"God wishes us not to rest upon anything but His infinite Goodness. Do not let us expect anything but from Him, and let us put our trust and confidence in Him alone."
~St Charles Borromeo

Smallest Details

I have been reading St. Faustina's Diary for some time after learning about it from some sisters who actually teach the Divine Mercy. I usually read it in small sections because it is deeply spiritual and there are so many prayerful thoughts and words. More often then not I read it when I'm in chapel. Tonight while at chapel I was reading and words began to jump out at me and brought me back to something that just had happened yesterday...

"Jesus likes to intervene in the smallest details of our life, and He often fulfills secret wishes of mine that I sometimes hide from Him, although I know that from Him nothing can be hidden."  (Diary of St. Faustina Book 1 #360)

Yesterday after school I stopped by chapel. (This is nothing new, my daily visits have been happening for some time now...longing for more than 1 visit some days but with other responsibilities I'm not always able to). When I stopped in I actually *planned* on only staying for just a bit. I just wanted to visit with Jesus and head home. I wasn't feeling well and just wanted to go home and go to bed. However, when I entered the chapel a woman asked if I was the sub-adorer for the 5 o'clock hour. I told her I wasn't but I could stay. There was one other woman there after she left. In my heart I had a longing to be alone with Jesus. I secretly (or so I thought secretly) hoped I could be alone with him in the chapel. I was feeling empty, worn, tired, head was pounding. Jesus knew this and blessed me with this secret wish of mine. The woman left and I was alone with him. I could talk to him personally and tell him aloud how I was feeling, fears, doubts, how I have been trying to pray and struggling. How much I love him and want to do his will no matter what that is or even though I might not understand. 

Just think...how much our God must love us to pay attention to the smallest details of our lives not because he has to, because he wants to.

A Prayer of Saint Augustine

EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

from The Confessions of Saint Augustine

Pray

Yep, this is about me right now. All I have left in me. I pray. Try to and just "pray" that God knows what is in my heart. Sometimes I'm not even able to say the words aloud that I want to say or keep up in mass because I begin to cry, or get choked up. I try and I want to and pray that God knows this and the intentions of my heart. 

In Memory

Michael Gregory Belz
May 11, 1978 - August 26, 2009

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

St. Bartholomew, Apostle Pray for Us

On 8/22/13 I wrote in my journal..."who do I have to cling to but God." and what does God tell me today during the Collect during mass...Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith, by which the blessed Apostle Bartholomew clung wholeheartedly to your Son, and grant that through the help of his prayers your Church may become for all the nations the sacrament of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of a whole bunch of things, but one thing in particular caught my eye...neurological diseases. Really? Really God are you speaking to me like this? I pray for St. Bartholomew's intercession. I pray that your will be done and that I may accept your will with grace. I pray that I may cling only to you Lord and no other. Today, tomorrow and all the days of my life. For this and all things I pray in your name. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Bartholomew the Apostle

O Glorious Saint Bartholomew, Jesus called you a person without guile and you saw in this word a sign that he was the Son of God and King of Israel. Obtain for us the grace to be ever guileless and innocent as doves. At the same time, help us to have your gift of faith to see the Divine hand in the events of daily life. May we discern the signs of the times that lead to Jesus on earth and will eventually unite us to him forever in heaven. Amen.

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say