Campers

Camp is coming up next week. If you read my post from last year, this is not your typical camp. Yes a camp for kids, but a bereavement camp for kids ages 5-14. I'll be working with 7-8 year olds again and just met the other counselors yesterday, we went over the activities and read our camper bios. Some of the kids I worked with last year, so they are coming back again. Some will be new faces for me. I can't go into detail about their family life or losses (many of the children attending have experienced several deaths). But what I do ask for is for prayers for these little guys. Prayers for them and for their families, for their care-takers. Rather if it's their parents (possibly now a single-parent due to a death) or for their grandparents, or whomever is their primary caretaker...they all need prayer, encouragement not just during this camp but at all times. 

Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort: Deal graciously, we pray thee, with those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love. Amen

St. Ignatius of Loyola Pray for Us!

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem
"for the greater glory of God and salvation of man."

Suscipe
St. Ignatius of Loyola

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

More!

http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/
http://googlinggod.com/2013/07/31/if-not-for-cannonball/

Brother Moon

He Lives in You

I went to the Lion King yesterday with my family and during Act 2/Scene 6, something caught my attention. Let me rephrase that the whole show caught my attention, but during this scene something captivated my mind & heart in a different way. So I searched in the dark and grabbed whatever paper I could find and pen and began to scribble down what I was hearing and my thoughts. Rafiki and Simba were talking about who Simba is, unsure of his identity following his father's death. Rafiki tells him to look into a well or pool of water and asks him what does he see. Simba at first sees his own reflection and disappointed, responds, "it's not my father, it's only my own reflection." But Rafiki prompts him to look harder  for "he lives in you." Then they proceeded to sing;

"He lives in you, he lives in me

He watches over everything we see

Into the water, into the truth

In your reflection, he lives in you"

As I was watching all of this unfold I was thinking that's like what we believe as Christians! Jesus Christ lives in all of us and we in him. Sometimes at first we might not recognize Christ in ourselves or others but he is there, we might need to just "look harder" so we can love like Christ, be like Christ. God is with us, God dwells within each and everyone of us we just need to remember who we are and have faith!

I sat there in the dark for a couple moments with my paper and pen in hand wondering if I was going to be able to read any of this when the lights came on. :) I couldn't help but wonder if anyone else was making this connection. It took a lot of self-control not to stand-up and shout the thoughts I was having at that moment. Instead I opted to quietly tuck my paper away and enjoy the rest of the show.

Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. 

(John 15:4-5)

(Here's the audio of scene/song;)

Lord's Prayer - a paraphrase by St. Francis of Assisi

Today's Gospel Luke 11:1-13

Servant Song

What do you want of me Lord? Where do You want me to serve You?

Where can I sing Your praises? I am Your song.

Jesus, Jesus, You are the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, You are the way.

I hear You call my name Lord, and I am moved within me.

Your Spirit stirs my deepest self. Sing Your songs in me.

Jesus, Jesus, You are my Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, You are the way.

Above, below and around me. Before, behind and all through me.

Your Spirit burns deep within me. Fire my life with Your love.

Jesus, Jesus, be the warmth of my heart.

Jesus, Jesus, You are the way.

You are the light in my darkness. You are my strength when I’m weary.

You give me sight when I’m blinded. Come see for me.

Jesus, Jesus, You are my light.

Jesus, Jesus, You are the way.

I am your song, your servant. Singing Your praise like Mary. 

Surrendered to Your Spirit. “Let it be done to me.”

Jesus, Jesus, let it be done to me.

Jesus, Jesus, You are the way.

Redefining of Blessings

Though I'm not a gifted singer (in any sense of the word, Lord help me and anyone who sits near me in church). But I really enjoy music! All sorts too. I probably have one of the most eclectic collections. (Though I have toned it down a bit in recent years :). Music to me is healing and has been a big part of my own journey. 

Rewind <<< to April 17, 2013...unfortunately nothing written in my journal that day. The day before, the day after though (go figure). But I had a blog post with this video; Blessings. (lyrics are below). Okay, fastfoward >>> to today...had the same song in my head after a discussion yesterday about gratitude and the homily from today coincided with this conversation. (Go figure...God is so good like that...LOVE when he does that)!! Father spoke about, "Being grateful for the gift of faith and if we wish to be fruitful in the world to have an attitude of gratefulness. God bestows all of these blessings upon us even when we don't deserve them, even when we don't desire them.  Not just reflecting on our past but how God is present to us now." So reflecting on this I thought it might be interesting to learn background story behind this artist's song. Maybe learn a bit why she wrote it, what her story was and perhaps why it was resonating with me. Here's clip:

Okay, I was intrigued to say the least. We had a connection...she mentioned something about her husband's health but did not go into details. I wanted to dig deeper and learn more and as I read her bio the tears fell. Lump in my throat and I began to understand why the song stayed with me. It sang to my own heart.  Just married, newlyweds and then her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor! You can read more of her story; Laura Story's Artist Profile. Though there are similarities, of course our stories differ in many respects. But like her, I too have felt blessed and grateful, amidst the grief and loss. I was just telling a friend at breakfast this morning how lucky AND blessed I feel that Mike lived over 4 years post-diagnosis and that we were able to live and do all we did during that time and grow in our faith together. Not everybody gets that opportunity when their loved one is diagnosed with a brain tumor or another illness. I'm not pretending to understand but I pray that perhaps with faith, healing (and yes prayers) I can (we all can) continue to recognize the blessings not just in our past but now, how God is presently working in our lives.

"Let my mouth be filled with your praise, that I may sing aloud; my lips shall shout for joy, when I sing to you, alleluia." (4/17/13 Entrance Antiphon)

Blessings Lyrics:
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

St. Mary Magdalene

"St. Mary Magdalene,
You come with springing tears
To the spring of mercy, Christ...
What can I say, how can I find words to tell
About the burning love with which you sought Him
Weeping at the sepulchre
And wept for Him in your seeking?...
For the sweetness of love He shows Himself
Who would not for the bitterness of tears."
— St. Anselm of Canterbury

God,here I am,at your disposal,your child. Use me to continue your loving the world, by giving Jesus to me and through me, to each other and to the world. Let us pray for each other that we allow Jesus to love in us and through us with the love with which his Father loves us. Amen. - Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

Cup of Salvation

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

How shall I make a return to the LORD

for all the good he has done for me?

The cup of salvation I will take up,

and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

Precious in the eyes of the LORD

is the death of his faithful ones.

I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;

you have loosed my bonds.

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

My vows to the LORD I will pay

in the presence of all his people.

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

Psalm PS 116:12-13, 15 AND 16BC, 17-18

Most high, glorious God, illumine the darkness of my heart. Give me an orthodox faith, persevering hope, and perfect charity. Lord, give me sense and knowledge that I will always do your holy and true command. ~St. Francis 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

You who, with special mercy,   look upon those clothed in your beloved habit,   cast a glance of pity upon me.   Fortify my weakness with your strength;   enlighten the darkness of my mind with your wisdom;   increase my faith, hope and charity.   Assist me during life,   console me by your presence at my death,   and present me to the Holy Trinity as your devoted child,   that I may bless you for all eternity in paradise.  Amen.

- Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

St. Bonaventure Pray for Us!

Jesus, pierce my soul with your love so that I may always long for you alone, the fulfillment of the soul's deepest desires. May my heart always hunger and feed on you, my soul thirst for you, the source of life, wisdom, knowledge, light and all the riches of God. May I always seek and find you, think about you, speak to you and do everything for your honor and glory. Be always my hope, my peace, my refuge and my help in whom my heart if rooted, so that I may never be separated from you. Amen.

- St. Bonaventure

The Gospel - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My life is an instant, an hour which passes by; My life is a moment Which I have no power to stay. You know, O my God, That to love you here on earth - I have only today.

- St. Thérèse of Lisieux

www.livingwithchrist.us

By Your Side

Woke-up this morning with this song in my mind. Felt like it was a love song from Jesus telling me all was going to be "okay" because he would be "by my side" with his "hands to hold me". This image came to mind. 

A Healing Prayer

Merciful Lord God,
stretch out your hand and grant (Name) and all nearby who are ill, the grace of healing.
Fit them for health in the name of your only Son.
May his holy name be their remedy.
May it make them sound and whole.
Through Jesus,glory and power are yours in the Holy Spirit, and yours they will continue for ever and ever.
Amen

~ St. Serapion

www.livingwithchrist.us

Home Away from Home

Visiting my grandma in Florida & have been going to church here. It feels like my "home away from home". This parish is amazing and I feel so grateful my grandma is sharing her car & supports my faith. There were a couple things during the homily today that caught my ear, but this especially when father said;

"Love will give you the courage you need to witness to Christ, for Christ who is love."

Amen!

Hear now, all you who fear
God, while I declare
what he has done for me.

Blessed be God who refused
me not
my prayer or his kindness!

(Responsorial Psalm 7/7/13)

The Gospel - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hail Holy Queen

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry,poor banished children of Eve;To thee do we send up our sighs,mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then,most gracious advocate,thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,Jesus. O clement,O loving,O sweet Virgin Mary!

V- Pray for us,O Holy Mother of God

R- That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Amen

My God,I give you this day.
I offer you,now,all of the good that I shall do and I promise to accept, for love of you, all of the difficulty that I shall meet.
Help me to conduct myself during this day in a manner pleasing to you.
Amen

- St. Francis de Sales

www.livingwithchrist.us.

To Pray and Ponder

Mary, pray that I might treasure life
beauty
goodness
opportunity
truth.

Mary, pray that I may ponder
how to defend life
how to see and hear beauty
how to affirm and share goodness
how to grasp and utilize opportunity
how to seek and proclaim truth.

Mary, pray that I treasure what I have
and ponder what I might become.
Amen

God of justice,
Open our eyes to see you in the face of the poor.
Open our ears to hear you in the cries of the exploited.
Open our mouths to defend you in the public squares as well as in private deeds.
Remind us that what we do to the least ones, we do to you.
Amen.

- U.S. Catholic Bishops
www.livingwithchrist

Sign of the Cross+

Signing with the cross

Lord Jesus,

I sign my heart with the sign of the cross,

reminding myself

of your love for each person.

I ask that I may grow in faithfulness

as your friend.

I sign my lips with the sign of the cross,

that I may speak as you would speak.

I sign my hands with the sign of the cross

asking that you enable me

to do your work,

and be your hands

in our world which you love so much.

I sign my eyes with the sign of your cross

that I may really see, Lord, 

and be aware

of all that is around me. 

I sign my ears with the sign of your cross

that I may listen and really hear

the communication that comes to me

in different ways

- from you

and from the people 

you place into my life.

I sign my shoulders, Lord, with your cross,

knowing that you call me

to carry my own cross each day

and support others 

in the burdens and difficulties 

that they have.

All that I do today

I set out to do

in the name of the Father (+)

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.