Ponder with the Heart of Mary

The season of Advent has begun! 

I love this time of year! 

The anticipation and preparation for Christmas! 

Imagine Mary's anticipation and preparation...

What was being pondered in her heart?

How did she anticipate and prepare to become the Mother of God? 

Her answer was simple...She said 'yes'. 

  "Mary as Mother became the first “disciple” of her Son, the first to whom he seemed to say: “Follow me”... What a joy it must have been for Jesus to have one disciple who fully understood him. What a consolation to his Heart to find such attentiveness to God’s Word!" 33 Days to Morning Glory

And the Word became flesh...John 1:14 

"Pope John Paul II explains: “Before anyone else it was God himself, the Eternal Father, who entrusted himself to the Virgin of Nazareth, giving her his only Son in the mystery of the Incarnation.”" 33 Days to Morning Glory 

Mary's heart from the beginning of time anticipated this moment.

Mary's heart was prepared to receive the Son of God.

 Every Advent season we are reminded to prepare our hearts too. 

We are reminded to trust and to give God our 'yes'.  

"Like us, Mary needed to walk by faith while pondering in her heart." 33 Days to Morning

 Advent is a time to ponder the gift that is given, Emmanuel! 

Christmas Novena beginning on the feast of St. Andrew (30th Nov.) until Christmas Eve. 

Prayer is an essential part of Advent. Reciting this special novena prayer each day is a simple yet beautiful way to celebrate the spiritual significance of the Advent season and to experience a deeper conversion to the heart of Jesus. 

It may not be easy to pray this novena 15 times a day for 25 days, (Tip: Try 5 times before or after each meal) but if you are able to, this prayer will undoubtedly leave your heart well-prepared to welcome the coming of Christ. The beauty and sweetness of this prayer will unfold for you through its daily recitation, allowing you to meditate more fully on the profound mystery of the Incarnation.

 

With a Thankful Heart

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 

There is so much to be thankful for! 

I am grateful for the people I love! 

I am thankful for my family and for my friends! 

I am grateful for the opportunity to volunteer and serve lunch to the people in our community. 

There is no greater joy than serving these beautiful people I love. 

This past week while I was volunteering, I asked everybody in the room to say one thing they were thankful for. 

Some people said family and some people said health.

Others gave thanks for life, the gift of living in Cottonwood and having been born in the United States.

Another person was grateful for her faith in God.

Then one of my dearest friends, answered my question by saying,"I am grateful for you". 

My heart melted! 

This simple reminder to be thankful for each other! 

I give thanks with a thankful heart for each of you! 

What are you thankful for? 

"The secret of happiness it to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day." St. Gianna Molla 

Truth

Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."  John 18:37

This was the Gospel from the Solemnity of Christ the King! 

The Gospel verse continues, 

   

Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"  John 18:38

Jesus is the Truth.  

He is Christ the King.

Pilate finds Jesus not guilty but fails to protect the truth. 

"What is against Truth cannot be just." St. Augustine 

Truth can not be adapted. 

There is a desire in each of our hearts to know the truth. 

 The truth that God loves us. 

"Do not accept anything as love which lacks truth." St. Edith Stein 

The devil, is the king of lies and he will try to make us doubt the truth. 

When Christ rules in our hearts, there is no question about what is true or false.

God sends His Holy Spirit to guide us and to become followers of the Truth. 

That every human person, from natural conception to natural death, is loved and sacred.

Christ our King, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life,

Help all of us to protect the sanctity of the Truth. 

Help us to protect the sanctity of each other and of the unborn.

We ask this and surrender our hearts to listen to your voice and to follow the Truth.  

"She placed herself in the truth. She knew where the truth lays and she knew that following Jesus and the Church would require some struggle." Bl. Chiara Badano  

Kissed by Jesus

Whoever you are, wherever you are, this message from St. Mother Teresa is for you. 

Take a moment and allow yourself to be kissed by Jesus.

Suffering has to come because if you look at the cross, he has got his head bending down—

he wants to kiss you—and he has both hands open wide—he wants to embrace you. 

He has his heart opened wide to receive you. 

Then when you feel miserable inside, look at the cross and you will know what is happening.

Suffering, pain, sorrow, humiliation, feelings of loneliness, are nothing but the kiss of Jesus, a sign that you have come so close that he can kiss you. 

Do you understand, brothers, sisters, or whoever you may be? 

Suffering, pain, humiliation—this is the kiss of Jesus. 

At times you come so close to Jesus on the cross that he can kiss you. 

I once told this to a lady who was suffering very much. She answered, 

“Tell Jesus not to kiss me—to stop kissing me.” 

That suffering has to come that came in the life of Our Lady, that came in the life of Jesus—it has to come in our life also. 

Only never put on a long face. Suffering is gift from God. It is between you and Jesus alone inside…

Our total surrender will come today by surrendering even our sins so that we will be poor. 

“Unless you become a child you cannot come to me.” 

You are too big, too heavy; you cannot be lifted up. We need humility to acknowledge our sin. 

The knowledge of our sin helps us to rise.

“I will get up and go to my Father.”

When we suffer, even from the cross, Jesus weeps with us.

He wants to kiss our "owies" and take away our suffering. 

He wants us to accept his embrace.

He wants us to receive his love and mercy.

"He didn't suffer so we wouldn't have to; He suffered so we'd know how to." Chris Stefanick 

Image by Thuong Do 

Frosty the Snowman

I woke up to a skiff of snow on the ground. 

I don't love snow but I found joy in it's arrival. 

It's so easy to be bogged down by the suffering in the world. 

However, the snow reminded me that Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming! 

A reminder to look for the good.

To seek joy!

This past weekend I attended another paint party hosted by my friend, Brenda.

To my surprise my goddaughter Faye and her mom Elaine were there too! 

The theme was snowmen.

I was thoroughly impressed with my goddaughter's artwork.

Her creativity gave me confidence. 

"Be humble, be simple, and bring joy to others." St. Madeline Sophia Barat 

Find the good in the little things! 

"God the Father is the only one who truly loves you as you are, no matter how you are! And His grace will perfect you, no matter where you are. Not simply for the sake of perfection, but to perfect you for the sake of that joy... that joy which brings the "abundant life."" Works by Faith Ministries www.worksbyfaith.org  

Life is Messy

"Everything was fine until everything wasn't. We are never ready for the storms of life. They rarely announce themselves. These storms come at unexpected times and in unexpected forms. They come in all shapes and sizes, and teach us that life is unpredictably messy." Matthew Kelly   

2021 has been messy. 

There has been so much grief, heartache and loss on the prairie, and in our world. 

I think about the unexpected losses and my heart breaks. 

I think about the expected losses and still my heart breaks. 

November is the month we stop and remember those who have died.

Death is unpredictable. 

Yet, each of us expects it.

We just don't know when to expect it. 

Life is also unpredictable. 

Life is messy.

Storms come and go. 

The important thing is that we weather the storms together.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

Joy to the World

 "It is a fair, evenhanded, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humor." Charles Dickens  

 Three months later and I am still celebrating my birthday! 

Today I "opened" my present from my parents, which was a shopping trip with my mom.

I can't help but smile and giggle about this extended celebration. 

The thought and love put into making it special gives me joy! 

I love spending time with my mom and we both love to shop.

We shopped until we dropped!

It was a fun day looking at the christmas decorations and sales. 

  The Locomotive Park was lit up when we left Lewiston.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! 

Joy to the world! 

Happy birthday, happy Christmas, happy me! 

Image by Ekaterina Shevchenko

Our Last Night in New York

On our last night in New York we decided to take a boat tour around the city.

We had just finished our "we will rock you" performance before saying good bye to all the sisters and families. 

Our plan was to travel back from Connecticut to New York, change at the hotel and figure out how to make it in time for the tour. 

Our amazing bus driver was kind enough to take us to our destination! 

He is a friend of the sisters and is very pro-life. 

He shared with us that he transformed one of his buses into an ultrasound facility for women vulnerable to abortion. 

This man has a beautiful heart, desiring good for others. 

Our group cheered and thanked him numerous times for his goodness. 

We did make it to the boat! 

We settled in on the top deck with drinks and dinner.

The tour began! 

Two of my favorite things we saw were the Brooklyn Bridge and the    

statue of Liberty lit up at night.

The city's lights are magical! 

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. Psalm 92

Though it was a bittersweet ending, it was so much fun being among family and friends on the tour.

I loved journeying in NYC together. 

I thank the LORD and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD. Sirach 51 

Our pilgrimage was complete with Mass celebrated by Fr. Bruce. 

So much gratitude.

Until next time, Sisters of Life. 

Until we meet again, friends and family.

New York has a piece of my heart.

Our memories and blessings will not be forgotten.

  "Thank God ahead of time." Venerable Solanus Casey  

GOAT

My not so little brother turns 14 today! 

The name Maximilian means the "greatest". 

This name was rightly given to him.

Max completes our family. 

He keeps us on our toes and knows how to make us laugh.

I love his funny sense of humor!

 He goes out of his way to help others.

Max is always smiling and he looks for ways to make other people smile too. 

He doesn't have favorites, he is a friend to everyone. 

If you have a question, don't ask Siri, ask Max. 

He is wise beyond his years. 

Maximilian brings joy every where he goes. 

This brother of mine makes me proud.

Not because of what he does, but because of who he is.

Maximilian, you are the GOAT, Greatest of All Time!

Love you, buddy! 

"Let us pray, bear little crosses, and greatly love the souls of all our neighbors without exception, friends or enemies." St. Maximilian 

Pray for us to be great in little things, St. Max! 

Questions and Answers

A dear friend of mine commented on my blog post from yesterday. 

Little did she know that she had inspired questions for myself to answer and for this additional blog.

Here were her questions: 

What do you do when someone won't accept your love? 

You tell them you forgive them, and they ignore you like you don't exist? 

You try to do the right thing, and you receive hate in return? 

I keep asking God, but feel like I never get an answer?

Good question. I don’t have the right answers but I understand the battle. 

I ask the same questions but don’t always expect answers.

 It’s quite sad admitting that. 

However,  these questions made me think.. 

What do You do when I won't accept Your love, God? 

You tell me you forgive me, and I ignore You like You don't exist. 

You do the right thing, and You receive hate in return.      

 

It’s a battle worth fighting even when we don’t realize which side we are fighting for. 

God wants to give us answers. 

He wants us to keep forgiving, though forgiveness is not always wanted or accepted.

He wants us to continue to do the next right thing even when that means we will be hated for it.

God says, “Keep fighting for love, my love.”

That is His answer. Will I ignore? 

How will I respond? 

Will I just say, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” 

Or will I show Him how He showed me from the cross? 

Remembering today Grandma Barbara's heaven day. 

Thank you, God for the gift of my grandma and the memories I have of her. 

Grandma, you know we love you. 

I will continue to show you how much. 

11/06/20

Respond with Love

  After journaling in Adoration today, I read this bible verse printed at the bottom of my notebook page, 

"If you want to know what God wants you to do - ask Him, and He will gladly tell you." James 1:5 

I put a question mark next to that verse. 

Next I opened my Chiara Luce Prayer book and began reading. 

Everything I had been journaling about suddenly made sense. 

Let me explain...

I didn't think I would find answers to what I was journaling about. 

I didn't know how to respond... 

I simply opened up my book where my book marker was and began reading. 

I did not expect a response because I did not know how to ask. 

I read,  "Respond to God's love by loving." 

I continued reading:

"Chiara Luce therefore inserted herself into a dynamic relationship of reciprocal love with God: She handed herself over with an act of complete trust in his love, and He manifested signs of his love to her."  

I was receiving answers to questions I didn't know I had. 

And just when I thought I had all the answers speaking directly to my heart I read this:

"You need to have the courage to put aside ambitions and plans that destroy the real meaning of life, which is to believe in God's love and that's all." Blessed Chiara Luce Badano 

I had to reread that quote, again and again. 

Chiara Luce answered my questions after praying with James 1:5.

It was unbelievable and to take it to the next level, I realized I had two book markers marked in my book.

I had read today where the first book marker was. 

I truly believe that I was meant to reread those words/quotes!

Thank you, God!  

I, too, want to respond to Love Himself, by loving. 

My prayer is "To know the breadth, length, heights and depths of love." 

Image by: Jon Tyson

Receive Love

 I Believe in Love 

Book by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

 "Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary at Paray-le-Monial and through her gave His Heart to the world, "Here is the Heart which loved men so much that it spared nothing, to the point of being emptied and consumed, to give them proof of that love. 

You could say that you were in some way a need of His Heart.

Perhaps you have always been faithful; perhaps you have resisted Jesus' calls for a long time; perhaps you have fallen very low. Who are those Jesus loves best? No one can know that. At Calvary there was John the beloved, the marvelously faithful and pure apostle; and there was Mary Magdalene, the great sinner, the scandalous one who repented, They were there, both of them near the Cross as equals. On the morning of the Resurrection it was to Mary Magdalene that Jesus appeared first of all, even before appearing to His Apostles, and He sent her to announce the great news. He made her the apostle to the Apostles." 

He will cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea. Mic 7:19 

 Receive this message of love.

Though difficult it is to receive. 

For it is easier to want to give. 

Yet, it is through receiving that we truly give of ourselves.

We respond by our willingness to receive the love poured out for us on the cross. 

We don't have to do anything to receive this gift.

It has already been given and continues to be given through His most Sacred Heart. 

"Without love, everything is painful, everything is tiring, everything is burdensome. The Cross takes up hesitantly, is crushing; taken smiling by free will, and with love, it will carry you much more than you carry it. Love makes time eternal by giving a divine value to everything." I Believe in Love 

St. John the Beloved and St. Mary Magdalene apostle to the Apostles,  intercede for us to become receivers of this love. 

Blessed Mother Mary, pray that we give our hearts which are in need of your Son. 

Amen.

Photo from Sisters of Life Visitation Center at St. Andrew's Church,  in Manhattan, NY    

Holy Men and Women

Today is a day of celebration! 

A Solemnity of all the Saints!

Saints are holy men and women that gave their whole hearts to God. 

However, the saints would be the first to admit that Sainthood does not just happen over night. 

"Saints are ruthless in saying no to sin and relentless in saying yes to God." Fr. Mike Schmitz  

Sainthood is more than a goal, it's a desire. 

A desire for holiness!

"To begin is easy; to persevere is sanctity." St. Josemaria Escriva 

We are all called to be holy men and women.

Let nothing separate us from the saints.

Each day is an opportunity to strive toward holiness. 

"The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only real tragedy in life, is not to become a saint." Leon Bloy    

Happy All Saints Day and All Souls Day tomorrow!