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

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