Spent some time with our Lord in Exposition. Strange thing took place, like always LOL. A thought of how wonderful it was to finally be back home (In the Catholic Church) after being separated for so long came, as I knelt in front of our Lord and as always I thanked Him for His grace and love..
I remembered something personal, about how the bells would ring out for a returning repentant sinner. LMBO as I got in my car on the way home, the radio station decided to play a Block of Bell songs. It was songs all about bells on my way home and the last one to play was If Only You Knew by Patti Labelle… You tell me.
As I got ready to go to bed, I opened Divine Office and began to pray. Part of the prayers for the night included:
1 Corinthians 2:7-10a
What we utter is God’s wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom. God planned it before all ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew the mystery; if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. Of this wisdom it is written:
“Eye has not seen, ear has not heard
nor has it so much as dawned on man
what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Yet God has revealed this wisdom to us through the Spirit.
Glory to God!
LMBO! After posting this story on this blog, I tried to share it on Stumble. LMBO It wouldn’t let me. I couldn’t STUMBLE! LMBO Glory to God (Not making this up)
This is what ZERO light from man looks like. The Church of the Good Shepherd on New Zealand’s South Island is surrounded by starlight, thanks in part to night-sky preservation efforts
This is what light pollution prevents you from seeing: The constellation Orion, imaged at left from dark skies, and at right from within the Provo/Orem, Utah metropolitan area.
In the photo above, I can imagine our souls, dim with sin looking the same way…
“Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.
” Revelation 12:4 Comes to mind…
A Facebook Friend posted something very interesting this morning on Light Pollution. She said she had never heard of it and I found her comments rather sad. You see, when I was very little, my dad would break out his telescope and we would look at the stars. It was a time that was beautiful. He used to tell me all the time about light pollution. He would tell me of a sky FULL of stars where a telescope was not needed because the beauty was breathtaking as it was.
As cities grew and crime became a greater issue, more man-made lights became needed. All that was needed was one crime and blaming it on darkness (lack of light) rather than actual (darkness of evil). What causes a man to commit crimes? Certainly not the fact that it is dark outside, but rather there is a darkness within.
You see, when man loses sight of God and His creation, he forgets that God is watching him. He forgets that God is God. He begins to make himself a god.
Such is evil in this world in the ways it seeks to trick the soul into believing it needs what it is providing much more than what God has created for it, to see God in His creation, to adore Him and give Him the glory since the beginning. This is where evil separates man from God. When you can no longer see or hear Him, man forgets about his need for Him and life becomes “dark”. Slowly removing the Light of God, and replacing Him with mans own “creation”…
We had a MAJOR power outage in 2011. No power was available from San Diego to AZ. We were celebrating Rosaries for Peace and had a precession of Our Lady of Fatima planned just before the power went out. We continued on without electric. The moon was full and beautiful in the sunset sky as the procession began.
It was SPECTACULAR! Inside the Church everything was candlelit throughout the entire Mass. When I arrived home after, driving through town without any lights anywhere, I was amazed to see how BEAUTIFUL the sky was. How peaceful the night was. People were out and enjoying the evening.
I was able to see things I never dreamt of before. It was the most beautiful night I had ever had in my life. Granted, it was spent with our Lord in one of the most spectacular ways it could have been in this world. I am very happy without “light pollution”. As I am just as happy right now with it.
Revelation 22:5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Glory to God….
After understanding my FB Friend had no clue what I was talking about, and telling me good luck with banning the sale of light bulbs, I had to clarafy what I am actually speaking about to her:
The price has already been paid to let the light shine from within. But the world doesn’t want that. It wants to suck the faithful into the “black hole” of its “manufactured light”. All you have to do is “plug in” to what our Lord is telling you. The reason manufactured light is used today is for “security”. LOL Do you see what I am talking about now? Trying to stop the sale of light bulbs would do nothing nor is that even where my thoughts are. My heart knows, man is so infatuated with false security that they do not understand Gods security. We live in an imperfect world, I can not change that. I do however understand it.
“We can find such reasons in the order and beauty of creation itself, which speaks of its Creator; in the longing for the infinite present in the human heart, which finds satisfaction in God alone; and in faith, which illumines and transforms our lives through our daily union with the Lord. By the witness of our living faith, may we lead others to know and love the God who reveals himself in Christ.” – Pope Benedict XVI
The flower-like image of this star-forming region in Earth’s southern skies was imaged using a 64-megapixel Mosaic imaging camera on the National Science Foundation’s Victor M. Blanco telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.
Cometary globules are isolated, relatively small clouds of gas and dust within the Milky Way. This example, called CG4, is about 1,300 light years from Earth. Its head is some 1.5 light-years in diameter, and its tail is about eight light-years long. The dusty cloud contains enough material to make several Sun-sized stars. CG4 is located in the constellation of Puppis.
The head of the nebula is opaque, but glows because it is illuminated by light from nearby hot stars. Their energy is gradually destroying the dusty head of the globule, sweeping away the tiny particles which scatter the starlight. This particular globule shows a faint red glow from electrically charged hydrogen, and it seems about to devour an edge-on spiral galaxy (ESO 257-19) in the upper left. In reality, this galaxy is more than a hundred million light-years further away, far beyond CG4. The image from the Blanco 4-meter telescope was taken in four filters, three of which are for blue, green and near-infrared light. The fourth is designed to isolate a specific color of red, known as hydrogen-alpha, which is produced by warm hydrogen gas.
MUST Read from Sr. Lisa. I had to share and I will be writing about St. Mary of Egypt here soon.
Make this year a great one by journeying with a Saint!
It’s a great opportunity to be inspired by someone who found the sweet spot between living life and growing toward holiness at the same time. You always have that saint accompanying you in your prayer and daily routine. The Church has so many examples to choose from … the question is, then, how do we pick one?
Yesterday Pope Frances reflected on “Silence”. Pope: silence guards one’s relationship with God. I have been struggling with this for many years. Since my conversion began back in 1998. There are no coincidences. I truly feel as if my journey is over in seeking some sort of answer for what has taken place in my life. The changes that have overtaken every aspect of who I used to be, and who God has created me to be. As I went out to lunch yesterday, “Fire on the Earth” on Immaculate Heart Radio was on and answered EVERY question I have had since my conversion began. Everything is out of my hands. I cannot control a thing that takes place in what I see, hear, or in what other do. Everything is in God’s hands. All I can control is my sinfulness through repentance and the Sacraments our Lord has given to us. All I need to know is that the reason for all of this is simply because God loves me and I am a child of God. I am called to live this life as His.
That is the best gift anyone can receive. Forgiveness and repentance from the sinful life I had led is only achieved through the grace He has given me. I accept His gift freely and without any soul on earth coming to me to say YES! It was Him. Or NO! That is not Him. You see, “Silence” is our Lords way of allowing the soul to discern what is from Him and what is not. Silence is the way He speaks the loudest. The way He allows us to continue on to Him without a push or force, but freely. What truly is odd about Pope Frances comments is that I made a Christmas Video to share with all. It was made over a week ago and it does exactly as Pope Frances has asked. Taking into account the first video I made was deleted by another media outlet because it contained things with a copyright. Its okay. Everything happens for a reason. Here it is:
I have spent many years speaking about my experience’s and trying way to hard to explain to souls who could never comprehend what our Lord has done with me, to me, and it truly is personal. For me and only today, after 15 years of this journey, I have come to understand there isn’t a soul on earth that can answer for Him. That can justify for Him what He has done to me. It is truly Him who I seek. Him who I live for and Him who I give the glory to for all that has taken place. I have said all I need to say. Now, I leave this blog, and the talking and actions and everything to our Lord. I pray that I have not said too much. It truly is time for me to be silent and relish in the gifts our Lord has given to not just me, but to all who seek Him.
This does not mean that I return to the old way of life but continue on in the new life He has given to me. I continue to pray for all until He calls me back home. I truly have PEACE! This is not the end. But the beginning.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”(Mt 24:37-44).[1]
Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent and a new liturgical year for the Church, year A, which features the Gospel of Matthew. In today’s readings, the passage speaks to the uselessness of looking for signs for the coming of the Lord in glory; there will be none. The metaphor of the thief sneaking in during the night makes us aware that watchful waiting and vigilance are necessary. As Christians, we know that our Lord is coming even if we cannot know a precise time. Our Lord calls us to be watchful, attentive, like the homeowner and not to be carried away by the flood as in the days of Noah. If we become loose in our Christian living, we may be caught vulnerable and unprepared.
This was taken from this mornings Divine Office. Please read my post from a few days ago, “Watch”
To be “sleeping” as our Lord is speaking of, means not being attentive to His words. Being worldly, living in the world with disregard to the spiritual life, and not putting on the “new man”. Sleep walking among those wide awake. Don’t fall asleep.
It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in daylight; not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:11-12
Wake up! Take a shower (Confession) and put on the “New Man”, pick up your “cross” and lets go! We have a journey to take. Glory to God, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us all.
Demons KEEP the soul from attaining the “Awareness” of Christ. That’s what they do! They keep the soul in a state of perpetual sin and corruption to make ones conscience not open to the gift of Fear of the Lord. This is why this society we live in is so confused along with this so-called “teacher”. Episcopalian ‘Bishop’: Paul Bigoted for Not Embracing Diversity in Demon-Possessed Girl
St. Paul did as our LORD commanded. When one is “aware” of his own sinfulness, he becomes more ‘aware” of Christ and pulls closer to embrace Him. When one becomes aware of Christ, he obtains the ability to see the demons that tempt him back into sin and grow in faith and humility. Rather then succumb to pride. St. Paul committed one of the greatest acts of love and mercy for this girl.
When St. Paul wrote: “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”, that “thorn” was external. Not internal as the case of the girl. Allowing him to “see” his torment (awareness) and use the grace of God to overcome it.
To say what this woman is saying is very Anti-Christian and anti-Christ. We are to use EVERY means possible to allow His children to seek and find Him, to live “Life” to the fullest. Not half-hearted.
When one is “aware” of the Presence of Christ, one can not help to pull closer to Him, in love above all other means. Demons forbid the soul to move closer to Him and they cloud the soul, mind and conscience with false notions, and begin to build a tiny room that encloses the soul to believe only in one’s self, rather than on the promise of our Lord. It is one thing to believe in Christ and quite another to know Him. To know Him is to love Him. If the house is not built by our Lord, it will be knocked down. Thus all that the demons build in the soul is completely destroyed.
I am sickened by this story, thus the reason for this post.
“The Spirit says clearly that some men will abandon their faith in later times. They will obey lying spirits and follow the teaching of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1).
Awareness – knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love; as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and do abide in His love.”
I’m not sure how to post this or write this as what I am about to say is not intended to bring malice or harm to anyone but rather has been a very clear message to me.
On “another form of internet media”, I was engaged this morning in a very interesting conversation. It was striking actually as I didn’t know who I was talking to at first and then when it hit me, the understanding came through.
I don’t watch television and mainly when I do, I’m not truly watching and I am praying and speaking to our Lord in contemplation. Being that my husband watches a lot of television, I do spend time with him as he is watching. Recently we started watching a show, in which I had grown sort of fond of. It was interesting and to be honest, I could see a lot of references to faith and our Lord to keep me occupied while not truly falling into the “story worshiping.”
One night, or maybe a for a few, after my children were settled down for the night, my husband and I would sit together to watch this particular show. I would normally go off to pray as my children went to bed but started to place my praying the Divine Office later and later. I started to grow very fond of the show and the lead character that played in it. I could see a lot of “Spiritual” things in him that reminded me of our Lord but truly were not Him.
Back to the “conversation” on the other “internet media site”. A question was posed in regards to faith. I responded and the back & forth between the two of us was very revealing. I did not know I was speaking to someone who was unaware of the faith. As I looked deeper and was accused of things in which I did not say, I looked to see who this person was. Low and behold, It’s the lead character to the show I had placed my prayer time on hold for to watch.
It is true, our Lord uses everyone to convey what He needs to be said. This has left me with a deeper trust in Him and a definite pulling away from the “world” that attempted to suck me back in. Don’t get me wrong, I love the man who truly was unaware of this taking place and I pray deeply for his conversion along with forgiving him for what has been said.
It truly was a blessing, and IS a blessing for our Lord to speak to me in this way. No matter what, God comes first. Prayer life and speaking to our Lord first! This goes much deeper, but I truly know it would be best kept it in my heart.
Glory to God. I am deeply grateful to our Lord.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”
This morning, as I was driving into work, while praying the Sorrowful Mystery’s of the rosary, I noticed a very faint rainbow peeking out through the storm clouds that were starting to dissipate. It was not very bold nor big. IT was just bright enough coming over the mountain, peaking through the storm clouds that were passing by. I continued to ponder and pray the rosary but with much less sorrow and much greater joy.
As I came around the pass through the mountain, to the other side I was able to capture the other side of the full rainbow. Both ends appeared but the center was not viable. I began to smile while praying, coming to understand the magnitude of our Lords suffering and sacrifice. Never again, shall another soul do what our Lord has done for all creation. Never again, I pondered as I see the very faint other side of the rainbow. As horrific and painful His suffering were, it was for us for all time.
Rather then destroying the earth and all creatures because of our wickedness and sins, our Lord destroyed our sins and our wickedness therefore conquering death for all time. Never again can another soul accomplish this as “It is Finished”. “The New Covenant.”
I don’t believe for a second that rainbow was very as faint it was for any other reason then, as faith is, some can see it and some are to preoccupied to see it. You didn’t have to look for it but you had to notice it. Once you notice it, you can’t take your eyes off it. It’s far to magnificent to do so.
Then seeing the other end of the rainbow, I was overtaken by: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13
Although the middle could not be seen, you know it is there.
“God said to Noah and to his sons with him: See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: the birds, the tame animals, and all the wild animals that were with you—all that came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth. God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature—every mortal being—so that the waters will never again become a flood to destroy every mortal being. When the bow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature—every mortal being that is on earth. God told Noah: This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and every mortal being that is on earth.” Genesis 9 8:17
I beg you. If you do not believe what I am saying in all my blog posts in regards to my conversion and repentance, please believe Our Lady of Fatima. Repent
If you refuse to believe her, believe our Lord. Repent. Glory to God, always.
A Marian prayer vigil was held on Saturday evening in St. Peter’s Square, with a special catechesis by Pope Francis. The statue of Our Lady of Fatima from the Portuguese shrine was flown to Rome for the event. The Pope was scheduled to consecrate the world to Our Lady during a Mass on Sunday.
His prepared catechesis is re-produced below.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are all gathered for this event of the Year of Faith devoted to Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church, our Mother. The statue of Our Lady, which has come from Fatima, helps us to feel her presence in our midst. Mary always brings us to Jesus. She is a woman of faith, a true believer. What was Mary’s faith like?
1. The first aspect of her faith is this: Mary’s faith unties the knot of sin (cf. Lumen Gentium, 56). What does that mean? The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council took up a phrase of Saint Irenaeus, who states that “the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith” (Adversus Haereses, III, 22, 4).
The “knot” of disobedience, the “knot” of unbelief. When children disobey their parents, we can say that a little “knot” is created. This happens if the child acts with an awareness of what he or she is doing, especially if there is a lie involved. At that moment, they break trust with their parents. How often does this happen! Then the relationship with their parents needs to be purified of this fault; the child has to ask forgiveness so that harmony and trust can be restored. Something of the same sort happens in our relationship with God. When we do not listen to him, when we do not follow his will, we do concrete things that demonstrate our lack of trust in him – for that is what sin is – and a kind of knot is created deep within us. These knots take away our peace and serenity. They are dangerous, since many knots can form a tangle which gets more and more painful and difficult to undo.
But nothing is impossible for God’s mercy! Even the most tangled knots are loosened by his grace. And Mary, whose “yes” opened the door for God to undo the knot of the ancient disobedience, is the Mother who patiently and lovingly brings us to God, so that he can untangle the knots of our soul by his fatherly mercy. We might ask ourselves: What knots do I have in my life? Do I ask Mary to help me trust in God’s mercy, in order to change?
2. A second aspect is that Mary’s faith gave human flesh to Jesus. As the Council says: “Through her faith and obedience, she gave birth on earth to the very Son of the Father, without knowing man but by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit” (Lumen Gentium, 63). This was a point on which the Fathers of the Church greatly insisted: Mary first conceived Jesus in faith and then in the flesh, when she said “yes” to the message God gave her through the angel. What does this mean? It means that God did not want to become man by ignoring our freedom; he wanted to pass through Mary’s free assent, her “yes”.
But what took place most singularly in the Virgin Mary also takes place within us, spiritually, when we receive the word of God with a good and sincere heart and put it into practice. It is as if God takes flesh within us; he comes to dwell in us, for he dwells in all who love him and keep his word.
Let us ask ourselves: Do we think about this? Or do we think that Jesus’ incarnation is simply a past event which has nothing to do with us personally? Believing in Jesus means giving him our flesh with the humility and courage of Mary, so that he can continue to dwell in our midst. It means giving him our hands, to caress the little ones and the poor; our feet, to go forth and meet our brothers and sisters; our arms, to hold up the weak and to work in the Lord’s vineyard, our minds, to think and act in the light of the Gospel; and especially our hearts, to love and to make choices in accordance with God’s will. All this happens thanks to the working of the Holy Spirit. Let us be led by him!
3. The third aspect is Mary’s faith as a journey. The Council says that Mary “advanced in her pilgrimage of faith” (Lumen Gentium, 58). In this way she precedes us on this pilgrimage, she accompanies and sustains us.
How was Mary’s faith a journey? In the sense that her entire life was to follow her Son: he is the way, he is the path! To press forward in faith, to advance in the spiritual pilgrimage which is faith, is nothing other than to follow Jesus; to listen to him and be guided by his words; to see how he acts and to follow in his footsteps; to have his same sentiments of humility, mercy, closeness to others, but also his firm rejection of hypocrisy, duplicity and idolatry. The way of Jesus is the way of a love which is faithful to the end, even unto sacrificing one’s life; it is the way of the cross. The journey of faith thus passes through the cross. Mary understood this from the beginning, when Herod sought to kill the newborn Jesus. But then this experience of the cross became deeper when Jesus was rejected and Mary’s faith encountered misunderstanding and contempt, and when Jesus’ “hour” came, the hour of his passion, when Mary’s faith was a little flame burning in the night. Through the night of Holy Saturday, Mary kept watch. Her flame, small but bright, remained burning until the dawn of the resurrection. And when she received word that the tomb was empty, her heart was filled with the joy of faith: Christian faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was the culmination of Mary’s journey of faith, and that of the whole Church. What is our faith like? Like Mary, do we keep it burning even at times of difficulty and darkness? Do I have the joy of faith?
This evening, O Mary, we thank you for our faith, and we renew our entrustment to you, Mother of our faith.
Thank you Pope Francis. Mama Mary, Immaculate Heart help me, a sinner..
I am brought to my knees upon hearing this today from Pope Francis. Please read Yes I Believe Lord after reading this:
“Mary first conceived Jesus in faith and then in the flesh, when she said ‘yes’ to the message God gave her through the angel,” he told the vigil audience.
The Pope then challenged his listeners to consider their own faith more profoundly:
“Do we think that Jesus’ Incarnation is simply a past event which has nothing to do with us personally? Believing in Jesus means giving him our flesh with the humility and courage of Mary, so that he can continue to dwell in our midst.”
Yesterday was my monthly meeting with the Third Order of Carmel. Our lectio divina was of John 9 (Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind). I had to leave the room as the tears ran down my cheeks. After composing myself and knowing what our Lord has done for me, please see here , I joined my group once again and realized for a fact, our Lord had called me and I had answered.
Our group talk was on St. Teresa Avila and the Interior Castle. I knew what was needed to be said as I knew through experience what was asked of me in the 6th Mansion. Our Lord had been my Life Partner, being the Spouse of my Soul. I had gone through many spiritual trials in my faith and like the pangs of birth, they would come and go, increasing in pain and strength, the more my spiritual life increased. In order to give birth, otherwise to bring for the fruit from the seed that had been planted so long ago, our Lord nurtured this faith until it had manifested into reality. Giving me the strength to carry on further into total trust in Him. Just as a woman in labor pushes and pushes for this birth, so have I in trying to bring about this “child” sooner then God had allowed. All at once while speaking about the Sixth Mansion, I seen the past few days coming to a head, giving me strength as the faith I had was crowing and our Lord called me to push further and harder just one more time, and as I did, I gave birth to this “fruit” of faith bringing me into total joy after so much pain, through the One who planted this inside of me. I handed this “fruit” to Him through the waiting arms of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and into the arms of the Most Sacred Heart of my Lord. Like the presentation of our Lord, I was presenting all He had called me to do in love. I give it all back to my Lord Jesus Christ, and pray that many “children” may come to Him through this new birth of belief in Him, completely.
On my way into work this morning, I was praying the Rosary as I always do, as it is so pleasant to focus on our Lord and Mama Mary, rather than the stress that comes with a long bumper to bumper commute. I noticed a pick up truck with the “Jesus Fish”. As I was praying, in my heart I felt the presence of our Lord. Not in a way that He was driving the truck or anything even remotely close to that. In a way He was with me and my eyes catching that icon, drew me into His presence, along with praying the Rosary. During the prayers it made me smile to see it. Just as soon as the smile came, a bigger cargo truck pulled in between the two of us and I lost sight of the “Ichthys” icon. I panicked a bit and I don’t know why. It didn’t mean anything but I just wanted to see. I got into the next lane over and instantly in my heart, still as I was praying the Rosary, I heard; “Just because you can’t see Him, know He is still there”. There was something in the back of the pickup that bothered me a little and I’m not sure I want to say why because it was just an everyday shop vac. But a though had come to me that as quickly as it came to bother me, our Lord took it away from me. It had to do with abortion.
The smile returned and instantly I remembered my lack of faith for many years past. It had truly blossomed into just KNOWING He is always with us, even when we lose sight of Him. Even though I am no longer doing as much as I was in years past for my Church in activities due to having to go back to work, He is still here. “His love endures forever”.
Further up the road, someplace where, I do not know, I was no longer focused on the “icon” but rather on the fact of our Lords word; “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” – MATT 28:20 I don’t know where the truck turned off or where he went, but it no longer mattered. It and the shop vac were gone. I arrived at work and started my day. As I was going about my work, my thoughts were still focused on our Lord. I experienced something so profound as I was working. I remembered how my mom used to call me at my work, years ago and it was so vivid. I could see her so full of life and she was so joyful and at peace. It was as if she was calling me right that second and all she wanted to do was say hello. My mother passed away in 2002 and I hadn’t had much thought about her in such a way as she had been ill for many years and in a very fragile sickly state. Today? She was beautiful! I heard in my heart, call me, and I began to pray the Hail Mary. The image of my mother was quickly changed into that of our Holy Mother Mary and there was such joy and elation in my soul that words could never describe the feeling that I had. I then began to pray the Divine Mercy and have been in a state of peace ever since.
I don’t know was any of this means. All I know is it has been a fantastic day in which I am eternally grateful to our Lord and Mama Mary.
Ichthys:
Iota (i) is the first letter of Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), Greek for “Jesus”.
Chi (ch) is the first letter of Christos (Χριστός), Greek for “anointed”.
Theta (th) is the first letter of Theou (Θεου), Greek for “God’s”, the genitive case of Θεóς, Theos, Greek for “God”.
Ypsilon (y) is the first letter of (h)yios[4] (Υἱός), Greek for “Son”.
Sigma (s) is the first letter of sōtēr (Σωτήρ), Greek for “Savior”.
The picture of Mama Mary I seen in my heart this morning was one that is now stuck with me. I can’t remember if I had ever seen this particular painting of our Holy Mother or not, but the “picture” that I seen of her today in my heart was of almost a side profile of her, wearing a blue and gold veil. Brilliant blue with a gold edge, our Lord was under a year old, clinging to her chest with His head resting upon her. In total, pure Contentment. If anyone has seen this before, please share a link.
This is VERY close but the both had their eyes open with almost the same expression and Mama Mary’s veil was trimmed in a thick ribbon of gold.
The other night, I was printing off my Divine Office prayers to pray before bed and I ran out of ink. I was left with white sheets of paper and no words. I seen the red ink tank was full and changed all the prayers from black to red and printed them off and went into my room to pray.
As I looked at the prayers, I was taken by the red words and remembered, every word of our Lord was written with the Finger of God, in the most Precious Blood of our Lord. I was awe-struck that such a simple daily task as printing out my prayers for the evening had turned into a beautiful reflection on the cost of our freedom all through the Holy Spirit.
Every letter of every word, a single droplet of His precious blood, feeding our spiritual development as children of God in the womb of the Holy Church, through the umbilical cord of faith in Him.
When I was a little girl, I spent many hours thinking about what my life would be like. As most do. I wondered what I would be when I grew up and would spend hours wondering who would fall in love with me. Who would want to. I was chunky & ugly and mean. (My description) I didn’t much like myself nor did many others seem to like me. I went to a Junior High dance once with a friend who attended a public school with high hopes of someone dancing with me, leaving that night, not even dancing.
I still wondered who would ever love me? I wondered if I would go up to be popular, which I did not. I wondered if I would grow up to be famous, which of course, I did not. What was I going to be? I had high hopes and a lot of dreams & ambition, that just seemed to be placed where I didn’t belong. Much of this taking place after I could not have this “True Love” (read here)
I spent most of my hours growing up, listening to love songs, hoping one day, to sing them to the one who loved me and having them sung to me. One particularly stuck out and I heard it tonight after this wonderful day in prayer.
As I was folding the laundry from todays chores, I had a music channel on and this song came on. I thought, wow, I liked this song a lot when I was little. It brought back memories. And then lyrics hit me and the tears of joy ran down my cheeks. And it happened. I realized Who loved me. Who still loves me. Who I had wondered so much about all these years. Especially listening to THIS song from my youth that I used to wonder about all the time. Here I am, writing “the story”, my on-line diary, for the first time, EVER writing something down and its all about Him. I absolutely love Him. Our Lord is, the best thing that ever happened to me. Finally I can say, Its You! It’s really YOU Lord! With Your grace, O Lord, with Your mercy, I will never leave you again! I love you!
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Book of Revelation 5:5
I have, for the past weeks been dealing with breaking appliances. My dishwasher for one last week and then on Labor Day, my washing machine. Being that we don’t have that much money at this time to run out and buy new ones to replace them right away, I have been doing much of my daily chores by hand, in between taking care of the children, working my new job and keeping and staying in prayer. Its been a complete blessing in which I am very grateful to our Lord.
Today is my day off work and I spent the morning at the laundromat as rather than washing clothes by hand. As is typical for a trip to the laundry, most of the machines were broken and unless you got freshly printed paper currency, it was next to impossible to get change for the machines. As was the case.
I had tried to use a five dollar bill a few times in the change machine without any success. A man approached me and said “Let me use my 10 dollars and then I will give you the change you need.” It worked, praise God, and I was able to start my daily chores.
Something rang in my heart about how familiar this situation was. This man was there with his wife and I couldn’t help but smile at the both of them. I then realized what was printed on the shirt he was wearing. “Lion of Judah”. I was struck instantly in awe. There was nothing to wonder about. I just knew.
I remembered how our Lord had used His body in exchange for mine to overcome this world. I remembered all He had done for me to convert my heart, so tenderly and with so much tenacity. Just to keep me on His path. Our Lord has changed me so drastically in so many ways. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.
I couldn’t help but see our Lord in all these actions along with Mama Mary, silently carrying on in her work. You see, this mans wife didn’t say a word to me as she continued about her chores. I sat down as we all waited for the wash to be clean and thought about how our Lord had cleansed me with His most precious blood. All He had done for me. All He had allowed me to see on this journey back to Him.
I began to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. At that moment, another woman walked in to use the “change” machine and was also having difficulty’s. She began ranting about how nothing ever worked and started making a scene. I prayed a chaplet for her for peace and she walked over to where we were sitting to use another change machine. One in which was visibly empty. The light was blinking and I told her it wasn’t working. She didn’t like that very much. As she was walking away, I noticed her t-shirt and the words on it. My jaw dropped. It was a “SEIU” t-shirt. Nothing worked for her. She was unable to get the “change” she needed. She left the laundromat and went to a neighboring business to get change. This left me wondering… I don’t believe this is the place to discuss what was going through my mind. I prayed again for her, and all of us.
After tossing all the clean clothing into the dryers, I left for a few moments to head back home. I had been pondering attending Holy Mass but could not make it to the early mass this morning before this. As I got in my truck, the radio came on and a song called “get here” played and I knew I had to get home, change my clothes and get to the 12:05 Holy Mass. I just knew our Lord wanted me to be with Him. I ran back home, did what I needed to do and realized I needed to grab extra change for parking. I got back to the laundry, with a close parking spot and as I was getting out of my car, the man who offered me change, was coming out. He came to me and asked me if I had any change left as all he needed was one dollar. I reached into my pocket and handed him his change for a dollar, thinking how I needed to give our Lord 100% of my life and the glory and honor but also the gratitude in all I do, see and experience in this life and the next as it is not about me, but only Him.
After tossing all the clean clothing into baskets, looking up, I noticed a picture hanging up of St. Clare of Assisi. I got on the road to Holy Mass. It was spectacular. I don’t remember being this focused on Him in all other times of celebrating with Him. I continued in prayer on the way home and as I got out of my truck, I heard something I hadn’t heard in many years. It was a pet name my dad used to call me when I was in ballet classes at the age of five. In my heart as I got out of my truck, I heard “Hiya twinkle toes”. Out loud, I said “twinkle toes?” and laughed so hard remembering my dad calling me that name. Something I hadn’t heard since ballet class all those years ago. A smile came to my face, much bigger then the one I had all morning and I thanked our Lord.
Its been a glorious day! All praise and all thanksgiving be Yours Most High, Jesus Christ. I love you.
EDIT TO ADD:
I didn’t know St. Clare of Assisi’s feast day was August 12th as well as August 11th until just now. August 12th was also my dad’s birthday. He entered into eternal life on September 23 1996. It was his death, that lead to the beginning of my conversion back home to our Lord.
For all who are worried about what is taking place in the world, The persecution of Catholics and Coptic’s in Egypt and everywhere in this world. Take comfort. They can loot the churches, burn them down, destroy all “visible” aspects of the Christian and Catholic faith they want in Egypt and elsewhere. NO ONE can destroy the faith in the Heart of every one of God’s faithful. PERIOD! The “Body” is the Temple of our Lord and He shall prevail.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23”
Physical man-made buildings come & go, SOULS go on FOREVER~! Christ Jesus, is our King and He is alive and well in our hearts, no matter what they do to the “buildings” we worship Him in.
“After South Vietnam was conquered by the North Vietnamese communists in 1975, Archbishop Thuan – who had just been appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Saigon – like hundreds of thousands of his countrymen, was imprisoned. He served a total of 13 years in prison, for nine years of which he was in solitary confinement at Vinh Phu prison in Hanoi, former capital of North Vietnam. The pope said the man celebrated Mass every day in prison, “with three drops of wine and a drop of water in his hand. This was his altar. This was his cathedral.”
“During thirteen years in jail, in a situation of seemingly utter hopelessness, the fact that he could listen and speak to God became for him an increasing power of hope, which enabled him, after his release, to become for people all over the world a witness to hope—to that great hope which does not wane even in the nights of solitude.” 2007 encyclical, Spe Salvi, Benedict XVI referred to Thuận’s Prayers of Hope
Servant of God, Cardinal Van Thuan, pray for us
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Vespers – Part of the Homily NOT preached Today (Aug 17) at the Vigil Mass: “Jesus has indeed set the earth on fire with His truth, and there will be no peace in this world until all falsehood finally bows to the truth”.
Someone says, “During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act”. We are living in such times. The world today stands in a great danger of being crushed by the secular aggression that is pouring out from all sides. A prophet is always a revolutionary. A prophet’s primary duty is to speak forth God’s message to God’s people; to tell people the truth they would not like to hear. A prophet to admonishes, reproves, denounces sin, calls to repentance, and brings consolation and pardon. Human society in every age bears testimony to the fact that to offer the light of truth to any morally depraved society is to invite serious repercussions. Prophet Jeremiah called the people of Judah to repentance. So the people hated him because of this, and plotted to kill him. Through baptism, we share in Christ’s own prophetic office. We too are invited to speak the word of God to our increasingly morally depraved world. As prophets, we are also called to speak in prayer to God the way Jesus does, and the main prayer of Jesus to His Father is the offering of His flesh and blood. We too are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, in spiritual worship. We are called to be completely crucified to the world, live to God alone, enjoying an intimate familiarity with the Lord. This is total commitment. As St Paul rightly counsels in the second reading, we must persevere in living out our faith, while always keeping Jesus before our eyes, and having in mind the joys of eternal life that await us in heaven.
One Egyptian Christian said two days ago, following the burning of several Churches in his country: “You can burn our Churches but you cannot burn our faith”. This is the spirit of martyrdom to which we are called as prophets in Christ. Jesus has indeed set the earth on fire with His truth, and there will be no peace in this world until all falsehood finally bows to the truth.
Fr-Nwora Okeke
Johns Creek, Georgia
Many Christian and Catholic Churches in Egypt are being burned and are under attack by the Muslim Brotherhood. We need to pray continually for this to come to an abrupt end. Lord have mercy on us all.
Kudos to Fr. Z. and The Blaze:
“A wave of devastating violence swept through Egypt Wednesday as the government attempted to disband the supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi from their sit-ins. According to the Associated Press, 638 people have now been confirmed killed, and nearly 4,000 are injured.”
Assiut
1.Good Shepherds Monastery | Nuns attacked
2.Angel Michael Church | Surrounded
3.St George Coptic Orthodox Church
4.Al-Eslah Church| Burned
5.Adventist Church | Pastor and his wife kidnapped
6.St Therese Church
7.Apostles Church | Burning
8.Holy Revival Church | Burning
9.Qusiya Diocese
Beni Suef
1.The Nuns School
2.St George Church | al-Wasta
Cairo
1.St Fatima Basilica | Heliopolis | Attempted Attack
2.Virgin Mary’s Church | Hakim Village | Burned
Fayoum (Five churches)
1.St Mary Church | El Nazlah |
2.St Damiana Church | Robbed and burned
3.Amir Tawadros (St Theodore) Church
4.Evangelical Church | al-Zorby Village | Looting and destruction
5.Church of Joseph | Burned
6.Franciscan School | Burned
Gharbiya
1.Diocese of St Paul | Burned
Giza
1.Father Antonios
2.Atfeeh Bishopric
Minya (Around twelve churches)
1.Church of the Virgin Mary and Father Abram | Delga, Deir Mawas |
2.St Mina Church | Abu Hilal Kebly, Beni Hilal |
3.Baptist Church | Beni Mazar |
4.Monastery | Deir Mawas | Ahram (Arabic)
5.Delga Church | Attacked (Previously attacked with fire)
6.The Jesuit Fathers Church | Abu Hilal district
7.St Mark Church | Abu Hilal district
8.St Joseph Nunnery |
9.Amir Tadros Church
10.Evangelical Church |
11.Anba Moussa al-Aswad Church |
12.Apostles Church |
Qena
1.St Mary’s Church | Attempted Burning
Sohag
1.St George Church
2.St Damiana | Attacked and burned
3.Virgin Mary | Attacked and burned
4.St Mark Church & Community Center
5.Anba Abram Church | Destroyed and burned
Suez
1.St Saviours Anglican Church
2.Franciscan Church and School | Street 23 | Burned
3.Holy Shepherd Monastery and Hospital
4.Good Shepherd Church (molotov cocktail thrown)- Relationship with Holy Shepherd Monastery unknown.
5.Greek Orthodox Church
Christian Institutions
•House of Father Angelos (Pastor of Church of the Virgin Mary and Father Abram) | Delga, Minya | Burned |
•Properties and Markets of Copts | al-Gomhorreya Street, Assiut
•Seventeen Coptic homes | Delga, Minya | Burned
•YMCA | Minya| Burned
•Coptic Homes | Qulta Street, Assiut | Attacked
•Offices of the Evangelical Foundation & Oum al-Nour | Minya
•Coptic-owned shops, pharmacy, and hotels | Karnak and Cleopatra Streets, Luxor | Attacked and Looted
•Dahabeya Nile Boat | Minya| Church-owned
•Bible Society bookshop | Cairo | Burned
•Bible Society | Fayoum
•Bible Society | al-Gomohoreya Street, Assiut
•Ezbet el Nekhl
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.
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.
I found a remarkable feather, big one, a few days ago. I thought about Jesus as our “Chief”. While praying evening prayers last night, from Carmel’s Call,
Psalm 122 –
3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
Immediately passing before my eyes was my pyx and leather holder. I had forgotten that when I was VERY little, I loved Native Americans. I had wanted so badly to be a “Medicine Man”. I had a little pouch that I would pretend was my medicine bag, placing little things in it pretending it could cure anyone of anything. Here our Lord was showing me, in fact, He has allowed me to be one of His. Only our Lord knew this about me, and only our Lord could remind me of a memory that had been lost for many years.
“I am the Lord, who test the mind and heart; I give each man what his conduct deserves”
EDIT TO ADD: Its a turkey feather…. “Thanksgiving”
Edit to add, Feast of St. Peter & St. Paul… June 29, 2013
I was unsure if I could make the meeting tomorrow at St. Joseph Cathedral to become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion there, because I could not find a baby sitter for my young children and the thought of them making it through it, without becoming a distraction to others, concerned me.. So our Lord through Father Dave Leon, this morning, announced after Mass at Little Flower Haven, he needed one to help serve in USD Medical Center… Our Lord called my name and now I will be helping Father Dave and the Carmelites do just that.
“The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.”
“I would like to encourage those associations of the faithful and confraternity specifically devoted to Eucharistic adoration; they serve as a leaven of contemplation for the whole church and a summons to individuals and communities to place Christ at the center of their lives.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 2007)
“…the secret of their sanctification lies precisely in the Eucharist. (…) The priest must be first and foremost an adorer who contemplates the Eucharist” (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, September 18, 2005)
With the feast of Corpus Christi next week, I ask my readers to please consider spending one hour in Adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He is calling you. Do not leave Him alone. He is truly there waiting for you! I can not live without Him. My Lord and my God. After a wonderful confession in 2008, my penance was to spend time with Him in Adoration. At that time I broke down like a repentant sinner should. I looked up to Him in the monstrance and recognized His beautiful face. Literally. From that moment on, it solidified my faith in Him and the beauty of His words “”This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” He is present in ALL the Tabernacle’s of the world. Please do not leave Him alone. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?”
“Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples saying: ‘This is My Body.’ No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it.”
– St. Augustine
“I throw myself at the foot of the Tabernacle like a dog at the foot of his Master.”
– St. John Vianney
“God dwells in our midst, in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.”
– St. Maximilian Kolbe
“To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.” St. Teresa of Avila
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.
This past Wednesday, February 27, 2013, I was accepted into Formation in the Third Order of Carmel. I don’t think I can be any more full of the Holy Spirit and recognize Him in all things. Our Lord is to be, truly, my spouse. Since this day, my life has seen some very great blessings. One of which is my husband’s acceptance of the Catholic Faith and agreeing to have our Marriage blessed by the Catholic Church, which now will take place on May 4th of this year. The month of our Holy Mother, and first Saturday. We had been living as brother and sister since 2009 when our roads split. I climbed the mountain of our Lord. Reached the top and fell in love with our Lord. As St. Peter did, I wished to build three tents and stay there for all eternity, forgetting what was left at the base of the Mountain. On my decent, not taking the same road that I climbed up, I grew in hope and understanding that I was not leaving the mountain top for ever, but rather just for a time to finish carrying the cross that I had been assigned. I can not put into words all I have seen yet, as most of this week’s events have been moments of pure bliss and affirmation. I understand what love is and it is everything. There is nothing else.
While in Adoration last night praying the rosary, I couldn’t help but start crying. While focusing on how our Lord has changed my life so drastically, changing me from a home wrecker to a home builder. Placing every sin I had committed my entire life in front of my face so I could see my own filth and allowing me the tools to clean up this life and change the path I was on through confession, Holy Mass and prayer, I looked at all the wonderful doors He opened for me and I knew in an instant, it’s much bigger than needing someone to change the Altar linens or taking care of the Adoration Chapel and ensuring the Legion of Mary is taken care of. All the beautiful and pure activates He filled my life with instead of hanging out at bars looking for Mr. this guy may be Right. I couldn’t hold back the tears thinking about His life and how He gave everything up for me not just so I could do these things. No way was it just about that. Rather it was for me to understand there is much more after this life. He has done so much for me, to prove to me He needs me, He wants me and He loves me. It’s much greater then this life and anything that fills it. I can only focus on how to empty myself for His love. Empty myself so He can fill me in order to live through me to reach every soul I come into contact with while I am still here. Some in big ways, some in little ways. Ensuring it is Him in every case.
After receiving our Lord at Mass this morning, I began to pray, and while my prayer was complete, the Priest began the final prayer of the Mass. I knew our Lord was there as the prayer I had recited in the quiet of my heart, was a reflection of the prayer the priest was saying to the entire church.
Withdraw your heart from the world before God takes your body from it.
Today is Forgiveness Sunday. I forgive EVERYONE in my life from conception and in advance, through natural death who may or has inflicted any harm on me. I hope you can forgive me as well if I have hurt you in any way.
With the 40 days of lent approaching, what a great way to start the journey. May God have mercy on us all.
Burying the Proverbial Hatchet
Forgiving people when they apologize is one thing; but have you ever tried to forgive someone who has hurt you and never shown any remorse? Not so easy, is it? It’s tough to bury that hatchet.
Even after years spent developing a relationship, a single harsh statement or thoughtless act can destroy everything we feel for that person. We forget the good and play out bitter, vindictive scenarios in our minds.
When someone hurts us, we have choices. We can go our separate ways and never talk again. We can live with the anger. We can bear grudges, nurse hate, and seek revenge. We can pretend everything is fine and just bury our feelings. Or we can face the person and talk things through … and then forgive.
Of course, the last choice is the healthy one. Even if the person who wronged you refuses to change or take responsibility, you can still let go of pride and bring closure and healing – for your own sake.
Forgetting is the hardest part of forgiving. We bury the hatchet; but when we leave the handle sticking out of the ground, we’re just giving the pain permission to continue cutting us. Bury the handle! Cancel the debt! This is the only way to experience freedom.
By Fr. Robert M. Pipta, Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church, San Diego CA.
Master, Teacher of wisdom, Bestower of virtue, You teach the thoughtless and protect the poor: Strengthen and enlighten my heart. Word of the Father, Let me not restrain my mouth from crying to you: Have mercy on me, a transgressor, O merciful Lord!
The Fourth Sunday of the Triodion Period: Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare Sunday)
