, although they not mentioned directly. Jacob has fathered these offspring with tow wives and two servants of the wives. It’s difficult to imagine what the family dynamics would be like under those conditions. The issues of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and multiple mothers, must have made life complicated for all members of the family. Out of all the children, Joseph is the favored and “chosen” son of the favored wife Rachel. Joseph was the long awaited child that came late in Jacobs and he gets much more attention from his parents. Jacob sends Joseph on a trip to check up on his brothers. I have to wonder why Jacob sent Joseph off alone to check up on his brothers knowing his naive and boastful behavior would surely get him in trouble with the older brothers.

Joseph goes off to find the brothers wearing the coat and brags to his brothers about a dream he had. In his dream this brothers are bowing down to him. It’s not hard to understand how showing up with a special garment and sharing the dream about being in a position of power over his brothers was not well received. Joseph was in a vulnerable position: alone, far from home, in the presence of his brothers who mostly hated him. They sold him as a slave. This was following his older brother talking them out of killing him. The brothers blooded Joseph's special coat and brought it back to show Jacob. They told him his beloved Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

Joseph ends up in Egypt as a slave. In spite of many ups and downs Joseph ends up in a position of great power in Egypt. Joseph has the gift of prophecy and predicts a famine. The pharaoh believes Joseph and Egypt is able to store grain prior to the five year famine. The famine happens and the entire world is suffering. Jacob in his very old age sends ten of his sons to Egypt for grain. Joseph and his brothers meet again. They don’t recognize Joseph, but Joseph knows who they are, In spite of the evil the brothers did to him, he felt compassion for them and helped them by giving them grain and much more to bring back to their father. There is a lot more to this story and the reader should read Genesis for the details. This is a story of forgiveness. Joseph forgives the brothers the evil they did and tells them that God brought good out of their evil by putting Joseph in a position to save his family in the time of famine. Joseph brings his family to Egypt and provides for all of their needs. Then Jacob dies. The brother fear Joseph will turn on them now that the father has passed. The brothers think Jacob only took care of them to please his father

Genesis 50:15-21 (NIV)

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph has now matured into understanding his chosen position. He is no longer the young arrogant teenager. He now knows that being "chosen" is not about being in a position of power and prestige. It is about love and service to others. Being chosen by God means responsibility for the betterment of others. This is beautiful story of God's providence and forgiveness.

Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat.

Illustration by Owen Jones from "The History of Joseph and His Brethren" (Day & Son, 1869). Scanned and archived at www.OldBookArt.com where it was marked as Public Domain.

Divine Attributes

I would like to share some text from Mother Angelica’s book “The Father’s Splendor”. When you purchase items from ETWN’s catalog they send you freebies. I have several booklets from Mother Angelica that are full of incredible insight into who God is, his “splendor”. Mother Angelica has a way of taking what is supernatural and mysterious and presenting these mysteries in very understandable language through her stories (EWTN) and her writings. The first few pages of this book filled me with awe as I read these attributes of God. These are but a few that touched me most deeply.

His Power created me

His Wisdom knit me in my mother’s womb

His Providence sustained me

His Omnipotence breathed a soul into my body

His Goodness brought me forth in a world of beauty and in a family filled with love

His Wisdom sees every detail of my life

His Providence protects me

His Mercy forgives me

His Goodness bring good out of my mistakes

His Joy fills my life with many oases to rest and take courage

As I work and labor of for my bread. His Light gives me ideas

His Omnipotence makes me creative

His Omnipresence keeps me company in lonely hours

His Love is always there when I feel unloving and unloved

His Peace is ever ready to fill my soul when I am disturbed

His Justice will take care of the persecutions I have suffered

His Compassion assures me of His Love

His Wisdom designed all creation

His Power brought it into being

His Providence disposes and orders all things in their proper place

His Goodness gives it all to me

Mother Angelica, 1977, The Fathers Splendor, EWTN Catholic Publisher, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL, USA, 35210

Tobit

Tobit 7:17 Be brave, my daughter. May the Lord grant you joy in place of your grief!

Last week the Catholic mass readings included the book of Tobit. We have been reading the book of Tobit all week and on Thursday the sad story of Sarah and Tobit was finally over and Sarah, Tobit’s daughter is married to Tobiah. Sarah had a demon on her and 7 of her husbands died before consummating the marriage. Obviously she was depressed and it was a sad story for several chapters. Much prayer from Tobit and Sarah and Tobiah and the hand of God turned this story into a love story. I was reading the meditations on the readings in The Word among Us publication and they presented several questions that reminded me of my love story. I remembered that God answered my prayers and how I had to step out in faith to meet my husband. It was a lot less dramatic then losing 7 husbands but there was definitely some similar experiences which included lots of prayerful questions and blind faith throughout our courtship. From the Word among us:

• What is your “how we met” story?
• How did God hear and answer your prayers?
• How did you find the courage to follow the Spirit’s promptings?
• What risks did you face?

In God We Trust

Greetings on this beautiful day June. If I had to pick a perfect season this would be it. It’s in the 70’s, sunny, breezy, and the garden is blooming.

Seven months have gone by since God put it on my heart to blog for him. The Lord slipped his question into my head when I was thinking about how I needed to find  time to blog more for my teaching blog. There I was all goal oriented trying to do more for my career and for myself. That’s when I heard him ask me, “Why don’t you blog for Me?”. I felt convicted for not having considered a Christian centered blog. I also felt convicted for all the time I spend doing what I want to do instead of being in relationship with God. Next I was concerned about what I would write. Then I remembered that if God wants me to do this he will provide a way.

Proverbs 6:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Jeremiah 42:3
Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."

Psalm 32:8
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.

Over the winter I have been trying to get my notes and stories into blogs. Spring arrives and I am still hesitant to post online. I feel this is a private area of my life and I am anxious to publish my thoughts to the world. Oh, but we are called to share the Good News!

Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Last Sunday during mass the tug, the nudge of God was too much to ignore. My reaction to the nudge was “what shall I name the blog” and bingo "In God We Trust” popped into my head and stayed there, repeating itself throughout the day. There would be no forgetting the title. It seemed very Americana with the wording that is on our money. I really liked the trust God part and that reminded me of  Divine Mercy “Jesus I trust in You.”

God Bless

Corinthians 8:13-14

My Lectio Divina

Corinthians 8:13-14

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[b]

This scripture is so simple yet so difficult to attain in our complicated world. I pray for the relief of the people who are suffering in the world, with no homes, not enough food and who being are persecuted. I wish everyone that is able, would give more to the needy. If each one of us could give to those who are in need now instead of stockpiling our resources we could wipe out hunger in the world. We just need to trust that God will take care of us if we take care of each other. At church we have a basket to put food and household items in for the local food pantry. It pains me to see so few items in that basket each week. If each person who is able would put one item in the basket each week it would be overflowing and it would make a big difference. I pray for people’s hearts to open to the needs in their communities and in the world, and give more. God is not asking us to give beyond our means (our basic needs), but to give to our neighbors from our excess.

Also consider giving to international relief efforts like:

Samaritans Purse
Catholic Relieve Services

Lectio Divina

Week one of the MOOC “Jesus in Scripture and Tradition” begins with a lesson in Lectio Divina. It is defined in the course as “the combined practice of scriptural reading, reflection or meditation, then prayer and further thought”. The practice dates back to the 3^rd century. Fr. Daley of Notre Dame University explains the practice as follows. Begin by reading selected bible text a couple of times, slowly. Use your imagination and try to put yourself in the scene of the text. Visualize the setting down to the small details. Get involved and become part of the scene. End with a prayer and journal your thoughts.

I searched online to learn more about Lectio Divina and found some interesting background on Lectio Divina from the IgnatianSpirituality website, a service of the Loyola Press. They write, “This method of prayer goes back to the early monastic tradition. There were not bibles for everyone and not everyone knew how to read. So the monks gathered in chapel to hear a member of the community reading from the scripture. In this exercise they were taught and encouraged to listen with their hearts because it was the Word of God that they were hearing.”

I am familiar with this type of spiritual reading and now have a name for it. Mother Angelica, foundress of EWTN talks about scripture in this manner all of the time. She brings the gospel to life through her stories that I listen to on Mother Angelica Live (EWTN show). 

"Jesus in Scripture and Tradition" Edx MOOC

I am very excited to be starting a new MOOC from Edx, “Jesus in Scripture and Tradition”. It’s taught by faculty from Notre Dame University. I was a little hesitant going into this MOOC because I just reviewed another Edx course “The Letters of the Apostle Paul” from Harvardx. That course was mostly academic in tone. It lacked something I was looking for, a real faith community. I think this course is going to be different, a real theology course. Thanks to the wonderful free MOOCS, here I am, in an online theology course. There is still time to get in the course. It just opened on Tuesday. It runs for 8 weeks and I believe you have until June 15^th before registration closes. Go to: https://www.edx.org/ look for the course and register. 

MOOC=Massive Open Online Course.

Sunday March 22nd

Sunday March 22, 2015. During mass I felt the Lord tell me “It’s time tell your story”.  I have had a hard time starting because I wasn’t sure where to begin. I tried to begin chronologically but that didn't work. I feel like my faith is a very private part of my life and blogging about it is way out of my comfort zone. God often wants us out of our comfort zones so we can grow in faith. Here I am trying to make sense of my path.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11 

Mother's Day

This year on Mother's Day I asked my husband Paul  to take me to the Our Lady of Ephesus House of Pray in Jamaica, VT. The house is a replica of the Virgin Mary’s house in Ephesus Turkey. History says that Saint John took Mary to Turkey when living in Jerusalem when the Roman’s began persecuting the Christians. In order to leave early Sunday morning for this day trip, I went to mass Sat. afternoon. Sat. night I was so fortunate to watch on ETWN a movie on Jesus’s life with a focus on the Blessed Mother Mary.  Sunday was a beautiful day and we arrived in Jamaica VT around 10am. The house was so beautiful. It was built with hand crafted brick and stone work. It was open for us to come in and pray. I was able to have the whole place to myself and pray the rosary in peace and silence. There were  vases of flowers with lots of roses that filled the house with a light scent of rose. Light came down from a skylight to fill the altar area of the prayer house. This house is holy ground and I could feel the supernatural sense of being that comes when you are walking on holy ground. The peacefulness was intoxicating. It was so quiet you could only hear the birds in the area. Behind the house was a walkway to an outdoor altar. There was a screened in gazebo where we ate our lunch. It was heaven on earth. Down the road is a retreat house that overlooks the beautiful green mountains. We meandered home enjoying the picturesque backroads of VT and NH. Although this house is tucked away in rural VT. it's not hard to find. 
http://ourladyofephesushouseofprayer.org/