When no one cares about what you have seen, what you have done, the changes in your soul that only God could do, good! Then will you start to understand that God cares, God has done everything and that is all that matters.
Tag: God
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When ever anyone says to you that there is a war inside the Catholic Church, between the so-called “Diehard Faithful” and those who they perceive as not “faithful” as Michael Vois has done in his latest video, (SEE HERE) stop them in their tracks and say to them point-blank: The war is internal, not in the Catholic Church, but within each and every soul. Those who profess that thy know who the faithful are, are lacking in the faith themselves. As no one but our Lord knows what is each human heart. And what He is doing to build the “Temple “inside each of us, through His Church. To incite a war where there is none, is not as our Lord has asked of any of us and all that becomes of such nonsense is diversion and division away from the faith not a “Gathering” as we know is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I pray for the entire Catholic Church today, to understand “Common Ground” in our Lord. To understand how to pray for patience, when our patience is tested, by things that take place beyond our control. For acceptance to all our brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of the amount of faith and grace they have obtained to date, and rather than condemn them, “For they know not what they do”, pray for them also, to become more “Christ Like “as we all are called to be. Forgive us Lord. All of us.
The “Blame Game” has been taking place since the fall in the garden. When Adam told God: “The Woman made me eat the fruit”. There is only so long we can place “blame” on others, until we see we have only ourselves to blame. When that takes place, humility is allowed to prosper and all the graces of God take hold.
How long do we sit and blame everything on Vatican II, the “Unfaithful”, “Altar Girls” and every other “distraction” away from the faith, rather then our own lack of faith our Lord, who brought us to all this, who will lead us through….
There is no reason today, to look back on the past 40+ years of “a bad catechesis” when we have all the tools we need today to pull closer to our Lord, in our Catholic faith NOW, today, and not to continue to sit and wallow in what we perceive to be failures. Pick yourself up out of the self-pity and dust off the cobwebs. The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Take responsibility! Lord! It is MY FAULT my faith in you is not as strong as it should be!
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When I found out I was pregnant with my last child, I was elated! Soon after, serious complications began to occur. I had horrendous pain and I was only seven weeks pregnant. I was taken to the emergency room one night by my husband as I couldn’t even stand up. When they received me, they said all indications were that I was going to miscarry this child. I was released and the pain continued. There was no bleeding or anything that indicated the child was in trouble.
The following day, as the pain continued to increase my husband once again took me to the emergency room. Again, I was told that the baby was probably in trouble and would soon pass. An ultrasound was done and my baby’s heartbeat was fine. Beating as strong as mine was. The pain became increasingly worse and once again, I was sent home to wait. At this time, all I could do was lay down and wait in agony. I didn’t know what was taking place and I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t do anything to save my baby if her heart was beating as strong as it was.
The following morning, which was Monday, my Doctor advised me to come in so he could take a look and see what was taking place. My husband drove me to his office and I literally crawled in on my hands and knees and I couldn’t even stand upright. He rushed me in and ran a bunch of tests and told me to go to the emergency room right then and there. This was my third visit to the Hospital Emergency Room, in three days of anguish. Upon entering the ER, I told them, if they didn’t find out what was wrong that I knew I was going to die. I started shaking all over, because the pain was something so intense that I had never had before. I knew I was going to die if they didn’t find out what was taking place.
I was rushed into ultrasound again, to see if the baby was still okay, and I had told them my Doctor had done one and the baby’s heartbeat was fine and strong that morning. Before I could get the words out, the ultrasound technician asked for the radiologists to step in ASAP. He said to me, I think I see something that shouldn’t be there. I want the Doctor to take a look and see. The Doctor came in and was looking at the monitor and the ultrasound technician asked me, “Have you had a HCG test”? My jaw dropped. I knew what he was talking about. I had not had one. There was no need as everything was fine until a few days earlier.
A HGC test determines hormones in ratio to pregnancy. If they ratio of hormones is very high, there are TWO children present. The Doctor said there is something going on with your right fallopian tube. There seems to be a mass but its hard to tell if it is anything serious yet as it could just be scare tissue. They ran the HCG test and it backed up the suspicion of the Ultrasound technician. I was pregnant with twins. But one was in serious trouble. I had a child in my fallopian tube, and one where she should be, in my uterus. I was never on any fertility drugs, nor do twins even run in my family. Its called a heterotopic pregnancy. My baby had an estimated 90‑95% mortality rate. My baby who was where she should be, faced a 35% mortality rate and if we continued in this state, all of us were at 100% mortality rate.
At this moment, I remembered something very profound that I had forgotten as I continued on in life, trying to forget my “Conversion” back in 1998 and carry on in life. Our Lord is the giver of life. This moment was my reawakening from our Lord to return to Him and remember. As only He could give life, reaffirming what I had been going through for many years, truly was Him calling me back home, without a single doubt.
I was rushed into surgery as a mother pregnant with twins, and came out of surgery unsure if I was pregnant at all. I lost one child and one was saved. They removed my right fallopian tube with my child inside. I knew in my heart this child was now with our Lord and that things like this are truly a wakeup call. I struggled with this in the same way as I struggle with abortion. I had thought that the decision to take this life from me was just that. It is not. Please read:
When Pregnancy Goes Awry: Ectopic Pregnancies
FATHER TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYKI also want to point this out:
INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION
THE HOPE OF SALVATION FOR INFANTS
WHO DIE WITHOUT BEING BAPTISED*
The general discussion on the theme took place during the plenary sessions of the ITC, held in Rome. In October 2005 and October 2006.
I lost my child in March of 2006.I never picked out a name for the child I lost that day, not one that I stuck with as I couldn’t find a meaningful name for her. For the past 6 years since this had taken place, I think of her often. My little one who did survive is named Chloe and she sighs now and then and says, “I wish I had a twin”. She knows now, that she does. Until today we always called her Chloe’s twin. Today, she finally has a name and it truly is, Angelica. She was my “Messenger of God”.
I read a piece today written by a woman who had been struggling to become pregnant and finally succeeded only to miscarry a few weeks into her pregnancy. I cried while reading it as the pain rushed back into my memory as I could truly understand her pain. Thus this post I have written. In the comments to this woman’s story, someone had posed this:
My Lord, the baby is dead!
Why, my Lord—dare I ask why? It will not hear the whisper of the wind or see the beauty of its parents’ face—it will not see the beauty of Your creation or the flame of a sunrise. Why, my Lord?
“Why, My child—do you ask ‘why’? Well, I will tell you why.
You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty—he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another. He was created for My joy and his parents’ merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow and called it forth.”
I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool—forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity.
— Mother M. Angelica
My little Angelica, in less the 8 weeks of life, came to me, delivered her message and returned to our Lord. Angelica, pray for us.
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Margaret Leo of McLean, pray for us.
Please read her entire story at the link below..
The Littlest Suffering Souls, part 2: Margaret Leo of McLean
By Austin Ruse
Friday, 31 May 2013Her special gift was joyful friendship. In an elevator, she would pepper strangers with questions, with a steady gaze and big smile. “What is your name?” “Where are you going?” “What is your birthday?” They sensed she really wanted to know. The girl had no artifice. Even Supreme Court Justices can be attracted to that.
What they did not know, because she never mentioned it, even to her family, was that she was likely in unimaginable pain. Think of a titanium rod being bent by your spine, and about to poke through the skin of your neck. Or a shunt inside your brain.
No one describes her as a “spiritual athlete.” Her faith was profoundly childlike. Her whole life she prayed out loud the simple prayer her mother taught her as a child, “Jesus, thank you for coming to me in the Eucharist.”
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I had to share… Please read the entire story of Bendan Kelly
The Littlest Suffering Souls III: Brendan Kelly of Great Falls
By Austin Ruse
Friday, 14 June 2013Brendan was a mystic. He carried on a continuous conversation with Jesus and his Guardian Angel. After confession one evening, he made an extended penance. Outside, his father asked what took him so long, and Brendan said he was talking to Jesus. “In the tabernacle?,” his father asked. “No, in the light above the tabernacle,” except according to Father Alexander Drummond, the Church was utterly dark.
Brendan would not pass a church without blowing a kiss and shouting, “Hi, Jesus.” So normal and natural was this that a priest of Opus Dei still sermonizes about this as an advanced state of the interior life.
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The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins. –Saint Patrick
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I couldn’t have said it better as I have been living this for many years. Glory to God….
REPENTANT SUFFERING by Mother Angelica ~
The sinner who suddenly realizes God’s love for him and then looks at his rejection of that love, feels a loss similar to the death of a loved one. A deep void is created in the soul and a loneliness akin to the agony of death. The soul feels wrapped in an icy grip of fear. This is not, however, the fear of punishment, but the realization of its ingratitude towards so good and loving a God. Sorrow begins to heal the wounds made by sin and God Himself comforts the soul with the healing balm of His Mercy and Compassion.
If the sin were great, the soul, humbled by self-knowledge, remembers its weakness so as never to offend God again, but forever rejoices in His Mercy. This combination of mourning and comfort keeps the soul in a state of dependence and trust in God, who sought and found His lost sheep.
Man seeks to make up for his sins in some positive way. A thief gives away something to the poor; a man with a temper seeks to be gentle. King David realized that accomplishing some good work was pleasing to God, but he knew something it would be well for us to remember. He understood that the very suffering of his repentance was pleasing to God.
Amen
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Father Z has a great article over at his blog: Protesters at Mass must be denied Holy Communion. Have a plan of action?
I hope all my readers ponder this with a clear mind. If you are taking your gay marriage protest into Holy Mass, you are not at Holy Mass but at a protest rally. Please place yourself in the presence of our Lord and not your own agenda. You are in fact, protesting against our Lord.
In all honesty, if you are taking ANYTHING to Holy Mass with you, other than your righteousness to offer to our Lord in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and your full attention to Him, are you truly attending Holy Mass or are you someplace else? Are you worshiping Him or the game later? Is your mind on our Lord or is it on the people around you, the family coming in for dinner, the beach, the game or some protest?
If we can not give 100% attention to our Lord in His own home, why are we there? I have been pondering lately the souls who do not like to attend the “Wedding Ceremony” but are more than willing to attend the “Reception”. The reason there is a reception, is because the “Wedding” took place. At Holy Mass, you are in the presence of God. You are in Communion with all the Holy of Holy’s. It should be the utmost importance of a soul not to ensure he makes it to Holy Mass, but that He actually is “present” in the Holy Mass. Place yourself at our Lords precious feet and listen to every word He is saying.
“The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.” St. Gregory, Doctor of the Church
“He who is in the habit of devoutly hearing holy Mass shall in death be consoled by the presence of the angels and saints, his advocates, who shall bravely defend him from all the snares of infernal spirits.” Revelation of Christ to St. Mechtilde
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Prayer for Life by Pope John Paul II
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life: Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives, and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.
Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us…
Blessed Pope John XXIII, pray for us…
Amen
Amen
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Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The question came up, “What do you render to God and what do you render to Caesar? Remember when God told the Jews He was their king and the Jews said “Give us a king to lead us,”, so Saul was given, then David and our Lord, to which they responded “We have no king but Caesar”. “Caesar” today, is a concept created by man looking for a “king” other then the True God. Or man answering God with the word No, rather then yes.
A good way to answer this question is what do you bring with you when you enter this world and what do you leave it with? You are created by God. All your life belongs to God. All you create through imagination and all your inspirations are a gift from God. Your children are not yours but Gods as they to will return to Him. All your time belongs to God, so everything you think you have created in this world, belongs to God. God created the world. God created the food you eat and the animals that give you the clothing you wear. Caesar gets the what is left when you leave after giving all the glory to God. God owns everything, as He designed and created all creatures in it. Caesar gets nothing. Granted, “Caesar” became the way of governing, but when you have the Law of God etched on your heart, you have no need for “Caesar”. Only that which is from God. As the soul in love with God, is obedient to God and all that He declares.
“An unjust law is no law at all” – St. Augustine of Hippo
“A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.“ Martin Luther King Jr.
“If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.” Thomas Jefferson
‘And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matt 16:18-19
The definition of RENDER:
2
a : to transmit to another : deliver
b : give up, yield
c : to furnish for consideration, approval, or information: as (1) : to hand down (a legal judgment) (2) : to agree on and report (a verdict)
3
a : to give in return or retribution
b (1) : give back, restore (2) : reflect, echo
c : to give in acknowledgment of dependence or obligation : pay
d : to do (a service) for anotherLord, my God to you do I render all that I have, all that I am, all that You O Lord have given to me -then do with me as You see fit.
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I would love to say that this will be my last post on this blog, but I just can’t do that yet. Not until I see our Lord face to Face. I am however, taking a break from Facebook, twitter and blogging to be mom. To adhere to my first vocation. Wife and mom. Since the Marriage of myself and my husband in the Catholic Church back on May 4, 2013, there have been many serious changes taking place in my life. Due to being asked to do something I could not do because of my faith in our Lord, I believe I have been presented with an exit from our Lord to leave the ministry’s behind at my old parish as nothing was being addressed as far as concerns for them and the people of my old parish. A door became open for me to leave and I did just that. I am still in formation for the Third Order of Carmel and will remain with it as long as our Lord is calling me to this beautiful place. I still attend Adoration and will continue as He is my love. It has been almost a week and all the things I had been asking for, for the benefit of the ministry’s after my leaving, is now, as I hear, taking place. Sometimes we stand in the way of progress and don’t even know it until our Lord moves us to another place, still in His heart. I was asked to say in them as the reason of my departure was a misunderstanding. Rather then go back, where I knew nothing would change for the better of the community, I left the door open and kept walking. I am now at a new parish as truly feel our Lord calling me to do EVERYTHING I had done at my old parish, in love for Him, and do it now in my own home for my children, husband and maybe down the road, where He is calling me to. I feel at this time I need to keep many things in my heart but still be a shinning light for my family in the faith. Until He calls me to write again.
In many ways I began to feel as if I was outgrowing this “Fish Bowl”. I could no longer attend Holy Mass without someone coming up to me with a question during Holy Mass and that was just too much for me. I live to help others, but not at the expense of the Holy Mass, the faith or our Lord. If a soul is being called to distract another DURING Mass for any question, then the help they need is much greater than I can give. Yes, He is removing me from “This Fishbowl” and placing me in a much bigger one, free from the nibbling and picking on in a much larger tank. Free to worship again. I forgive them and pray always for everyone… Thy will be done O Lord. Thy will.
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All through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ…..
“Spiritual Warfare Prayer”
Lord Jesus, I ask you today to cover Me and my family, the whole world, especially our military and our priest, with your precious blood and protection. Uncover any hidden plot of the enemy before it has a chance to take root or effect or do any harm. Alert us to any hidden plots against us and provide in advance a peaceful solution to any damage the enemy tries to do. Bind and make mute any evil spirits that try to manifest or attach themselves to us in any way. We ask you to please hide from the enemy the personal plans and ministries you have for us, so he has no access or knowledge of them. Let no weapon formed against us be able to prosper.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke any curses, hexes or spells sent against us. I bind all interplay, interaction and communication of evil spirits, and I claim the protection of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on_________. I ask you , Lord, to please send St. Michael, the Archangel, to drive out all the evil spirits who roam the earth and give St. Michael the authority to send all evil spirits straight to the recesses of hell, where they will remain forever.
Lord Jesus, I also ask you to please let the waters of our baptism flow back through our bloodlines to cleanse us of any evil or unwanted tendencies or traits that we may have inherited from our ancestors. And lastly, Lord, I ask you to please bless my enemies by sending your Holy Spirit to lead them to repentance and conversion.
We thank you, Lord, and we praise you. Lord, for your boundless mercy and protection. Amen.
This prayer could be said everyday. Anywhere and everywhere you go.
Evil spirit, I bind you in the Name of Jesus Christ, and command you to go to the foot of the cross.
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Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me. -
Call to prayer for the Church in China
Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother,
venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title “Help of Christians”,
the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection.
We come before you today to implore your protection.
Look upon the People of God and, with a mother’s care, guide them
along the paths of truth and love, so that they may always be
a leaven of harmonious coexistence among all citizens.
When you obediently said “yes” in the house of Nazareth,
you allowed God’s eternal Son to take flesh in your virginal womb
and thus to begin in history the work of our redemption.
You willingly and generously cooperated in that work,
allowing the sword of pain to pierce your soul,
until the supreme hour of the Cross, when you kept watch on Calvary,
standing beside your Son, who died that we might live.
From that moment, you became, in a new way,
the Mother of all those who receive your Son Jesus in faith
and choose to follow in his footsteps by taking up his Cross.
Mother of hope, in the darkness of Holy Saturday you journeyed
with unfailing trust towards the dawn of Easter.
Grant that your children may discern at all times,
even those that are darkest, the signs of God’s loving presence.
Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China,
who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love.
May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world,
and of the world to Jesus.
In the statue overlooking the Shrine you lift your Son on high,
offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love.
Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love,
ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built.
Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and for ever. Amen!Text from page http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/05/22/pope_francis:_call_to_prayer_for_the_church_in_china/en1-694330
of the Vatican Radio website -
“All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone” (CCC 2116).
The first commandment forbids honoring gods other than the one Lord who has revealed himself to his people. It proscribes superstition and irreligion. Superstition in some sense represents a perverse excess of religion; irreligion is the vice contrary by defect to the virtue of religion (CCC 2110).
Superstition is the deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary. To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand, is to fall into superstition (CCC 2111).
Our Lord shook the “Rafters” yesterday…
Astrology and all things in that way of entertainment are most assuredly, a porthole directly into hell, for many demons to enter into a life and do as they please to a soul.
I entered my daughters classroom and she was finishing up with her teacher. My other daughter was looking arround and seen a calendar of birthdays. She mentioned to the teacher, her birthday and the teacher replied “Oh you are a scorpion, I mean Scorpio. My birthday is in November too but I am a Sagittarius”. I said “So am I.”
I gathered up my girls and walked out of the class, the door closing behind us. I stopped DEAD in my tracks as I heard in my heart, “You are a child of God.” In that instant I realized I denied our Lord His sovereignty with my response to that teacher. A door was open to evangelize to her and was slammed shut with the answer I had given. A flood of memories came in of how such things that we take as just simple innocent pleasures such as tarot cards and numerology & horoscopes are no big deal. These “simple pleasures” of entertainment had taken me so far away from our Lord and His love, driving me directly into a world not that of our Lords.. Superstition had me by the throat, God, through His son our Lord, released me.
When I was very young, about the age of 6, my daughter’s age, my dad brought tarot cards into the home. He laid them out before my two brothers and I and began to teach us what they were. Keep in mind, he did not know the destruction he was bringing and also had said to us this in not real stuff to believe in. We believe in God. Even with his words of comfort, a seed from that horror was planted in me and began to grow, taking over a huge portion of my life, strangling the Truth growing along side it. I looked to evil as an escape and became a nasty angry child, turning into an angry selfish adult, dabbling in drugs and the occult, but thinking to myself, this still wasn’t real and still hanging on to God, falling headlong into the deadly “sin of presumption”. I turned to the things of the world seeking comfort, where none was found, and away from my faith in God. I forgive my dad and beg for mercy on his soul to our Lord and those who read this must understand, it was at the second of my dad’s death, that I cried out to our Lord to change my life. It was loosing him and the love I had for him that God was able to step into my life again and begin the clean up process. I must also say, I do not blame my dad at all. I do believe that all things happen for a reason we will never understand, but in the end, through repentance, everything works for the greater glory of God. On a personal note, the cards didn’t last long in the home. When my dad found out it was a sin, he promptly tossed them out. As everyone should!
I understand only now, that when that door closed yesterday, our Lord gave me time to understand what I had done, and why, so I can go back to her today and let her know in His love, with His mercy and kindness that we both messed up.
Run away as fast as you can from this stuff. Its bad news.
“To whom then must we make an answer first—to the heretics or to the astrologers? For both come from the serpent, and desire to corrupt the Church’s virginity of heart, which she holds in undefiled faith” (Homilies on John 8:10 [A.D. 416]). St. Augustine of Hippo
John 8:10-11
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”EDIT to add: Just found this on the subject…
The History of Tarot Cards by FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS -
A few weeks ago, while I was praying in Adoration, I noticed a vase of different types of flowers sitting below our Lord. Looking down into it was hidden a little flower so intricate and dense with petals so beautiful in its coloring, I couldn’t help but move closer to it to take a better look and smell it.
I took in a huge whiff of this beauty and laughed out loud, really hard. It didn’t smell very nice at all and I remembered this sent from childhood. Immediately I was transported into my mother’s garden. I was a small child laying in the grass with my face deep in looking at the flowers that were plated by my mom and dad. This little beautiful flower was there and I was comforted by the memory of being secure in my mothers care. I was reminded of the memories of innocence of my childhood and my mom who has passed many years ago, was smiling along with me in this little comforting backyard garden memory, brought to me from our Lord in Adoration.
I miss her today. May we all find comfort, even if it is just one special memory we have, of the love our deceased mothers had for us when they were with us here. Even when they are gone many years, they are still here through the memories our Lord brings to us, long ago forgotten. The flower so beautiful, but the scent not so pleasing is just as we are in this life. Suffering comes with the beauty of life.
O God, Who has commanded us
to honour our father and mother,
have compassion in Thy mercy,
on the souls of my father and mother;
forgive them their sins,
and grant that I may see them
in the joy of eternal brightness.
Through Christ our Lord.Amen.
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Holy Mary,
help those in need,
give strength to the weak,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for God’s people,
assist the clergy,
intercede for religious.Mary, all who seek your help
experience your unfailing protection.
Amen.>
Hail, you Star of Ocean!
Portal of the sky,
Ever Virgin Mother,
Of the Lord most high.O! by Gabriel’s Ave,
Uttered long ago,
Eva’s name reversing,
Establish peace below.Break the captive’s fetters;
Light on blindness pour;
All our ills expelling,
Ev’ry bliss implore.Show yourself a mother;
Offer him our sighs,
Who for us Incarnate
Did not you despise.Virgin of all virgins!
To your shelter take us;
Gentlest of the gentle!
Chaste and gentle make us.Still as on we journey,
Help our weak endeavor,
Till with you and Jesus
We rejoice forever.Through the highest heaven,
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be. -
I don’t usualy share other news but this is close to my heart. From Immaculate Heart Radio
Vatican doctors confirm miracle in John Paul II’s canonization process
Posted on April 23, 2013 by Stephanie
Vatican Insider’s Andrea Tornielli reports that a proposed miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Paul II has been approved by Vatican medical experts. In the process of canonization, a miracle must be approved for the person to be declared “Blessed” (which John Paul II was on May 1, 2011) and then a second miracle, which must occur after the beatification ceremony, must be approved in order to move the canonization process forward.
There are a few more steps that need to be taken before Blessed John Paul II can be canonized as a saint, though. The alleged miracle must be brought before theologians and then the bishops and cardinals of the Vatican Congregation for the Saints. If it is approved by all these, it will be brought before Pope Francis for his final approval. However, many consider this first step of approval by medical experts to be the most fundamental and crucial step.
Please continue here Immaculate Heart Radio
From Vatican Insider:
A saint now!” The canonisation of Wojtyla is getting closer quickly and it could be celebrated next October. In fact, in the past few days, the medical council of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has recognized as inexplicable one healing attributed to the blessed John Paul II. A supposed “miracle” that, if it is also approved by theologians and the cardinals (as it is very likely), will bring the Polish Pope, who died in 2005, the halo of sainthood in record time, just eight years after his death.
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Do you see Jesus on this cross in this picture? He is not there so do not pretend He is.
“Then came coexistence. Never once during the public life did anyone know that Judas was the guilty man; when he spoke of the poor, some of the disciples joined in with him; and at the Last Supper when he left the table, it was thought that he had gone out to give money to the poor or buy food for the feast. His coexistence was so clever that only John knew who he was – and, of course, the all-knowing Lord. Even the best were deceived.”
–Fulton Sheen; On Being Human: Reflections, On Life and Living, 1982 – composite of writings going back to 1943 under ‘Bishop Sheen writes’, pg, 288.
The Political Kiss of Betrayal
No one has ever written a philosophy of betrayal, unless it was Machiavelli who told kings and princes how to deceive their fellowmen. But his counsel was not actual betrayal, but just sheer worldly, pragmatic advise in which the useful became identified with the true. Actually, the pattern and the model of betrayal has been written -and forgotten. Take, for example, the principle upon which the Soviets (and G20 leaders today) conducted their international policy. It can be reduced to three principles: 1. Materialism; 2. Coexistence; 3. Betrayal at the moment of greatest friendship and coexistence.
First , materialism. Its basic principle is denial of God and the soul. God must be denied, because if there is a power other than the Party or the dictator, then men have other rights and duties under liberty than those given them by the Party (Like thinking about self-reliance; self-governance). The foundation of our rights and liberties as given in the Declaration of Independence is that they are given by God. The soul must be denied too by the Communists, because the soul contemplates and thinks for itself. But any personal thought which cannot be socially controlled must be denied by Communists in order that there be only one thought-namely, the Party thought.
The second principle is coexistence. This is a Soviet word, not the word of a free people. The latter never ask themselves if they should coexist. Such talk would be nonsense between Canada and the United States. Coexistence is a Soviet suggestion that relations which exist between the free people of the world who believe in decency, morality, honesty, and truth should be extended to the Soviet Union which Lenin said must use every lie, stratagem, ruse, and deceit in order to foster world revolution.
The basis of coexistence talk is given in an article published in the Soviet Union in 1954 by a certain Leontyvev. His argument was that the atomic bomb makes war mutually destructive of the powers which engage in it. The Soviets can no longer rely upon their mighty armies and those of the satellites to conquer the world. Hence, there must be “long periods of coexistences” with democratic and free people, until the historical moment arrives for the world conquest of communism. (Are we there yet?)
The third principle is that the betrayal of those who fall for coexistence must be at the moment of greatest intimacy and friendship. For example on August 31, 1939, the Soviets signed a pact recognizing the independence of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. On this occasion the Soviet Government published the following: “These pacts of mutual assistance strictly stipulate the inviolability of the sovereignty of the signatory powers, and the principle of non-interference in each other’s affairs. We stand for the scrupulous and punctilious observance of the pacts on the basis of complete reciprocity, and we declare that all the spreading of nonsense about Sovietizing the Baltic countries is only to the advantage of our common enemies, and of all Soviet provocateurs.”
The following year, the Soviets annexed the three countries. Is this pattern of betrayal new? Or does it follow a line which brought upon the world its greatest blackness? The model of deceit and betrayal was actually set by Judas. First of all, avarice was not his basic sin; it was materialism, or denial of spiritual values. The first mention of avarice as regards Judas comes at the very end of his life, though he is described as a traitor much earlier when Our Lord spoke of Himself as God, and foretold that he would suffer and die, rise and ascend again into heaven. When He refused to be King of the masses, when He refused to establish a kingdom based on earthly bread, Judas broke, for he had nothing but contempt for the spiritual.Then came coexistence. Never once during the public life did anyone know that Judas was the guilty man; when he spoke of the poor, some of the disciples joined in with him; and at the Last Supper when he left the table, it was thought that he had gone out to give money to the poor or buy food for the feast. His coexistence was so clever that only John knew who he was-and, of course, the all knowing Lord. Even the best were deceived.
The third stage came at the moment of greatest affection, when Judas kissed Our Lord and then delivered Him over to the soldiers. Sacred things can be betrayed only by some mark of affection and esteem. LET AMERICA BEWARE!
To pleas for coexistence, America must ask, “Wilt thou betray with a kiss?”
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
Did Jesus condone sinful behavior? No. Because that is not love. Jesus corrected the sinful behavior through His forgivness and the words: “Go and sin NO MORE”. He never said, go do what makes you feel good.
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Pray for us Blessed Pope John Paul II, that we may all be inflamed with the love through the Holy Spirit, to love one another as He loves us. To pull closer to our Lord in all our times of trouble and peace, and to understand no matter what is offered to us here in exile, that what our Lord is offering to us, will always be much greater. Amen
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I had a dream last night, I was able to fly. I had not dreamed like this since childhood. When I was a child I dreamt all the time I could fly but I was never able to fly in front of anyone. I would tell them I could and try but never could get off the ground. I would beg them to believe me but the never would, and would walk away, leaving me alone where once again, I would fly.
Last night, in my dream, I flew in front of people. I woke up the morning and after prayers, thought about it. Our Lord freed me from the hunters snare. But more, I had a dream a long time ago, that I was a baby bird. I wrote about it here. (Impossible Dreams, Where Do They Take You) that left me with a prayer: “May God whisper in your ear, as Jesus plans your tomorrows, while you sleep under the wing of the Holy Spirit”.
I went to Mass this morning and served my first as I was Extraordinary Minister of the most Precious Blood of our Lord, and I didn’t know that was going to be. I “Flew” in front of everyone for the very first time and I served our LORD. All Glory to God!
Prostrate I adore Thee, Deity unseen, Who Thy glory hidest ‘neath these shadows mean; Lo, to Thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed, Tranced as it beholds Thee, shrined within the cloud. Taste, and touch, and vision, to discern Thee fail; Faith, that comes by hearing, pierces through the veil. I believe whate’er the Son of God hath told; What the Truth hath spoken, that for truth I hold. On the Cross lay hidden but thy Deity, Here is hidden also Thy Humanity: But in both believing and confessing, Lord, Ask I what the dying thief of Thee implored. Thy dread wounds, like Thomas, though I cannot see, His be my confession, Lord and God, of Thee, Make my faith unfeigned ever-more increase, Give me hope unfading, love that cannot cease. O memorial wondrous of the Lord’s own death; Living Bread, that giveth all Thy creatures breath, Grant my spirit ever by Thy life may live, To my taste Thy sweetness never-failing give. Pelican of mercy, Jesu, Lord and God, Cleanse me, wretched sinner, in Thy Precious Blood: Blood where one drop for human-kind outpoured Might from all transgression have the world restored. Jesu, whom now veiled, I by faith descry, What my soul doth thirst for, do not, Lord, deny, That thy face unveiled, I at last may see, With the blissful vision blest, my God, of Thee. Amen
“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.’” (John 6:53-56)
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3 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. 8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned home. – John, chapter 20 3-10
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Yesterday when I arrived at Church to dress the Altar for Easter, I had gotten there very early and spent, as I normally do, most of my time in prayer while preparations were taking place. While pondering St. Mary Magdalene and placing myself in her shoes, (Read here: Empty Tomb – Pope Francis Homily Added) our Lord filed me with great joy being the first one there to prepare for the celebration. After thirty minutes the first helper arrived. t was one of our maintenance men and the first thing he said to me was: “I ran all the way here!”
I smiled and laughed so hard and asked him, “Are you Saint Peter?” Then explained to him what I had been pondering. It filled me with awe.
He is risen indeed!
Acts 10:40-43
God raised up Jesus on the third day and granted that he be seen, not by all, but only by such witnesses as had been chosen beforehand by God – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and to bear witness that he is the one set apart by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets testify, saying that everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name.
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‘On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark,* and saw the stone removed from the tomb”
Today is a beautiful day to ponder St. Mary of Magdala’s despair at the sight of the empty tomb. Her love for our Lord and her expectations had brought her to the tomb in hopes of dressing the body of our Lord. Her hopes of touching Him one last time in love. Her hopes of the final goodbye, but what she seen and received was far greater than she had hopped for. This is where our Lord turns lack of faith, into true belief in Him.
I will be adding to this post later today. I am heading to “the tomb early” to prepare the “Altar” for Easter and I want to post more about St. Mary of Magdala and her love for our Lord but more, His love for her. I will post the update below.
ADDED
Full text of Pope Francis’s homily at the Easter VigilDear Brothers and Sisters,
1. In the Gospel of this radiant night of the Easter Vigil, we first meet the women who go the tomb of Jesus with spices to anoint his body (cf. Lk 24:1-3). They go to perform an act of compassion, a traditional act of affection and love for a dear departed person, just as we would. They had followed Jesus, they had listened to his words, they had felt understood by him in their dignity and they had accompanied him to the very end, to Calvary and to the moment when he was taken down from the cross. We can imagine their feelings as they make their way to the tomb: a certain sadness, sorrow that Jesus had left them, he had died, his life had come to an end. Life would now go on as before. Yet the women continued to feel love, the love for Jesus which now led them to his tomb. But at this point, something completely new and unexpected happens, something which upsets their hearts and their plans, something which will upset their whole life: they see the stone removed from before the tomb, they draw near and they do not find the Lord’s body. It is an event which leaves them perplexed, hesitant, full of questions: “What happened?”, “What is the meaning of all this?” (cf. Lk 24:4). Doesn’t the same thing also happen to us when something completely new occurs in our everyday life? We stop short, we don’t understand, we don’t know what to do. Newness often makes us fearful, including the newness which God brings us, the newness which God asks of us. We are like the Apostles in the Gospel: often we would prefer to hold on to our own security, to stand in front of a tomb, to think about someone who has died, someone who ultimately lives on only as a memory, like the great historical figures from the past. We are afraid of God’s surprises; we are afraid of God’s surprises! He always surprises us!
Dear brothers and sisters, let us not be closed to the newness that God wants to bring into our lives! Are we often weary, disheartened and sad? Do we feel weighed down by our sins? Do we think that we won’t be able to cope? Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no sin which he cannot forgive if only we open ourselves to him.
2. But let us return to the Gospel, to the women, and take one step further. They find the tomb empty, the body of Jesus is not there, something new has happened, but all this still doesn’t tell them anything certain: it raises questions; it leaves them confused, without offering an answer. And suddenly there are two men in dazzling clothes who say: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; but has risen” (Lk 24:5-6). What was a simple act, done surely out of love – going to the tomb – has now turned into an event, a truly life-changing event. Nothing remains as it was before, not only in the lives of those women, but also in our own lives and in the history of mankind. Jesus is not dead, he has risen, he is alive! He does not simply return to life; rather, he is life itself, because he is the Son of God, the living God (cf. Num 14:21-28; Deut 5:26; Josh 3:10). Jesus no longer belongs to the past, but lives in the present and is projected towards the future; he is the everlasting “today” of God. This is how the newness of God appears to the women, the disciples and all of us: as victory over sin, evil and death, over everything that crushes life and makes it seem less human. And this is a message meant for me and for you, dear sister, dear brother. How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead? Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness… and that is where death is. That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!
Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won’t be disappointed. If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid, trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you and he will give you the peace you are looking for and the strength to live as he would have you do.
3. There is one last little element that I would like to emphasize in the Gospel for this Easter Vigil. The women encounter the newness of God. Jesus has risen, he is alive! But faced with empty tomb and the two men in brilliant clothes, their first reaction is one of fear: “they were terrified and bowed their faced to the ground”, Saint Luke tells us – they didn’t even have courage to look. But when they hear the message of the Resurrection, they accept it in faith. And the two men in dazzling clothes tell them something of crucial importance: “Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee… And they remembered his words” (Lk 24:6,8). They are asked to remember their encounter with Jesus, to remember his words, his actions, his life; and it is precisely this loving remembrance of their experience with the Master that enables the women to master their fear and to bring the message of the Resurrection to the Apostles and all the others (cf. Lk 24:9). To remember what God has done and continues to do for me, for us, to remember the road we have travelled; this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future. May we learn to remember everything that God has done in our lives.
On this radiant night, let us invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who treasured all these events in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19,51) and ask the Lord to give us a share in his Resurrection. May he open us to the newness that transforms. May he make us men and women capable of remembering all that he has done in our own lives and in the history of our world. May he help us to feel his presence as the one who is alive and at work in our midst. And may he teach us each day not to look among the dead for the Living One. Amen.
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While I spent time with our Lord in Gethsemane last night, I pondered. Why did my Lord cling to this rock. Why not keep waking up St. Peter, St James and St John?
The rock was and still is today, a better specimen at doing God’s will then any mortal man. The rock our Lord clung to, had been created by God, to do as God asked, and did exactly what God had designed it to do. To be a rock. It was not budging from Gods order. Thus was the obedience of our Lord. He could not be moved from carrying out God’s will. He did exactly as our Father had asked. Thus the reason we cling to Him and not any worldly object or person. He is my Rock. He doesn’t budge. He doesn’t change, I do. He is set firm and His Bride is set with Him. She does not budge.
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“Over his head they hung their accusation: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
Isaiah 52:13-15
See, my servant shall prosper,
he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.
Even as many were amazed at him —
so marred was his look beyond that of man,
and his appearance beyond that of mortals —
So shall he startle many nations,
because of him kings shall stand speechless;
For those who have not been told shall see,
those who have not heard shall ponder it. -
One man, one woman. One God.
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A Letter to Victoria's Secret From a Father.
Beautiful! Had to share.
Dear Victoria’s Secret,
I am a father of a three-year old girl. She loves princesses, Dora the Explorer, Doc McStuffins and drawing pictures for people. Her favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly, cheese and pistachios.
Even though she is only three, as a parent I have had those thoughts of my daughter growing up and not being the little girl she is now. It is true what they say about kids, they grow up fast. No matter how hard I try I know that she will not be the little ball of energy she is now; one day she will be a rebellious teenager that will more than likely think her dad is a total goof ball and would want to distance herself from my embarrassing presence.
I know that this is far down the line and I try to spend as much time as I can with her making memories of this special time.
But as I read an article today posted on The Black Sphere, it really got me thinking that maybe the culture that we currently find ourselves in is not helping the cause.
Recently I read an article that Victoria’s Secret is launching a line of underwear and bras aimed at middle school aged children. The line will be called “Bright Young Things” and will feature ” lace black cheeksters with the word “Wild” emblazoned on them, green and white polka-dot hipsters screen printed with “Feeling Lucky?” and a lace trim thong with the words, “Call me” on the front.”
As a dad, this makes me sick.
Please continue reading HERE for the full letter and here “Victoria’s Secret is coming for your Middle Schooler“. Please help stop the Sexualization of Children.
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When a nation worships the above images more than God, you see the nation pushing all her citizens off the cliff into the pit, justifying gay marriage and abortion like its nothing. Don’t worship these images, worship God and you will understand very quickly abortion is murder is there is no such thing as gay marriage. You will learn quickly that true charity, is love, and given in love from the heart. Not from a separate account from the government that they dip into it for (fill in the blank) reasons hidden from those who pay into it.
“I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. You shall have none other gods before me. You shall not make you any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And showing mercy to thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”
Marriage is not about the love you have for your partner, but the love you have for God. You love God first and you’re neighbor as you love yourself. You love your “spouse” because: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Christ IS the “Spouse” of your soul.
Please do not “Assume” that by my posting this I hate anyone. Because I don’t. I love everyone. Homosexuality may or may not be a choice. That is not the issue. Having sexual relations outside of the bonds of marriage is the issue not only for homosexuals but straight singles as well. Marriage is designed for having CHILDREN. Look at what sex outside of marriage (because it feels good) is doing to society. Just look.
Lord deliver us from the government and all who seek not your face nor to do Your will, who falsely swear they are one nation under you, when they worship not you but themselves. Lord have mercy on us and convert this nation back to serving only you Lord. I ask you in the most Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Open the gates before Him, lift up your Voices –
I had a dream last night…..
Where I was, it was foggy. I had been praying very hard for our Lord to come and I looked out over the ocean and through the fog, I seen a great Battleship cutting through the fog. I was filled with peace because I knew HE had arrived. At that moment, the chaos had no power over me but I was working to cut it al off and quarantine it.
It was a direct reflection of my being under attack by so much evil for so long and surrendering to God. He heard me calling and His reinforcements have arrived. I finally can “Be not afraid” for the King of Glory has come and everything truly is in His hands, including me. “His love endures for ever.”
I called to the Lord in my distress;
he answered and freed me.
The Lord is at my side; I do not fear.
What can man do against me?
The Lord is at my side as my helper:
I shall look down on my foes.It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in men:
it is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.The nations all encompassed me;
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me, compassed me about;
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me about like bees;
they blazed like a fire among thorns.
In the Lord’s name I crushed them.I was hard-pressed and was falling
but the Lord came to help me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he is my savior.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,
but not doomed to die.Open to me the gates of holiness:
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered
and you are my savior.The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.O Lord, grant us salvation;
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord God is our light.Go forward in procession with branches
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you.
My God, I praise you.Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his love endures for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen -
Our Lord woke me up last night just in time to see the Holy Mass from Rome. It was beautiful to see and stay awake to watch. I was in awe seeing Bartholomew I from the Greek Orthodox church in attendance, as well as Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders.
I did have a dream last night that I feel compelled to post here today. I’m not sure what it means but it was beautiful.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:5-6
I was sitting at a very small, romantic table for two, in a rustic cottage just at dusk. I could hardly see my surroundings as I focused on the One who was placing the Meal in front of me. It was our Lord. There was not a multitude of souls. It was just the two of us, and He was serving me. I don’t mean to be funny, but it may have been Shepherd’s Pie as my surroundings were very Irish looking in nature.
I woke up and immediately thought of Psalm 23. I was no longer walking through the dark, but rather now sitting with my Lord. I thought of my enemies, and I said to our Lord, I have forgiven them. I could hear Him say to me, His were now mine.
