Loved Sinner

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

At my Carmelite retreat we learned about about many things, but what most stood out in my mind was learning about the four waters, from "The Life" by St. Teresa of Avila. This is something that I have not yet studied, and the vision of water was easily assimilated into my brain. The first time that I entered a Catholic Church I had the sense of the smell of fresh running water. And many times at Adoration the sense of smelling fresh running water returns. Now, I cannot wait to read the book!

In the first water we draw water from a well with our bucket--and bring it to the garden of our soul by way of active prayer and meditation--we work hard to learn new disciplines.

The second water comes to us by way of a water wheel. We still need our bucket (prayer and meditation) and hard work, but in this water we are bearing the fruit of consolations and spiritual delights.

The third water flows into the soul of our garden like a river or a spring flowing through us, the water becomes easier to obtain, and our trust in God that He will bring us the water increases.

The fourth water is the RAIN! Oh how I love the rain, the way it feels, the way it smells, the way it cleans the air and the world around us. In the fourth water God just rains down His blessings and Grace upon us--the Spirit falls on the garden of our soul, we are home, we do no work to obtain the water--we need only to rest in the Lord.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Weapon In Hand

By Padre Pio:

The fear that you have offended God is the surest proof that you have not offended him.

Entrust yourself with boundless confidence to God's goodness. The more the enemy increases his violent attacks against you, the more you should lean confidently on the breast of your very tender heavenly Bridegroom, who will never allow you to be defeated. God Himself has solemnly proclaimed this in sacred Scripture: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

To believe otherwise is disloyalty to God, who has kept us from falling in similar situations. Even St. Paul was restless and asked to be relieved of the difficult test of his flesh...but was he not assured that the help of grace would always be sufficient for him?

Our enemy who is committed to our harm, wants to convince you otherwise, but spurn him in the name of Jesus and laugh at him. This is the best remedy for beating him into retreat. He becomes emboldened by our weakness, but when someone confronts him with a weapon in hand, he becomes a coward.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Carmelite Retreat 2013

Friday, April 19, 2013

A Picture...day 5

Walking in the rain with Stella--she's off exploring.

The Trail

Agnes smelling the world.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Day 4 Photo

This was taken at my favorite Chinese restaurant.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Day 3 Photos

My computer had a bad video card and was in for repairs for a few days--so I did not post my picture a day. So I'm skipping those days and counting today as day 3.

Philip came up to Grandma and Grandpa's house and assisted us in taking the dogs for a walk.

Corgi's are the best dogs with children. They stayed right with him, until we took them off leash on the trail. Then Philip wanted the dogs to stay close and called them and tried to whistle like grandma with his fingers in his mouth.

Philip found a bench on the trail, so we had to sit a bit.

On Saturday we take the dogs to Mass, and they play with their friend Dolly.

Magnolia blossoms smell lovely at the side of our house--blossoms with no spring leaves yet.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Day 2 Photo

When taking Stella for a walk, she had to walk directly through all the muddy water puddles!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

A Photo A Day

I've decided to take a photo a day--for a year, starting today. And I'm going to post them to my blog. If you want to get good at anything--practice, practice, practice--much like a great piano player, not too many people are born Mozart's. And here is my first picture: Taken outside of Saint James the Just Church in Ogden Utah, the morning mist hanging on the mountains.

The second picture I took today, was taken indoors of my friend Bev: I love her shirt--"Jesus loves you, but I'm His favorite."

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Vigil 2013

The Easter Vigil Mass

The Easter Vigil starts with lighting the Easter Fire.

People waited in the darkness, for the Light to appear.

And they waited some more.

Father Blessed the light--holy--ready to light the Easter Candle.

Good thing the candle was long--or a few hairs might have been singed.

And the fire brought light to the darkness.

After everyone entered the lighted church, Jim and I stayed to warm ourselves.

As everyone entered the Church, their own candles were lit, with the light of God.

Then the Vigil began. A few delicate folk left after about the third reading--wimps!

"Oh, Jim, how many more :)"

Singing the Psalms!

Preparing the waters for Baptism.

It's not just about "me and Jesus," we are a community of believers--one Body with many parts.

Steven assisting Father

Baptized!!!

Holy Water will be sprinkled on everyone present--to remind us of our own Baptism.

We share our light with others.

We meditate in the heart, of the great gift of new life.

Purity restored.

Maria!

The Altar of the Lord.

After Mass reception--very late, and it's time to go home DAD!!!

Rose filled dreams await us at home.

Father is happy, because he got to play with FIRE!

The Promise

I, Mary Grace of the Divine Mercy, inspired by the Holy Spirit, in response to
God's call, sincerely promise to the Superiors of the Order of the Teresian
Carmel and to you my brothers and sisters, to tend toward evangelical perfection
in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, obedience, and
of the Beatitudes, according to the Constitutions of the Secular Order of the
Discalced Carmelites, for the rest of my life. I confidently entrust this, my promise,
to the Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel

Our Blessed Mother to Saint Brigitta

The Mother speaks: "Daughter, you must have five inward things and five outward. First outwardly: a mouth clean of all detraction, ears closed to idle talk, modest eyes, hands busy with good works, and withdrawal from the world's way of life. 2. Inwardly, you must have five things: namely, fervent love for God, a wise longing for him, the distribution of your temporal goods with a just and right intention and in a rational way, humble flight from the world, and a long-suffering and patient expectation of my promises."

Quote--Padre Pio

Remember: every sect in the world feeds off of the Catholic Church. Our Holy Catholic Church is like a great and extremely precious unpolished diamond, from which every so often somebody takes a particle and polishes it--not without the help of the evil one--so that it begins to shine better than the great unpolished diamond. and this shine draws men, dazzles them and deceives them, so that the particle necessarily is worn out and comes to nothing. This is the game of deception, which appears and reappears with time. Jesus warned us to watch out for it!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now I see.
'twas grace that taught my heart to feel
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
When we've been dead ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Then when we first begun.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now I see.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
he has looked with favour 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,
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Holy Spirit Novena

Dearest Holy Spirit, confiding in Your deep, personal love for me, I am making this novena for the following request, if it be Your Holy Will to grant it: (mention your request).
Teach me, Divine Spirit, to know and seek my last end; grant me the holy fear of God; grant me true contrition and patience. Do not let me fall into sin. Give me an increase of faith, hope and charity, and bring forth in my soul all the virtues proper to my state in life.
Make me a faithful disciple of Jesus and an obedient child of the Church. Give me efficacious grace sufficient to keep the Commandments and to receive the Sacraments worthily. Give me the four Cardinal Virtues, Your Seven Gifts, Your Twelve Fruits. Raise me to perfection in the state of life to which You have called me and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life. I ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Prayer To Our Lady Of Perpetual Help

Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favored by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but the Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to you today as your loving children. Watch over us and take care of us. As you held the child Jesus in your loving arms, so take us in your arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help us. For God who is mighty has done great things for you, and his mercy is from age to age on those who love him. Our greatest fear is that in time of temptation, we may fail to call out to you, and become lost children. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon you, Mother of Perpetual Help.
Amen.

At the mountain of God, Horeb,Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter.But the word of the LORD came to him,“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;the LORD will be passing by.”A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountainsand crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind.After the wind there was an earthquake— but the LORD was not in the earthquake.After the earthquake there was fire—but the LORD was not in the fire.After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.When he heard this,Elijah hid his face in his cloakand went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Saint Maria Goretti--Patron Saint Of This Blog--Pray For Us

St. Maria Goretti
Patron of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape b: 1890 d: 1902

St. Maria Goretti is the patron saint of this blog because of her forgiveness for her attacker--Our Lord forgives us everything--and we are called as sinners to forgive everyone who hurts us and pray for them--Maria Goretti did--and when we do--even the greatest sinner can be converted.

Born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16 1890; her farmworker father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children.
In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather died than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife.
As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her death didn't end her forgivness, however.
Alexander was captured and sentenced to thirty years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he went directly to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness, which she gave. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withold forgiveness," she said.
When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950 for her purity as model for youth.
She is called a martyr because she fought against Alexander's attempts at sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker -- her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death. Her feast day is July 6. St. Maria Goretti is the patroness of youth and for the victims of rape.

Quote--Cardinal Newman

God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me that He has not committed to another. I have my mission--I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am. I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness, may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me--still He know what He is about.

Prayer To St. Anthony For The Recovery Of Lost Graces

Baptismal Promises

I reject Satan And all his works. And all his empty promises. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given me a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all my sins. May he also keep me faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
Amen.