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The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross XI-Jesus is nailed to the cross

March 16, 2013, 10:00 am
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(The eleventh in a series of posts praying the Stations of the Cross...begin here and then follow along each day.)



There is a calm expectance on the Face of Jesus upturned upon the wood of the Cross.  He is waiting for the iron nails of man's ingratitude to confirm for all time the limitations of man's comprehension of God and the limitlessness of God's comprehension of man.  Only God-or the God-sustained-could bear with a prayer of forgiveness the torture of the nails.

Jesus, remembering your great pain, the Precious Blood pouring from Your hands and feet, let me be patient with all men, even with myself; let me be confident of the adequacy of Your redemption, and use that confidence not as a license for sinful indulgence but as an inspiration to more God-like living.

Blessed Mother, the hammer-blows on Calvary beat upon your heart; let me hear them, too.


(From The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross with etchings by Hippolyte Lazerges and reflections by  Father Page, C.S.C. aka Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, sP, the founder of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, published by the St. Columban's Fathers Foreign Mission Society)
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The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross XII-Jesus dies on the cross

March 17, 2013, 10:00 am
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(The twelfth in a series of posts praying the Stations of the Cross...begin here and then follow along each day.)



In this twelfth station the hatred of men and the love of Jesus reach flood-tide, and then His ebbing Blood leaves at last His Sacred Body lifeless on the Cross.  Greater love than this no man hath-than that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Jesus laid down His for His enemies.

Jesus, no one can deny the grandeur of Your sacrifice, even though he fail to comprehend its widest extension and its fullest meaning.  Have mercy on me, my Jesus, that turning from the world like the penitent thief, I may claim the heaven of Your love.

Mother of God, Refuge of sinners, pray for me.

(From The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross with etchings by Hippolyte Lazerges and reflections by  Father Page, C.S.C. aka Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, sP, the founder of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, published by the St. Columban's Fathers Foreign Mission Society)
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The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross XIII-Jesus is taken down from the cross and placed in His Mother's arms

March 18, 2013, 10:00 am
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(The thirteenth  in a series of posts praying the Stations of the Cross...begin here and then follow along each day.)



There is the gentle majesty of Holiness, something suggestive of the calm sleep of innocent childhood, on the Face of Jesus taken down from the cross and placed in His Mother's arms.  It would seem as if the years had been suddenly turned back and the peace of a Nazareth eventide had settled with the lips of Mary upon the Face of God.

Jesus, whatever the cost, and I have surely cost You much, do not let me die without heartfelt repentance for my sins, without the absolution of Your priest, the blessing of Your vicar, the Unction of the Holy Oils, and Your Kiss of Peace in Holy Viaticum.

Blessed Mother, as you stood by Jesus dying, stand by me and those I love, in that dread hour when into fearful darkness the Light of Justice reaches, to fall with fearful brightness on our souls.


(From The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross with etchings by Hippolyte Lazerges and reflections by  Father Page, C.S.C. aka Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, sP, the founder of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, published by the St. Columban's Fathers Foreign Mission Society)
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The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross XIV-Jesus is laid in the tomb

March 19, 2013, 10:00 am
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(The fourteenth  in a series of posts praying the Stations of the Cross...begin here and then follow along each day.)



Calm as a summer evening when no breezes are abroad, quiet as a noonday wood when all birds are songless, the Face of Jesus rests in death.  The Holy Countenance breathes by its very silence its last and final message:  "it is Consummated."  Not the malice of men, nor their ingratitude, is consummated, but the atonement for all human malice and ingratitude by the Sacrifice of that fair but now broken Humanity of God's Son.  With thoughtfulness too deep for words, with grief too deep for tears, the faithful disciples carry in tender haste the body of their Master to Joseph's tomb.

Jesus, because You were born in a cave and laid to rest in another man's tomb, I find courage to ask You to rest in this poor soul of mine.  It must have value in Your eyes, for You paid so readily a great price for its possession.  Take then, Jesus, what You have bought, and give me in return Your forgiveness and Your love.

Sorrowful Mother, rejoice with Jesus; He shall not have died in vain for me.

(From The Holy Face in the Way of the Cross with etchings by Hippolyte Lazerges and reflections by  Father Page, C.S.C. aka Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, sP, the founder of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, published by the St. Columban's Fathers Foreign Mission Society)
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At the Foot of the Cross

March 20, 2013, 10:00 am
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The expressions on the face of Christ and of His Blessed Mother speak the only necessary words...


Artwork by Hippolytes Lazerges 1817-1887

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Honor Your Mother

March 21, 2013, 1:48 pm
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As are so many others, I am filled with gratitude to God for our new Pope Francis and am so honored to see the deep respect that he has for mothers.  This picture has become my very favorite of him.  I get goosebumps every time I look at it and read the quote that goes with it.  What a beautiful man who so openly reverences motherhood and remembers his own mother as well!  I pray that we may all follow his loving and holy example!



Earlier, in February 2005, Pope Francis chose to celebrate the Mass for Holy Thursday in a maternity hospital in Buenos Aires, where he washed the feet of 12 expectant and new mothers. Before he washed their feet, he told them that “Some of you are holding your babies in your arms. Others of you are carrying them in your womb. All of you are women who have chosen life. I, as a priest, am going to repeat the act of Jesus, and carry out a concrete act of service for women who have said yes to life. In washing your feet, I am washing those of all mothers, and of my mother, who felt me in her womb."  
~from "Love Being Catholic

Virgin Salus Populi Romani-the Protectress of the Roman People, the icon to whom Pope Francis brought flowers on his first day as Pope

Pope Francis offering flowers to the Virgin Salus Populi Romani

And what mother doesn't love to receive flowers from her children?  This image reminds me of the pudgy, often dirty hands of my own children, lovingly reaching up to me to offer a fistful of dandelions on a warm summer day.  Even our beloved Holy Father forever remains a child in the eyes of his Mother.  How sweet!  There is much to admire about a humble man who loves his Mother and brings her colorful and fragrant offerings of love!  Viva il Papa Francis!

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Mary, Untier of Knots

March 22, 2013, 3:42 pm
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Mary, Untier of Knots

Early in the morning I was rushing to great dressed while keeping one eye on the clock hoping that I wouldn't be late for Mass and fearing that I was losing the battle against time.  Each morning I slip my wedding ring on my finger and clasp my favorite necklace around my throat before I rush out the door. No matter how many layers of clothing I put on to adjust to the weather outside, I'm not fully dressed without my wedding ring and my necklace.  The chain of my necklace holds four symbols of my faith that are as much a part of me as my wedding ring-I wear the emblem of the Oblates of the Precious Blood, a Miraculous Medal, a cross with a dove on it which was the first gift my husband ever gave to me so many years ago when we were dating, and a red sea glass heart which I stumbled across on a beach hunt while I was praying a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The sea glass heart is one of my most prized possessions because I felt it was a sign of love from Jesus Himself just for me.  I had it blessed by Bishop Hying, wrapped it in wire and wear it every day, frequently reaching up to touch it and offer a silent prayer of trust to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Well on this particularly hectic morning, as I reached for my necklace, I found a huge knot in the chain.  I fumbled around with it a bit but didn't have any luck in undoing the knot.  So I shoved my necklace into my pocket and headed out to Mass.  After Mass I like to stay in the silent church to make a little holy hour, but this time instead of praying my usual prayers or walking the Stations of the Cross, I silently sat and tried to gently work the knot out of that chain.  My attempt to untie the knot became my prayer that day.  I thought about how our wonderful new Pope Francis has a devotion to Mary, and recently I learned that he prays to her as the Untier of Knots, and so, not knowing too much about her under this title, but being inspired by Pope Francis, I turned to her in prayer asking for her assistance not only with the knot in my necklace, but also for her guidance in helping me work through the other knots and problems in my life that could benefit from her loving, motherly attention. 

After 15 minutes of praying with my knotted necklace, I gave up that prayer for the time being, tucked the necklace back into my pocketand returned to my normal daily prayers.  Later, upon returning home, I took a paper clip and used it's sharp point to finally free the knot from the chain.  Sometimes our problems require not the only patience and perseverance that comes from setting them aside for a while, but also a sharp instrument to cut to the heart of the issue and finally bring about a resolution.  In the story that makes up our lives, we often find that thesharp instrument could come in the form of a hardship or suffering that we must learn to accept before we can finally be free to fully love the Lord and turn back from the sinfulness that often becomes knotted within our souls. And the Blessed Mother is a sure help to us as we work through those knots.

We are always at an advantage when we turn to our Blessed Mother for assistance, aren't we?  How sweetly she helps us work out our problems all the while pointing to God from whom all of our help originates.  To learn more about Mary, Untier of Knots, visit here.

Prayer to Mary, Untier of Knots

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life. 
You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. 
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. 
No one, not even the Evil One himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. 
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot. (Prayer by Scott R. Richert)
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Good Friday Stone by Sherry Antonetti

March 29, 2013, 4:21 pm
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On this day when we remember our many weaknesses and thank Jesus for His deep and sacrificial love which washes away our sins, I came across this poem which spoke to me of my own frailty in faith.  It was written by Sherry Antonetti who graciously agreed to let me share it here.  Sherry blogs at Chocolate for Your Brain.

















Good Friday Stone

How brave we all feel
saying something daring
when it is popular.
How terrified when
we must speak against the grain.
Everyone loves to think
they are standing at the precipice
but only those who can see the down side
the great expanse ready to swallow them whole
really are.

Peter knew the absolute truth
and he ran, he swore, he lied.
I am not ready
I haven't the steel
I like too much to be liked.
I'd like to warm myself by the fire
and be silent.
I could still believe, still follow
if no one noticed me.
It doesn't work that way
and I knew it. I always knew.
So I will pray not to be put to the test,
or if I am, and I fail, that I return
again and again and again
until I pass.

The mountain falling on me would be easier.

~Sherry Antonetti
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In The Garden by Fr. Mark Kirby

March 30, 2013, 10:59 am
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Are you familiar with Fr. Mark Kirby's Vultus Christi blog?  His prolific writings are always achingly beautiful and his prayers for priests are especially touching.  I have always felt a strong connection to Jesus' Agony in the Garden, and after reading Fr. Kirby's reflection about how the Blessed Mother suffered during Christ's agony there, that connection feels even stronger, for I too, am a mother who knows of the sorrows of her sons born of her flesh as well as her spiritual priest sons, yet must stand by helplessly, unable to offer physical relief.  I pray that God sends the comfort of angels at the moments when they are most in need.  What follows below is Fr. Kirby's reflection, In the Garden.  In these final moments as we await Easter joy, won't you reflect and pray upon this scene with me?  Please visit and bookmark his blog for more inspiration.


Bloch+crop.jpg
In the garden,
His Face was unseen,
for the eyes of His friends had grown heavy with sleep,
and there was none to meet the gaze of the Sorrowing Son
other than the Sorrowing Father
and the Consoling Angel whom He had sent
to wipe His brow,
to caress His head
and, for a moment, to hold His hand.

This the Sorrowing Mother would have done
had she been there,
but even that was denied her.
The Mother was replaced by an Angel!
The consolation that only she could have given
was given by another,
and yet He knew the difference:
though sweet, it was an angel’s, not a mother’s.

Weeping like Eve outside the garden,
she consented to the bitter Chalice:
“Be it done unto me as to your Word!”
Chosen for this, she elected to remain
cloistered in the Father’s Will,
hidden and veiled in grief,
to drink there of the Chalice of her Son, the Priest,
and savour it, bitter against the palate of her soul,
for nought can taste a child’s suffering
like a mother’s palate.

Then the Angel too was gone
and the Father hid behind the veil of blood and of tears,
leaving the Son alone with His sorrow
and with His fear,
to proceed with the Sacrifice:
the priest on the way to the altar
with the chalice already in his hands.
~Fr. Mark Kirby
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Myrrh-Bearing Women

March 31, 2013, 4:34 am
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"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words."  ~Luke 24:1-8

Myrrh-Bearing Women by C.J.

 I have a friend who is an extremely talented artist. She uses her gift to prayerfully paint icons, and more than that, she shares her vast knowledge of prayerful art with me, increasing my appreciation for the gifts of beauty which are inspired by the very breath of God, the Holy Spirit. When she was working on the above icon, she brought it to my house and invited me to add gold to the halo of one of the three women standing outside of the tomb at the Resurrection of our Lord. I chose the woman that I thought would be Mary Magdalene.  She is depicted as the woman in red, representing her sin, covered by green representing her new life in Christ. I carefully applied the gold by first holding a prayer in my heart and then breathing upon the image. They say that every stroke and motion of icon painting is a prayer. So on that not so distant day I breathed a prayer to one of my favorite saints who always holds a favored place in my heart because she loved much and I long to emulate that quality in my own life. I want to cast my soul at the feet of our Lord and breathe continuous prayers of love to His Most Sacred Heart. I want to carry an alabaster jar of fragrant oil into the world and spread His love to others. I want to love much.

The following poem was written by Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, sP, the founder of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood.  It's one of my favorites.  Wishing you a joyous Easter as we glory in our own redemption from our sins and cast our sorrow aside while rejoicing in the beauty of our own new life in our Risen Lord!

To Saint Mary Magdalene

You claimed
the false
until you found
the True;
your beauty
wounded
until Beauty
wounded you,
and plunged your soul
into a spring so sweet
your tears
fell as chaste pearls
at Mercy's
feet.

(a partial re-post from the archives)
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Sometimes Tears

April 2, 2013, 1:10 pm
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"Sometimes tears are the glasses we need to see Jesus." ~Pope Francis



My all-time favorite bible scene is that of Mary Magdalene sobbing at Christ's feet and drying her tears and the ointment with her hair. I love to think about Jesus gently reaching down to hold her and bless her with His forgiveness. It must have been an amazing scene, especially since from that day forward, she never sinned again. I don't know about you, but no matter how many times I am forgiven, I always seem to fall back into those same old patterns that sent me seeking forgiveness in the first place. Maybe the next time I go to confession, I should bring an alabaster jar of aromatic nard with me!

Think of that alabaster jar, smashed and broken open, releasing not only fragrance, but extravagant love and sorrow for sin.  Once that jar which represented her life was broken, it was impossible for Mary Magdalene to put back the pieces of her former way of living; she had to change!  And as she peered through her tears, her liquid prayer freely spilling from her soul-windows, how clearly she could see the beauty of Jesus and how deeply she longed to make amends for all of the sorrow she had caused Him.  The joy she felt at his loving response surely must have caused those tears of repentance to turn to tears of joy.  And from that day on, she remained close to Him,  hanging onto His every word, watching His every movement, loving Him with all her heart and wanting nothing more than to model her life after His example.  Perhaps for the short time that she was with Him during His ministry she was so joyful that she cried no more. 


And then she endured Good Friday.  And of course she cried.

But outside the empty tomb what should have been an occasion for joy was instead confusing and tearful.  Where was He, the One she loved?  And when she finally saw Him through those tear-filled eyes, He said "touch me not."  Touch me not.  Those three words make me cry every time I think of them.  But did she continue to cry as He spoke those words?  Or did she understand that her touch was now meant to be lovingly shared with others; that He intended to work through her instead of simply for her?  Did she revel in His resurrection as a joy beyond comprehension and no longer needed to have the ability to physically touch Him?

Sweet Mary Magdalene,

Did it break your heart when you heard "touch me not"?  Did you continue to shed sometimes tears after His resurrection?  As you faithfully served Him by spreading the fragrance of your deep love to others, were the only tears you sometimes shed those of joy?  Or did your sometimes tears fall out of love for all of humanity who suffer through sin as you did?  Teach me to be like you and not to be afraid to shed sometimes tears  for those who suffer.   Help me to understand that those drops of liquid prayer can reveal the loving and tender Heart of Jesus to myself and to the world around me, and through them the sweet fragrance of love will perfume the air like aromatic nard released from my often hard and sinful heart, making it soft and holy like His and like yours.

Amen.


Mary Magdalene from Rogier van der Weyden's Descent from the Cross
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Sea Glass Retreat

April 5, 2013, 6:29 pm
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 "But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray."  ~Luke 5:16

It's been an awfully long winter, hasn't it?  I've been so desperate to get back to my favorite sea glass beach on Lake Michigan for a little solitude and prayer, so after the days work and errands were completed, my husband and I gathered some of our children and made a trek down to the beach for a sea glass search.  Soon we had each scattered in separate directions all the while keeping our eyes peeled for the colorful gems.  I always think of a sea glass search as a form of prayer because with the exception of holy hours in church, scouring the shoreline for baubles from the lake is the only time I have any significant time to silently ponder the Lord and His wonders in my heart.  With the backdrop of an overcast sky, gentle waves brushing up against the shore and the distant squawk of sea gulls, I repeatedly bent over in a posture of awe and gratitude as I gathered the coveted pieces of softened glass that bring me a bit of material joy.  And soon my bag was filled with the vivid specks of discarded bottles and my heart was filled with thankfulness to God for the much needed retreat.  O spring, how welcome you are and how I thank God for the changing of seasons and His beauteous gifts of family and nature!
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Easter in Our Midst

April 8, 2013, 11:35 am
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From Fr. Dave Cooper's April 7th bulletin column-so good I have to share:


"Seventeen-year-old Eli loved her grandfather Yosef very much and wanted to do something very special for him. So she got a tattoo. When Yosef saw the tattoo, he was overcome. With tears in his eyes, he bent his head and kissed the new tattoo on his granddaughter’s left forearm. Yosef has the same tattoo: the number 1-5-7-6-2-2. The number was permanently inked on his own arm by the Nazis at the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Nearly 70 years later, his granddaughter got hers after a high school trip to Auschwitz. The following week, her mother and brother and later, her uncle followed suit. Yosef’s children and grandchildren are among a small but growing number of descendants of Auschwitz survivors in Israel who have taken this step of memorializing the darkest days of their people’s history. As more and more Holocaust survivors pass on, Israel’s religious and educational institutions are grappling with how to best remember the Holocaust—so integral to Israel’s founding and identity. Eli, who has had her grandfather’s tattoo for four years now, says: “All my generation knows nothing about the Holocaust. You talk with people and they think it’s like the Exodus from Egypt, ancient history…I want to tell them my grandfather’s story and the Holocaust story.” Some people have reacted very negatively to the tattoo. A woman in Jerusalem said to Eli, “God creates the forgetfulness so we can forget.” But Eli responded, “Because of people like you who want to forget this, we will have it again.” For her own children and grandchildren, Eli’s tattoo will be the story of their family and people’s triumph in the face of devastation. [The New York Times, September 30, 2012]


In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples and shows them his hands and his side; later he invites the doubting Thomas to touch the marks made by the nails and the gash from the soldier’s lance. Easter does not deny the effects of Good Friday nor erase the wounds of crucifixion—Easter is God’s compassion moving us beyond the scars of crucifixion to healing and wholeness. We all have “nail marks” from our own Good Fridays that remain despite our experiences of resurrection. We learn from our scars. Our “nail marks’ remind us that all pain and grief, all ridicule and suffering, are transformed into healing and peace in the love of God we experience from others and that we extend to them. Compassion, forgiveness, justice—no matter how painful and dear the cost—can heal and mend, can transform and restore. In the light of unwavering hope, with the assurance of God’s unlimited grace, even the simplest act of kindness and understanding is the realization of Easter in our midst."

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Three Reasons I Love Catholicism

April 11, 2013, 2:28 pm
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I discovered a link-up where bloggers are invited to write about their three favorite aspects of Catholicism and I just love that idea!  The hardest part is limiting it to only three reasons because I could probably come up with thousands of them.  The host of the link-up is Micaela at California to Korea.  Thanks for the great idea, Micaela!  Here's my attempt to limit my love for this amazing, beautiful, fabulous, awesome, marvelous (I could go on and on) Catholic faith of ours.  Visit Micaela for more thoughts from other bloggers and feel free to join in with your own list of three reasons why you love being Catholic.


1)  Most likely number one on every Catholic's list is the EUCHARIST.  My source, substance and greatest desire is to dine daily on the Bread of Heaven, His most Sacred Heart in the form of food, full of love and freely given to me,  from which all graces flow.  It is the one thing about Catholicism that I love the most and for which I am most grateful.  I just can't live without the Precious Body and Blood of my Lord.  On the night of the Last Supper when He instituted this gift, Jesus was well aware that this soul-sustaining food was the only necessary thing that can carry us through each and every day of life straight to the gates of heaven.  So with gratitude I receive the Body and the Blood of my Lord each morning and then, well nourished, I carry Him out into the world in which I live to share Him with others through the words and actions of my day.  This prayer of thanksgiving from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood prayer book sums my feelings up so nicely:

Offering of Holy Communion as Viaticum

O my God, if I am to die today or suddenly at any time, I wish to receive this Communion as my Viaticum.  I desire that my last food may be the Body and Blood of my Savior and Redeemer; my last words, Jesus, Mary and Joseph; my last affection, an act of pure love of God and of perfect contrition for my sins; my last consolation, to die in Your holy grace and in Your holy love.  Amen.



2)  In my life I have been greatly blessed to have the love and friendship of so many holy priests who selflessly share their lives for the good of others.  So the HOLY PRIESTHOOD is definitely at the top of my list of favorite things about the Catholic Church.  It is only the priest who can take the simple elements of bread and wine and have them transformed into the living Body and Blood of my Lord within their very hands.  It is only the priest who can patiently listen to my monotonous litany of sins and then absolve me, freeing me to enjoy the state of grace within my soul until, in my weakness, I stumble into sin once again.  It is only the priest who serves not only as my earthly father, but as my mother, my brother, my teacher and my most treasured friend as well.  It is to him that I can take all of my joys and sorrows knowing that he will keep them in confidence and then will pray both with and for me, always having the sanctity of my soul as his highest priority.  It is my greatest honor and joy to love and to pray for the priests who have touched my life and who care for my soul.  Pray with me?

Prayer for Priests by Fr. William Doyle, SJ


O my God, pour out in abundance Thy spirit of sacrifice upon Thy priests. It is both their glory and their duty to become victims, to be burnt up for souls, to live without ordinary joys, to be often the objects of distrust, injustice, and persecution.

The words they say every day at the altar, "This is my Body, this is my Blood," grant them to apply to themselves: "I am no longer myself, I am Jesus, Jesus crucified. I am, like the bread and wine, a substance no longer itself, but by consecration another."

O my God, I burn with desire for the sanctification of Thy priests. I wish all the priestly hands which touch Thee were hands whose touch is gentle and pleasing to Thee, that all the mouths uttering such sublime words at the altar should never descend to speaking trivialities.

Let priests in all their person stay at the level of their lofty functions, let every man find them simple and great, like the Holy Eucharist, accessible to all yet above the rest of men. O my God, grant them to carry with them from the Mass of today, a thirst for the Mass of tomorrow, and grant them, ladened themselves with gifts, to share these abundantly with their fellow men. Amen.

3)  There is no one on earth who understands us like our earthly mother and so there is no one in heaven who understands us better than our heavenly mother, either.  My  BLESSED MOTHER MARY is crucial to my peace of mind and soul, so she is definitely one of my top three favorite parts about being Catholic.  She said "yes" to God, she allowed the Holy Spirit to penetrate her soul and she carried my Lord within her very womb.  She loves me, she understands me, she prays for me.  She asks, "I am not here; I who am your mother?  Are you not under the shadow of my protection?" She takes my concerns to her Son and begs Him to have mercy and clemency upon my soul.  She asks Him to give me all that I need to be joyful and holy.  She models the perfection of holiness for me so that I can follow her beautiful example.  How blessed we are as Catholics to have a Holy Mother who loves each and every one of us so much!  So we honor her with this prayer:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

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Peter's Love: A Guest Post by Dawn Meyer

April 14, 2013, 8:21 am
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Enjoy this uplifting reflection on today's Gospel written by my friend, Dawn Meyer. 

This Sunday's Gospel gives us Peter, at the Sea of Tiberius, after Jesus' death and Resurrection.  (For the whole Gospel, read John 21:1-19. )


Peter's back in his boat, letting his net fall into the water.  He realizes that he "wasn't in his boat because he wanted to go fish, but because he wanted Jesus.  One day he had encountered the Master while casting his nets, he had encountered him in this same boat, doing the things he was doing now.  He now realized that he could do nothing, experience nothing without desiring that Jesus be present with him, in his midst..."  (Dom Maura Giuseppe Lepori, abbot general of the Cistercian Order, excerpt taken from Magnificat)


Where do we, like Peter, search for Jesus?  Knowing that we can do nothing without Him, where do we go to find Him, while we're here on earth?  Do you seek Him in the sacraments, where He fills us with His grace and love?  Do you seek Him in Adoration, in the silence of your heart, in front of the Blessed Sacrament?  Or do you seek Him in the warm embrace you share with a loved one or a friend?  Do you seek Him in the smile you give to the stranger passing by?  Do you seek Him in your daily life, at the grocery store, while you're pumping gas into the car, or when you're taking out the garbage?  He's in our midst, in the mundane and in the sublime.  He's there.  Just like He was there for Peter, when Peter desired to be with Jesus so much that he got into his boat to fish, hoping to find the Lord. 

After Peter sat in his boat all night, catching zip, not even one fish, who does he see standing on the shore when daylight breaks? Jesus!  The Lord tells the Apostles to cast their nets over the right side of the boat and after they obediently do so, the net is so full of fish they can't even pull it back up! 

Jesus knew they needed Him.  He knew Peter missed Him.  He knew that they needed to be nourished, not just physically with the fish, but they needed His presence, His Divine Love, to nourish and strengthen their souls so that they could carry out the mission He gave them... go out and proclaim the Gospel!  And so it is with us.  WE need to be nourished by Jesus' Divine presence, by His Body and Blood, by His grace freely given in the sacraments.  WE need all the Love that He gives us through the sacraments, but especially through the Eucharist, so that we, like the Apostles, can share that Love with those around us and transform the world! 

One more thing.  After the Apostles finish eating breakfast with Jesus, after He nourishes them with His Divine Presence, He longs to hear what Peter holds in his heart.  He asks Peter: "Simon, Son of John, do you love me?"

"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." (Was he thinking, "Lord, I love you so much, I went out in my boat in the middle of the night, not to fish, but just to feel close to you!"?) 
We know what happens next.  Jesus asks Peter the same question twice more and Peter answers the same way..."Yes, Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you."  Jesus thirsts for Peter's love!  
And doesn't He also thirst for your love?
After He gives Himself to you in Holy Communion, He longs to hear you proclaim your love for Him, just as He longed to hear Peter express his love for Him.  When we kneel after receiving Jesus, we can silently proclaim our love for Him who now dwells in us:  "I love you, Lord.  Thank you for staying with me, thank you for imprisoning Yourself in the Eucharist for me and nourishing me with Your infinite Love!"  He wants us to lavish our love, the love that He gives us first, on Him! 
Peter's story is our story.  Aren't we just like Peter, waiting in the boat, searching for Jesus?  We long to be with Jesus.  We long to feel His love.  And in His goodness, Jesus is waiting for us on the shores of our lives.  He comes to us and nourishes us with His Divine Presence, with His love, each and every time we receive Him in Holy Communion.  And just like Peter, we realize that once Jesus is present in our lives, united in love with us....we can do anything.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13
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Christed

April 14, 2013, 9:14 am
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Joe (holding the Bishop's staff), Bishop Sklba and John (Joe's sponsor)

"To be anointed is to be Christed, since the name Christ means "anointed."  ~Bishop Richard Sklba

My son Joe received the Sacrament of Confirmation on April 13th, conferred upon him by Bishop Richard Sklba.  Bishop Sklba is known to use a lot of Chrism when he Confirms teenagers.  When he Confirmed Joe, he rubbed it in his hair as if he were washing Joe's hair with the Chrism.  Then he rubbed some onto John's hand that was resting on Joe's right shoulder.  You can easily see the Chrism in Joe's hair in this picture, and even after he washed his hair the next morning, the heavenly fragrance of balsam continued to fill the air around Joe.

In his homily, Bishop Sklba offered an explanation as to why he has a reputation for being generous with the Chrism.  He said, "To be anointed is to be Christed, since the name Christ means "anointed."  The oil makes you beautiful because it causes you to shine.  I say "be sealed with the Holy Spirit", and the "seal" makes it official like a seal on a diploma.  You are anointed and sealed to become witnesses to how God works in the world."

"In your letters to me, some of you wrote that you wanted the Sacrament of Confirmation because you wanted to become adults in the faith.  But today's Gospel reading contradicts that.  We heard:  "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." ~Matthew 18:2-4  Children are very honest and open.  You, too, are called to be honest and open about witnessing to Christ and to your Catholic faith."

He went on:  "When you are Confirmed in the faith, I use enough Chrism so that it gets in your hair and when you sleep it gets in your pillow so you can dream about what God can do with you and for you.  I use it on the sponsor's hand as a sign of the impulse of the Spirit.  The fragrance is to remind you of God's very real presence in your life."

Then, as Bishop Sklba stood right in front of Joe, he stressed the fact that no two people are alike, that everyone is unique, and he used Joe as an example, telling him that there is nobody in this world who is exactly like him.  And he said, "Now this Sacrament of Confirmation is not just for you alone; it's for everybody.  The Sacrament is for mission, it's to send forth.  On Monday you will all go back to your respective high schools and your schools will now be better places because of what we do today. The gift of the Spirit sends us forth to improve the world around us."
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Imitating Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom-A Book Review

April 23, 2013, 10:00 pm
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I've long admired local Milwaukee author, Marge Fenelon.  Ever since I read her book "When's God Gonna Show Up", I recognized that her writing style, which flows as if she were sharing a story with her closest friend, and her spirituality and deep faith, were something I should strive to emulate.  Through Marge's words I actually feel as though I can someday attain to holiness, that it's truly possible, because her writing focus is on ordinary life events that could happen to anyone.

With her new book, Marge has once again made holiness seem to be something that is attainable for anyone.  In Imitating Mary:  Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom, she has made a connection between the holiness of the Blessed Mother and the lives of modern mothers everywhere so that we, too, can feel hope that by following the example of the Blessed Mother, we can live a virtuous life right here and now.

Marge chose ten virtues-yes, patience, trust, obedience, endurance, courage, strength, hope, faith and joy-and laid them out for us with a scriptural background that makes the story of the Blessed Mother come alive, anecdotes from the author's own life, and some examples of how we, too, can imitate Mary.  Then, she leaves us with some thoughts to ponder from the annals of the Church, some reflection questions and finally some suggestions of how we can follow in our Lady's footsteps.

Through sharing her personal examples of how she has encountered the Ten Marian Virtues in her own life, the author inspires women everywhere to consider how they are already living a life of virtue in their mothering.  While reading this book, I frequently had to stop and wipe away tears as I recalled my own experiences, both painful and joyful, that resonated with the stories in Imitating Mary.  In addition, the author offers prayerful and practical suggestions for improving the holiness of your family members.  In particular, I like her suggestion that we consecrate our children to Mary, as well as this suggestion on making a habit of praying the Magnificat Prayer:

"Mary's Magnificat is an important image for me, especially when I feel that either my family or I have been treated unjustly.  I will pray the Magnificat over and over again until the pain and anger subside, and then I remind myself of all the great things God has done in and through my family and myself, in spite of our lowliness.  Perhaps this helps you, too, during those times when you feel as though someone's trampled all over you or your family.  It's a valuable lesson to teach your children.  Whenever things seem unfair or dismal, pray the Magnificat with them and remind them that God knows all, sees all, and is in control of all.  He knows what's in every person's heart, and he will shame the haughty, diffuse the corrupt, and reward and uplift the righteous.  We only must obey his will and allow him to work in his own time and in his own way." 

I highly recommend Imitating Mary:  Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom.  You will be inspired, uplifted, and encouraged, and hopefully, will be drawn ever more deeply into a desire to practice these virtues within your own life.

From  the publisher, Ave Maria Press: 

Do you know a mother who exemplifies Mary's love and devotion? Nominate an extraordinary mother you know and/or yourself to be entered to win a FREE copy of Imitating Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom by Marge Fenelon. Visit this link to enter.  

Visit the following blog tour participants to read what others are saying about Marge Fenelon's Imitating Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom published by Ave Maria Press.

Marge Fenelon, award-winning Catholic journalist and Catholic Herald columnist, will be embarking on a blog tour as part of her book launch celebration. Imitating Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom delves into ten moments of Mary's life that reveal her as the timeless companion for mothers. Fenelon introduces readers to a Mary who faced challenges familiar to every mother—impatience, frustration, sacrifice, and grief—and demonstrates how, in the face of these ordinary obstacles, Mary’s response was an extraordinary example through the virtues of patience, joy, trust, and faith.

Beginning April 22, follow along as bloggers feature posts about Imitating Mary. Each stop on the tour will include information, impressions, insights, and interviews with Fenelon. Stops on the blog tour schedule currently include:

April 22: Lisa Hendey at Catholic Mom
April 23: Kathy Schiffer at Seasons of Grace
April 24: Anne Bender at Imprisoned in my Bones
April 25: Mary DeTurris Poust at Not Strictly Spiritual
April 26: Roxane Salonen at Peace Garden Mama
April 27: Sarah Reinhard at Snoring Scholar
April 28: Karen Edmisten at Karen Edmisten
April 29: Karen Mahoney at Write 2 The Point
April 30: Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle at Embracing Motherhood


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Sea Glass Life

April 25, 2013, 11:44 am
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I woke to a Sunday morning surprise-my husband suggested a walk on the beach following Mass and breakfast, a rarity.  Scanning the shoreline for fragments of color in softened shards of varied hues revealed a surprise-a clear heart with the word "life" in the middle. "Probably from a bottle of Miller High Life Beer," states the ever-practical Paul.  But me, I prefer to ponder upon it romantically, after all, the word "life" was perfectly centered within a heart.

On April 27th, Paul and I will celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary.  Those twenty-two years have held lots of shards; pieces of broken dreams, broken hearts and shattered emotions, mixed in with colorful memories of joy, tranquility and contentment.  As we ride the waves of the years together, all of those fragments formed, like sea glass polished by the rocks, sand and waves, a strong and unbreakable bond.  Our marriage is solid like a strong piece of sea glass.  The edges of past moments of difficulty, trials, burdens and pain have become smooth to the touch and have created beautiful memories of constancy and dependability and forever love.

I love the sea glass life that God has created for Paul and I.  My prayer is that as we tumble through anniversary after anniversary into old age together, we will embrace whatever God sends our way, whether it be an abundance of clear and peaceful waters, or some stormy seas that cause us to crash about in disorientation, because all of those moments make this sea glass life of ours so gloriously rich and colorful!  

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Vision

April 30, 2013, 12:34 am
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"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  ~Mark 1:35


He goes off alone, back turned to all of those who love Him.  He retreats in prayer, needing space and privacy to strengthen His relationship with God so he'll have more to give to all of those who need Him.  But He doesn't see me watching from a distance, hiding from the embarrassment of following Him when He clearly wants to be alone.  I can't find the courage or strength to stay away and give Him rest or peace from my constant demands for attention.  I wipe away the silent, hidden tears that fall from the loneliness of being left behind without Him, even if it's only for a short time.  I want to be with Him always, giving Him some little comfort from His many burdens and receiving assurance of His love in return.  I want Him to be the constant King of my heart and can't bear to be separated from Him.

O Jesus, You are my King, even when You are far away and I can't feel You looking upon me with love.  Let my eyes forever gaze upon Your loveliness, your beauty, your strength.  Even when I behold you from a guilty distance, never permit me to take my eyes off of You.  Remain forever within the vision of my heart.  Amen.

"Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy and your face will not blush with shame."  ~Psalm 34:5
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Wooed by His Sacred Heart

April 30, 2013, 5:56 pm
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You woo me...


















with birdsong in the morning
daffodils in the garden
gentle waves on the shore
gifts of glass from the sea
a warm breeze in the evening
a playful, loving family
friends who listen and share
the kiss of Eucharist on my tongue
daily, intimate, hour-long conversations in a silent church




















drawing me ever more deeply into the fire burning
within Your Sacred Heart, allowing me to feel the pain of sin
that consumes you, letting me experience
Your intense suffering for love of me and all of Your children,
sharing Your sorrow
with the one You love,
this little nobody
that You woo
so expertly,
so divinely,
so sweetly


I can't resist Your desire for me

I am wooed into Your eternal embrace
so tender and loving....

Never let go
I am Yours forever...


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