Morning Offering/Ofrenda Matutina

 

special gifts

 

hermanas

 

Loving Jesus with the Heart of Mary~ Papa Francisco en Filadelfia 2015

I was so inspired by the humility of these young people who publicly and without ceasing, reverently prayed the Rosary.

Papa Francisco~Filadelfia/Pope Francis~ Philadelphia 2015

Papa Francisco y el Peregrinaje Dedicado a la Familia/

Pope Francis and the Pilgrimage Dedicated to the Family

Saint Jude ~ God's Will

Trustingly accepting and lovingly obeying

the holy and perfect will of our Almighty Father

with all our mind, heart and strength

...our greatest need...

"Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, 

faithful servant and friend of Jesus,  
the Church honors and invokes you universally, 
as the patron of difficult  cases, of things almost despaired of, 
Pray for me,I am so helpless and alone. 
Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. 
Come to my assistance in this great need 
that I may receive  the consolation and help of heaven 
in all my necessities, tribulations, and  sufferings, 
particularly -(make your request here)
- and that I may praise  God with you and all the saints forever. 
I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, 
to be  ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God 
and to always honor you as  my special and powerful patron, 
and to gratefully encourage devotion to you." 
Amen

Cherished Memories

happy years gone by

and many joyful years to come...

a special gift

She is more precious than all riches: 

and all the things that are desired, 

are not to be compared with her.

Proverbs 3:15

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

The Litany of Loreto

Our Lady's constant intercession for her children

  The many titles given to her

By Our Blessed Lord Jesus...

The Litany of Loreto

determination

     I am so thankful for the example of the women in my life 

who with unfaltering determination
and generous devotion

faithfully pray the Holy Rosary
the timeless thread 

weaving love 

and holding families together 

through every joy and tribulation.

Rest

How tranquil is our daily prayer and work

when we enjoy the rest that God gives us each week.

"The seventh day is the day of the Sabbath,

That is the rest of the Lord thy God."

 Deuteronomy 5:14

"And he said to them-the sabbath was made for man 

and not man for the sabbath. 

Therefore the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath also."

Mark 2:27-28

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

love your enemies

"But I say to you, love your enemies: 
do good to them that hate you: 

and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:"
Mathew 6:44
Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

Lent 3 ~ Good Works ~ Alms Giving

   Lent is a beautiful time of growing closer to Christ by giving of ourselves through the good works of prayer, fasting and alms giving. In these ways, we aspire to imitate Our Blessed Lord in the way that he gave Himself, without reservation,  to all of us. Fear is the greatest obstacle to generosity. Holy Scriptures teach us that love casts out all fear.

     While visiting Guatemala, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the people there. Their life is a life of poverty by our country's standards. What amazed and humbled me was the freedom with which people gave of their time, work and goods. They did not hold back. There was no measuring of how much was given nor was there an expectation of anything in return. Giving to those in need came easily.
     It is said that the higher one's income, the more difficult it is to be generous. Are material possessions too much to lose? Why is it so difficult to share? Why are prayers of petition more desperate and fervent than prayers of thanksgiving? What is so frightening about giving away material possessions? Elaborate household alarm systems and expensive storage of never used items underscore the anxiety attached to protecting material goods. What is so scary about losing what is so easily lost? The despair associated with holding on to things is evenly matched with the despondency of not having enough. All of this occurs with the full awareness of nearby poverty. 
     A dear friend is a contemplative nun. She owns nothing. Her peaceful smile is ever present. She fears nothing, not even death. Her only concern is that she is not giving Jesus enough love.
     May this Lent's alms giving take away our fear and fill us with the love of Christ.

Prayer

Fasting

Alms Giving

Lent 2 ~ Good Works~Fasting

    Lent is a beautiful time of growing closer to Christ by giving of ourselves through the good works of prayer, fasting and alms giving. In these ways, we aspire to imitate Our Blessed Lord in the way that he gave Himself, without reservation,  to all of us.

  Jesus sacrificially obeyed God's Will by giving us 

His body and blood in the Holy Eucharist

     Holy Scriptures present us with many examples of holy fasting. Jesus teaches us the necessity of fasting. His words "only by prayer and fasting" address the singular manner by which the demon possessed boy was freed from a lifetime of anguish. He uses the word "when", not "if" with regards to fasting and prayer which He requires in the lives of His followers. 
      Life changing sacrifices and miracles flourished in the lives, of Moses, Daniel and Esther.  Fasting was an essential element in the lives of many Saints.

   Eating is necessary to sustain life. It is the center of many social events. We eat to celebrate, as in weddings. Food is brought to mourning family and friends as part of the activity of consolation. Human attention to food, water and eating is of

immense cultural, social, economic and historic significance.
  So, why is fasting such an important element in our reltionship with God? 
     During a holy fast, we deliberately remove ourselves from the consumption of specific foods for a specific periods of time (hours, days) , so as to concentrate upon God. Holy fasting is without motives of vanity or ego. Holy Mother Church
 prescribes fasting for lay persons, always with consideration of limitations presented by age, state of life and state of health. To disregard these factors removes the holiness of the fast-period. Before embarking on a fast, consult with a Holy priest.
   Roman Catholics fast for one hour before receiving Holy Communion. May we receive the grace to obey God's Holy Will for us in our "hours/days of fasting" during this Lenten season, because in obedience to the Will of the Father, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.

Prayer

Fasting

Alms Giving

Lent 1 ~ Good Works ~ Prayer

     Lent is a beautiful time of growing closer to Christ by giving of ourselves through the good works of prayer, fasting and alms giving. In these ways, we aspire to imitate Our Blessed Lord in the way that he gave Himself, without reservation,  to all of us.

       Prayer is lifting our hearts and souls to God. This Heavenward act of love, characterized by its simplicity and beauty, can be expressed vocally or mentally. Spontaneous or recited, sung or signed, our offerings of praise, thanksgiving, petition, contrition are essential in our growing relationship with our Creator. True holy reverent prayer is accomplished only with the divine help of the Holy Spirit. And let us never underestimate the assistance of our Guardian Angel. Our Catholic Catechism is filled with a treasury of lessons about prayer. The writings of many Holy men and women of God teach us that the inevitable multitude of tangible and intangible distractions to prayer, present an overarching struggle which can only be counterbalanced by supernatural grace. This grace, which strengthens holy perseverance, comes from Our Almighty Father, and is delivered to us by the Blessed Virgin Mary. The intercession of Mary, and all of the Saints and Angels make it possible for us to successfully overcome every obstacle to remaining in union with Christ through prayer. God commands us to pray for one another, even if we are "enemies". Prayer is so powerful, yet so easily overlooked amid daily activities. It is true that "prayer changes things", especially the heart of the person praying. 
     The time we spend praying would be spent engaged in some other activity. So, in order to pray we must "give up" something we would otherwise be doing. Prayer involves us in a subtle act of sacrifice, the supernatural results of which are uniquely perceived by the soul.
   There are many opportunities for simple, quiet prayer during any busy day. Morning prayers and Scripture reading set a lovely tranquil pace for the remainder of the day. Jesus used to get away from the frenzy of activity that so often surrounded Him so as to spend time in solitude with His Father. Jesus listened To God. He listened to hear God's will. He was always disposed to obey, even when it required suffering. Healing, miracles, love and compassion flowed from Him without limits.
   I once read a sign that said "A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel." I believe that a Lent woven in prayer embroiders our hearts ever more securely within the Heart of Jesus.

Prayer

Fasting

Alms Giving

Prayer of Saint Gertrude for Souls in Purgatory

"Eternal Father, 

I offer to Thee the Most Precious Blood 

of Thy Divine Son Jesus

in union with the Masses said throughout the world this day 

for all the Souls in Purgatory."

Amen

found at weekday Mass

       Through an "interesting" series of events, I foud myself planted in the front row of a weekday Mass. My arrival, though very tardy, was surely the result of the hand of God. Father was in the middle of his sermon and the only available seat not requiring me to step in front of someone in the same pew was directly in the line of the Holy Spirit's "fire" filled gifts.  The words Father spoke at that precise  moment were exactly what my soul needed.  At once sobering and comforting, God's direct message rendered me overcome with amazement and joy.

        The morning's events underscored for me that God's action in our lives is neither random nor coincidental. Our Heavenly Father has a definite plan for the eternal good of every one of His beloved children. He finds us wherever we are and welcomes us into His heart.

   Dear Jesus, please strengthen my willingness to answer your sweet call.

Saint Anthony of Padua,

patron saint of lost souls and of finding that which is lost

 

The Anima Cristi Prayer:

Soul of Christ sanctify me

Body of Christ save me

Blood of Christ inebriate me

Water from the side of Christ wash me

O good Jesus hear me

Within Thy wounds hide me

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee

From the malignant enemy defend me

In the hour of my death call me

And bid me to come to Thee

That with Thy saints and angels I may praise Thee

Forever and ever.  AMEN