God's Greatest Gift

Happy Feast of Corpus Christi, the beautiful feast of the Most Blessed Sacrament! Here is a photo of the precious hosts on the Hill of Slane in Ireland, before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

"Even that privileged Apostle, that beloved Disciple, that heavenly Evangelist, though holding a pen or quill that was vibrant with the breath of the Holy Ghost, found it impossible to express adequately for mortal readers the Love that flooded the Heart of Jesus as He instituted the adorable Eucharist; and all that St. John could write of this sweet mystery was: 'Jesus, having loved His own who were in the world, loved them to the end.'"
 ~ Fr. M.D. Forrest, MSC,  Heart Afire: Devotion to the Sacred Heart

Father Forrest goes on to say that not only did Our Lord love us to the end of His mortal life, but He loved us to the furthest degree, as it were, the end, of His infinite Love, by giving us the incredible miracle of the Mass. To think that He loved us so much, worthless miserable creatures that we are, that He couldn't bear to leave us alone and helpless. St. John records His beautiful Words: "I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you."

On Saturday the 25th, please celebrate with me the 33rd anniversary of my First Holy Communion! May the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus forgive my many failures, and strengthen me to do His Will for the rest of my days!

Live in the Moment

"In our personal life there are two important times, the present moment and the moment of our death, and gradually the two are drawing together. Closer and closer they come until someday they shall meet, and then the moment of our death will be now." ~ Fr. James J. McNally, Make Way for Mary

(The death of St. Malachy in the arms of St. Bernard at Clairvaux, as depicted in St. Peter's Church in Drogheda, Eire. St. Malachy fervently prayed for the grace to die at Clairvaux (meaning he wanted to retire there), and on a visit to his friend St. Bernard, he became ill and died. We never know the day nor the hour!)

I love how the Catholic Church teaches us to look at death. Since everyone has to face it sooner or later (nothing is sure in life except death and taxes), how awful it would be to go through life in constant fear of something that is going to happen no matter what we do. It reminds me of how we view labor and childbirth. It's frightening and painful, but everyone looks to the result - a beautiful new baby in the world. As Catholics, we look to death; we know it will be frightening and painful, but we know that in the end we will find God -- the One we have been seeking since our creation.

I'm consoled by something a priest told us on an Ignatian retreat when talking about death and judgement. Our personal judgement will take place at the very moment of our death, in the very place of our death. So if we die in a car crash in the middle of Baseline and Central (Phoenix) or Smoky Hill and Buckley (Denver), or Routes 25 and 59 (Monroe, Connecticut), Our Lord Jesus Christ will appear to us right there at that exact moment and judge our eternity.

Somehow that comforts me. I won't be flown up to some huge tribunal somewhere, which I can't even picture, before a whole bunch of angels and saints I haven't met yet, at that first moment when I enter eternity. No, the same Lord Jesus Who comes to me in Holy Communion, and Whose Month of the Sacred Heart we're celebrating, will meet me at that infinitesimal second when my soul leaves my body. I pray that His Mother will come with Him too, to plead my cause....

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, we love Thee, save our souls!
From a sudden and unprovided death, O Lord deliver us!

Our Lady's Friend

Today is the feast of St. Bernardine of Siena. He was not only devoted to the Holy Name of Jesus, but also very close to the Blessed Mother. What a great month to celebrate his feast!


This Franciscan friar would tell his listeners in the middle of a sermon: "When you pray the Hail Mary alone without other prayers, with whom do you think you are speaking? You must know that when you 'hail' Mary, she immediately greets you! Don't think that she is one of those rude women of whom there are so many -- on the contrary she is utterly courteous and pleasant. If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you..."

He also prayed: "O Lady blessed by all and above all things, you are the honor and the preservation of the human race! You are rich in merits and power above every other creature. You are the Mother of God. You are the Mistress of the Universe and the Queen of the World. You are our advocate and the dispenser of all grace...You are a model to which the good look, the consolation of your devoted people, and the beginning of our salvation. Yes, we confess that our tongue is too weak to sing your praises and your greatness. But you, O most sweet Mother, in your kindness have mercy on our littleness and grant us the grace of being able to praise you more worthily in Paradise forever and ever! Amen."          

I first read about him in a wonderful book called Mary Communes with the Saints by Raphael Brown. I highly recommend it!

(Photo taken in Whitefriars Church, Dublin, Eire)

The Noothgrush on my Toothbrush!

Now him I can do without! This is my favorite line from Dr. Seuss. I think that we all have a noothgrush on our toothbrush, or a bofa on our sofa, or a thorn in our side. If I decide to open this blog up to the outside world, I wonder what my readers would post as the noothgrushes on THEIR toothbrushes?

The noothgrush on my toothbrush today is that everyone's cancelling everything that was planned for today. Without exception. I'm trying to not be disappointed. I'm trying to be resigned to God's Will. I'm trying to be....*sigh* ... happy about it.

It really is okay. Life will go on. But I think the fact that I'm dieting isn't helping....because I could *totally* feel better if I just had an ice cream sundae from Friendly's. Too bad they don't have Friendly's out here.... :)

Haec Dies! This is the Day!

This is the Day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad! From St. Mary Magdalen Church in Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland:

 

Thanksgiving Prayer after Easter Communion:

 

"O good Master! Jesus, Rabboni, kindest of Friends, dearest and most pitying Lord, welcome, welcome forever! Blessed be Thy loving kindness, O glorious Risen One, beautiful in Thy majestic holiness, tender in Thy marvellous condescensions. O Divine Lover, how I thank Thee for having deigned this happy morning to meet my soul in Thy fragrant Garden of Prayer, for having shown Thyself to me in the white robe of Thy Sacrament, for having come to me, put Thine Arms about Thy poor weak child, and called me by my name. Lord, dearest Lord, I put my hands in Thy pierced ones and I give Thee all myself -- my body and my soul, my past, my present, and my future. I give Thee my faults and sins -- according to the Divine Liberality of Thy great Heart, as Thou didst teach SS. Gertrude and Mechtilde to do -- that Thou mayest blot them out, and Thyself make holiest compensation for them with Thine own  merits and sufferings, and by Thine own Divine power. It was one of Thine unselfish Joys in Thy Resurrection, that Thou mightest do so much for Thy friends. I give Thee my hopes, that they may flower into realization in Thee and under Thy loving care, Whose Infinite Wisdom reacheth from end to end mightily and ordereth all things sweetly. I give Thee my fears, that Thou, who didst console Thy broken-hearted Magdalen with such exquisiste Divine tenderness, mayest also comfort and deliver me and mine. I give Thee my sorrows, that Thou mayest unite them to Thine own, and alleviate them -- my joys, that, united to Thine and thankfully received by me, they may help me to the eternal joys Thou, my Risen Lord, art storing up for me in Paradise. I give my friends to Thee -- keep us all in Thy Sacred Heart; I give Thee mine enemies, that they may never be a source of sin or fault to me, or of grief to Thee. I beg of Thee to have pity on all poor sinners, and to meet all the dying this day as Thou didst Thy holy Magdalen.

 

"And now, O dearest Master, when I leave Thee, grant that I may spread abroad the good odor of Christ among Thine and my brethren, that I may be Thine Apostle as was Magdalen after Thy joyous Resurrection. Fill my soul, as Thou didst hers, with the unselfish joy of Thy Rising from the dead. And may all my thoughts, words, and acts this day be a sweet fragrance unto Thee!"

 

He is Risen as He Said, Alleluia!

The Wearin' of the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day! La feile Padraig shona duit!

Yet again, I'm sharing a picture from St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh. I just love this image. He is often depicted in Ireland in red...I wonder why. Maybe it shows his royalty, or his closeness to the Savior, who is often shown in that color. When we wear green today, we show our Catholicism and our connection to the shamrock and the Trinity. Protestants who want to protest wear orange today!

I'm reminiscing today about the special sites and things that I've visited, relating to this great saint. I've seen his grave, his bell, a well with an old cross where he baptized many, the place where he lit the Easter fire to launch his mission in Ireland, the place where he fasted for 40 days for the people of Ireland, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

Of course the kids watched the CCC movie of St. Patrick, which also reminds me - I've seen that bell, and I've been to Slane! Buiochas le Dia! (Thanks be to God)

I also spent some time browsing this fascinating old book!

May St. Patrick bless all who read this, and make us strong in the Faith like he was!

Fit for the Work

As the fasting is upon us for this beautiful season of Lent, it seems like food and fitness are not far out of my consciousness. I loved this quote that a friend shared from St. Philip Neri:

"Cast yourself with confidence into the arms of God; and be very sure of this: that if He wants anything of you He will fit you for your work and give you the strength to do it."

He will fit us for whatever work He has for us, and will give us the strength to do it. O Lord, give me the strength to make an excellent Lent, and make me fit to fulfill Thy Will in all things, especially as a wife and mother.

This photo shows the Brompton Oratory in London, founded by St. Philip Neri's Congregation. There are some amazing frescoes of the saint in this building. It's a little piece of Rome right in the middle of Knightsbridge.

Last night, I had my Rome pictures out because my teen is writing a paper on Rome. *sigh* What an amazing place!

A Week from Tomorrow!

It's hard to believe that Lent begins a week from tomorrow! Doesn't it feel as if we haven't even gotten used to writing "2011"?

I received a letter from a modern organization the other day, and it gave me some good ideas for a pre-Lent meditation. With some changes, here it is:

"My dearest child," Our Lady says to us. "Please do not fear these next forty days. During this time, my Son will give you His greatest gift. He will show us, through His sufferings, His sacrifice and death, how much He loves you, and how much He wants your sanctification."

She further advises us, "Please embrace this time of sacrifice as your own. Behold the true power of Faith, Charity and Sacrifice. Never forget, my dearest child, that I am here to hold you in my arms, just as I held my Son when He was taken down from the Cross."

Just as St. John lay his head on the Savior in this stained-glass window from St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland, let us rest in Jesus and His Most Holy Mother as we make this Lent the holiest we've ever had!

Helpful Image for Today

As part of a sermon on today's Epistle, Father painted a word picture of Our Lord's Mercy and Forgiveness. Then he told us that, as we have received it, it is our duty to share it with those around us. If we don't spread that mercy and forgiveness around us, then He won't forgive us.

I learned as a child that if we don't forgive others, we can't expect forgiveness from on High. But I never thought of it as a ray of light, or an outpouring of rejuvenating water, which we then have a duty to spread among our neighbors. There should be a pool of light around every Catholic, that shows the Mercy & Forgiveness & Kindness that we have received, as we pass it on to those around us.

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you..." (1 Corinthians 11:23)

Bit o' Wisdom

I was talking to someone about the spiritual life, and how sometimes, (okay, most of the time), it feels like we're not making any progress. She said something that struck me as really funny, and yet really profound.

We think, "Wait, this is all looking veerrry familiar -- am I going in circles?" The answer is "Yes, you are, but it's an upward spiral to God!"

Thank you for that bit o' wisdom today, Friend...it often feels like we're seeing the same things (or the same faults) over and over...but we must just remember it's an upward spiral to Heaven!

Oremus!

"O Mary Immaculate, cover me with your virginal mantle, that I may come forth from it purified; and present me to Jesus your beloved Son. O Mary Immaculate, the most pure, the most holy, and the most perfect of creatures, lead all your children to Heaven!"

My daughter's patroness, St. Catherine Laboure, received this prayer from Our Lady. It seems so appropriate for today's feast of Our Lady's Purification! This picture was taken in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, Eire.

May we be Purified!

Today is the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when she was purified from childbirth at the same time that she presented the Child Jesus in the Temple (fourth Joyful Mystery). It is also the day that Little Nellie of Holy God departed earth for Heaven.

This sweet and saintly child had a personal connection to God, calling Him always "Holy God". Her statue of the Infant was believed to have played and danced with her. In 2001 and 2003, I was blessed to visit Little Nellie's grave, and also to see her possessions. I saw her tooth, and also the above statue, which is the miraculous one.

How I wish that we all could have a similar sweet trusting relationship with Our Lord Jesus. Let us read about her today.... Little Nellie of Holy God. Pray for us, Nellie!

From My Reading....

I'm really enjoying an old, relatively unknown book from the last century, available at no charge for download here - Spiritual Progress. Here's a juicy tidbit:

(sunrise over Galway Bay)

"Stay and consider. In Heaven, and in the mind of God, there is an ideal for thee. It is thy life's story written beforehand in accordance with the graces that had been laid up for thee. What beauty, and loftiness, and nobility of soul! What love for God! What abundant consolations! What inward peace! But to realize this ideal, efforts were required. By progressive degrees, thy nature would have been freed from its defects, thy will would have become resolute and energetic, thy conscience straightforward and tender, and thy heart would have been seized with the love of things eternal. And at times hast thou not had a glimpse of these things? And on seeing them, hast thou not aspired to a more perfect life?"

 

Procrastination is the Mother of Creativity

Years ago, I heard a popular writer say that he always had at least two writing projects going - one on which to work, and one on which to procrastinate! Well, here I am...blogging as a procrastination technique! It's so much easier to ramble here than it is to edit my second novel, or to work on the editing that I do for another publishing company. I wonder why that is?

Once I start working on my editing, it moves along at a good clip and I enjoy it. But somehow, starting it is the tough part. Perhaps I'll make a cup of tea first!

I usually order Irish tea from Tea Dog, especially Barry's Gold and Lyon's Gold. Here is a real cup of tea in Ireland, with real Irish brown bread beside it....*sigh*

Waves of Creativity Washing Over Me

Everyone else in the world has a blog -- why shouldn't I? Well, I do have way too many other things to be doing, including responsibilities and things that I would just like to do someday. But I just had this urge to try it and see if I like it.

Today is the feast of St. Brigid of Ireland...and here is a picture of me with friends at St. Brigid's Well, Kildare.... http://www.kildare.ie/kildareheritage/?page_id=110. Good way to test the link!

Now let's test a photo for this wonderful saint's day:

St. Brigid of Ireland, pray for us!