I am leaving for a silent retreat away, to spend time in prayer, silence and pondering with our Lord for three days. I am requesting prayers and know that I am keeping you all in mine.
Thank you and may our Lord bless us all.
Tag: Catholic
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New Study: The Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium of Oviedo Covered the Same Person
And the same Man is ever present in the Holy Eucharist
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.—Luke 8:17
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It seems the folks at Facebook are at it again, blocking & locking accounts that contain any Religious information in names. I had opened my account in 2009 and had never had a problem until today, when I was booted out and had to log back in as the information had stated that I changed my password month ago. To which I had not. As I try to log back in, Facebook now requires me to submit federal issued ID’s that prove who I am, to which I took a picture of my US Military ID, California Issued DL and a photo of my Lay Carmelite Order ID Card. About two months ago, I added TOC (Third Order Carmelite) after my name, witch BTW is Margaret, but since birth I have been called Peggy.. I will be 50 years old in December. I do not have any ID with Peggy on it. Its a known Nickname for the name Margaret just a Mark is for Marcus.
So I complied, and received an email back stating:
Hi,
According to the Facebook Terms, you must be at least 13 years old to use Facebook. Please wait while we review your ID and confirm that you are eligible to use Facebook.
If you haven’t provided an ID that meets our requirements, please reply to this email and attach a copy of your ID. You can review what types of ID we accept and how to send your attachments over a secure connection here:
I am still unable to log into my Facebook account which I had opened in 2009, 7 years ago, without having to provide ANY ID using the exact information I have always used. For the past few years, religious have been targeted UNJUSTLY by this “Social Media” site and it is notorious for unfair treatment to Priests and Religious Sisters refusing them to use their Religious IDENTITY. I guess its the Third Orders turn. May our Lord bless them and our Lord have mercy on them.
Funny really, as I had been pondering deleting the account as I am leaving on Retreat this coming weekend. It would have been nice to retrieve seven years of personal photos of my children before hand. After pondering this deeply, I don’t mind being kicked out of social media hell and I truly now can do more work for our Lord at hand as the chain that has been attached to my wrist, chained to the computer, has been cut. Peace. Its not to say there are not a lot of wonderful souls on Facebook that I have gotten to know as I love you very much, but the reality of Life, is not being confined to a smart phone, computer screen or any other electronic gadget that only permits you to talk about things needing to be done. Our Lord’s Kingdom is much bigger and He needs hands to do some work away from what we have adapted to mean “social”. Social is face to face. I will keep everyone in my prayers, always. The only change is that our Lord has removed the chaos that I obviously did not need, in order for me to do the work He truly needs me to do. I obviously don’t need Facebook. We only need our Lord.
Thank you Lord.
Edit to add: Just returned from Holy Mass and after the events of not just today, but this entire week, and since I became aware of what our Lord is doing to my heart, with my ENTIRE heart, mind, strength and soul, I shout out, YES LORD I love you more than anything.
Todays Readings & Gospel Saturday, April 9, 2016 (For Sunday April 10th)
Update –
Emal received this morning from Facebook from Email address: privacy+jjlgglaq.aearamnaxy@support.facebook.com :
Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to us, but unfortunately we can’t confirm you’re the owner of this account.
Please reply with a scan or photo of your government-issued identification that has your name and photo or name and date of birth.
If you’re unable to provide your government-issued ID, please visit the Help Center to learn about the other types of ID we accept
No. I forgive you. God bless you. Shaking the dust from my shoes
“Let us not stay imprisoned within ourselves, but let us break open our sealed tombs to the Lord that He may enter and give us life.” – Pope Francis (Easter Vigil Mass in Rome – 2016)
Entire conversation via FB with my email Removed
…REPLY NEEDEDCase #320320655ACTIVITY
What you submittedYesterdayFirst namePeg
Last nameDrebena Demetris Toc
Email address or mobile phone numberXXXXXXXXXX
Date of birthAttachments
20160409_094744.jpg20160409_094721 (1).jpg20160409_094511.jpgWe sent you a messageYesterdayHi,
According to the Facebook Terms, you must be at least 13 years old to use Facebook. Please wait while we review your ID and confirm that you are eligible to use Facebook.
If you haven’t provided an ID that meets our requirements, please reply to this email and attach a copy of your ID. You can review what types of ID we accept and how to send your attachments over a secure connection here:
https://www.facebook.com/help/?page=148993491850191
Note that we won’t be able to take any action on this account without a copy of an ID that meets these requirements. Sorry for the inconvenience.In the meantime, we encourage you to review our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for more information:
http://www.facebook.com/terms.php
View updates from your Support Inbox: https://fb.me/2arASDeJeY6mOzqThanks,
The Facebook TeamWhat you submittedYesterdayI will be 50 December 7th of this yearWe sent you a messageTodayHi,
Thanks for reaching out to us, but unfortunately we can’t confirm you’re the owner of this account.
Please reply with a scan or photo of your government-issued identification that has your name and photo or name and date of birth.
If you’re unable to provide your government-issued ID, please visit the Help Center to learn about the other types of ID we accept:
https://www.facebook.com/help/159096464162185/?ref=cr
Keep in mind that the information on the ID you provide must match the information on the account.Please cover up any personal information we don’t need to confirm your identity (ex: address, Social Security number) and save the image(s) as a JPEG.
We hope to hear from you so we can help.
View updates from your Support Inbox: https://fb.me/axXCMPYELFeX9d
Thanks,Facebook
I received another email from the folks at Facebook….
YesterdayHi,
Thanks for your response. It looks like your name on Facebook doesn’t match the name on the ID(s) you submitted.
To help us confirm that you’re using your authentic name:
1. Log into your Facebook account
2. Follow the on-screen instructions
3. If you still can’t update your name, you’ll be able to fill out a contact formView updates from your Support Inbox:
Thanks,Jesse
Community Operations
FacebookApparently Jesse doesn’t understand that Peg and Margaret are the same name and many souls have their madden name on their accounts along with married names….I sent them the link to Wikipedia : Peggy Peggy is most commonly a diminutive of the female given name Margaret. It is sometimes spelled PeggieWhat I found out during the ban. If you log into ANY Social Media Site with your FB account – If you are Banned from FB – You are in FACT CENCORED from speaking on ANY board who only uses FB logins to register. Fox News, Huff Post, etc., included. You are forced not only out of FB, but forced to create a new email address in order to comment anywhere OUTSIDE of FB as your email address looks as if it has already registered on other sites, due to Facebook holding your information. This is CENSORSHIP and its best NEVER to use your FB account to log into any Social Media site but to use some other form. Not only does FB take possession of your photos, videos and email, but your ability to speak anywhere else on Social Media – This is what is coming. You will not be able to voice anything if you use this site to log on other places outside of Facebook.
This is no different than that of the censorship the Apostles had to deal with from the beginning. Another thing to take into consideration is if you have Credit Card info on Facebook, if a fraud charge is made during your ban, you can NOT log in to dispute it and must go directly to the bank in order to take care of the situation. Just before I was banned, I purchases some tokens for a game I had played, and was unable to use them and was told I needed to log in to dispute the charges, but could not as I was blocked from dong so. . I also received several updates about birthdays etc, which was silly. If it’s not me, why send updates?
We never know why our Lord leads us to places we just can’t understand, but we do know that in His time, He brings His Light to the entire situation…
I am now back on Facebook (for at short time anyway, as I leave Friday for my Carmelite silent retreat), under the name that appears on my IDs that no one in the past 50 years of life have ever called me by, unless they were official documents, police, or I was paying some bill. Social Media trying to make itself OFFICIAL Media. Which is very alarming for the reasons I just posted.
Although, what gives me hope, all my documents with the Catholic Church can be found under Margaret.
Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for the name You have for me. That is the one I look forward answering to.
Peace always.
UPDATE: Victory in Christ – FB has issues with Catholic Religious Identities
Today 4/13./2016
Hi Peg Drebena,
Thanks for verifying your identity. We’ve changed the name on your account to the name that you requested.
If you‘d like to add another name to your account (ex: nickname, maiden name), follow the steps in the Help Center:
(REMOVED)
View updates from your Support Inbox: (REMOVED)Thanks,
Jesse
Community Operations
Facebook“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
Lord have mercy on us all.
Praise, glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ, for all time and all eternity.
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Its best to read it and all of it, along with all the actual documents the Popes write, than to read what the main stream media wants you to think it says. Its also a good idea to pray to our Lord and ask Him for the gift of understanding so you can see what is being said with your entire heart and not just what you want to see.
Please see here:
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I find it beautiful that when our Lord makes known His presence, its after a time of reflecting that we are able to put it all together and say without a doubt, after He has already been in the moment we are experiencing, I know that was you Lord. He makes it very clear by doing this, that we are not to cling to the moment, nor the people in it with us, but rather too Him and understand that He truly is always with us, sometimes hidden, when we forget He is in the Tabernacle and in His time, we come to see Him in many different ways in our lives.
Imagine being the soldiers at the tomb during His glorious resurrection. Imagine the anxiety of the soldiers who at one point were simply doing their job and the very next were faced with something so profound, the only thing they could do besides face it, was to run in fear. Imagine the fear that would cause a hardened trained solder to abandon his post. Imagine knowing that you are a soldier appointed to guard a post and leaving that post meant absolute death for not following the orders of your superiors.
Through my entire awareness of my conversion of heart, I have been presented with so many forms of anxiety and it was only when I learned how to depend on our Lord for everything that that the anxiety’s I was facing became nothing more than temptations to run away from the cross our Lord was asking me to carry with Him. Many times through this, when the pressure was at its greatest and I just couldn’t take any more of the pain I was seeing in others, that they never even noticed in themselves, and in the pain it was causing me to see it, I would be tempted to toss it all aside and run away. Anywhere away from it all. When we do that, we find out very quickly that no matter where we run to, its already there too. The reason its already there is because its our Lord calling you to help Him. Calling you to cling to Him. Calling you to pick up that cross of daily life and walk through all the destruction and misery that is attacking you, to walk through with Him, the valley of the shadow of death and into Life. Life in Him and with Him.
There is nothing more peaceful that a soul can do than to call out to our Lord while in the midst of the turmoil with your entire heart, calling to Him: “Jesus I trust in You”. He always answers as He is already there. “Be not afraid”. To the true believer, all the heavy fog of anxiety (fight or flight) and despair (run away) blows away and is replaced by His calm (fight for Him). If you are one with Him, handing Him all of it and not clinging to what you can’t let go of, you are able to see Him as the Storm that is raging all around and He pulls you into His Eye where there is silence, peace and joy. Like a hurricane, in the eye of the storm there is always calm. Its what is on the outside of the eye that is being blown about and scattered. Its not to say we don’t enter into the turbulence that surrounds, but we know we are anchored in Him and we have Him as our Life line back to the calm, in order to help those overcome by their own fears of destruction and anxiety’s of daily life.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings – Psalm 17:8
How do we stay in the Eye of God? Love. We don’t run away. We don’t leave our post. We face all things with faith in Him. We walk through our lives as He on the via dolorosa with Him until we come to the end, in which He says “It is finished”.
Up until yesterday my husband and I had been experiencing a rough patch in our relationship. I had been struggling a lot lately with not being able to see our Lord in those within my own home and particularly in my husband. Much like the woman who went to the tomb, I know our Lord is here someplace, I just couldn’t find Him. As I wrote yesterday, I spoke about how my morning offering was very different. Something beautifully different. Before my husband left for work, he hugged me and smiled. For the first time in many years, it was genuine. It was a genuine hug in love and not just because that was what a husband did. Its been very difficult but our Lord has given my husband so much grace and I can see Him working through him. I can see our Lord working in him, trying to wake him up, but I had not seen my husband turn to Him and say yes Lord. That smile on his face was one I had not seen for some time and when he left, all I wanted to do was to see that smile when he came back. We must always remember that even though we can’t see, through faith, we trust Him, no matter how painful it may be.
This morning as I write this, after the events of yesterday, after of the events I have faced to date, after it has all unfolded and the very moment is now memory, the entire Resurrection of our Lord at that moment outside of His tomb, is in my heart in that hug and smile, and now I can see and shout with all certainty in JOY, “‘Rabbuni!’” I know with my entire heart, that was you. I picked up this cross, and all of them in this life that I give completely to You, with You and carry them all in love with You. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Praise, glory and honor to You O Lord, for all time and eternity. Amen
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This morning, the second I opened my eyes and began to pray, I was filled with a desire to take up to our Lord all the suffering of my family, friends and enemies. I began my Morning Offering and added to it, the suffering of those who do not know You Lord and the suffering of those who do not know how to place their suffering with Yours on the Cross.
I prayed:
Sweet Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary to your most Sacred Heart, I offer you all my prayers, my works, my joys, my sorrows, my suffering and those of my friends, enemies, and those who do not know you nor how to join theirs too You and unite them all to the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacles throughout the entire world, offered in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for all the intentions of Your most Sacred Heart, for all the intentions of our Holy Father Pope Francis, for the Holy Souls in purgatory and for the conversion of hearts. Amen
I pray the morning offering every day as I open my eyes but there was something special about this morning. Something different. TO truly unite the suffering of others who do not know Him, was something that burned with me and filled me with His peace. As I got out of bed and ran through a few things this morning, my husband woke and came to me with something that bothered him. I hugged him and remembered that prayer this morning and knew that embrace with him, was the peace he was looking for. He didn’t carry on about it but was able to let it go and get on with his day. He was smiling when he left for work this morning and it is my desire for him to return with that same smile.
Last night, we spent the evening with friends who came in from out of town. There was a lot of anxiety in a few of the conversations from a few souls talking to me about how they were looking for peace in their lives. In one conversation that I had with a friend of my mother in law, as she tried to speak to me about different things, truly pagan things, my mother in law kept chiming in with things that just kept upsetting the conversation we were trying to have and at every turn I could see her misery in her own life. I knew that no matter what I would say to her to try and bring her peace, was not going to happen as she just wasn’t open to peace. In order to have peace, we must be open to receiving it. That doesn’t mean we no longer offer it, we offer it more intensely. As she continued, I was able to interject our Lords own words which took the negative running rabid and tossed it off the cliff. The conversation became easy and ended with her friends stating it was time to leave.
There was something else going on here last night and I could see people I knew for many years looking for something but in all the wrong places. Not only could I see that they couldn’t find our Lord’s body, but they couldn’t even see His tomb. They couldn’t remember His name. They couldn’t remember what He had done and looked for Him, His peace and joy in places where only an essence of it was left, because someone attached a “New and Improved” label on it, and not in His fullness. They didn’t want to find His body, his tomb, His suffering in our lives. They had forgotten the simple things and were tied up in things that can never bring peace and joy. When we are suffering in the slightest way, we must remember that even what we call our suffering is not ours, but our Lord’s on His Cross for you and His call to come back home to Him.
I prayed Divine Mercy Novena with my daughter when we arrived back home and found consolation in who the fifth day was to be dedicated to.
“Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church” and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.”
There are so many Lord. There are so many. Mostly those who do not want to grip the Cross rather seek to grab onto anything but the Cross. May the suffering souls in this world, learn to unite all with You O Lord.
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“Where most men work for degrees after their names, we work for one before our names: ‘St.’ It’s a much more difficult degree to attain. It takes a lifetime, and you don’t get your diploma until you’re dead.” – Mother Angelica
Beautiful soul, beautiful woman, beautiful day to enter into eternal life…
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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He sure did!
This is my daughter Chloe and her reaction to the empty tomb at Santa Sophia Catholic Church after Holy Mass today. We share the same expression for all He does.
Thank you Lord for all your gifts, especially the gift of Life.
Happy Easter – He is risen indeed!
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Pope Francis – 2016 Easter Vigil Homily
Via – Vatican RadioPlease find below the English translation of Pope Francis’ homily at the Mass of the Easter Vigil“Peter ran to the tomb” (Lk 24:12). What thoughts crossed Peter’s mind and stirred his heart as he ran to the tomb? The Gospel tells us that the eleven, including Peter, had not believed the testimony of the women, their Easter proclamation. Quite the contrary, “these words seemed to them an idle tale” (v. 11). Thus there was doubt in Peter’s heart, together with many other worries: sadness at the death of the beloved Master and disillusionment for having denied him three times during his Passion.There is, however, something which signals a change in him: after listening to the women and refusing to believe them, “Peter rose” (v. 12). He did not remain sedentary, in thought; he did not stay at home as the others did. He did not succumb to the sombre atmosphere of those days, nor was he overwhelmed by his doubts. He was not consumed by remorse, fear or the continuous gossip that leads nowhere. He was looking for Jesus, not himself. He preferred the path of encounter and trust. And so, he got up, just as he was, and ran towards the tomb from where he would return “amazed” (v. 12). This marked the beginning of Peter’s resurrection, the resurrection of his heart. Without giving in to sadness or darkness, he made room for hope: he allowed the light of God to enter into his heart, without smothering it.The women too, who had gone out early in the morning to perform a work of mercy, taking the perfumed ointments to the tomb, had the same experience. They were “frightened and bowed their faces”, and yet they were deeply affected by the words of the angel: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (v. 5).We, like Peter and the women, cannot discover life by being sad, bereft of hope. Let us not stay imprisoned within ourselves, but let us break open our sealed tombs to the Lord so that he may enter and grant us life. Let us give him the stones of our rancour and the boulders of our past, those heavy burdens of our weaknesses and falls. Christ wants to come and take us by the hand to bring us out of our anguish. This is the first stone to be moved aside this night: the lack of hope which imprisons us within ourselves. May the Lord free us from this trap, from being Christians without hope, who live as if the Lord were not risen, as if our problems were the centre of our lives.We see and will continue to see problems both within and without. They will always be there. But tonight it is important to shed the light of the Risen Lord upon our problems, and in a certain sense, to “evangelize” them. Let us not allow darkness and fear to distract us and control us; we must cry out to them: the Lord “is not here, but has risen!” (v. 6). He is our greatest joy; he is always at our side and will never let us down.This is the foundation of our hope, which is not mere optimism, nor a psychological attitude or desire to be courageous. Christian hope is a gift that God gives us if we come out of ourselves and open our hearts to him. This hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been poured into our hearts (cf. Rom 5:5). The Paraclete does not make everything look appealing. He does not remove evil with a magic wand. But he pours into us the vitality of life, which is not the absence of problems, but the certainty of being loved and always forgiven by Christ, who for us has conquered sin, death and fear. Today is the celebration of our hope, the celebration of this truth: nothing and no one will ever be able to separate us from his love (cf. Rom 8:39).The Lord is alive and wants to be sought among the living. After having found him, each person is sent out by him to announce the Easter message, to awaken and resurrect hope in hearts burdened by sadness, in those who struggle to find meaning in life. There is so necessary today. However, we must not proclaim ourselves. Rather, as joyful servants of hope, we must announce the Risen One by our lives and by our love; otherwise we will be only an international organization full of followers and good rules, yet incapable of offering the hope for which the world longs.How can we strengthen our hope? The liturgy of this night offers some guidance. It teaches us to remember the works of God. The readings describe God’s faithfulness, the history of his love towards us. The living word of God is able to involve us in this history of love, nourishing our hope and renewing our joy. The Gospel also reminds us of this: in order to kindle hope in the hearts of the women, the angel tells them: “Remember what [Jesus] told you” (v. 6). Let us not forget his words and his works, otherwise we will lose hope. Let us instead remember the Lord, his goodness and his life-giving words which have touched us. Let us remember them and make them ours, to be sentinels of the morning who know how to help others see the signs of the Risen Lord.Dear brothers and sisters, Christ is risen! Let us open our hearts to hope and go forth. May the memory of his works and his words be the bright star which directs our steps in the ways of faith towards the Easter that will have no end. -
“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart”
Just as our Lord was created for this, Mama, as were you. I thank our Lord for the gift of you, Immaculate Conception, to strengthen us, not only in that dreaded time of darkness, but in all time. On His Cross, as He spoke the words, “Woman, behold thy son. Son, behold thy mother.”, you “O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven”, became our Mother.
From the Annunciation and the moment of your yes, it was your yes that carry’s all your children through the dark and into the Light of your Son, as your Son, our Lord, carries us through to our Father.
Thank you Mama, our Mother, O Most Beautiful Woman who the Holy Spirit had already descended upon to strengthen the Children of God in our days of darkness. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.
I pray for all souls today, who do not know our Lord or what He has done. I pray Mama through your intercession, that all souls pull closer to listen, repent and to believe Him and in Him. “And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
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“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” – John 3:14-15
First, the raising of our Lord on the Cross…
Have mercy on us Lord. May we rise with you.
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Stay with me,
Remain here with me,
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.Stay here and keep watch with me.
Watch and pray, watch and pray!Stay with me,
Remain here with me,
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray not to give way to temptation.The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.
My heart is nearly broken with sorrow.
Remain here with me, stay awake and pray.Stay with me,
Remain here with me,
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by.Stay with me,
Remain here with me,
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.
Father if this cannot pass me by without my drinking it,
Your will be done.Stay with me,
Remain here with me,
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.Stay with me,
Remain here with me,
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.Stay With Me by Melinda Kirigin-Voss
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Today I spend, as I have for all of Lent, in preparation. Deep prayer, cleaning my home, and looking forward to the Meal tonight. One I will not be cooking but must allow the Priest to “cook”. I smile as I write this hearing the worlds of a Priest friend on Facebook of mine who often would speak of “Slaving over a hot altar”. Mass Of The Lords Supper.
44. With the celebration of Mass on the evening of Holy Thursday, “the Church begins the Easter Triduum and recalls the Last Supper in which the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, showing his love for those who were his own in the world, he gave his body and blood under the species of bread and wine offering to his Father and giving them to the Apostles so that they might partake of them, and he commanded them and their successors in the priesthood to perpetuate this offering.” [50] Please see here
As I was praying the Divine Office last night, the antiphon before the Cantical of Mary struck me with awe.
“The Master says: My hour is close at hand; I and my disciples shall celebrate the Passover in your house.”
Immediately I was taken to that day. My house? Your coming HERE? To my house? I have to clean! I have to make sure you all are well pleased! What shall I make for you? What shall I do for You? The King is coming HERE! Press the linens! Sweep the floors clean! Prepare this home for Him and His Apostles!
Today, I know that my Lords house, is my house and His house is a house of prayer. At the beginning of lent, the cleaning of our souls is that day in which we hear that He will be coming to celebrate with us and all the time during Lent, is time of preparation for His entering into us. Just as our beautiful Mother Mary said yes, we welcome Him into a clean dwelling, that He may do with it as He sees fit, as we are to do for every Meal in His house.
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Today, please pray for Religious Freedom and support the Little Sisters of the Poor as they head to the US Supreme Court.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
BREAKING: FROM THE BECKET FUND FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Today is also the Anniversary of Patrick Henry’s famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”
“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”
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Last night in prayer, as I looked through the old prayer book given to me from my dad’s “Important Papers” (SEE HERE), I found this one to be simply beautiful. I must share. This particular prayer book has a list of indulgences all over it and I’m not one to post them as I am unsure about them. I just don’t focus on them and believe that when we are in Love, we do what we do in Love for our Lord and not simply for the rewards of that Love of His. Just using discernment, I placed crosses over them. If I was wrong in doing so, they are still there even if you can’t see them.
I’m not sure how old this is, but my dad has been gone for close to twenty years and this book was in with his First Holy Communion document from 1936.
I pray for all of us. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us all.
You can click on the photo to enlarge it.
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As I pondered our Lord last night after prayers, He brought a thought to my heart. How would you react of you awoke one morning and looked in the mirror only to see that your reflection was not reflecting your movements, but its own. Your reflection had its own movements and refused to move as you moved, stuck its tongue out at you, and walked away? It would send anyone running in terror unsure what to do.
Being created in the image of God we are the reflection in the mirror looking back at Him. When sin entered into the world, the image became disconnected from the One projecting it. In order to be reattached, our Lord came as the “Go Between” to reattached (graphed)the reflection created in His image, to God himself.
When a soul is being reattached to Him, it listens for Him. It works with his grace in all ways, to move as He moves, speak as He speaks and acts as he acts knowing full well, that simply being the image, does not mean that the image is God, but just His reflection. The actions between Creator and creature become one as a dance.
In the beginning, the souls movements are rough and stiff and still learning the movements of the “First Dance” without the full orchestra playing. It trips up, it falls down and its movements are still jerky but over time, with daily practice, it becomes limber and the movements become smoothed and graceful.
When the soul knows the steps of dance, only then do the more intricate movements become useful and more rhythmic and in tune with His. That being the souls desire to eat, sleep, drink the dance of faith for Love of its Partner and not-self.
The reflection of the soul still lost, the one who walked away from the One whose image it was created in, can’t grasp the fact that the world in which it resides, is simply the reflection of the real world in freedom with the Creator. The world in which it resides is a mirror image in which everything is backwards. It can not understand it has walked away from the One and lives in a state of imagery, constantly seeking what it is missing as what it is missing, is the One whose image it had been created in. It reacts to echo’s and unattainable things. It chases after itself, staying on the path that led it away in the first place, getting lost in its own reflection and not finding the opening in the side, created to be reattached to the Creator.
The evil of all sin is that it is always a grotesque distorted reflection of good and can never be good. It can never move in unison with Good, and only move further away from good. It attached itself to anything but good. It seeks to destroy for its own idea of good.
“If you love me you will keep my commandments” – In keeping with Him, we move with Him, we sing with Him, we cry with Him, we suffer with Him, we love with Him. And when we misstep through our own fault, and sin, letting go of our Partners hand in the dance, we return to Him and atone of it with Him, taking it from the Top.
Faith in Him is a very simple dance and the more it is lived, the more beautiful and graceful it becomes. Let Him lead the dance and simply follow Him.
This Holy Week, when we reflect on the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, let us never forget His Pierced Side, which became the opening to pass through to Him.
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I have written quite often about my conversion concerning the day my dad entered into eternal life. It was September 23, 1996, the feast of St. Padre Pio and my dad had been the glue that held my family, brothers and sisters and myself together. Since his death, many have left the Catholic faith and went off doing what ever. In all honestly, since I moved out to California I had lost contact with most of them and focused on what I had asked in that prayer.
The night my dad died, as he lay dying, I prayed that he would talk to our Lord and get me back home to Him. Here we are, 2016 and after extensive repenting and getting back in communion, I will be making my first Profession in the Third Order Of Carmel, TOC on October 1.
This morning at Holy Mass, during the Homily, my priest had told us that the main objective of our duties this Holy Week, was New Evangelization to those within our own Family’s who had left the faith. I sat with my head hung low as I knew this job that had just been presented to me, would be extremely difficult, as my brothers and sisters in my own family, along with nieces and nephews and even my own oldest daughter, have left the faith. Along with cousins, and others. Outside of an older sister of mine, the entire family stopped believing in Him and the faith we all grew up into and went their own ways. It has been extremely painful for me in many ways as I have been viewed by them as the crazy one. One never to be listened to. From the onset of my Conversion of Heart, I can not stop listening to our Lord, nor will I. I left them all and continued to cling to our Lord and the only Truth left in this world. And here we are.
This morning after Holy Mass, I took our Lord in the Eucharist to a few souls in the Nursing Home and had a conversation with an elderly friend of mine named Lilly, who is also a professed member of my Carmelite family.
We spoke about the topic of New Evangelization to family, and I had expressed to her that the only way anyone would ever listen to me, in my own family or home, was if I were dead. After leaving her, I prayed and realized I am dead to them. The person they knew no longer exists and they still won’t listen.
I arrived at home and the mail man had come. I noticed two packages and brought them in without even looking to see who they were addressed for. I assumed they were for my daughter and husband. As I was placing them on the table, I noticed my name on one of them. The return address was my sister whom I don’t talk to much anymore. I opened the package and cried when I seen what it was. Here in a package addressed to me was a message never intended for me, but for all my brothers and sisters who have left the faith. Directly from my dad.
Inside the box I found my dad’s First Holy Communion Certificate dated May 21, 1936 along with his personal prayer book. I read the letter attached from my sister which stated, she had found these in an envelop with my dad’s personal items, marked specifically, “Important Papers”. I knew just how important they are but unfortunately, my sister didn’t understand who they were meant for. This package was a direct message from my dad to my brothers and sisters who had left the faith. The “Important Paper” with your name on it. Remember YOUR Baptism. Remember YOUR First Holy Communion. Remember YOUR Confirmation. Remember OUR Lord. Remember OUR First Love. Return to Him. There is nothing else on the face of the earth more important than our faith. I also knew my dad needed me share this with them. They refuse to listen to me, I pray they listen to him. I pray they return to our Lord also. I pray all my Catholic Family return back home to Him, with their entire heart, mind, soul and strength. There is no greater Love than His for you. Repent. The door is open. Homecoming is just one confession away. I love you and I pray for all my brothers and sisters. St. Constantine the Great, pray for us.
All praise, glory and honor to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
EDIT TO ADD: After I had written this today, a tweet came across from the USCCB that just filled me with our Lord’s love.
From tonight’s Divine Office: Evening Prayer
“Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty:
He is your lord, pay homage to him.” -
The only polls that ever mattered, or will…. Hint – Stick with the One in the center.
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Tuesday March 8, as I was on my way to visit a few souls I have been bringing our Lord in the Eucharist, who reside in a Nursing Home, I had my radio on in my car and heard a song I hadn’t heard for some time. “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan. As I listen to this song, various stages of our Lords passion came to my mind and heart, in such a way as I knew He was sharing His Life with me as I deeply seek to share every aspect of mine with Him…
When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
I know you haven’t made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I’ve known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong
I’d go hungry, I’d go black and blue
I’d go crawling down the avenue
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
To make you feel my love
The storms are raging on the rollin’ sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain’t seen nothing like me yet
I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my loveAnd its as simple as saying, yes Lord and doing everything He tells you. Once you know Him, you see Him everywhere…
Beautiful refection this morning from Saint Leo the Great from Divine Office
Second reading
From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope
Contemplating the Lord’s passionTrue reverence for the Lord’s passion means fixing the eyes of our heart on Jesus crucified and recognizing in him our own humanity.
The earth — our earthly nature — should tremble at the suffering of its Redeemer. The rocks — the hearts of unbelievers — should burst asunder. The dead, imprisoned in the tombs of their mortality, should come forth, the massive stones now ripped apart. Foreshadowings of the future resurrection should appear in the holy city, the Church of God: what is to happen to our bodies should now take place in our hearts.
No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to him in repentance. Ignorance has been destroyed, obstinacy has been overcome. The sacred blood of Christ has quenched the flaming sword that barred access to the tree of life. The age-old night of sin has given place to the true light.
The Christian people are invited to share the riches of paradise. All who have been reborn have the way open before them to return to their native land, from which they had been exiled. Unless indeed they close off for themselves the path that could be opened before the faith of a thief.
The business of this life should not preoccupy us with its anxiety and pride, so that we no longer strive with all the love of our heart to be like our Redeemer, and to follow his example. Everything that he did or suffered was for our salvation: he wanted his body to share the goodness of its head.
First of all, in taking our human nature while remaining God, so that the Word became man, he left no member of the human race, the unbeliever excepted, without a share in his mercy. Who does not share a common nature with Christ if he has welcomed Christ, who took our nature, and is reborn in the Spirit through whom Christ was conceived?
Again, who cannot recognize in Christ his own infirmities? Who would not recognize that Christ’s eating and sleeping, his sadness and his shedding of tears of love are marks of the nature of a slave?
It was this nature of a slave that had to be healed of its ancient wounds and cleansed of the defilement of sin. For that reason the only-begotten Son of God became also the son of man. He was to have both the reality of a human nature and the fullness of the godhead.
The body that lay lifeless in the tomb is ours. The body that rose again on the third day is ours. The body that ascended above all the heights of heaven to the right hand of the Father’s glory is ours. If then we walk in the way of his commandments, and are not ashamed to acknowledge the price he paid for our salvation in a lowly body, we too are to rise to share his glory. The promise he made will be fulfilled in the sight of all: Whoever acknowledges me before men, I too will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven.
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“If it is by the power of God that I cast out devils, says the Lord, then the kingdom of God has come to you already.”
I am grateful Lord, for the trials, tribulations, sufferings and pain. Praise, glory and honor to you O Lord Jesus Christ. My Lord and my God. Thank you Lord for Your joy and your peace. May I bring this peace and joy that you have placed in the heart of my heart, to all you place on this path in exile and may they also, return to you O Lord with their entire heart. I love you my Lord and my God and know as I am still in exile, I am incapable of loving You more than you love us. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my hope, love, faith and trust in You and I freely give this entire heart in me, that you keep alive, cleaning, beating, and nurtured by you Lord, to you, Jesus Christ my King, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Mother. Amen
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Its more than a movie. Its reality.
I had been discerning whether or not to go see the movie Risen. In all honesty, through a serious conversion of heart, we live it so there is no need to go see it. Last night, I had to opportunity to do just that.
Yesterday was a rare day in which I was able to attend Holy Mass at 5:30 PM, followed by Stations of the Cross. My children had attended the school Mass earlier that day along with the School Stations of the Cross. I had not been feeling well for the past few days and rather than attend with them, I decided to attend later tonight. My husband had been asking me if I was going to go see the movie “Risen” for the past few days and I had told him that I wanted to but I wanted him to say lets go see this movie. I’m tired of being alone in our family, with our faith. Its not that I am lonely at all, but faith in our Lord was meant to be shared. Its hard when no one wants what you have to share. Before leaving for Holy Mass last night, I asked everyone in my home, once more, “Does anyone want to come with me?”. My 9 year old Chloe said yes.
I attended Holy Mass followed by Stations in deep prayer and contemplation. It was beautiful. Mission San Diego was packed with souls worshiping our Lord. I became lost in Him as I pondered my nothingness and Him being my everything. It was a quiet drive back to my house after, as I was going to pick up my daughter. I contemplated on how peaceful and content it is to be with Him. I also thought about how it was going to be a late night as Friday is my night that I spend in Exposition with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament also.
The movie was playing not far from my home at 7:50PM so after receiving our Lord, we could attend the movie. A late showing indeed, especially since I was bringing my daughter with me. Jumping ahead, we purchased our tickets, walked in to the theater and sat down. There was only a few other souls in the theater when we got there, but as the time passed before the movie began, more souls came in to watch the movie.
My Chloe cried as the reality of our crucified Lord began to ring home too her and I held her in my arms for the beginning of the movie and in all honesty, I am grateful she fell asleep quickly before all the other things took place in the beginning. I did appreciate the the fact that the makers of the movie did not try to pass our Lord off as just a sex symbol.
The movie ended. The souls in the theater clapped and I woke up my Chloe and got her up to leave. As we got up I noticed two men leaving who looked like the “Iconic” version of our Lord with long hair and body size and smiled to myself. I tried to keep up with them to get a look at their faces and His gentle reminder struck me. “Why Do You Look For The Living Among The Dead?” That voice in my heart touched me and reminded me NEVER to chase after what I thought may be Him but to come to Him. Our Lord was waiting for me in Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
As we arrived at home, I got my children ready for bed and off to praying the Rosary. I left again and was off to spend time with our Lord. As I walked into the Chapel which held our Lord there was only one other soul sitting with Him. There were 50 or so chairs set up and only two taken. I hung my head, and began to pray.
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Today’s message from Pope Francis comes after a morning I have spent bringing our Lord in the Eucharist to a Nursing Facility.
As I heard our Holy Fathers message, I was reminded of another video I posted this morning on my Facebook page. One where I did not see a Rhythmic Gymnast, but rather how word, deed and our Lord’s grace come together to fulfill the needs of the weakest among us. We should be “flexible” not “ridged” to His voice, and His grace, willing to say yes to Him, without thinking of self first, at a moments notice. Allowing Him to do the work, though us in exile. Just as we do the work in exile, through Him. Praise, glory and honor to our Lord.
Pope Francis: God is real, too many Christians are fake
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Something to ponder…
An#embryo in the womb of a#woman is a#child in early development or it wouldn’t be a#child at#birth. A fertilized egg before implantation in the Fallopian tube of a woman, is a child even still, in early development, or it wouldn’t be a child at birth. No matter how small, a child is a child at the moment of conception, or its not a child at all.The heart is the very first organ to develop in every developing child. Is it a shocker that in EVERY Eucharistic Miracle that has come to us, that Heart Cells are found in the blood in the Eucharist? Pro life is at the HEART of Christ. Pro life is in the Heart of Faith in Christ. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us all.
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What do homosexuals, masons, communists, socialists, and ______________ (fill in the blank) all have in common, that so many fear may have infiltrated the Catholic Church?
Be it that the Church has been “infiltrated” or not, its been infiltrated by SINNERS since our Lord founded it, 2000 years ago. He is the Head. “Be not afraid”. He has been dealing with US SINNERS before He was Conceived. As He deals with us today and the Church remains. Fear only Him.
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Fr. Joe & The Gofundme donation online link is working again if you would like to continue to donate to help family’s truly in need.
See Here: Father Joe’s Water Well
Thank you so much for helping and may our Lord bless you always
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“Thank you to all for the outpouring of money and effort on behalf of Father Joe’s parish. Recently we have been blessed to have been introduced to a contractor who has done charitable work in Kenya for similar communities. By God’s grace fresh water may soon be a reality at a fraction of our original budget. We are presently linking this fund to an account for transfer to Father Joe and there is a temporary hold on contributions for a few days. It will be open again very soon. Thank you for your continued generosity and prayers.”
Praise, glory and honor to God for prayers answered!
” I was thirsty and you gave me drink”
Fr. Joseph Mungai was visiting the USA for a short time and is in need for his mission in Africa. His parishioners are in need of a well. They do not have clean drinking water and help is needed. Women must travel a 5k distance to a water source and often times are attacked on the way. Sometimes forced into paying for the water with their bodies. Water for sex has become common practice through the region as obtaining clean drinking water is very hard to come by and unscrupulous vendors are not in short supply.
I have a very serious request for my readers. If you are able to donate to help build a well, for family’s in Africa, please help our cause. EDIT TO ADD:
There are no coincidences. This is a painting that has hung on my wall for close to 7 years. “The Woman At The Well”. Please help us to build the well for clean drinking water in this mission so the women are not raped and forced into providing sex in return for clean water. I am a rape survivor. It was our Lord who taught me how to survive it, lead me through it and forgive the person who had done this. It is paramount for me to ensure no other woman be forced to endure this selfish act. For the price it would cost you to have your car detailed or your dog groomed, you can save a life and provide clean drinking water for many souls in need. Please consider donating or at least pray, for souls to come forward to build this well. Share this with someone who may be able to afford to donate.
“Lent is a time for reconsidering our feelings, for letting our eyes be opened to injustice, to open our hearts to those suffering.” – Pope Francis
According to the CDC, over 1 billion people are currently forced to use water from hazardous resources for cooking, bathing and consumption. Approximately half of this vulnerable population are children.
Any amount would be appreciated. God bless you. If you can not donate, please share this story to help spread the word about the need for this well.
If you would like to donate online, please go to: Father Joe’s Water Well on GoFundMe
He is also available on Twitter, if you have any questions to ask him: @frjoemungai #YearOfMercyWell
If you would like to send a donation, please do so. Donations can be made to:
Sr Larraine c/o Year of Mercy Well
11714 Main Street, Middletown Ky 40357
Contact: 502 – 356-9281 or Larraine@waterwithblessings.org
The video below is part of Father Mungai’s community who are definitely in great need of fresh water.
https://twitter.com/frjoemungai/status/626507070368522242
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us all.
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An estimated 2 million people took part in the procession at the Eucharistic Congress.
I pray for all souls to bring our Lord back, in such splendor, into your hearts.
My Lord and my God
Words can not describe the JOY in my heart and soul, watching the video below.
For the full story: CLICK HERE
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VERY short post as copied from my facebook account today after a night of very good reading.
Spent some time reading St. Thomas Aquinas last night (without distractions) and realized what was missing in society today. His writings are like taking vitamins for the mind and intellect.
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us -
photo by @roilagarde via twitterWatching in awe
From January 29, 2015
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I watched a video today that I must share on this day of Remembering The Holocaust..
I am not going to write about this, as I just feel, know in my heart, there is more of a need today, for them to tell the story.Edith Zierer was born to a wealthy and educated Jewish family in Katowice, Poland. In 1939, in advance of the German invasion of Poland, her family fled and moved from place to place.
“Suddenly, totally unexpectedly, a young priest made his way through the people and approached me. I looked up and saw a Christian priest in a brown robe standing in front of me, with a great light in his eyes. He turned to me of all the people who were sitting there in the station, and asked ‘Why are you sitting here like that?’” she recounted.
The young priest was Karol Wojtyla, who in 1978 would become Pope John Paul II. He brought her a sandwich and tea. “I was thin, gaunt, tired and ill. To this day I remember the first bite … I finished the sandwich and he told me to stand up because ‘We’re going,’ as he said. I wasn’t capable of standing on my skinny legs. I fell onto the floor of the train station and he was forced to carry me in his arms.”
Edith Zierer entered into eternal life in 2014. For Oral history interview with Edith Zierer, please see this LINK
