Easter Blessings

"What does it mean that Jesus is risen? It means that the love of God is stronger than evil and death itself; it means that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom." ~Pope Francis

Pope Francis' Easter Urbi et Orbi 

Easter Vigil

"But when they hear the message of the Resurrection, they accept it in faith. And the two men in dazzling clothes tell them something of crucial importance: 
"Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee… And they remembered his words" (Luke 24:6,8). 
They are asked to remember their encounter with Jesus, to remember his words, his actions, his life; and it is precisely this loving remembrance of their experience with the Master that enables the women to master their fear and to bring the message of the Resurrection to the Apostles and all the others (cf. Luke 24:9). To remember what God has done and continues to do for me, for us, to remember the road we have travelled; this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future. May we learn to remember everything that God has done in our lives."   
~Pope Francis, Easter Vigil Homily

Holy Saturday

Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me
and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you
with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.

- Bl. Charles de Foucauld

Living with Christ

Good Friday

the cross and the crown

the cross and the crown

came tumbling down

crusted with gull and blood

what an ensemble to wear

no gold and silver

no jewels to glimmer

twisted and cruel

made of rage, worn for salvation

blood and sweat drip

from each crevice and fingertip

whip,  crack, snap

stab him here

crowds chant and cry

“crucify”, watch him die

until the curtain tears, the earth quakes

“Father forgive them, they know not what they do”

each time the cock crows

they deny

not willing to carry the cross 
or wear the crown

even just for one day

or to repent or pray

if only they knew what heaven awaits

and the promises that God has made.

who is they, them

or is it I?

that crucified

hung on the cross to die...

only to rise

forgive

love

live

eternally
and the cross and crown
he will wear
in glory and splendor
until now and ever after.

Stay With Me

"Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ~Matthew 26:41

After Mike died this scripture resonated with me. I was going through a tough time where there were things I wanted to do or change in my life, but I was tired both mentally, physically...my spirit was willing, but my flesh (body) was weak. I was so frustrated then and just wanted the grief to go away. Three and a half years later I can say I am at such a different place, I'm healed in so many ways, not to my own avail, all by the grace of God. Tonight at the end of mass the choir sang this song, taize style, and I started to think about how I was feeling and something started stirring inside...didn't want the song to end, or to leave. Thoughts started tossing in my head, as I started to think about how this scripture applies to my life now. I began to wonder what decision(s) is my spirit willing and my flesh weak? Are there earthly things holding me back? Going to "watch & pray" on these things.

The Miracle Prayer

Stumbled across this prayer when I was driving to a retreat. A friend let me borrow a bunch of CDs/audio books. As I popped in the Divine Mercy Chaplet a couple cards fell out and I picked them up (yes all of this while driving) I'm a good knee driver when I need to be. jk (kind of)  As I began to pray the impromptu prayer that fell out, I started to know the words...and I realized I knew this prayer! This is the prayer we prayed at the Cancer Prayer Group I attended years ago when Mike was first diagnosed. Mike and I would also pray this prayer together each evening. We did so for over 4 years. I had not prayed this prayer in over 3 years, so hearing it again brought back a flood of memories. It's such a beautiful prayer. I'm sending it to my aunt who was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer, thought it would be good to share here too.

The Miracle Prayer

Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am, I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever.  I invite you into my life, Jesus.  I accept you as my Lord, God and Savior. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul, and spirit.

Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your Precious Blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you Lord Jesus. I praise you Jesus. I thank you Jesus.  I shall follow you every day of my life.   Amen.

Mary, My Mother, Queen of Peace, St. Peregrine, the cancer saint, all the Angels and Saints, please help me.  Amen.

Say this prayer faithfully, no matter how you feel. When you come to the point where you sincerely mean each word with all your heart, Jesus will change your whole life in a very special way. You will see.

Prayer © 1993 Peter M. Rookey and Servite Fathers, O.S.M.

Our God is an AWESOME God!

Palm Sunday

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany 

 at the place called the Mount of Olives, 
he sent two of his disciples.
He said, “Go into the village opposite you, 
and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered 
on which no one has ever sat.
Untie it and bring it here.
And if anyone should ask you,
‘Why are you untying it?’ 
you will answer,
‘The Master has need of it.’”
So those who had been sent went off 
and found everything just as he had told them.
And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, 
“Why are you untying this colt?”
They answered,
“The Master has need of it.”

So they brought it to Jesus,
threw their cloaks over the colt, 
and helped Jesus to mount.
As he rode along,
the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; 
and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, 
the whole multitude of his disciples
began to praise God aloud with joy
for all the mighty deeds they had seen.
They proclaimed:
“Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
“Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent,
the stones will cry out!”

Luke 19:28-40

Nothing

Beautiful words to ponder as I enter into retreat. God be with me. Open my ears to hear, open my heart to love, open my eyes to see what you want me to see this weekend and help me to speak your truth.

I am nothing. I know nothing. I can do nothing, but God is everything and He has made Himself mine. 

~Mustard Seeds

http://www.dynamiccatholic.com/

O Lord, from now on
let me not desire health or life
except to spend them for you and with you.
You alone know what is good for me.
Therefore do whatever
seems best to you.
Give to me or take from me.
I desire to adore equally
all that comes to me from you,
my Lord and God. Amen.

~Blaise Pascal
www.livingwithchrist.us

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Conversation

Every conversation is a gift and truly sacred. Who will you talk to today? Who will you listen to? What gift will you bring them in the midst of your conversation? Bring life...bring hope!

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Pope Francis

"I would like that all of us, after these days of grace, might have the courage - the courage - to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the Cross of the Lord: to build the Church on the Blood of the Lord, which is shed on the Cross, and to profess the one glory, Christ Crucified. In this way, the Church will go forward. My hope for all of us is that the Holy Spirit, that the prayer of Our Lady, our Mother, might grant us this grace: to walk, to build, to profess Jesus Christ Crucified. So be it." 
~Pope Francis, 1st Homily 3/14/13

Perspective

I was at mass this morning and before father gave his homily he told us that things were going to be a bit hurried. He explained there were four funerals today. The first one beginning immediately after mass. I don't think he needed to say anymore, that was a homily in itself. Four funerals. I thought no matter what happens to me today, my day is already good. I'm alive, healthy, my family (all things considered) is relatively healthy. While we have concerns with my 6 year old niece (we are offering prayers and some things are unknown right now, and my Aunt's cancer hasn't miraculously disappeared) they are alive and we as a family, are blessed in many ways. 

As I was leaving church I saw a younger guy, maybe around my age, crouched down talking to a child. I thought probably preparing him for the funeral and my heart sank even further. This perspective, outlook, attitude (whatever you want to call it) today, every day, can be life changing. I want to hold on to this perspective, though many times I fail and get caught-up in my own "business" or needs, desires and I forget.

So today I offer my day for those four families and their beloved dead. I also pray for our priests who are giving so much of themselves, always, but especially today. And I pray for my own conversion of heart. That I may look outward towards others and their needs, vs. looking inward at my own satisfaction and desires. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

Litany of Humility

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
Fromthe desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
Fromthe fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I,provided that I may become as holy as I should…

Amen.

Invite God Into It 

Having a good day? Thank God for it. Struggling through a bad day? Invite God into it. Just another “ordinary” day? Find God in it. And—every day—praise God, for life is a gift never to be wasted. 

— from Tweet Inspiration
Source: http://www.americancatholic.org/

Can I Get a Witness?

Working on writing a witness for an upcoming retreat. Theme; Living My Paschal Mystery. Gotta write about my Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection. Holy Spirit please help me, guide my fingers as they peck away on the keyboard. 

3rd Sunday of Lent

Bless the Lord

This week I've been playing catch-up from being away last weekend. Lots of studying, school work, sleep (what's that??) to catch-up on. Needless to say, I've failed in all departments. Lessons late, didn't complete all my reading for class, thank God an assignment was extended (still amazed no matter how many times things like that happen, God is so good) in spite of all that my prayer life unfortunately is suffering too. I can't muster up the energy to stay awake long enough, hitting snooze a couple more times (yes that S is intentional) than I should. I have been late to mass not once but twice. And one of those times I was going to be so late, I couldn't even bring myself to going, I was ashamed. So I turned around and went to the adoration chapel. Disappointed I wasn't able to receive him, yet humbled I could still sit in his presence in spite of my lack of efforts to be on time to mass. Tried to blame it on traffic, etc. still have to think I could have put God first and left just a little bit earlier, put forth that extra effort what a difference that could have made.

It's moments like these that really humble me. I was thinking about that this morning during mass . (Yes I was on time...early in fact!). The gospel reading for today, The Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15:1-3,11-32 left me with much to think about. Father asked us to reflect which character we are from the parable...I thought I've been all of them. I've been the brother who's jealous and not understanding God's mercy. I've been the lost son. And sometimes, when I'm blessed by God's grace,  I can be like the merciful father. But I can be more and I'm called to be more each day. I need to keep trying in spite of my unworthiness and failed attempts realizing I can do all things only through Christ.

"Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! 

Bless the LORD, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, 

Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, 

Who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion, 

Who fills your days with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

 Psalm  103:1-5