Sunday, December 02, 2018

impossible to unravel

A family hemmed in prayer
Is impossible to unravel...

Sunday, November 04, 2018

their first courageous step

 For all the saints, 
their first courageous step 
was to daily and continually 
turn away from all things worldly 
in favor of Jesus Christ.
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In this way
every thought word and action,
every intention, success and failure,
every labor and sacrifice
was miraculously transformed into
a sweet step to climb 
into the loving arms of Jesus
for all eternity.

Sunday, October 07, 2018

A Priest's Love for Mary


Throughout his life as a priest, 
his love for Mary grew. 
He shared this miraculous love 
by remembering everyone's prayer needs, 
and blessing all of us with encouragement and hope.
His message to us was 
that praying the Rosary 
is the answer for every difficulty 
the world presents to our families.
His grace filled love for Mary 
melodiously echoed throughout the sanctuary 
as he lead us in praying the Rosary.
Dear Father,
Thank you for being such a wonderful priest. 
May your retirement be a happy and blessed one.


Sunday, September 02, 2018

Mother's Lessons

Our Blessed Mother
 Earnestly cradled
Within her young heart
 God's love and promises
Mother's lessons
Inspired by the Holy Spirit 
Sculpted Mary's life~and ours
To Jesus through Mary!
 Painting of Saint Anne and the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
Saint Anne Shrine, Isle La Motte, VT


Thursday, August 02, 2018

Eucharistic Procession

     Our Parish Priest has re established the tradition of a yearly Eucharistic Procession on the Solemnity of the feast of Corpus Christi.I especially remember a procession which took place a few years ago.
     Carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a Monstrance, Father was accompanied by a small group of parishioners and a faithful altar server bearing holy incense. We walked through our town, praying the  Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, reading Scripture passages and singing hymns. At the edge of town, we crossed a bridge where we greeted some people fishing on this warm resplendent afternoon. 
     A couple passing through town got out of their truck and reverently genuflected while making the sign of the Cross.
     At the conclusion of our procession, before we convened inside the Church for Benediction, a Knight of Columbus graced us with beautiful bagpipe music.

Prayer Before a Crucifix:
"Behold, o good and most sweet Jesus, 
I fall upon my knees before Thee 
and with most fervent desire beg and beseech Thee 
that Thou would impress upon my heart 
a lively sense of faith, hope and charity, 
true repentance for my sins, 
and a firm resolve to make amends. 
And with deep affection and grief, 
I reflect upon Thy five wounds, 
having before my eyes 
that which Thy prophet David spoke about Thee, 
Oh good Jesus. 
"They have pierced my hands and feet, 
they have counted all my bones." 
AMEN

Sunday, July 01, 2018

Communion Prayer

My Lord Jesus Christ, 
I firmly believe that I am about to receive, in Communion,
Your Body, Your Blood, Your Soul and Your Divinity.
I believe it because You have said it
and I am ready to give my life to maintain this truth. 
Amen

Sunday, June 03, 2018

Someone is Praying for Me

     Saint Monica's enduring prayers for her son, Saint Augustine, are memorable. Our Church history reveals the Almighty Father's glorious response to her ardent supplication.
     As Mother Theresa's prayer filled life has taught us, praying the Rosary is "loving Jesus with the heart of Mary". I trust in Jesus and in Our Blessed Mother's constant intercession. All mothers' prayers for their children and loved ones reach Heaven. Upon review of my own life with all of its trials and spiritual upheavals, I have no doubt that someone is praying for me.

Sunday, May 06, 2018

Only God

Whenever something wonderful would happen
My grandmother would say "Only God!"
Whenever there was a great need
My grandmother would pray "Only God!"
Whenever, in the midst of tragedy, miraculous transformation emerged
My grandmother would praise "Only God!"


Sunday, April 01, 2018

A Story of a Mother Praying for Her Children

         My mother recalls that when she was a little girl, there was a woman at Church who she always saw quietly praying her Rosary~before Mass began, and again after Mass. My mother described the woman as being serene and focused, only occasionally glancing to smile briefly at others. My mother often wondered for whom this woman was praying so intently~perhaps she was praying for her children.
     So impressed by this story, I've had my mother tell it to me again. I can almost visualize the quiet praying woman. 
     Recollection of this story occupies my mind more frequently with time. Whenever friends at church converse asking each other to lift our loved ones in prayer, the woman in my mother's story comes to mind. I never actually saw her, yet I have a perception of her~quietly kneeling and completely focused as she devoutly prays her Rosary. 


Sunday, March 04, 2018

Who are the Moms?

     Moms are birth moms, adoptive moms, spiritual moms, grand moms, aunts, big sisters, best friends, teachers, mentors, Mother Superiors and Patron Saints. A mom might be the kind person we chatted with while traveling on the train, or someone whom we haven't heard from in a long, long time.
     Our Loving Father cherishes every woman's heartfelt prayers for her children and loved ones. 

Sunday, February 04, 2018

Mothers and Prayers

     Our Blessed Mother's constant intercession is a beautiful example of praying throughout all circumstances.
     Watching the late Mother Angelica's facial expression as she prayed the Saint Michael's Chaplet, I realized the power of every determined, praying mom. Birth moms, adoptive moms, spiritual moms, grand moms, aunts, sisters, Mother Superiors and mentors are all women whose prayers are more powerful than we realize. I am sure that the adversary does anything possible to distract, divert and derail the prayers of these most powerful warriors. When we pray we are on the "front lines" of battle. That's why so many times, our best efforts seem to be thwarted by the unexpected. Saint Teresa of Avila advised "In time of sorrow and trouble cease not from the good works of prayer and penance which thou art in the habit of doing, for Satan is striving to make thee uneasy, and then to abandon them: on the contrary, do thou apply thyself thereunto more earnestly than before, and thou shalt see quickly our Lord will come to thy succor."

Sunday, January 07, 2018

months and days

Day of Week
   Dedicated to:                                
Mystery of Rosary
Sunday
Resurrection & the Holy and Undivided Trinity
Glorious
MondayThe Holy Ghost & the Souls in Purgatory
Joyful
TuesdayThe Holy Angels 
Sorrowful
WednesdaySt. Joseph 
Glorious
ThursdayThe Blessed Sacrament 
Joyful
FridayChrist's Passion and His Sacred Heart 
Sorrowful
SaturdayThe Blessed Virgin and her Immaculate Heart. 
Glorious

Month
Dedicated to:
JanuaryThe Holy Name and Childhood of Jesus
FebruaryThe Holy Family
MarchSt. Joseph
AprilThe Blessed Sacrament
MayMary
JuneSacred Heart of Jesus
JulyThe Precious Blood
AugustImmaculate Heart of Mary
SeptemberSeven Dolours (Sorrows) of Mary
OctoberThe Holy Rosary (and, less formally, the Holy Angels)
NovemberPoor Souls in Purgatory
DecemberThe Immaculate Conception