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