Moment by Moment

  "Often a person does not live her life because she is immersed in moments that don’t exist; either remembering the past or mourning over it, or being projected into the future. In reality, the only time we possess is the present moment… by living the present, a person feels liberated because she is no longer crushed by the anguish of her past or by the worry about her future." Blessed Chiara Luce Badano 

I struggle to immerse myself in the present moment.

I am constantly thinking of the next thing I should be doing.

This is no way to live. 

God wants us to live moment by moment.  

"Try to live the present moment. You have to chop it into little pieces, live every single minute. Live every minute in union with Jesus. Then God helps you." 

God help me to live one moment at a time. 

Help me to cherish every minute. 

In this moment, I desire to unite myself to You. 

I give you this moment in time.

Make my heart fully present and aware of Your presence. 

How fortunate that soul who rests in God’s bosom, without thinking of the future, but seeking only to live moment by moment in God, with no other concern than to accomplish well his will in every circumstance. St. Paul of the Cross 

Image by Darius Cotoi 

St. Peter and St. Paul

A Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans: (Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39) 

What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? 

Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? 

It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? 

It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercede for us. 

What will separate us from the love of Christ? 

Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? 

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. 

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future 

things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love 

of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The Word of the Lord.

Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul! 

Two very different men but similar in ways of the heart.

Their hearts burned with fire for the Lord! 

They both courageously proclaimed their love of God with their lives! 

These men let nothing stop them from proclaiming the love of God! 

We can learn so much from their leadership.

 "Ask Him to remind you that great leaders emerge arguing for something, not against something." 

Jane Trufant Harvey  

I need to remember this. 

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church. Matthew 16:18 

St. Peter reminds us to be grounded in our faith.  

St. Paul reminds us that with God we have nothing to fear. 

We cannot be separated from His love.  

Holy men of God, pray for us! 

Help us to take heart by following and leading others to Christ! 

Image by Deep Trivedi 

 

God First

 "Whenever you face a decision, you first can ask yourself a very dangerous question: "If I choose this, am I seeking to please the Lord, or am I seeking to satisfy myself?" Fr. Mike Schmitz   

Mic drop. 

 I have been hearing this question throughout today. 

Am I seeking myself or God? 

We have so many decisions to make each day but all of our decisions come down to answering this one question.

Me or God? 

What decision will I choose to make? 

"The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. The knot which...Eve tied up by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary opened by her belief." St. Irenaeus 

Blessed Mother, help guide us to your Son! 

We aren't always going to be perfect in all of our decisions but the hope is that we will try to be.

Seek the Holy Spirit to help make the right decisions throughout each day.

"Guided by conscience, he "reaches forward to something beyond self, and dimly discerns a sanction higher than self for his decisions." St. John Henry Newman 

God first. 

Image by Elena Mozhvilo

Night Prayer

"Do not be afraid; just have faith!"  

We will hear these words this weekend in the Gospel of Mark. 

Jesus is speaking to you and to me!

He is speaking to our hearts every single day!

Reminding us to take heart and to have courage!

Do not be afraid; just have faith!

Through prayer we can begin and end our day. 

Prayer takes away fear and helps us to have faith.

Through prayer we can grow closer to God! 

Night Prayer 

Liturgy of the Hours

God come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me! 

Canticle of Simeon 

“Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

"Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;watch over us as we sleep,

that awake we may keep watch with Christ,

and asleep, rest in His peace." 

Amen.

Image by Clement Falize   

Hail Mary

Last night I went to my bible study and ran out of time and energy to blog.  

Yesterday was a big day. 

 My sweet great aunt Mary, my grandpa Lee's only sister, passed away. 

I spent yesterday afternoon with my mom and my great uncle Jim who is my great aunt's husband. 

Death is never easy. 

But with death there comes life.

Eternal life!

Life that we all want to live for! 

"Our most important work is turning to God a hundred times a day, This is true devotion and perfects everything we do." St. Francis de Sales 

My great aunt Mary loved the rosary. 

I can imagine the Blessed Mother welcoming her into Paradise! 

And yesterday was St. John the Baptist's birthday! 

John's parents were Zechariah and Elizabeth. 

The Lord used all three of them to prepare the way.

He wants us to prepare our hearts.

He wants us to proclaim the good news! 

There is life after death!

Let us rejoice and be glad! 

Prepare our hearts for life eternal, Lord!  

Holy Mother of God, pray for us! 

Hail Mary

Hail, Mary, full of grace, 

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women 

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. 

Amen. 

Image by Reinaldo Kevin 

Full Send

 "Love all you can... All the way. Love God. Love people... Why do something only half way? Allen Hunt 

No send or full send! 

Love isn't a question, it's an answer!

God's love is here and His love is now!

We choose whether or not to fully accept it. 

Our hearts are restless until we rest in You, O God. St. Augustine  

My heart wants to fully accept all of God's love. 

I want others to accept His love too!

"If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If we love, we will serve." St. Mother Teresa 

Set a fire in our hearts so that we yearn for Your love! 

Remove any lukewarmness and give us the courage to go "full send"!  

To love with all of our hearts! 

Photo by Mike Baker 

Day 9 Peace of Heart

The Surrender Novena 

Day 9

Pray always in readiness to surrender, and you will receive from it great peace and great rewards, even when I confer on you the grace of immolation, of repentance, and of love. Then what does suffering matter? It seems impossible to you? Close your eyes and say with all your soul, “Jesus, you take care of it.” Do not be afraid, I will take care of things and you will bless my name by humbling yourself. A thousand prayers cannot equal one single act of surrender, remember this well. There is no novena more effective than this.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Mother, I am yours now and forever.

Through you and with you

I always want to belong

completely to Jesus.

Thank you for joining me in praying The Surrender Novena! 

May we continue practicing surrendering each and every day. 

Jesus, I trust in You, with all of my soul! 

I know in my heart that You will take care of everything! 

He assures us all will be well and with those words we find peace. 

Peace of Heart. 

Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine.

Image by Khadeeja Yasser

Day 8 Carry Me

The Surrender Novena 

Day 8

Close your eyes and let yourself be carried away on the flowing current of my grace; close your eyes and do not think of the present, turning your thoughts away from the future just as you would from temptation. Repose in me, believing in my goodness, and I promise you by my love that if you say, “You take care of it,” I will take care of it all; I will console you, liberate you and guide you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

"Carried away on the flowing current of my grace."

Jesus carried the cross.

He wants to help carry yours too. 

He gives us His Mother. 

Mary carried her Son inside her womb and after he was taken down from the cross. 

She carries us in her Immaculate Heart.

Blessed Mother, help us carry our crosses! 

Help us to believe in your goodness! 

Fill us with your grace! 

You and your Son will take care of everything!

"There is no storm that can shipwreck the most sweet heart of Mary. When you see the squall coming, if you seek safety in the firm refuge that is Mary, there will be no danger of your being hurled off course or going down." St. Josemaria Escriva 

 Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine.

Image by Grant Whitty 

Day 7 Fathers' Day

The Surrender Novena 

Day 7

I perform miracles in proportion to your full surrender to me and to your not thinking of yourselves. I sow treasure troves of graces when you are in the deepest poverty. No person of reason, no thinker, has ever performed miracles, not even among the saints. He does divine works whosoever surrenders to God. So don’t think about it any more, because your mind is acute and for you it is very hard to see evil and to trust in me and to not think of yourself. Do this for all your needs, do this, all of you, and you will see great continual silent miracles. I will take care of things, I promise this to you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Happy Fathers' Day to my dad and all fathers! 

Today I decided to do a Special Sunday Blog to continue the novena we've been praying together.

 

Thanks be to God, our Father, for providing for us and loving us unconditionally!

Thanks be to God for my dad, who's patron saint is St. Joseph! 

My dad's devotion to St. Joseph has always been strong.

Not a day goes by without asking for St. Joseph to pray for us. 

This year I have deepened my love and appreciation for St. Joseph.   

Thank you to my dad for making St. Joseph a part of our family. 

Good St Joseph, foster father of Jesus, guide us and protect us. 

Take care of all your children and all of our needs. 

Pray for us, St. Joseph! 

Prayer to St. Joseph 

Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome (here make your request). My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen. 

Day 6 Totally Yours

The Surrender Novena

Day 6

You are sleepless; you want to judge everything, direct everything and see to everything and you surrender to human strength, or worse—to men themselves, trusting in their intervention—this is what hinders my words and my views. Oh, how much I wish from you this surrender, to help you; and how I suffer when I see you so agitated! Satan tries to do exactly this: to agitate you and to remove you from my protection and to throw you into the jaws of human initiative. So, trust only in me, rest in me, surrender to me in everything.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

"Surrender to Me in everything." 

Not just some things but all things! 

Do not be agitated! 

Say 'no' to Satan.

Instead pray: Remove this temptation from me. 

Jesus, I trust in You!

Only in the Lord will we find rest. 

 

St. Pope John Paul II's motto was, Totus Tuus, meaning "Totally Yours"!  

"This statement of trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary is not an unimportant factor in reflecting on the life of this great pope. John Paul, following the Marian piety of Saint Louis de Montfort, entrusted all his prayers and works to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We would do well to entrust all our cares and our very lives to her, for she is "the safest, easiest, shortest, and most perfect way" to Jesus and to sanctity. (Treatise on the True Devotion to Mary)." Magnificat Reflection for June 19th 

Blessed Mother, I entrust myself to you! 

Wrap your mantel of protection around me and lead me to your Son.

Make me totally Yours!

Jesus, I trust You with everything! 

 Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine.

Image by Marissa Demuner 

Day 5 Where You Go

The Surrender Novena 

Day 5

And when I must lead you on a path different from the one you see, I will prepare you; I will carry you in my arms; I will let you find yourself, like children who have fallen asleep in their mother’s arms, on the other bank of the river. What troubles you and hurts you immensely are your reason, your thoughts and worry, and your desire at all costs to deal with what afflicts you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Where you go, I will go. 

Where you stay, I will stay. 

When you move, I will move. 

I will follow you.

Those lyrics are from Chris Tomlin's song, "I will follow you." 

 Prepare our hearts to follow You, O Lord!

Lead the way.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 

Help us to surrender our thoughts and our ways.  

Help us surrender our hearts and our worries. 

Carry us in your arms.

Wherever you go, I will go. Ruth 1:16 

 Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ODe4sGCKxc

I Surrender Myself - Day 4

The Surrender Novena 

Day 4

You see evil growing instead of weakening? Do not worry. Close your eyes and say to me with faith: “Thy will be done, You take care of it.” I say to you that I will take care of it, and that I will intervene as does a doctor and I will accomplish miracles when they are needed. Do you see that the sick person is getting worse? Do not be upset, but close your eyes and say, “You take care of it.” I say to you that I will take care of it, and that there is no medicine more powerful than my loving intervention. By my love, I promise this to you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

This prayer could not be more perfect!

Today I had my ingrown toenail removed. I think this was the fourth time. 

My appointment was moved later this afternoon than scheduled. 

As much as I wanted to fret for the later appointment, I decided to look at it as a blessing. 

Through this time of waiting and the actual procedure, I am practicing surrender. 

God will take care of everything. 

Including my anxiety and fear of operation. 

God who is the Good Doctor, has blessed me with a doctor who takes great care of me. 

My mom and I prayed the Hail Mary out loud during the numbing, which was the worst part.

I am so grateful to have this behind me. 

Thank you for your prayers which have carried me through today. 

I offered my pain and nervousness to You, Jesus.

I surrendered myself to You.

  "There is no medicine more powerful than God's loving intervention."

 Blessed Mother and Patron Saints, thank you for intervening!  

And happy 30th birthday to my sister, Sr. Jordan Rose! 

 Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine.

Day 3 Thy will be Done

The Surrender Novena  

Day 3

How many things I do when the soul, in so much spiritual and material need, turns to me, looks at me and says to me, “You take care of it,” then closes its eyes and rests. In pain you pray for me to act, but that I act in the way you want. You do not turn to me, instead, you want me to adapt to your ideas. You are not sick people who ask the doctor to cure you, but rather sick people who tell the doctor how to. So do not act this way, but pray as I taught you in the Our Father: “Hallowed be thy Name,” that is, be glorified in my need. “Thy kingdom come,” that is, let all that is in us and in the world be in accord with your kingdom. “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven,” that is, in our need, decide as you see fit for our temporal and eternal life. If you say to me truly: “Thy will be done,” which is the same as saying: “You take care of it,” I will intervene with all my omnipotence, and I will resolve the most difficult situations.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

June 16th, today is the Feast of The Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph! 

St. Joseph chose to surrender to the will of God. 

He lived the words, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done." 

It was God's will that St. Joseph would be entrusted to take care of both the Mother and the Son of God. 

God Himself took care of St. Joseph and guided him along the way.

Our Father will take care of us too! 

 

Good St. Joseph, your protection is so great and so strong! 

Help us to surrender to God's will in our lives. 

Help us to place all of our trust in your Son.

Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, pray for us!  

Thy will be done! 

 Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine. Amen.   

Day 2 Take Care

 The Surrender Novena Day 2 

Surrender to Me does not mean to fret, to be upset, or to lose hope, nor does it mean offering to Me a worried prayer asking Me to follow you and change your worry into prayer. It is against this surrender, deeply against it, to worry, to be nervous and to desire to think about the consequences of anything. It is like the confusion that children feel when they ask their mother to see to their needs, and then try to take care of those needs for themselves so that their childlike efforts get in their mother's way. Surrender means to placidly close the eye of the soul. to turn away from thoughts of tribulation and to put yourself in My care, so that only I act; saying, "You take care of it." 

O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything! (Pray 10 times)  

Take care of this heart of mine. 

Lead the way.

You changed water into wine. 

Help me listen to what You say. 

We run to Your Mother.

She says do whatever He asks. 

He obeys because He loves her. 

He will do whatever she asks. 

Mother Mary, pray for us! 

Jesus, take care of everything!  

I surrender my heart to You!

 Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine. Amen.   

Trust and Surrender

The Surrender Novena 

Day 1 

"Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to Me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to Me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations." 

O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!  (Pray 10 times) 

I am constantly learning that I need to trust and surrender. 

It's not a one time deal, it's a repetitive 'yes' in everyday life.  

By trust and through surrender, we lean on faith.   

Our faith gives us hope. 

Jesus, I trust in You! 

Help us not to worry.

Help us not to fret.

Help us when we grieve and remind us of our joy. 

Open our hearts and fill us with your peace.

Surround us with your grace.

Our faith and our trust are in You.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! 

Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, protect and guide us! 

Again, Jesus I trust in You! 

 Miracle Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask for a very special one. (Here mention your request.) Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in his merciful eyes, it will become your favor and not mine. Amen. 

Image by Joshua Hoehne 

Immaculate Heart

Today was the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

A perfect day for a wedding! 

A beautiful feast day and beautiful couple!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Stutes! 

Dear Mother Mary, bless this couple as they begin their lives together.

Two hearts became one. 

Blessed Mother, we entrust our hearts to you.

Mary, my Mother, I give myself totally to you, as your possession and property. Please make of me and all that I have, whatever most pleases you, let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for bringing the greatest glory to God. Amen. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! 

 “If you put all the love of all the mothers into one heart, it still would not equal the love of the Heart of Mary for her children.' St. Louis de Montfort    

Holy Card of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from my Aunt, Sister Mary Geis. 

Hold on to His Promise

Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Jesus made 12 promises to those who honor the Sacred Heart. They are:

(1) "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.

(2) I will establish peace in their homes.

(3) I will comfort them in all their afflictions.

(4) I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.

(5) I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.

(6) Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

(7) Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.

(8) Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.

(9) I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.

10) I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.

(11) Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart.

(12) I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

Jesus keeps his promises. 

He asks us to trust Him. 

"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 

He promises us eternal life. 

Life and not death. 

May all who grieve find rest in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Hold on to His promise.

Take Heart in His Most Sacred Heart. 

HEART OF JESUS,

atonement for our sins,

overwhelmed with insults,

broken for our sins,

obedient even to death, 

pierced by a lance,

source of all consolation,

our life and resurrection,

our peace and reconciliation, 

victim of our sins, 

salvation of all who trust in You,

hope of all who die in You,

delight of all the saints,

HAVE MERCY ON US!  

 

Whole Heart

"The greatest threat to your happiness and wholeness is your unrecognized spiritual needs." Matthew Kelly, Life is Messy  

We all need spiritual nutrition. 

Without feeding our souls we cannot expect to feel whole. 

Sometimes in life we feel half full or half empty.

God doesn't want us to feel this way.

He wants us to be happy.

He wants to make us whole.

Through the Eucharist we are fed.

We are nourished. 

The sacraments give us grace! 

The Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist

The Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick

The Sacraments of Service: Matrimony and Holy Orders 

Our faith is what grounds us! 

Our faith in God is what makes us whole. 

Nothing else will make us happy in this life. 

"Time given to Christ is never time lost, it is rather time gained." Pope John Paul II

I give you my whole heart, Jesus! 

 

Image by Louis Hansel 

A Masterpiece

You are a priceless masterpiece. Fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I needed those words today. 

I didn't realize I needed those words until I read them. 

Am I really a masterpiece? 

"You are allowed to be at the same time a work in progress and a masterpiece." Xavier Dagba 

Masterpieces do not make comparisons. 

Masterpieces are perfect just the way they are. 

God the Father is the Artist. 

I am a masterpiece in progress.

This blog was inspired by the glorious sunset we had this evening.

I am so blessed to live where I live and to watch for God's artwork each evening in the sky. 

Sunsets are another reminder of priceless masterpieces from heaven.  

They remind me of God's glory and I want to give Him thanks!

It is through gratitude and joy that we make each day count. 

 "Make each day your masterpiece." John Wooden 

Image by Charlene Rehder 

Gentle Love

Calming of the Tempest Prayer

O God, you have given St. Francis de Sale as a guide on our way to salvation. By his example and prayers, help us to trust in your loving Providence and to follow your inspirations. May our lives show your gentle love to everyone we meet. And may our actions toward others manifest themselves in the charitable wisdom of our Saint's words: "All through love, nothing through constraint." We ask this with the help of his intercession through Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.   

We must be gentle with others and gentle with ourselves too.

Sometimes the second is harder.

We do not always believe we are lovable. 

This is a common lie we tell ourselves. 

But the truth remains!

We are loved!

Without His gentle love we are unable to love our neighbor.

We need to accept His gentle love.  

When tempted to reject love pray the Tempest Prayer.

"Ask Him to remind you that it is never too late to change a decision that will result in the greater good." Jane Trufant Harvey

Ask Him to help you make the decision to accept His love.

Lord, I am not gentle with myself, please be gentle with me! 

Then we can be gentle with others.

"May our lives show your gentle love to everyone we meet." St. Francis De Sales 

Image by Kelly Sikkema

Be Gentle

"One is often carried away over the sins and short comings of others. It would be far better to talk less about them and to pray more." St. John Vianney 

 If I expect people to be who they claim to be, them I have to expect the same for myself. 

If I expect others to forgive, then I have to be forgiving.

I must pray for the desire to forgive and for the desire to be forgiven! 

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us! 

If I expect charity, than I need to be charitable. 

I must seek the best in everyone. 

St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us! 

If I want to be treated gently then I myself need to be gentle. 

 When ridiculed, we bless, when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently. 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 

Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us and guide us! 

God of mercy and truth, You gave us the ability to speak, so that we might glorify You and encourage our brothers and sisters. Help me overcome my tendency to speak unkindly about others and to criticize those around me. Teach me instead praise, to encourage, to defend, and to say only those things I myself would want to hear from someone else. Form within me the habit of praying for help in overcoming those faults I observe and of speaking respectfully to those with whom I disagree. Please give me also the courage to accept criticism by responding calmly, while honestly considering whether their remarks contain wisdom and truth. May all my words be pleasing to You and beneficial to those who hear them. Amen. Saintly Solutions 

Image by Michael Fenton 

  

 

Body and Blood

Sunday is The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ!  

Sequence for the Solemnity  

This the truth each Christian learns,

Bread into his flesh he turns, 

To his precious blood the wine:

Sight has fail'd, nor thought conceives, 

but a dauntless faith believes, 

Resting on a pow'r divine.

The Mystery of Faith! 

When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim Your death, O Lord, until You come again. 

We pray the Mystery of Faith every week at Mass. 

This is what we believe! 

Jesus's body broken and his blood poured out for our salvation. 

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Mark 14:22 

Until You come again! 

Amen!  

Image by Josh Applegate 

First Friday

Happy First Friday, everyone! 

I had not been to First Friday Mass in a long time. 

Since it is the month of the Sacred Heart and First Fridays are devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I desired to go to Mass this morning. 

I would like to make it a habit of going to Mass on First Fridays.

"People of ordinary goodness walk in God's way, but the devout run in it, and at length they almost fly therein."  St. Francis de Sale 

This quote reminds me of the scripture from Isaiah:40:30-31 

Even youths shall faint and be weary,and your men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and no be weary, they shall walk and not faint. 

Let us run to the Father! 

"If today you are a little bit better than you were yesterday, then that's enough." David A. Bednar 

Image by Cerqueira 

Receive His Love

 Today we laid our friend Dan Karel to rest. 

Our community is in mourning. 

There has been too much tragedy and loss. 

Why do bad things happen? 

Why do our hearts break?

These are questions I find myself asking when the world around me grieves.

Yet, I don't have the right answers and that's what is hardest of all.

I cannot fix what is broken and I cannot make what is wrong, right. 

Lord, I cannot but You can!

So I surrender my heart to the Father. 

He will heal the broken.

I will give Him the bad and He will show me the good.

God makes all things new through the power of His love. 

 "We can either refuse God's love or we can receive God's love." Fr. Mike Schmitz 

Help us to receive Your love, O Lord! 

Hold in Your arms all who grieve and mourn. 

Comfort and strengthen our hearts on this journey towards heaven.

Remind us of Your love.

Your love that fills and heals our hearts.  

Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole. Matthew 9:22 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen. 

Image by Christopher Beloch 

Love Language

The Five Love Languages 

Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service and Receiving Gifts. 

What is your love language?

My love language is Acts of Service. 

If you want to know your love language you can take the test by clicking the link:

https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/

These love languages help us communicate with each other in a loving way.

They help us to love and to feel loved.

Today I found this beautiful explanation of the gifts from Ascensionpress. 

  There is no greater love than love from God the Father! 

He uses our gifts to speak our language and in return we can respond with love. 

The explanations follow:

1. Words of Affirmation 

We can love Jesus and thank him in our prayers, but also in our conversations with others.

2. Quality Time

We can make daily prayer time a priority and not allow other things to take up that space in our daily routines.

3. Physical Touch 

We can connect with Jesus’ physical presence through the sacraments — especially the Eucharist and Confession.

4. Acts of Service

We can look for ways to offer up small sacrifices for the love of God.

5. Receiving Gifts

The gift Jesus wants most from us is the gift of ourselves. We can consecrate our lives to him and give him our life, our work, and our will. 

https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/jesus-five-love-languages/?fbclid=IwAR3hECSo_qfy7tUTVGByPxG_IPgwNDahvby3yoo8o9_lL4eDfabngM1EpS0

Absolutely beautiful! I am looking at the Five Love Languages with new eyes and with a new heart! 

"Ask Him to lift you in your brokenness and gently carry you to the safety of His unconditional and redeeming love." Jane Trufant Harvey 

Sacred Heart

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach me to forget myself so perfectly, since it is the only way through which one can enter into You." St. Claude La Colombiere  

This month is the perfect month to enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

 We can do this throughout the day by uniting our hearts with the Lord. 

We can pray,

"Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You!" 

I trust You with the good and the hard things I face today. 

As we pray this prayer of trust throughout the day, our hearts will begin to open.

 The Sacred Heart of Jesus will enter into our hearts to dwell.

Through devotion and trust, we build a relationship between our hearts and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A relationship that cannot be broken. 

Two hearts united as one. 

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,

I offer You this heart of mine.

Make me humble, patient, pure, 

and wholly obedient to Your will. 

Align my heart to Your

Sacred Heart so that I may be

loving, compassionate and 

forgiving in witness to You. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You! 

Image of The Sacred Heart from The Surrender Novena 

Novena to the Sacred Heart 

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-prayer-to-the-sacred-heart-311