Stay with Me Lord

It's the first day of school for my brother Max and the first day after Maddie moved out of the house.

My sister Nicole left for college a few weeks ago and Sr. Jordan Rose lives in New York. 

As sad as it is to watch everyone leave, I couldn't be happier for my siblings.

This summer has been fun and I loved our family time together.

I am surprised at how peaceful I am feeling on this "first" day. 

Though I know I am always going to miss them. 

 This is the beginning of another chapter in our lives. 

Everyone has a story to share. 

Those who leave and those who stay. 

Everyone is on a journey. 

 "Everywhere in this world we notice action…departure and return; going away and coming back.; separation and reunion. The separation always looks forward to union, which is creative." - St. Maximilian Kolbe 

Prayer of St. Pio of Pietrelcina after Holy Communion

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak

and I need Your strength,

that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life,

and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light,

and without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice

and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You

very much, and always be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is,

I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes;

death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength,

so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You.

It is getting late and death approaches,

I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.

O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all it’s dangers. I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread,

so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness,

the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You,

if not by communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it,

but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth

and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen

Baptism Day

I was seven days old when I was baptized on August 25th, 1995. 

My godparents are Rose Forsmann Harman and Dean Nuxoll.  

Thank you to my mom and dad for revealing the gift of Baptism to me at such a young age. 

I am so grateful for the Sacrament of Baptism.

"A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by God to give grace." 

-Baltimore Catechism

The Baltimore Catechism was part of our homeschool curriculum. 

Good morning, Baltimore. 

I remember thinking as a kid, "I am never going to remember this stuff." 

And yet, here I am today, remembering what I learned in grade school and realizing why.

The Sacrament of Baptism not only removes original sin but gives grace.

If it weren't for the sacraments, we would miss out on the gift of grace.

Here is what I mean by "grace" and "gift" : 

"Years ago, I was presenting to a group comprised mostly of Southern Baptist seniors. We were talking about Philippians and the distinction between Law and Gospel, but the people in the class were very interested in the Lutheran teaching about Baptism. “Don’t you Lutherans baptize babies?” “Yes, indeed,” I answered. “How can you do that if they haven’t made a decision for Christ?” “We think of Baptism differently,” I responded. “The Baptist faith and message teaches that Baptism is our first act of obedience, that it is our work, our action. We Lutherans understand that Baptism is God’s work, His gift of forgiveness to us. Just about the only thing babies are good at is receiving gifts.” To impress the point, I asked, “How many of you are grandparents?” The entire room raised their hands. “Okay, what would you say if I told you not to give gifts to your grandchildren? Their first Christmas: no gifts. Their first birthday: no gifts. In fact, I don’t want you to give them any gifts until they reach the age where they can ask for gifts and truly appreciate them.” A dear old grandmother sitting in the back said, with a shaky voice, “Point made!” Baptism is God’s gift to us. In Baptism, God delivers His promised forgiveness, the very same forgiveness won by Jesus in His death. By the death and resurrection of Jesus, and by His institution, Baptism saves."

Has American Christianity Failed by Bryan Wolfmueller

Happy Birthday St. Faustina! 

"Thank You, O God, for Holy Baptism

Which engrafted me into Your family,

A gift great beyond all thought or expression

Which transforms my soul (37)." Diary of St. Faustina 

http://www.baltimore-catechism.com/lesson14.htm

 

Me and my Godfather 

First Communion with my Godmother 

High Hopes

Where do I begin? 

Huge thank you to all of my family for the best 27th birthday! 

I am so grateful for, and still in awe of, the 92 family members that came to help me celebrate!

Special thanks to my parents for my life and for hosting my birthday party!

August 18th was the hottest day of the week last week but thank goodness for sno-cones! Thanks aunt Jen and uncle John!   

Thank you, Mike, for providing Moonshine Music entertainment! 

I laughed so hard that night! 

 Courtney, thank you for making special, beautiful, gluten-free cupcakes and for celebrating with me until the very end of the night!  

Good music and great people!   

Karaoke and dancing in the moonlight! 

I loved when my goddaughter sang the song, "High Hopes". 

Someone asked me what is on my bucket list...

I was lame and couldn't think of anything on my bucket list. Then Faye sang that song and now I

 have high hopes for 27! Thanks, Faye! 

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday!

I feel so loved!  

My twenty-seventh year is off to a great start! 

Heart on Fire

Today I found my Mass journal while I was looking for my Magnificat devotional. 

I forgot the journal even existed but I decided to bring it with me to Mass because I couldn't find my lost devotional.  

Obviously I am not very organized. 

I read this quote on the back cover of the journal:  

 "God show me one way in this Mass I can become a better version of myself this week." -Dynamic Catholic Mass Journal 

Not multiple ways, one way. 

From the Gospel of Luke 12:49, 

 I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!

Jesus wants to set my heart on fire.  

I do not know how but I know that He will. 

He is the way, the truth and the life. 

Jesus shine your light and enkindle us with the fire of your love. 

"Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen of God's heart." - St. Maximilian Kolbe

Erin K. McAtee 

Artist, Printmaker and Educator

erinkmcatee.com

@erin.k.mcatee

Show Up

We all have those friends who will just "show up" when we need them.

For some people showing up is easy and for others it's hard. 

However, this blog is not about the right person showing up
at the right time to surprise anyone. 

By the way I do not like surprises. 

Surprise!  

This blog is about showing up before God with our hearts in our hands. 

The phrase, "Show up" means to arrive or to be made visible.  

Make our hearts visible, Lord. 

The world needs people to show up.

The only way to arrive is by showing up and giving it to God. 

"When you are tired, show up. 

When you do not have time, show up.

When you feel like prayer is dry, show up.

Show up saying, "Here I am, Lord," and take a deep breath.

Read the Bible, utilize meditation books, pray the Rosary -- whatever aids you in your daily conversation with God. Do not get lost in the weeds when it comes to prayer. 

Simply show up." 

Lisa Cotter - Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius 

 St. Teresa Benedicta. pray for us! 

Drawing by Erin K. McAtee