A must read….
DECLARATION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
DIGNITATIS HUMANAE
ON THE RIGHT OF THE PERSON AND OF COMMUNITIES
TO SOCIAL AND CIVIL FREEDOM IN MATTERS RELIGIOUS
PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON DECEMBER 7, 1965
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After spending most of the morning in Holy Mass at Holy Cross Cemetary yesterday, celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Robert Brom for All Souls Day, I had the distinct honor, all giving to our Lord, to attend All Souls Day Requiem Missa Cantata and a visit to the Campo Santo Cemetery, Old Town San Diego.
I can say with my entire heart, our Lord wanted me here last night. Sunday I had tried to make it for Second Vespers and the entire area of Old Town San Diego was packed with people, so much so, it took me an hour just to drive through the town. There was no parking available as the people crowded the streets dressed in their Day of the Dead costumes. I had never attended anything like that before. Streets were closed down and blocked off and it was just a matter for me to get through and head back home. Last night, could have been the same, but the second I pulled behind Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, a woman got into her car and was leaving. Opening up a spot for me to attend.
As I started walking up to the Church, people were still dressed in costumes and eating, drinking and loud music was playing. It was actually chaotic. I’m not one for crowded places so for me, it wasn’t something that draws my attention. As I walked up the steps a woman dressed in her death costume was standing in front of the entrance of the Church, shouting to her friends to take her picture. It was chaos on the exterior of this beautiful Church. I walked past her and entered. The inside was quiet and our Lords Tabernacle had been covered as they began to set up for the Latin Rite Requiem Holy Mass.
I breathed a bit easier, genuflected and began to pray with our Lord. My soul became quiet and Holy Mass began. All in Latin, and as the celebration continues on, I was caught up into it. One of the most beautiful things that took place was a friend of mine from the Brothers of the Little Oratory, who was directing the schola, went up and pulled the bell rope to match the altar bells during the consecrations, doing this, announces to the world the sacrificial presence of Christ on the altar of his church. The entire city of Old Town San Diego was able to hear the presence of our Lord on His Altar. As this took place I was in complete joy. All the chaos outside and darkness knew our Lord was present.
At the end of Holy Mass, we began to light our candles again and began a lighted processional to the first Old Adobe Chapel, a few blocks from Immaculate Conception.
The Old Adobe Chapel was originally built in 1850 as a home, and was converted to a church by Don José Aguirre in 1858. After having been bulldozed for street realignment in the 1930s, the WPA rebuilt the adobe chapel in 1937. Much of the interior artifacts from the original chapel have been retained, including the tabernacle, the altar with its beautiful marbleized finish, some woodwork including pews and doors, and José Aguirre’s tombstone is laid in the floor. CLICK HERE
As we left the Church, I followed closely behind the Priest as the Brothers of the Little Oratory lead the way, singing. As we walked out into the streets, it was as if the entire world outside came to a screeching halt. We, in prayer and procession, entered into a place that was not expecting to see a Holy Procession. Taken by surprise, the world outside began to warm. I watched souls begin to pray with us, sing with us and follow us. As we walked down the packed streets of Old Town San Diego, it was as if we were parting the Red Sea. Swarms of souls moved out of the way without asking and began to make the sign of the cross, some take pictures and most of the souls smiled at the procession to the Old Adobe. We entered and blessed the grave of José Aguirre and prayed again. As we left, we began the beautiful procession, in candle light, song and prayer, again to Campo Santo Cemetery.
The same parting took place and traffic was stopped as we crossed the street and entered into the Cemetery to bless the graves. There were two souls inside who were not so impressed as they had other ideas as one man began to tell the other that he had no clue this was going to take place, but the other man, much calmer, was able to assure the other it was right that we should be there. We simply continued on and passed them into this place. Our Lord won the conflict and quiet was achieved to begin the blessing of the graves. We prayed again for the souls buried there and without incident, processed out, chanting in the battle cry of our Holy Mother all the way back to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
I had never seen so many souls taken in by an event as this before. It was so beautiful to see people stop and take notice that the dead that are buried in this pace, are not a simple tourist attractions and deserved prayer and respect. They, the precious dead, received both last night. Praise, glory and honor to our Lord.
Glory, praise and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen
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“And since I’m going away to prepare a place for you, I’ll come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am.” John 14:3
How beautiful this place is, that our Lord is ever present, ever seen. Only now in exile, can He been seen in small portions, slightly revealed behind the veil that separates us here in exile from Him in completeness. When I can see Him today, and the way He makes my soul dance, I can’t even comprehend what ecstasy the soul shall be pulled into with Him in completeness.
I attended All Souls Day Holy Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery this morning and prayed for all the souls of my readers lost loved ones, all on social media and within my own family. I was blessed with the opportunity to find the grave of my old friends from the Legion of Mary and thought of how wonderful it was to be a part of our Lord’s life together with them. How much pain we have felt at the missing of them in our presence and all the souls who have touched our lives in so many special ways.
I have often pondered the fact that when I say so and so is a blessing to have in my life, its not actually MY life they are in, but rather, we are all together in our Lords Life, as He gathers us into One in Him.
The pain of losing a loved one, no matter the age, is devastating.I will not soon forget the loss of my own mom and dad and the realization that everything had changed completely and would never be the same. Grief is hard after the loss and nothing we can do can heal that pain of “someone missing”. We can, however, look at it in a much clear way, and understand that when we lose a loved one, its not truly losing, but gaining. We gain a soul closer to our Lord. We know we can never get that soul we loved back into our presence, BUT what we can do, is live in such a way, to ensure one day, we can be where they are in the presence of our Lord. Knowing we all will as this life is only temporary. We should rejoice for their pain in exile is over. There suffering is no more and the Holy Souls in Purgatory suffer in a way now, in which a recent quote I heard of St. Thomas Aquinas has said as: “The worst day in purgatory is better than the best day on earth” (pointed out by a dear friend: Aquinas wrote in the Summa that the pains of purgatory surpass all of the temporal pains of this life. That doesn’t mean that the quote above is false! This is also greater hope there than any other place.) We should be more aware of the pain souls are in, in exile here, struggling with the worldly and the lack of compassion for others. Therefore we are called to be One in Christ, to bring peace, hope and love to those in pain and suffering
Today, as I attended this beautiful Requiem Mass for the Holy Souls, it was the first time I was able to look more deeply into my own mortality. We all know one day we will no longer be “here”. I had arrived a half hour early and walked up to a man holding the handouts for the readings and songs. I took one from him and my eyes instantly captured the word on the cover, reading: “And since I’m going away to prepare a place for you, I’ll come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am.” John 14:3 I was filled with joy and began to happy cry. I truly look forward to that day He knows of.
In all the suffering we face, no matter how harsh we may believe it to be, we know this life in exile is not forever. We understand that place He has prepared for us, is under construction, until the hour He calls for us to come be with Him. Death no longer is to be feared, but embraced as it is only a moment in time, leading to eternal Life. Death to us, should be the “nativity” of the Soul in eternal life with our Lord. When we ponder the Nativity of our Lord, the moment He entered into this world for us, I can’t help but ponder as a repenting sinner, our leaving exile much in the same way, as the arrival into eternal life with Him.
Peace.
Graves of my mom and dad:
Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
English
V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And let the perpetual light shine upon them.And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Latine
V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.
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“You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.” Psalm 16:11I love serving the homeless. I have been very close in many ways to walking in their shoes. I don’t have much to give, but what I have, I have no problem giving to those who have less than I do. Its said in this world that “the one with the most toys wins”. I couldn’t disagree more with this worldly statement. I know for a fact that the less attachment to the things in this world you have , the more peace in Christ you attain.
Yesterday as I was walking to Our Lady of the Rosary Church in San Diego, I noticed a man laying on the ground. As I got closer, without even thinking about it, I looked through my purse and found a few dollars. He was sleeping and the more looked at his face the more I seen our Lord. I couldn’t believe how much he reminded me of our Lord.
I tucked the money I had into his jacket and he never knew it. I continued on to our Lady of the Rosary, purchased a few things I needed, along with a few St. Nicholas Holy Cards. On my way back, I noticed I still had two dollars in my purse. The man was still laying on the ground and I tucked two more dollars into his coat with a St. Nicholas Holy Card.
He never knew I was there and the joy this brought to me is growing. Glory, praise and honor to our Lord. I LOVE serving Him in this way. All I can do, I can do for Him. ALl I have to give, I can give for Him. Please pray for this man and all our homeless brothers and sisters.
The prayer on the holy card I tucked into his jacket read:
God, Our Father, we pray that through Your intercession of St. Nicholas, you will protect our children. Keep them safe from harm and help them grow and become worthy in Your sight. Give them strength to keep their Faith in You; and to keep alive their joy in your creation. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen
St. Nicholas, Patron of Children, pray for us. All Saints of our Lord, pray for us. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us all
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The Lord publicly proclaimed it: ‘I’, he said, ‘have prayed for you Peter that your faith may not fail, and you, once being converted, must confirm your brothers’… For this reason the Faith of the Apostolic seat has never failed even during turbulent times, but has remained whole and unharmed, so that the privilege of Peter continues to be unshaken. —Pope Innocent III (1198-1216)
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Thank you St. Pope John Paul II, for prayers answered…
As I was waking this morning, I couldn’t shake the thought of him, St. Faustina and the abyss of love that has replaced the abyss of misery that was my life.
Thank you Lord for him, for You and for your Divine Mercy.
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Pondering: Vatican II (inside the church) not being the reason souls left the pews, but the temptation of the ‘sexual revolution” (on the outside), being the “apple” many “fell for” that lead souls astray and out of the pews. Therefore our Lord was already prepared to address the needs of a society of souls far off, and the Father meeting them on the road to welcome them back home.
If souls were “obedient” and in love with our Lord, there wouldn’t have been a mass exodus. It’s as if a fear of something other than of our Lord gripped the souls in the pews rather than “trust” and “obedience” to our Lord, which holds all souls in love.. Just as a temptation that “original sin” is a thing of the past grips souls today and holds them in that same lack of “obedience” to God.
BUT “patience obtains all things” and “all things work for the greater glory of God”.
Just pondering….
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As I began making dinner tonight, after not feeling very well, I started gathering all I needed for dinner that was supposed to be made last night. I have had a fever and not sure what my body is doing again, and my children & husband escaped to a school function so I was left with a lot of ingredients, and no need to use them, or to cook yesterday.
Tonight, I’m preparing a pasta & shrimp meal with garlic & shallots, green onions and some lemons. I love cooking with our Lord as I am in “conversation” with Him through prayer. Simply asking Him, okay, what do we add here and should I use this and He points the little things out to me. It makes for a beautiful way to prepare a meal when the family is off doing what they are doing and allows me time away to enjoy the little consultations that our Lord gives to me.
Tonight as the meal is simmering in the pan, our Lord allowed me reflect on the topic of conversation that has been on everyone’s mind in regards to receiving Him at Holy Mass. I had shared my story before, but tonight as I began to ponder it, He made me laugh so hard and filled me with His joy. A few days ago, I had brought my girls to the mall and we entered into a store called Bath and Body Works. To be honest, I don’t much care for their products as that’s just not where I find simple pleasures, and this is in no way a plug, but its funny how things work in the end, and give glory to our Lord, even when the world doesn’t understand what it did, or is doing.
I allowed my daughter to purchase a few things that she liked and as we made our way to the back of the store, I notice next to the register, a bottle of hand soap named “Lemoncello”. I laughed because I had heard this story a few months ago: Rome prepares for Holy Year of Mercy – with ice cream. I purchased the limoncello soap.
Back to making dinner and pondering with our Lord, all the ingredients were in the pan, and now were ready to simply simmer. I walked to the sink and began to wash my hands. As I used the soap, I noticed the name: Bath and Body Works. I smiled as our Lord began to remind me again. Bath meaning Confession, as the Sacrament of Confession is the “shower for your soul” and Body meaning Eucharist, His Body in a state of grace, followed by “Works”. It works. Peace. “This is the time for mercy.” “Gather in my name”, not scatter.
Its a great consultation to have Him cooking with me in this home, I look forward to going to His home for our next meal together.
Praise, glory and honor to our Lord.
Praying for conversions back to our Lord now,and always, especially for the coming of the Holy Year of Mercy.
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“For though we know quite well that God is present in all that we do, our nature is such that it makes us lose sight of the fact; but when this favour is granted it can no longer do so, for the Lord, who is near at hand, awakens it. And even the favours aforementioned occur much more commonly, as the soul experiences a vivid and almost constant love for Him whom it sees or knows to be at its side.”
― St. Teresa of Ávila, Interior CastleSt. Teresa of Ávila, pray for us
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This is Vinny. Named after St. Vincent de Paul (because he adopted me on his feast day) He was homeless. He spent an entire morning with our Lord in Exposition a few years ago. He walked into the Day Chapel at St. John of the Cross when someone left the door open. Spent the entire morning there and never bothered a soul. Until I got there to take care of some things as I was taking care of the Altar Linens.
As I knelt down to pray, Vinny came to me and wouldn’t leave me alone. A woman whispered that he hadn’t bothered anyone all day as he was there but me. I thought it was a joke because he was so affectionate and clung to me as if he knew me his entire life. He jumped into my lap as I sat in a chair to pray. He literally was all over me. So, I asked our Lord and decided to bring him home to my house. KNOWING we had a dog and Mooch the dog, would probably run him off when we got home. I picked him up and carried him all the way to my truck, which was parked a far distance for the Chapel. He was like a tiny kitten and did NOT want to get out of my arms as we walked. I opened the door and he got right in as if we had done this every day. The drive was like nothing. I was amazed as I knew that cats were not exactly the best handlers of car rides. He never freaked out in the truck while I was driving.
When I got him home, with him in my arms, I entered the house through the garage knowing it would be a little easier for him to meet Mooch the dog this way. They met nose to nose and INSTANTLY were best friends as still are today. Praise, glory & honor to our Lord.
Sometimes I wonder if our Lord is actually calling me to the Franciscans. Or, maybe I just have a Carmelite calling with Franciscan leanings. This is my struggle lately. Lord, lead the way.
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Assisted Suicide is Euthanasia and the argument I hear lately for it and the reason the Gov. of California signed the legislation today all have the same hopeless banter.
This statement, “We Don’t Want To See People Suffer” or “We don’t want to suffer” <–say that without any compassion and in you lack of any empathy voice, because that is exactly how it is as its meaning is very clear.
This seems to be the argument for the PRO-Euthanasia movement in this country who believe that equating humans too “pets” is sensible.
We are not animals without souls. Our, everything must be simple, I want it now culture can't deal with the fact that suffering is a part of life, and feels the need to enact laws to make things SO much more sanitized and simple for a few, that it does more harm then good for ALL society.
If you are a Christian and support Euthanasia you truly need to look deeper into your soul. If you are not Christian and support it, you also need to look deeper.
Did Jesus Christ suffer? Are we told by Him to pick up “our cross” and follow Him?EVERYONE suffers at the end of their life and all through life. Does that mean we just kill everyone so no one has to suffer anymore? UTOPIA!
My parents BOTH suffered from Lung Cancer. My grandmother suffered from Ovarian Cancer. My grandfather suffered with brain tumors. My Aunt suffered from Pancreatic Cancer. All naturally life ending. I suffer with MANY health issues that at times are EXTREMELY painful. I also tried to commit suicide years back and I thank GOD DAILY HE allowed me to live, giving me time to repent and WAIT UNTIL He is ready to take me.
NO ONE chooses to suffer. We just do and when we see others suffer, we SHOULD become AWARE of how PRECIOUS the gift of LIFE from God is. How needed compassion and caring is today and always for one another. We SHOULD drop EVERYTHING and tend to THEM, as they teach US what TRUE compassion, mercy and love for neighbor, along with how to nurture and nurse, truly is and how frail and human we are. This is all a part of life. We are not animals that can put to down because we have no worth anymore. We have souls and can reason. The only thing assisted suicide (euthanasia) will do, is euthanize the only dignity and respect for HUMAN LIFE people have left for one another and self.
“Then the LORD asked Cain, Where is your brother Abel? He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” God then said: What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!”
Unlike taking the position of Cain’s response to God when he took the life of his brother, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE for our Bothers & Sisters. We are RESPONSIBLE for all creation and creatures. The fact we are Human Beings we know we have been given the gift to THINK and REASON.
Join your suffering to His. There is no place or state in this life we can ever be, that He has not been, or is. The little amount of suffering we have today, is not worth the risk of spending eternity in suffering.
For the argument that we all have the right to choose what we do with it? You are correct. But you don’t have a right legalize your choice to die, which would brainwash an entire society a generation from now into thinking murdering someone who is suffering is okay. We already know where the Abortion culture has lead us and we also know we all will die one day, naturally.
The Way of the Cross <–click
As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’
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The Global Warming Of Hearts
Please see the edits to the previous post.
Ecology of Pope Francis.
LISTEN UP! What Pope Francis is saying, is when you place love of God, Abba Father, above ALL ELSE, there would be no need to talk about a clean environment, saving abused animals, ending abortion etc. because it would BE CLEANER, they would be “saved” because placing your love for Him above all else, trickles down and shows in your love for all His creation and creatures. “Right Praise” and “Right Worship” becomes doing what is right and just. Faith and works. Its the love relationship.”“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” <–click there
End of rant. It all starts with YOU! “Who do YOU say that I am?” LIVE IT!
E·col·o·gy
ēˈkäləjē/the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Our Lords way of “Global Warming”
EDIT TO ADD: Pope Francis…
View original post 20 more words
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Holy Guardian Angel Of Mine
You who have been appointed to me
Hand picked by our Lord from the beginning
I truly, whole heart and soul submit to our Lord in all His ways
May I, with His grace always, cooperate
You guide me at His mighty command, every second of every day
Watching the paths on which I tread and every word that I have said
Every thought in my head
Even at dusk and through the dark night
Ever present, ever awake
You truly are my friend
I’m sorry
For all the times I did what I pleased in evil ways
Never giving a thought that you too my friend were in need
Of bring me home to our Lord at His heed
May we never lose The Way
Please Holy Guardian Angel Of Mine
Take me home to Him Who Is, my Lord and my God, my friend, on that day
That we both may rest for all eternity in the joy of our Lord
Let it be known, forever be said
I repent, I bequeath this day, and give right now,
My heart, my soul, my body, my entire life
To our Lord, Jesus ChristOctober 2, 2015 Feast Day of the Holy Guardian Angels
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So many are “upset” that our Holy Father, Pope Francis met with Kim Davis. Some because no one from the Vatican told them they were going to have this meeting. Others for the fact they don’t agree with Kim Davis. Others for the simple fact it gives them something to complain about.
Might I suggest you ponder DEEPLY the painting above. CLICK HERE
Our Lord informed us of this “meeting” Himself and continues to do so daily in each of our lives. -
Rethink Assisted Suicide becoming law as this will become the reality if it is not stopped. Never forget that the (click link) T4 Program of Nazi Germany is the foundation of this law and it can easily become the “Assisted Suicide” program of any nation that has lost its moral compass.
We already see it today here in the USA through the passing of Roe VS Wade going from RARE instance to on demand. The very thought of passing a law to allow someone to murder their own children in the womb and now to commit suicide is the distinct sign, the moral compass of the nation is smashed and broken.
The “euthanasia” program was Nazi Germany’s first program of mass murder. It predated the genocide of European Jewry (the Holocaust) by approximately two years. The program was one of many radical eugenic measures which aimed to restore the racial “integrity” of the German nation. It endeavored to eliminate what eugenicists and their supporters considered “life unworthy of life”: those individuals who—they believed—because of severe psychiatric, neurological, or physical disabilities represented both a genetic and a financial burden on German society and the state.
When the government is making your health decisions, and paying for them, it quickly becomes the government who will pull the plug because of that bottom line.
Repent.
UPDATE: And now…
People are being euthanized in Europe… for autism
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Ecology of Pope Francis.
LISTEN UP! What Pope Francis is saying, (IMHO) is when you place love of God, Abba Father, above ALL ELSE, there would be no need to talk about a clean environment, saving abused animals, ending abortion etc. because it would BE CLEANER, they would be “saved” because placing your love for Him above all else, trickles down and shows in your love for all His creation and creatures. “Right Praise” and “Right Worship” becomes doing what is right and just. Faith and works. Its the love relationship.”“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” <–click there
End of rant. It all starts with YOU! “Who do YOU say that I am?” LIVE IT!
E·col·o·gy
ēˈkäləjē/the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Our Lords way of “Global Warming”
EDIT TO ADD: Pope Francis today in Philly 9/26/2015
EDIT TO ADD: Beautiful! Shared with me today on Twitter 10/3/2015
Yes Lord. I love You.
Please, also read “Light Pollution” written February of last year.
EDIT TO ADD: 10/4/2015 I had never read the below article before tonight and it brought me great JOY to do so. Please read it fully at the link provided. It originally was posted 2/10/15 but was recently posted 10/1/15 again. I am starting to see that this post is shaping to be the Ecology of Abba Father. Glory, praise and honor to our Lord. We are called to be stewards of His creation and that includes being “our brothers keepers”. Love for Him above all else is a written guarantee, backed by Him, for love of neighbor. Love of neighbor is a written guarantee of love for all creation and creatures.
The image of man, formed from the dust of the earth and enlivened with the breath of God, is a description of relationships rather than origins. It succinctly describes our unbreakable bond with creation and our relationship with God, the source of all life. The image of man naming the creatures formed from the earth implies our responsibility for creation, and is echoed in the recent encyclical of Pope Francis. In the spirit of Genesis, it is a sacred duty to care for the creation entrusted to us.
The Creator’s reflection that “it is not good that man should be alone” takes us to the heart of our humanity. The Creator has endowed us with a restless longing that cannot flourish in isolation. Our humanity is whole only to the extent that it finds itself in relationships both with God and with each other.From the Catholic Herald: by Bishop David McGough
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We love you too!
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‘This is my body which is given for you”
Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived;
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God’s Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there’s nothing trueSt. Thomas Aquinas
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Last night, while I sat in Exposition of our Lord, He made me smile and laugh out loud at one point.
As I sat with our Lord last night, out of nowhere, a thought came to my mind of those who “pretend” to know our Lord. Our Lord showed me souls that were blindfolded, walking around a maze, bumping into walls. They were doing this because they REFUSED to ask our Lord for help and were to proud to do so. They continued to walk, smashing their faces into the walls, tripping over things. This, as our Lord was showing me, were those who are “big” in the “world” and believe in themselves and not Him. Believing their own ideals and ideas of Him and completely overlooking Him.
Our Lord related them to the secular media and what they are doing today. He reminded me of a game we used to play as Children called “Blind Mans Bluff” in which we would blindfold someone, spin them around and hide. They would have to find us as we called out to them from a distance. They would have to fumble around in the dark, until they felt their way to us.
“Blind Man’s Bluff” – Blind in regards to not seeing the Truth surrounding them and bluffing that they know what they are saying.
It was such a beautiful and cute reflection that He shared with me. The giggling is due to knowing that the souls who do this, are only fooling themselves because they are so pumped on on their own pride. They don’t want to know Him. They just want the prestige from the world. I know in my heart, with all my heart, our Lord is not impressed with it.
I attended Holy Mass tonight and found the first two readings to be directly related to what our Lord was conveying to me last night.
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 134
Reading 1 WIS 2:12, 17-20The wicked say:
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.And then again…
Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.Where do the wars
and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions
that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.Something to ponder…
Praise, honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, always.
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I never had a song until I came to know our Lord Jesus Christ, who He alone has become the Music to which I sing.
3. He who is sick with love,
whom God himself has touched,
finds his tastes so changed
that they fall away
like a fevered man’s
who loathes any food he sees
and desires I-don’t know-what
which is so gladly found.4. Do not wonder
that the taste should be left like this,
for the cause of this sickness
differs from all others;
and so he is withdrawn
from all creatures,
and tastes I-don’t-know-what
which is so gladly found.5. For when once the will
is touched by God himself,
it cannot find contentment
except in the Divinity;
but since his Beauty is open
to faith alone, the will
tastes him in I-don’t-know-what
which is so gladly found.6. Tell me, then, would you pity
a person so in love,
who takes no delight
in all creation;
alone, mind empty of form and figure,
finding no support or foothold,
he tastes there I-don’t-know-what
which is so gladly found.7. Do not think that he who lives
the so-precious inner life
finds joy and gladness
in the sweetness of the earth;
but there beyond all beauty
and what is and will be and was,
he tastes I-don’t-know-what
which is so gladly found. –St. John of the Cross
Hallelujah!
My soul, give praise to the Lord; I will praise the Lord all my days, make music to my God while I live. – Psalm 146 1:2
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Heavenly Father,
Thou hast given us the gift of freedom
to love and to follow in Thy ways and commands.
Some parents choose to abuse this freedom
by destroying the gift of life
which Thou hast given to their offspring.
Please forgive those who destroy human life
by aborting their unborn babies.
Give these unborn children the opportunity
to enjoy Thee for all eternity,
if it according to Thy ordinance.
Assist me in being one in solidarity with Thy little ones
by taking to heart the words of Thy Son,
“whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine,
you did for Me.” (Mt. 25:40)
Therefore, allow me today, Father,
to adopt spiritually an unborn child
and to offer my prayers, works,
joys and sufferings for that little one,
so that child will be able to be born and live
for Thy greater honor and glory.
We pray this in Jesus’ name,
in union with the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever.Amen.
Prayer for Aborted Babies from Catholic OnLine
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Pondering….
Do we offer our Lord the best wine, or the bitter when we gossip about others? When we hear this gossip of others, do we push away that sponge of bitter wine or do we drink it up to share it with others?
Must read and live
Mass at Santa Marta – Bite your tongueThe Pope then recommended a true examination of conscience: “It will do us good to ask ourselves: Do I sow peace? For example, with my tongue, do I sow peace or do I sow discord?”. Then, he added: “How many times have we heard that a person has a serpent’s tongue, because he does what the serpent did with Adam and Eve, he destroyed the peace”. This, the Pontiff warned, “is an evil, this is an ill in our Church: sowing divisiveness, sowing hate, not sowing peace”. Francis continued his proposed examination of conscience with a question which, he indicated, would be good to ask ourselves every day: “Today have I sown peace or have I sown discord?”. And don’t try to justify yourself with, “well, sometimes you have to say things because this or that…”. Really, the Pope asked, “what are you sowing with this attitude?”.
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Regarding Kim Davis who now sits in jail for following her religious convictions and many other things in the USA …
In regards to the shamming of her personal life: What did our Lord say to the woman at the well? What did she do after her conversation with Him? Shamming her for her past and accusing her of bigotry is a “Gaslighting” tactic.
What this entire thing screams to me is Totalitarianism. What becomes of any Christian practicing their faith who holds political office? Is the rule and law of the land now, that NO ONE who believes in Jesus Christ or has faith in God can be in Government or hold a political office?
Remember what the Germans did to the Jews BEFORE slaughtering them. They stripped them of any positions they held, in government, schools and business, then they kicked them out of their family businesses, put them “out of business”, and confiscated them, then loaded them up and shipped them off to concentration camps. Before all this, if you were found in any way to have a mental condition, including Autism, you were systematically put to death by the “Government Run” medical association. With the blind eyes overlooking the horrors of abortion, the push for on demand euthanasia, murdering police officers for doing what they are paid to do, and now this? It all stinks of the “religion” of Nationalism, Political religion and it kills entire nations.
Lex iniusta non est lex
Lord have mercy on us all.
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Eucharistic Thanksgiving To The Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
behold us prostrate in your divine presence.
We humble ourselves profoundly
and beg you to forgive our sins.We adore you, Almighty Father,
and with hearts overflowing we thank you
that you have given us your divine Son Jesus to be our Redeemer,
and that he bequeathed himself to us in the most holy Eucharist
even to the end of the world,
revealing to us the wondrous love of his heart
in this mystery of faith and love.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.O Word of God, Jesus our Redeemer,
we adore you and with hearts overflowing we thank you
for having taken human flesh upon yourself
and having become both Priest and Victim in the sacrifice of the Cross,
for our redemption:
a sacrifice which, through the overflowing love of your Sacred Heart,
you renew upon our altars every moment.
O High Priest, divine Victim,
give us the grace to honor your holy sacrifice in the most sacred Eucharist
with the homage of Mary most holy and of all your holy Church,
triumphant, suffering and militant.
We offer ourselves wholly to you;
of your infinite goodness and mercy accept our offering,
unite it to your own and grant us your blessings.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.O Divine Spirit the Paraclete, we adore you
and with hearts overflowing we give you thanks
that you have, with such great love for us,
brought about the ineffable blessings of the Incarnation of the Word of God,
a blessing which is being continually extended and enlarged
in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.
By this adorable mystery of love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
grant to us and all poor sinners your holy grace.
Pour forth your holy gifts upon us and upon all redeemed souls,
and in an especial manner upon the visible head of the Church, the Pope,
upon all Cardinals, Bishops and Pastors of souls,
upon priests, deacons and all other ministers of your sanctuary,
upon those in the religious and consecrated life,
and all your people. Amen.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.Shared from iBreviary
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The split second a life is conceived, its eternally there. You can not go back and make it any different. Life is alive and growing. Abortion can NEVER un conceive a life. It only ends it senselessly. Abortion is not a magical pill that makes everything never have exist in the first place. Having one, it adds 10 fold to the suffering the woman is already experiencing.
A message for ANYONE who STILL supports Abortion:
In a post Titled:
I Had a Secret Abortion at 18, and the Baby Parts Selling Scandal is Crushing MeA “comment” was made by a woman that hits to the very heart of how women who support abortion today have lost their compassion.
EDITING OUT her name: “I’m not in your shoes, but I do t think you should despair. The scandal isn’t really a scandal – and any tissues donated from any source help save and improve countless future lives. You are also worth much more than a frail piece of tissue that separates “virgins” from “non-virgins.”” END QUOTE
To which I NEEDED to share and know needs to be shared here: – You stated: “I’m not in your shoes”. EXACTLY You are not. But I am in her shoes. Women like you should be ashamed of yourselves. If you don’t have a heart to understand the loss, realize you also don’t have the heart, nor the experience to give ANY advise to women who do. You prove you support something you don’t understand. Understand this. A women who has an abortion is always a mother. Will always be a mother. The second a life is conceived, it just doesn’t disappear and go away. One SPLIT SECOND of life in the womb of a woman, is eternal and nothing can change that. You can go back to your false concerns and false ideology that if I kill my child it never existed. To a women who realized this child will always be alive, that will never work. Nothing makes a life, never exist. For women who HAVE had an abortion, who now realize the ramifications of their decision, I offer you:
If you or someone you know is suffering after abortion, confidential non-judgmental help is available. Call Project Rachel’s national toll-free number: 888-456-HOPE (-4673) or visit HopeAfterAbortion.org.
Spanish-speakers may visit EsperanzaPosaborto.org
This is the mentality of the pro abortion culture. Its all about me, me, me. If I kill it, no one will ever know. If I have an abortion, it will just all go away. Wake up time. It doesn’t. That child is always the answer to the question gnawing at the soul: What am I missing?
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#StMichaelFastforLife begins today. If you missed it, its okay, start now. See HERETomorrow – Protest Planned Parenthood
WHAT: Protest PP’s harvesting and selling of aborted baby parts
WHERE: Over 300 Planned Parenthood facilities across America
WHEN: August 22, 2015 from 9:00am-11:00am
CONTACT: Email or call 773-777-2900Find a Planned Parenthood in your area tomorrow, and JOIN the protest.
CLICK HERE to find the protest near you.St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. AmenO glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil,
who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Amen -
I don’t believe in coincidences, as I have said many times before. Today on my FB page, I posted this, due to being fed up with the total lack of responsibility we have taken lately in regards to blaming the Catholic Church, Priests, Bishops, Cardinals and even our Holy Father for everything gone wrong for so long. Here me now, WE ARE THE CHURCH. We only have ourselves to blame for the things wrong within our family’s who are not living the faith, for our lack of being Catholic role models as parents to our Children and what we as the laity need to do very quickly, is to understand that we CAN change this, simply by saying YES LORD once again by truly living the faith.
Posted on FB today:
“Rant of the day AIMED at the Catholic Laity who find a constant NEED to blame the Priest for not speaking about Abortion, Homosexual Unions and other obvious Mortal Sins during the Homily at Holy Mass. Here’s the issue I have with this entire group who constantly complain about it. As Catholics, we KNOW all the issues mentioned ARE mortal sins. As does ANYONE who is Catholic as they are “core” commandments. Why do we sit here and blame the “Priests” for not teaching this, when WE KNOW ourselves already, they are wrong and sinful and why are we blaming Priests for not teaching this, when the reality is, this NEEDS to be taught IN THE HOME because most Catholics only see the Priest on Sunday for at most a 20 minute homily (that SHOULD be on the Gospel and readings that week, so we can contemplate it in our lives and live it ) when WE as THE CHURCH, the Laity are ALSO responsible for KNOWING the faith and TEACHING our Children so as they can also LIVE IT. We only have ourselves to blame for all this lack of faith and morals. Stop blaming our Lords priests for the job we never did. PAX”
To which a comment was made by a friend:
“Because Other Priests are also The complaining. Alot of Prolife Priests Would like to See more preaching by Their fellow Priests. I think to some extent it’s on the money. Overkill is probably someone who has a grudge to Bear. There is a gray area.”
To which I answered:
“I do agree with that Dave. I also believe that the Word of our Lord is alive and in every aspect of our lives and society, and the message we hear should be brought into the public aspect of our lives each and every second, but, the problem comes from so many who do live as if the faith belongs strictly in the pew. If we were ALL living the faith, teaching it to our children to live it and they were, the world in which we live, in exile, would be a much different place. That being said, I also believe everything happens for a reason and what is taking place with the entire Planned Parenthood fiasco, SHOULD be enough to break open the hearts of the faithful, with zeal and love to KNOW they don’t have to be told 24/7 strictly by the Priest in a Homily, when we know that being brought “into communion” means we understand the evil of this sin, the ramifications of it, and the need to stop it, all while STILL learning other aspects of our Catholic faith (the cornucopia) through Holy Mass, as when we do focus on one thing in particular, we do end up eating only one thing from the table of plenty that is our Lord.”
Shortly after this post, a Priest friend posted on his page this FANTASTIC video, that NEEDS to be seen by the laity which reminds us, we should ALL get back to “work”. Its OUR fault! Its OUR fault! Its OUR most grievous fault.
Thank you LORD for another soul who sees the problem today and feels a need to fix it. Glory to God.
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“Today the Lord Jesus Christ shone with splendor on the mountain, his face like the sun and his clothes white as snow.”
We made it to Chapel of the Rock. It was a blessing to see our Lord up on top of the hill adjacent to St. Catherine of Siena. I was not expecting that. More over, as I woke this morning, very early, the magnitude of the entire trip hit me as today is the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Lots to ponder and far to much to write about. Being able to capture what our Lord is revealing to me in this trip, is just going to take more time. I had not known about the statue at the top until I had gotten there. It only hit me this morning as to what it all means to me.
Thank you Lord for the days you have given to me, so to see you in all, love you in all, and serve you in all.
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REPENT
I need to share with you today, the O’Carm reflection of Lectio Divina, which is no different then what you see today in the way our government refuses to do what is right an just for all people, and pass laws for their own personal gains, for their own personal agendas, and refuse to do what is right and just. The public outcry against abortion and the need to ban all funding to Planned Parenthood but rather, the secular slanted legal system along with the words directly from the nations leaders, going out of their way to silence the souls who made the videos, rather then doing what needs to be done for the children being slaughtered today. The pushing for homosexual marriage, which does not exist in the first place. The blatant stealing of innocence from children by means of forcing the “teaching” of sex education to the youngest in society and so much more that literally MIRRORS what had taken place in nations that have been crushed through all history.
You see the “faithful” obtaining information from “secular” society on matters of “faith” rather then going to the source of their “faith”, therefore becoming secularized and not growing in faith. I highly advise Catholics NOT to listen to the secular sources for any information concerning our faith, but turn directly to the Church and the Vatican for ALL information. Grow in the faith, not in the Religion of Nationalism.
Repent!3) Reflection
•Today’s Gospel describes the way in which John the Baptist was the victim of corruption and of the arrogance of the government of Herod. He was killed without a process, during a banquet of the king with the great of the kingdom. The text gives us much information on the time in which Jesus lived and on the manner in which power was used by the powerful of that time.• Matthew 14,1-2. Who is Jesus for Herod. The text begins by informing about the opinion which Herod had of Jesus: “This is John the Baptist himself, he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him”. Herod tries to understand Jesus starting from the fear which assailed him after murdering John. Herod was very superstitious and hid his fear behind the ostentation of his riches and of his power.
• Matthew 14, 3-5: The hidden cause of the murdering of John. Galilee, the land of Jesus, was governed by Herod Antipas, the son of King Herod, the Great, from the year 4 BC until the year 38 AD, after Christ. Forty-three years in all! During the time of the life of Jesus, there were no changes of government in Galilee! Herod was the absolute Lord of everything, he did not render an account to anyone, he did whatever passed through his mind. Arrogance, lack of ethics, absolute power, without control from the people! But the one, who commanded in Palestine since the year 63 before Christ, was the Roman Empire. Herod, in Galilee, so as not to be dismissed, tried to please Rome in everything. Above all, he insisted on an efficient administration which would bring riches to the Empire. His concern was his own promotion and his security. For this reason, he refrained from any type of subversion. Matthew says that the reason for murdering John was because he had denounced Herod, because he had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Flavio Joseph, a Jewish writer of that time, says that the true reason for the imprisonment of John the Baptist was the fear of Herod that there would be a popular revolt. Herod like to be called the benefactor of the people, but in reality he was a tyrant (Lk 22, 25). The denunciation of John against Herod was the drop that caused the glass to overflow: “It is against the Law for you to have her”. And John was put in prison.
• Matthew 14, 6-12: The plot of the murderer. An anniversary and a festive banquet, with dances and orgy! Mark says that in the feast were “the great of the court, the officials and the important people of Galilee” (Mk 6, 21). This is the environment in which the murdering of John the Baptist is planned. John, the prophet, was a living denunciation of that corrupt system. This is why, he was eliminated with the pretext of a problem of personal revenge. All this reveals the moral weakness of Herod. So much power accumulated in the hands of one man incapable to control himself! In the enthusiasm of the feast and of the wine, Herod makes a promise by oath to Salome, the young dancer, daughter of Herodias. Superstitious as he was, he thought that he had to maintain this oath, and respond to the caprice of the girl; and because of this he ordered the soldier to bring the head of John on a tray and give it to the dancer, who then gave it to her mother. For Herod, the life of his subjects was worthless. He disposes of them as he disposes of the staircases in his house!
The three characteristics of the government of Herod: the new Capital, large estates, and the class of functionaries:a) The New Capital. Tiberiade was inaugurated when Jesus was only 20 years old. It was called like that in order to please Tiberius, the emperor of Rome. It was inhabited by the lords of the earth, the soldiers, the policemen, the unscrupulous judges (Lk 18, 1-4). The taxes and the products of the people were channelled toward it. It was there that Herod made his orgy of death (Mk 6, 21-29). Tiberiades was the city of the palaces of the King, where those who wore soft, delicate dresses lived (cf. Mt 11, 8). It is not known by the Gospels that Jesus entered this city.
b) The large estates. Scholars say that during the long government of Herod, the large estates grew causing harm to community property. The Book of Henoch denounces the lords of the land and expresses the hope of the little ones: “And then the powerful and the great will no longer be the lords of the land”. (Hen 38,4). The ideal of ancient times was the following: “Each one will peacefully sit under his vine and nobody will frighten them” (1 Mac 14,12; Mi 4,4; Zc 3,10). But the politics of the government of Herod made this ideal impossible.
c) The class of functionaries. Herod created a whole class of functionaries faithful to the project of the King: the Scribes, the merchants, the lords of the land, the officers of the market, the tax collectors, the militia, the policemen, the judges, the local heads,. In every village there was a group of persons which supported the government. In the Gospels, some Pharisees appear together with the Herodians (Mk 3, 6; 8, 15; 12, 13), and that shows the alliance between the religious power and the civil power. The life of the people in the villages was very controlled, both by the government and by the religion. Much courage was necessary to begin anything new, as John and Jesus did! It was the same thing as attracting to self the anger of the privileged ones, both from the religious and the civil powers.
Repent and BELIEVE
Peg Pondering Again 