Ave Maris Stella

Show us your Mercy, Lord

From the Liturgy of the Hours, Morning Prayer....

Show us your mercy, Lord; our misery is known to us. May no evil desires prevail over us, for your glory and love dwell in our hearts.

Love as God Loves

As a Christian, as a Catholic, as a Carmelite....we are called to love as God loves. While there is a part of me, that very human part that understands the jubilation at the death of Osama Bin Laden....we must understand that God doesn't love me or you more than he loves him. In fact, on the very day of Divine Mercy I can only hope that Osama Bin Laden prayed, asked forgiveness and received the mercy that I have faith that God will give each one of us if we truly and humbly ask. Love as I have loved you.......praying that God increases my love and your love today.

Divine Mercy Sunday

I have been away from my blog for a very long time for various reasons. Today I'd like to share a post from someone who has been such an inspiration to me (though she most likely does not know it:-). I see myself in her writings at times and as is God's plan, she encourages me to continue, to move forward, to listen, and to allow our Lord's peace and mercy comfort my soul.

One of my favorite people and blogs....one day I hope to meet her in person:-)

Carmelitemom

A Prayer for Priests

From EWTN

Jesus, meek and humble of heart,

give all priests Thy spirit of humility;

Jesus, poor and worn out for souls,

give all priests Thy spirit of zeal;

Jesus, full of patience and mercy for sinners,

give all priests Thy spirit of compassion;

Jesus, victim for the sins of the world,

give all priests Thy spirit of sacrifice;

Jesus, lover of the little and the poor,

give all priests Thy spirit of charity.

Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us;

and obtain for us numerous and holy

priests and religious.

Amen.

No Greater Love

Looking forward to seeing this very, very soon!!!!!

Ignatius Press will have this available.....and Amazon has it available for pre-order.

The Gospel of Matthew

At our Carmelite meeting last month the Commentary on Sacred Scripture was mentioned...I purchased The Gospel of Matthew since many of our upcoming Sunday readings will be from Matthew....what a wonderful resource! I highly recommend it! It's even available on the Kindle!

The Gospel of Matthew

The Divine Intimacy Calendar Schedule

The Divine Intimacy calendar schedule for 2011

A Trinity Prayer

Love of Jesus Fill us.
Holy Spirit Guide us.
Will of the Father be done.

Lord Jesus, our affluence is making us less human, our entertainment has become a drug, a source of alienation, and our society’s incessant, tedious message is an invitation to die of selfishness.

- Pope Benedict XVI (during the 4th Station of the Cross in 2006)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena, Day 2

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.

Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Novena, Day One

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.

Bl. Zelie and Louis Martin

Bl. Zelie and Louis Martin, July 12

Lord, you have given to Blessed Louis and Marie Zélie the grace to lead a life of holiness as Christian spouses and parents. Grant that through their intercession and example each of us may be able to love and serve you faithfully, living worthily our own vocation. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Nature at it's best....

I cannot believe how long it's been since I've made an entry. Had many struggles these past few months so I've put many things on the back burner.

Had a particularly stressful day yesterday, came home from a meeting to find my husband mowing. Now...we have almost three acres so it can take some time....but as he was mowing the pasture I heard him turn the engine off and yell for me to get the camera...and this is what we found....
She/he was there all day until we saw momma come at around 8:30 that evening. Seeing the two reunited was so heartwarming. Certainly God new I needed to see this punkin!

Salve Regina: Hail Holy Queen

My friend, Laura, shared this video today -- so beautiful.

NO GREATER LOVE Trailer

Can't wait to see it! Thank you, Gretchen, for pointing me to this You Tube!

Missed my monthly Carmelite meeting.....

Well, so the last few weeks (OK maybe month) has been......challenging. Just the twist and turns of life. I don't know how people without faith in Divine Providence get through -- it certainly gave me a peace through my dad being ill, an Aunt passing away and then two days later an uncle passing away. Years ago...I most likely would not have seen the beauty in some of these events, so I know our Lord is working in me as that's all I saw. Sadness...grief.....definitely, but also joy and beauty.

And then this is kind of funny......I hurt my foot by falling off of a very, very large metal box (OK...so it was 5 inches x 2 inches x 1 inch - but sounds better the other way) about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I've been hobbling around on this black and blue foot and it was getting better but was a little surprised that it was still so sore. Yesterday, I went to get on my knees to help the children pick up their toys and I just slightly rolled onto my toes (SERIOUSLY, ever so slightly) and I felt a POP. After I composed myself I pulled off my sock and had a mysterious bump on the top of my foot. Decided to get an x-ray and yes....broken bone on the top of my foot -- just HOW does one get a broken bone on the TOP? LOL Most likely I fractured it 1 1/2 weeks ago and that little roll just made the final break. They said to stay off of it until next week when I can see the doctor. I was a little disappointed that I have to wait to see the doctor...but they said the swelling needed to go down anyway before they can decide what to do.

So, missing my monthly Carmelite meeting -- I'm disappointed as I really look forward to seeing everyone and it has become very important when trying to persevere on this path. But I have great friends who will be taking notes for me and will fill me in as best they can after the meeting. Praying for them as I know they are for me!

Asking for prayers....

On Good Friday, I was told that my Aunt, my mother's sister, had been taken to the hospital. My mom and I arrived at the hospital the exact time the doctor was delivering the news that she has stage 4 lung cancer, and it had also metastasized outside the lungs as well. This morning I've been told she's been given 12 - 72 hours.

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday and I would so appreciate it if you could spare a Divine Mercy Chaplet for Gloria. I'm not positive what her beliefs are, but I know she hasn't been to a church for years and years. Thank you for any and all prayers....

One of the best means of assisting the dying is the one that Jesus revealed to St. Faustina and insisted that she use often — even continuously: The Divine Mercy Chaplet. Jesus said: "My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet. ... Write that when they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Savior (Diary, 1541).

Earlier, Our Lord said to her, "At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same" (Diary, 811).

He is Risen!

Our Redeemer has risen from the tomb; let us sing a hymn of praise to the Lord our God, alleluia!

I have missed you all! Lent, and especially Holy Week was definitely a time of "pruning" for me and I'm so thankful for a merciful Lord. I'm also very thankful for you, my friends and I can't wait to catch up on your blogs!

May God Bless You ALL Abundantly!!!!

Something about Mary!

OK, so I started checking on my friends and just felt inspired to write ONE more little post, LOL! One of my favorite blogs (and fav cyber friend) is called the Beautiful Gate. I took a peek at her blog the other day -- Mary is her name and she always inspires me in my walk with Christ. Just as quickly I started thinking about the "Mary's" in my life and realized that every Mary I have been blessed to know has a very special place in my heart. From our Blessed Mother who truly saved me by leading me to her son and then again to my (hope to be) Carmelite family, a long time Mary friend from high school, another long time Mary friend who I consider probably my best friend because at the center we share our love of Christ, to my new cyber friend Mary who shares her heart bravely with her readers. Going to spend some time in prayer today thanking our Lord for the "Mary's" in my life...even those that aren't really named Mary:-)