Monday, August 27, 2007
My Heart is Full!
I'm going to be a Grandma! And I just can't wait! Thank you heavenly Father for this most precious gift!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The Catholic Carnival is up!
Once again, some wonderful posts.....Book Reviews and More is hosting the Catholic Carnival.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Novena to Our Lady Of Mount Carmel, second day
Second Day
Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion. May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness.
(pause and mention petitions)
Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion. May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness.
(pause and mention petitions)
Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Novena To Our Lady Of Mount Carmel
First Day
O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother!
(pause and mention petitions)
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother!
(pause and mention petitions)
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
The Moto Proprio: The Official Translation
Here are the links to the actual text which was released today and the accompanying letter from our dear Pope Benedict XVI.
The text of the Motu Proprio http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/b16SummorumPontificum.htm
The Pope's letter of explanation http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/b16SummorumPontificum2.htm
The text of the Motu Proprio http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/b16SummorumPontificum.htm
The Pope's letter of explanation http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/b16SummorumPontificum2.htm
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Contemplation in it's purest form.....
Below are three of my little child care children sharing snack on a blanket and looking at the beautiful wispy clouds in the sky...
The sky is beautiful! Love these tall trees!
The sky is beautiful! Love these tall trees!One of my favorite Saints...
One of my most favorite Saints is Saint Teresa De Los Andes. Starting July 9 on EWTN there will be a series/movie of her life...click here for some video clips.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Carmelite Podcast
Sharing a wonderful site - Meditations from Carmel. These meditations come directly from Carmelite Saints. The website is wonderful so please visit if you can. For some reason my computer just freezes when I visit so I have to stick with this particular feed.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Be Ye Merciful
As I struggle with difficult feelings today, I searched for guidance and was lead to read the following from Divine Intimacy. If you are looking for wonderful material for mental prayer I highly recommend this book.
Jesus revealed to us the mystery of His heavenly Father's merciful love not only for our own consolation and personal benefit, not only to give us absolute confidence in God, but also to teach us to be merciful to our neighbor. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful" (Lk 6,36) Good attracts good, goodness engenders goodness, kindness inspires kindness; therefore, the more a soul penetrates the mystery of infinite mercy, the more it will be incited to emulate it. When we feel irritated with someone and little disposed to indulgence and pardon, we ought to plunge with all our strength into the consideration of the infinite mercy of God, in order to stifle all harshness, resentment, and anger in ourselves. If we had but the slightest experience of our own wretchedness, it would not be difficult for us to realize that there is no moment of our lives in which we do not need the mercy of God. Our merciful Father is so forbearing that He never casts us off despite all our falls, never reproaches us about the many times he has forgiven us, never refuses us His Paternal embrace of love and peace. Nothing softens a soul more, making it full of good will toward others, than this consideration. Oh! if others could see in our attitude toward them a reflection of God's infinite mercy! "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you" (Mt 5,44).
"Oh Lord, may the consideration of Your infinite mercy dilate my heart, that I may learn how to treat others mercifully."
Jesus revealed to us the mystery of His heavenly Father's merciful love not only for our own consolation and personal benefit, not only to give us absolute confidence in God, but also to teach us to be merciful to our neighbor. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful" (Lk 6,36) Good attracts good, goodness engenders goodness, kindness inspires kindness; therefore, the more a soul penetrates the mystery of infinite mercy, the more it will be incited to emulate it. When we feel irritated with someone and little disposed to indulgence and pardon, we ought to plunge with all our strength into the consideration of the infinite mercy of God, in order to stifle all harshness, resentment, and anger in ourselves. If we had but the slightest experience of our own wretchedness, it would not be difficult for us to realize that there is no moment of our lives in which we do not need the mercy of God. Our merciful Father is so forbearing that He never casts us off despite all our falls, never reproaches us about the many times he has forgiven us, never refuses us His Paternal embrace of love and peace. Nothing softens a soul more, making it full of good will toward others, than this consideration. Oh! if others could see in our attitude toward them a reflection of God's infinite mercy! "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you" (Mt 5,44).
"Oh Lord, may the consideration of Your infinite mercy dilate my heart, that I may learn how to treat others mercifully."
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Father Corapi speaking at a Catholic men's conference
God Bless Father Corapi and all the men he inspired at his conference. Happy Father's Day!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
From The Catechism on Prayer
This was in my mail this morning...loved it...especially "We must remember God more often than we draw breath"...
The Life Of Prayer "Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget him who is our life and our all. This is why the Fathers of the spiritual life in the Deuteronomic and prophetic traditions insist that prayer is a remembrance of God often awakened by the memory of the heart: 'We must remember God more often than we draw breath.' But we cannot pray 'at all times' if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it. These are the special times of Christian prayer, both in intensity and duration.
The Tradition of the Church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying intended to nourish continual prayer. Some are daily, such as morning and evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours. Sundays, centered on the Eucharist, are kept holy primarily by prayer. The cycle of the liturgical year and its great feasts are also basic rhythms of the Christian's life of prayer."
- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2697, 2698
The Life Of Prayer "Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget him who is our life and our all. This is why the Fathers of the spiritual life in the Deuteronomic and prophetic traditions insist that prayer is a remembrance of God often awakened by the memory of the heart: 'We must remember God more often than we draw breath.' But we cannot pray 'at all times' if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it. These are the special times of Christian prayer, both in intensity and duration.
The Tradition of the Church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying intended to nourish continual prayer. Some are daily, such as morning and evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours. Sundays, centered on the Eucharist, are kept holy primarily by prayer. The cycle of the liturgical year and its great feasts are also basic rhythms of the Christian's life of prayer."
- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2697, 2698
Thursday, June 14, 2007
St. Anthony of Padua
Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.
O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.
Saint Anthony of Padua
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
From Divine Intimacy
A meditation....
The Virtues and the Gifts
1. St. Thomas teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us as a help to the virtues: "dona sunt in adjutorium virtutum." This is a very meaningful expression: note that we receive the gifts to help the virtues, not to substitute for them. If the soul does its best, seriously applying itself to the practice of the virtues, the Holy Spirit, by means of the gifts, will complete the soul's work. To make the gifts operative then, personal activity and application are essential. The whole Catholic tradition places them at the starting point, for "if a soul is seeking God, its Beloved is seeking it much more...He attracts the soul and causes it to run after Him: (J.C. LF, 3, 28).
Although the assiduous practice of the virtues will not suffice to bring the soul to God, the manifestation of good will implied by this practice is very necessary. The sailor who is anxious to reach the port does not lazily wait for a favorable wind, but begins at once to row vigorously; similarly, the soul who seeks God, while waiting for Him to attract, it, does not abandon itself to indolence; on the contrary, it searches fervently on its own initiative: making efforts to overcome its faults, to be detached from creatures, to practice the virtues and to apply itself to interior recollection. The Holy Spirit perfects these efforts by activating His gifts. Thus we see how erroneous is the attitude of certain souls who remain too passive in the spiritual life, failing to exert their own initiative to advance in holiness and to meet God. These souls are wasting their time and easily exposing themselves to deception. It is necessary to take up the task vigorously, especially at the beginning of the spiritual life. Only by so doing can one hope to have the aid of the Holy Spirit.
"O Holy Spirit, You are the Font for which I sigh, the desire of my heart. You are the only real substance of my heart, and I cling to You with all my might!"
The Virtues and the Gifts
1. St. Thomas teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us as a help to the virtues: "dona sunt in adjutorium virtutum." This is a very meaningful expression: note that we receive the gifts to help the virtues, not to substitute for them. If the soul does its best, seriously applying itself to the practice of the virtues, the Holy Spirit, by means of the gifts, will complete the soul's work. To make the gifts operative then, personal activity and application are essential. The whole Catholic tradition places them at the starting point, for "if a soul is seeking God, its Beloved is seeking it much more...He attracts the soul and causes it to run after Him: (J.C. LF, 3, 28).
Although the assiduous practice of the virtues will not suffice to bring the soul to God, the manifestation of good will implied by this practice is very necessary. The sailor who is anxious to reach the port does not lazily wait for a favorable wind, but begins at once to row vigorously; similarly, the soul who seeks God, while waiting for Him to attract, it, does not abandon itself to indolence; on the contrary, it searches fervently on its own initiative: making efforts to overcome its faults, to be detached from creatures, to practice the virtues and to apply itself to interior recollection. The Holy Spirit perfects these efforts by activating His gifts. Thus we see how erroneous is the attitude of certain souls who remain too passive in the spiritual life, failing to exert their own initiative to advance in holiness and to meet God. These souls are wasting their time and easily exposing themselves to deception. It is necessary to take up the task vigorously, especially at the beginning of the spiritual life. Only by so doing can one hope to have the aid of the Holy Spirit.
"O Holy Spirit, You are the Font for which I sigh, the desire of my heart. You are the only real substance of my heart, and I cling to You with all my might!"
Monday, June 11, 2007
Monday, June 11
Memorial of St Barnabas, Apostle*
Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3; Psalm 97; Matthew 10:7-13
Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts some of the work done by Barnabas in spreading the Gospel of Christ in various communities. The Gospel today sees Jesus sending out his apostles and telling him how they should act. We are called to be like Barnabas and to give our life to the service of God and to the Word.
Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3; Psalm 97; Matthew 10:7-13
Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts some of the work done by Barnabas in spreading the Gospel of Christ in various communities. The Gospel today sees Jesus sending out his apostles and telling him how they should act. We are called to be like Barnabas and to give our life to the service of God and to the Word.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Books, Books and more Books!
I have a terrible weakness...books! O.k., so it's not my only weakness (I love to collect Rosaries too!), and it could certainly be worse -- but my husband just rolls his eyes when he sees the postman coming with a package. Reading the book "An Infinity of Little Hours" by Nancy Klein Maguire, has inspired a deeper interest in the Carthusian spirituality. I'm hoping this reading will enrich my own journey for the contemplative life.
The postman will be bring me very soon...
The Cloud of Unknowing, by Anonymous and edited by William Johnston
The Meditations of Guigi I, Prior of the Charterhouse
And inspired by Barbara at Praying For Grace I ordered this beautiful journal to record my thoughts, prayers as well as my struggles. She has some beautiful Rosaries for sale too!
The postman will be bring me very soon...
The Cloud of Unknowing, by Anonymous and edited by William Johnston
The Meditations of Guigi I, Prior of the Charterhouse
And inspired by Barbara at Praying For Grace I ordered this beautiful journal to record my thoughts, prayers as well as my struggles. She has some beautiful Rosaries for sale too!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
Reading List....
The next two books I'd like to read..
The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton
Cloud of Unknowing, by Anonymous
The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton
Cloud of Unknowing, by Anonymous
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