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!