Feast of the Visitation

Mary set out

and traveled to the hill country in haste

to a town of Judah, 

where she entered the house of Zechariah 

and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,

cried out in a loud voice and said,

“Most blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
(Luke 1:39-56)

The devil will try to upset you by accusing you of being unworthy of the blessings that you have received. Simply remain cheerful and do your best to ignore the devil's nagging. If need be even laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Satan, the epitome of sin itself, accuses you of unworthiness! When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!

~Saint Teresa of Avila 

Let It All Go

Mass Readings for today

"They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid." (Mark 10:32)

"For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

Let it all go....success, control...of both temporal and spiritual things. Give it all to God. In times of suffering.  In moments of envy and jealousy I'm missing the point of what Jesus taught, how he loved. May my prayer become, God for you and your glory I give you my all. I let it all go. May thy will be done. Amen

Sts. Peter & Paul, 36 and a Sister

Saints Peter and Paul, 36 and sister...what do these three things have in common?? Me for one thing and the place I went today. I went to the church were I was baptized 36 years ago! I drove by this morning to take a sneak peak to see if the church was open no dice, but I got to  drive-by and it's a gorgeous parish. My mother-in-law sent me an email to wish me joy on this special day. My day was off to a great start and full of so many blessings!!  (I have written about my baptism before click here  to read the background story first.

At school this afternoon I saw sister walking through the halls. I told her that today was the day and about my adventure so far and that if it was at all possible maybe I could stop by the church after school. She told me not only to stop by after but she would also give me a tour! No sooner did I pull in the church parking lot did Sister Helene hand me a book about the history of the church, a record and cross that was blessed in Rome! (The crucifix she told me I could keep as a gift to celebrate my special day).  Right away I put it in my pocket and it reminded me of a prayer from when I was young. Cross in my Pocket. 

I carry a cross in my pocket,

A simple reminder to me

That I am a Christian,

No matter where I may be.

This little cross isn’t magic,

Nor is it a good luck charm.

It isn’t meant to protect me

From every physical harm.

It’s not for identification

For all the world to see.

It’s simply an understanding

Between my Savior and me.

When I put my hand in my pocket

To bring out a coin or a key,

The cross is there to remind me

Of the price He paid for me.

It reminds me too, to be thankful

For my blessings every day,

And to strive to serve Him better

In all that I do or say.

It’s also a daily reminder

Of the peace and comfort I share

With all who know my Master

And give themselves to His care.

So, I carry a cross in my pocket

Reminding none but me

That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life,

If only I’ll let Him be.

~written by Vera Mae Thomas

Okay first let me say, what a beautiful church and grounds! And I can't think of what two better Saints for me to have been linked to so earlier on in my life. Saint Peter and Saint Paul have both been influential in my own personal faith journey and conversion. Sister used to live right on site at the convent. She moved in 1976...so a year before I was born and baptized. 

Next year my goal is to actually be able to attend mass on this day, but so grateful for being able to celebrate in this way! God is so good.

Thank you Sister Helene! Thanks Mom & Dad! Thanks be to God! 

(Here's another reflection I wrote about the gift of Baptism).

"The power of God is capable of finding hope where hope no longer exists and a way where the way is impossible." ~St. Gregory of Nyssa

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

Belief is different than understanding... Happy Feast of the Most Holy Trinity!

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."

John 16:12-15

St. Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi Pray for Us!

 "The last thing I ask of you—and I ask it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—is that you love him alone, that you trust implicitly in him and that you encourage one another continually to suffer for the love of him."
~St. Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi

Spirit of truth, you are 

the reward to the saints,

the comforter of souls,

light in the darkness,

riches to the poor,

treasure to lovers,

food for the hungry,

comfort to the wanderer.

To sum up, you are the one

in whom all treasures are contained.

- St. Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi

www.livingwithchrist.us

Live Like That

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:2-8)

I want to love like that
to live like that

like Christ

with joy

giving

emptying

of myself

in love

for love

of God

neighbor

stranger

brother, sister.

Have I loved like this?

No. 

I fail daily.

but I try.

again

and again

again.

I want to live like that 

to love like that

like Christ

"so it is no longer I who lives,

but Christ who lives in me". (Galatians 2:20)

Take, O Lord, and receive
my entire liberty, my memory,
my understanding and my whole will.
All that I am and all that I possess
you have given me:
I surrender it all to you
to be disposed of according to your will.
Give me only your love and your grace;
with these I will be rich enough,
and will desire nothing more. Amen.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

www.livingwithchrist.us

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Pentecost Sunday

St. Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.



More!
Catholic Culture - Pentecost Sunday
USCCB Mass Readings
Perpetual Pentecost

By Your Side

"To where will you go child

Tell me where will you run

To where will you run

'Cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall

In the dead of night whenever you call

And please don't fight these hands that are holding you

My hands are holding you"

These are lyrics from a song (you can listen to it below). I was thinking about this today. I saw a parishioner in the church parking lot after mass and she told me her father had died earlier this morning. After we talked I walked away struck by her faith. Only hour(s) after her father died she was at church. Seeking God and consolation from the Eucharist; his body, blood, soul and divinity. She ran to God in-spite of her pain, loss, the planning & arrangements that would need to be made. She chose to run to God, made time for God. And she undoubtedly felt God's presence by her side.

I pray for her, her family and her faithful departed. I pray that she will continue to feel God's love and healing grace. I pray that my eyes, heart, mind and ears will continue to be open to observe and embrace such moments as these. To recognize Jesus' workings... not just in my own life, but also in the lives of others as we journey together towards our heavenly home. Amen

St. John I Pray for Us!

St. John I

 

God our heavenly Father, 
when the thought of you
wakes in our hearts,
let its awakening
not be like a startled bird
that flies about in fear.
Instead, let it be like a child
waking from sleep
with a heavenly smile.
Amen.

- Søren Kierkegaard
www.livingwithchrist.us

Joy Continued!

As the hand is meant for holding 

and the eye for seeing,
you have created me for joy, O God.
Share with me in finding that joy
everywhere:
in the violet's beauty,
in the lark's melody,
in the child's face,
in a mother's love,
in the purity of Jesus. Amen.

- Traditional Gaelic Prayer

https://www.livingwithchrist.us/

Dear God,  my creator and savior, I know my will is not completely in tune with Your Will for me.  I know I must live with Your Will and I want to do so.  But my littleness and frailty prevent me.  It's hard to change my ways Lord...but You can do so.  I am trying to do too much and do not spend enough time with You during the day.  I worry about doing and controlling instead of being and loving.  Lord, save me from my selfish, controlling ways.  I love you and trust you....please change me.  Show me the sins and selfishness I must eliminate.  Teach me that everything that happens to me is for my ultimate spiritual glory and to rely completely on You.  You have promised peace and joy and I now call on that promise of peace through Your Mother and my Mother.  Thank you Lord for your patience with me.

Adapted from Joan Guntzelman

The Ascension of the Lord

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God,
that we will believe Thine only-begotten Son our Redeemer
to have ascended this day into heaven,
may ourselves dwell in spirit amid heavenly things.

Joy

"Joy is a gift from God. It fills us from within. It is like an anointing of the Spirit. And this joy is the certainty that Jesus is with us and with the Father." ~Pope Francis

"A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love." ~Mother Teresa

"ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." ~Jesus (John 16:24)

What is the source of you joy? Material objects, other people (their affections, opinions) or is it the joy of Christ? Rest assured nobody else, nor death, nor sickness can take away joy that is rooted in the love of Christ. 

St. Joseph of Cupertino

Yep there's a saint for that! Finding there's a patron saint for just about anything!! Even exams! St. Joseph of Cupertino for success in examinations pray for me and all who are preparing or taking final exams.

First Prayer

O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

Through Christ our Lord.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.

Amen.



Second Prayer

O St. Joseph of Cupertino who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may like you succeed in the (here mention the name of Examination eg. History paper I ) examination.

In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

O St. Joseph of Cupertino pray for me
O Holy Ghost enlighten me
Our Lady of Good Studies pray for me
Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me.

Remember, when you succeed in the exams then you should thank St. Joseph of Cupertino and give glory and praise to God!

Lord I Need You

Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart’s desire. (Psalms 37:4)

5 Things I Learned Today

1. Be joyful! Show others the joy and love of Christ.
2. Listen...to God, to other people (especially the young).
3. Tell others you love them.
4. Remember God loves you.
5. Thank God and tell him how much you love him (and his mama)...pray the rosary!!

Deus Caritas Est

“God is love”: everything has its origin in God's love, everything is shaped by it, everything is directed towards it. Love is God's greatest gift to humanity, it is his promise and our hope.

~CARITAS IN VERITATE

Freedom

Freedom "certainly isn't doing everything we want, allowing passions to dominate us, moving from one experience to another without discernment, following the fads of the moment; freedom doesn't mean throwing everything we don't like out the window." True freedom is the ability to say "yes" to what is good and to make "definitive choices." ~Pope Francis

Hail Mary

My Prayer for Today...

listen
accept
do
May the Holy Spirit guide me to listen attentively  to God, accept his will, and do whatever he tells me to. Amen

"My God, dispose of me, and of all that belongs to me, according to your good pleasure. Amen."

A short prayer by St. Teresa of Avila

Lord, grant that I may always allow myself  

to be guided by you,  

always follow your plans,  

and perfectly accomplish your holy will.  

Grant that in all things,  

great and small,  

today and all the days of my life,  

I may do whatever you require of me.  

Help me respond  

to the slightest prompting of your grace, 

so that I may be  

your trustworthy instrument for your honor. 

May your will be done in time and in eternity  

by me, in me, and through me.  

Amen.

- St. Teresa of Ávila

www.livingwithchrist.us

St. Joseph Pray for Us!

"Dear young friends, learn from Saint Joseph. He went through difficult times, but he always trusted, and he knew how to overcome adversity." ~ Pope Francis, 5/1/13