In His Presence

My dear friends,

This morning I came upon an article written by David Wilkerson. Its' title drew me--"The Only Hope in the Coming Storm." Of course, we might quickly question, what do you mean by "coming storm" and who said there's a storm coming? But, beyond that, if there ever is a storm what is this "only hope" he is referring to? I think what he said is profound and I completely agree with him; listen carefully to Wilkerson's words:

Beloved, if we’re going to face the coming storm, then we need to be prepared so nothing disturbs our spirit. The only way to do that is to spend time in the Father’s presence, beholding his face. We have to be shut in with him— on our knees, practicing his presence, seeking him—until we are thoroughly persuaded he’s at our right hand.

God is clearly telling us, “Don’t be moved or agitated by anything you see. Keep your eyes focused on me and you will retain your joy.” According to David, Jesus testified, “Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance” (Acts 2:28).

It is as if Christ is telling us, “I faced everything you’re going to face in the closing days of time. I had the same foreboding feelings because I saw the coming storm. But I ran into the presence of my Father and he lifted all my concerns. He showed me the outcome of it all. And in his presence I found all the joy, hope and rest I would ever need, to the very end. I have peace and joy because I’ve been with him.” “My flesh shall rest in hope” (2:26).

My friends, my hope for us this new year is that we can take this word to heart and spend more time in His presence. There is our hope; there is our protection; there is our answer.

May God our Father draw you as never before.

Much love,
Sheila
p.s. for the entire article click on this link: http://www.worldchallenge.org/node/15356

Christmas Wishes

To the wonderful people who read this blog,

I wish you from my heart...

Sheila

Without Blemish

"...according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace."  2 Pet 3: 13-14 Confession of our sins is one of the surest remedies for removing the spots and blemishes from our souls. It is what helps us "prepare the way of the Lord" and "make his paths straight." Mk 1: 3 It also produces the fruit of peace. Sometimes though we can't see our own shortcomings; we can't figure out the root of the problem--the sin in our life. Here's a secret: During the presentation of Jesus in the temple, Simeon prophesied a word to Mary, Jesus' mother. He said to her, "And you yourself shall be pierced with a sword--so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bear."  Lk 2 : 35 This indicated we go to Mary as Sorrowful Mother to receive knowledge of what is hidden for our spiritual life. 1 She can help bring our "spot or blemish" to light. As you wait on the Lord's promise to be fulfilled, draw close to his mother--our Virgin Mother. Blessed Advent season, Sheila 1  Fr. Ripperger

Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26: 3 says:

"Thou dost keep him in perfect peace,

whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusts in thee.

Trust in the LORD for ever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."

Perfect peace. Ah, sweet!
That's just what we want, right?
Not just peace, but perfect peace.

Most of the scripture references
I looked at in a concordance
speak of perfect as being complete.

Complete in Webster's dictionary
says entire, brought to an end,
concluded, fully carried out.

It reminds me of the scripture from Philippians 1: 6,
"...he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion..."

So He has begun a good work of peace within us
and desires for it to come to completion.

What is our part in accomplishing this?

This is what he asks of us--
to simply keep our mind on him,
not on our problems, ourselves, our concerns...
and in return we grow
in the fullness of peace;
a peace that's entire, overflowing, complete.

That means every time we start to dwell on,
worry or grumble about our concerns...
we surrender to him again.
We force our will to his again.
And we do our best to remain there.
So that he who is faithful
can entirely bless us
with his peace.


Grace & peace to all of you!

Move On

" Stop worrying.
Whatever it is that you must do
to follow the path that God has shown you
do to the best of your ability.
And when you have done it
move on to the next thing.
Don’t keep rerunning it in your mind
trying to decide
whether your efforts were too little
or too much,
whether it was a great deed or a small one,
whether you might have done better.
If it wasn’t sinful and
you were trying to do the will of God,
it is enough.
Don’t worry. Move on.
Simply.
Calmly.
Peacefully.
Follow the path the Lord shows you
free of anxiety.
Otherwise
your anxiety will undermine
your efforts to grow.
If you do fail,
don’t let anxiety
overcome you,
but admit your failure,
quietly, humbly,
and in God’s presence.
Then get on with following the path
that God will continue to show you."   by St. Francis de Sales

The Will of God

" Have no love for the world,
nor for the things that the world affords.
If anyone loves the world,
the Father's love has no place in him,
for nothing that the world affords
comes from the Father.
Carnal allurements,
enticements of the eye,
the life of empty show--
all these are from the world.
And the world with its seductions
is passing away
but the man who does God's will
endures forever."
1 John 2: 15-17

Dance!

May you dance as on a day of joy,

rejoice and be renewed in His love!

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Rejoice, exalt with all your heart...
The Lord, your God, is in your midst.
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in His love.
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals. Zep 3

Chorus:

And the Father will dance
as on a day of joy.
He will exalt over you
and renew you by His love.

Shout for joy,
all you, His people.
Sing aloud and exalt with all your heart,
for Yahweh, your God is in your midst.

-chorus-

You have no more evil to fear.
You have no more evil to fear.
Do not let your hands fall limp,
for Yahweh, your God is in your midst.

-chorus-

And when the time comes
I will rescue the lame,
and when the time comes
I will gather the strays,
and when the time comes
I will be your guide.
I will gather you in
and give you renown
among all peoples.

He will renew you by His love!

Lyrics to the song "And The Father Will Dance" by Carey Landry based on the scripture from Zephaniah 3: 14-17, 19-20.

St. Joan of Arc

On this Veterans Day or Remembrance Day, I want to share this inspiring article by Ben D. Kennedy:

     "This spiritual truth is one that St. Joan of Arc exemplified in her life and actions and one that I was only personally able to completely comprehend through studying Joan. I had always heard the old saying that 'God helps those who help themselves' however I was taught in the churches that I attended that this was not true because these exact words are not contained in the Bible. When I came to the part of Joan’s life where she was examined by theologians prior to her being given command of the armies of France she was asked: 'If God desires to deliver France where is the need for soldiers?' Joan famously responded: 'In God’s name, the soldiers will fight and He will grant victory.' The priests examining Joan understood that Joan was correctly saying that God will aid those who attempt to aid themselves trusting in God for the ultimate victory such as the example of David when he stepped forward to face Goliath trusting God for victory."

Joan was fighting in real physical combat, but let's remember for just a moment what sacred scripture says regarding the real spiritual battle. St. Paul in speaking to the Ephesians uses very active verbs. There's nothing passive about it. We are not waiting for the Lord to arm us for battle. They are imperative phrases. The commands in Eph 6: 10-18 imply (you) do this:

• "draw your strength from the Lord"
• "put on the armor of God"
• "hold your ground"
• "stand fast"
• "hold faith as a shield"
• "take the helmet of salvation"
• "take the sword of the Spirit" (the word of God)
• "pray at every opportunity in the Spirit"
• "be watchful with perseverance and supplication"

This is my responsibility. This is how I fight. In God's name I will dress myself in the armor for battle against evil and He will grant me victory!

Kennedy continued:
     "I was recently reminded again of this spiritual truth in a way that made me think of Joan when a friend of mine sent me a link to a news article about Robert E. Lee’s sword. What caught my attention were the words contained on one side of the sword: Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera. These are the French words that Joan is renowned for speaking during her life and it is highly likely that the French craftsman who made this sword placed them on the sword in memory of one Christian general as a present for another. It is easy to envision Robert E. Lee gazing upon this sword and drawing strength from these words during the darkest moments of his life.

Thank you Joan for continuing to teach me along with everyone else about the truths of God."

St. Joan of Arc, pray for us and especially all military veterans!

For more articles by Ben D. Kennedy on St. Joan of Arc go to this blogspot: http://saint-joan-of-arc.blogspot.com/

Joy & Peace

R/. "In you, O Lord, I have found my peace."

St. Paul speaks to the Philippians about joy and peace. This is the wisdom he shares:

     "Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petition full of gratitude. Then God's own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.

     Finally,...your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise. Live according to what you have learned and accepted, what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then will the God of peace be with you." Phil 4:4-9

Paul's instructions are clear:

• Be joyful
• Let go of anxiety
• Let God know what you need with thanksgiving
• Watch what you think
• Live with integrity
• Put your faith into practice

Grace & peace,

Sheila

Rejoice!

Wrap Your Arms

"Good morning, dear Lord!" the little one said.
"I love you!
I feel joy and peace
sitting in the stillness
of your presence.
What is your concern today?"

"Rejoice that I have risen!" the Wise One said.

The little one continued, "I know that you have risen from the dead,
and that you are alive.
What more do you mean, O Lord?"

"So too shall you be with me," the Wise One continued.
"I am with you now, but so too shall you be."

"Thank you," dearest Lord, the little one said.
"You are alive! Tell me more."

The Wise One continued, "I am living, and breathing,
thinking and moving. I am a person."

"Wrap your arms tightly around me,"
the little one begged.

"Rest deeply in me today," the Wise One instructed.

The little one queried, "How does that look?
What must I do?"

"Take quiet time with me," the Wise One encouraged.

And then the Wise One began to sing,
"Come unto me when you are heavily burdened
and take my yoke upon your shoulders,
I will give you rest.    Mt 11: 28
Like a shepherd I feed my flock
and gather the lambs in my arms,
holding you carefully close to my heart,
leading you home."    Ez 34: 11

The little one rejoiced and said,
"Thank you, Lord, for feeding your sheep,
with your life-giving Word
that, like your steadfast love,
is new every morning." Lam 3: 22-24

Psalm 131

Today's psalm response:

     In you, O Lord, I have found my peace, I have found my peace.

dove outside my window at home yesterday

My heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things too great
and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a child quieted at its mother's breast;
like a child that is quieted is my soul.

Live by Love

"To live by love
is to go through life
sowing peace and joy in hearts!"

--St. Therese, The Little Flower

Anxiety and Restlessness

Women of Peace ministry began when a desire within me increased to overcome anxiety and be led forth in peace. Other women expressed their desire to experience the same grace.

I remain aware that when my duties increase, my responsibilities multiply, the holidays are coming and relatives too, that I need to be more protected from all anxiety.

Here is what St. Padre Pio advises about that:

"Beware of anxiety and restlessness because there is nothing that more greatly impedes progress towards perfection. Sweetly place your heart in the wounds of our Lord, but not with force. Have great confidence in His mercy, because He will never abandon you. But do not fail, for this reason, to tightly embrace His Holy Cross."    

Just to reiterate...three things Padre Pio recommended:

• place your heart in the wounds of the Lord
• have confidence in His mercy
• embrace His Holy Cross

Dear Lord, Father of heaven and earth,

     We offer to you this day our hearts as we place them in the wounds of your son, Jesus. We offer the resounding "YES" to your holy and perfect will and ask that you increase our confidence in your mercy. Forgive us of our sins and protect us from all anxiety. Give us, we beg you, O Lord, an increase, too, in the capacity to embrace your Holy Cross. Amen!

Grace & peace be with you,
Sheila

Be Not Afraid

Early this morning I went with my husband to a chapel. Near the end of adoration, I was flooded with the song "Be Not Afraid" by Bob Dufford. I could hear the first verse:

 "You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety, though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand.
You shall see the face of God and live."

And then the refrain:

"Be not afraid. I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest."

I came home and was led to the blog site Whispers in the Loggia by Rocco Palmo. He had written a post entitled "Blessed Are You, John Paul II, Because You Believed!" http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2011/10/blessed-are-you-john-paul-ii-because.html

Little did I know it is the feast day of Blessed Pope John Paul II and words from his inaugural homily of the pontificate were being quoted. What were they? "Do not be afraid!"

I love it when this happens. The Lord speaks in our hearts when we take time to listen and then we turn somewhere else and that word is confirmed. Life in the Spirit is so exciting!

Here's an excerpt from John Paul's homily on October 22, 1978:

"...Do not be afraid. Open, I say open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development.

So often today, man does not know that which is in him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair.

We ask you, therefore, we beg you with humility and with trust: let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of life eternal."

Amen to the prayer of your heart, Blessed John Paul II.
Intercede for us!

Turn, Turn, Turn

" To everything--turn, turn, turn

There is a season--turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under heaven.

A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, a time to reap.

A time to kill, a time to heal. A time to laugh, a time to weep...

A time of love, a time of hate,
A time of peace, I swear it's not to late."



Words from the Book of Ecclesiastes
Adaptation by Pete Seeger 1962
Photos taken at Bayard Cutting Arboretum/New York State Park

The Spirit Pleads

From a letter to Proba by St. Augustine, bishop describing the peace that surpasses all understanding:

     "The person who asks for and seeks this one thing from the Lord makes his petition confidently and serenely. He has no fear that, when he receives it, it may harm him, for if it is absent, anything else he duly receives brings no benefit at all. This is the one, true and only life of happiness, that, immortal and incorruptible in body and spirit, we should contemplate the Lord's graciousness for ever. It is for the sake of this one thing that everything else is sought and without impropriety requested. The person who has this will have all that he wants; in heaven, he will be unable to want, because he will be unable to possess anything that is unfitting."

I love it when the saints simplify spiritual truths and that's what St. Augustine does in today's reading from the liturgy of the hours. His letter to Proba was continued through the past week's second readings beginning last Sunday through today--Friday. I highly recommend reading all the excerpts from the letter because they are so full of wisdom.

Augustine reminds us of the "one thing" we should seek: "to dwell in the Lord's house all the days of my life" (Ps 27: 4) which is the happiness that is everlasting. It is the peace that surpasses understanding.

In prayer he suggests we pray as Jesus did, "not my will, but thine be done" and then abandon ourselves so that our will can be transformed to our Father's, and become accepting of any circumstances that the Lord allows for our greater good.

Even when we do not know what to pray for the Spirit of God does, and "pleads for the saints according to God's will." (Rm 8: 27) Augustine explains that this pleading, this intercession "moves the saints to plead," to intercede.

So let us continue to stir into flame our desire to "dwell in the house of the Lord all our days" by praying as Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer.

Grace & peace!

Sheila  

Being Vulnerable

“ If you want to love, you must be willing to be vulnerable. The Gospel makes it clear that if you extend your hand often enough in a gesture of love, someone will drive a nail through it. If you love others, you may be deceived, betrayed and abandoned. If you love Christ, you must walk the difficult road to Calvary, but you will begin to see yourself borne by powers that are beyond you. It may not be very noticeable at first. It may be no more than patience with criticism, or extra generosity after you have done enough. You may feel firmly drawn to God even when you can’t pray. You will begin to change. … Love inspired by charity is one of the most potent forces in the world.”

An excerpt from the book Stumbling Blocks, Stepping Stones
by Father Benedict Groeschel

Getting Stuck

“Many of us…get stuck worrying about what’s going wrong or what has gone wrong. We get bogged down living negatively. How do we change this?

We start by shifting our mindset from constant negativity to more positive thinking.

When we choose to think more positively, we act more positively, we speak more positively, and ultimately, we feel better about life. The best place to start is to cultivate an attitude of gratefulness and appreciation. Give it a try. I promise happiness is right around the corner.”  Dr. Meg Meeker

..."be transformed by the renewing of your mind...Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Rm 12:2

Nobel Peace Prize

Leymah Gbowee

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 was awarded on Friday to three women--two from Africa and one from the Arab world--"in acknowledgment of their nonviolent role in promoting peace, democracy and gender equality. The winners were President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia — Africa’s first elected female president — her compatriot, peace activist Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakul Karman of Yemen, a pro-democracy campaigner.    

They were the first women to win the prize since Kenya’s Wangari Maathai, who died last month, was named as the laureate in 2004." Alan Cowell, London 

Congratulations to these courageous women of peace. We applaud you!

peaceful protesters

Hillary Clinton said this about the women:

"They are shining examples of the difference that women can make and the progress they can help achieve when given the opportunity to make decisions about the future of their societies and countries.

The unflinching courage, strength and leadership of these women to build peace, advance reconciliation, and defend the rights of fellow citizens in their own countries provide inspiration for women's rights and human progress everywhere. This recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments reflects the efforts of many other women who are promoting peace and security in their countries and communities. I want to commend the Nobel Committee for recognizing the powerful role women are playing in building peace and ending conflict around the world."


For more on the story of the women of Liberia go to this link:

http://www.becomingwomenofpeace.com/2011/07/women-of-liberia.html

St. Francis Peace Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

St. Francis in our backyard

where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
    by St. Francis of Assisi

Peace With Self

Today's epistle instructs us:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4: 6-8

Pray, petition, and give thanks. "The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable: 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer." (CC 2631) Another important aspect of receiving this peace is thanksgiving. Hopefully these three elements can be woven together each time we pray so it becomes a habit pattern. 

The letter from Paul to the Philippians continues:

"Finally,...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

O, the wisdom from St. Paul. "Think about such things"...shows us the importance of what we think and the effect it has on our experience of peace. No doubt when we focus on the opposite of these values--whatever is false, ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, pathetic, base, of bad report...we grow anxious.

Our world is full of news of bad report. We're bombarded from every side and every form of media. There's an excess of immorality, greed, corruption, falsehood, murder, only to name a few of the evils. And we can't escape hearing about it.

But what we can do is learn, know and incorporate the sacred scriptures--the Good News--in our daily lives. This serves as a great buffer and protection against all evil often manifest in the stories we hear in the news.

Wouldn't it be great to model life in such a way that we can say to others, like Paul, what you have learned, and heard, and seen in me, put into practice?

May our Lord bless us with such grace that we can experience abundant peace in our hearts and minds, no matter what happens.

The Little Flower

Rejoice! And that is what I have done on this glorious feast day of The Little Flower, Saint Therese of Lisieux. My heart rejoices!

I woke this morning filled with joy knowing I was going to 7:30 AM Mass with friends before the women's prayer breakfast. And just as I was about to walk out the door the phone rang.

On the other end of the line was my dear husband, my honeylamb. He had finished an hour of adoration in the hospital's chapel and was letting me know he left early this morning without enough gas in the car, his wallet (meaning money) and was afraid he would not be able to make it to the nearest gas station.

"Could you come help me?" he asked.

Stunned on the other end of the phone, my frustration rang out. "You're asking me to come...there? I'll miss Mass. I can't believe you're..."

"Never mind," he said and the phone clicked off.

Immediately realizing my ungracious response, I tried to dial him back. No answer. He had not taken his cell phone either.

It became crystal clear to me that I was to let go of my desire for Mass and offer up the sacrifice of helping my husband instead. That's my first vocation I reminded myself...I'll be blessed for that. And I sure won't feel good going to a prayer breakfast knowing I left him high and dry.

So off I drove in the opposite direction heading toward the gas station I figured he'd try to get to. Just a mile later (he had already traveled four miles) we passed each other on the road and did a quick turnaround so I could hand off some money and express a quick apology. He was glad to see me.

At 7:20 AM now I thought "Well, I can still make it to the church for part of the Mass." Praying for green lights I covered over eight miles in record time (it helped that it was a week-end with light traffic). I flew out of the car once I arrived at the church and dashed up the stairs into the chapel. Mass hadn't even started yet even though it was almost 7:35 AM at this point.  No sooner did I genuflect and scurry to my seat than the priest came out the door to begin Mass.

I had to chuckle with the sense of God's timing.

The whole experience multiplied my joy for the day. St. Therese, do you have something to do with how this worked out so well?

I just want to thank you today, Therese, for being such a good good friend! Now here's a rose from my garden back to you who bestows so many roses from heaven to earth!

I love you!

Archangels

Today is the Feast of the Holy Archangels.

Kathryn, my mother's painting

The Gospel reading of the day reminds us to "become as little children."  The priest at Mass today said this means we go to God each day with open hands saying, "Papa, what do you have for me today?"

He continued to share that this feast is all about humility. God lowered and humbled himself in his descent to earth. This is what made many of the angels rebel.

No one is more humble than a child. I am so blessed by little 4 year-old Annie at church who runs to me each Sunday with open arms to tell me she loves me. Her face looks like a cherub. I am struck deeply by her innocence.

Thank God for his angelic heavenly protection for all his children.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

The Poor

Yesterday was the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, priest. Here is some of his advice:

" If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer. Do not become upset or feel guilty because you interrupted your prayer to serve the poor. God is not neglected if you leave him for such service. One of God's works is merely interrupted so that another can be carried out. So when you leave prayer to serve some poor person, remember that this very service is performed for God."  1

What strikes me most is the line, "do whatever has to be done with peace of mind." And so as charity beckons us we are to move with sweetness not bitterness, positivity not negativity, flexibility not rigidity, gentleness not harshness, trust not fear, faith not doubt.

I was told by a wise person recently that this saint is very powerful in obtaining an answer to our prayers. He was a true servant of the poor. Let us ask for his intercession:

Dear St. Vincent de Paul, you learned to walk the higher road, and understood the miseries of earthly creatures like ourselves. We pray for the grace to move in charity and in the power of the Spirit. Help us to overcome all religious spirits and to possess a truly spiritual disposition. We desire the peace of mind of which you speak so when the poor need us, whether it be our children, spouses, friends or other loved ones, obtain for us we beg thee, the grace to respond to their need for help, with peace of mind and heart, offering all for the greater glory of God. We thank thee. Amen.

1. Excerpt from the writings of St. Vincent de Paul (Epist. 2546)

Peace of Heart

"Once we have accepted that all things are in the hand of God, and that the great events of history, like the smallest details of our own lives, are willed or permitted by Him, we begin to experience an unassailable peace of heart.  'In everything,' says Saint Paul, 'God works for good with those who love Him' (Rom 8:28). Worry has never advanced the kingdom of heaven. Worry has never made anyone holy. Panic, fretting, and anxiety are not fruits of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost produces confidence in God, trust in His mercy, abandonment to His designs, surrender to His will and, always, peace."     Father Mark Kirby, O.S.B.

To see the complete post entitled "In the Hand of His Providence" by Father Mark go to:

http://vultus.stblogs.org/2011/09/in-the-hand-of-his-providence.html

Lady of Sorrows

Today I remembered Our Lady of Sorrows and the special graces she showered to help me discern the direction for Women of Peace. Here's an excerpt from the history page of this blog:

Listening carefully with the ear of my heart, praying for obedience and a brave heart to follow the Spirit's lead, strong instructions came concretely clear--"hold the first Women of Peace workshop on Sept. 15, 2001 on the Solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows at the Convent of Our Sorrowful Mothers."

So I did just that! And sorrowful mothers we (retreatants) were that day. Only four days after 9/11, we were never more full of anxiety. The whole nation was grieved by the horrific violence and tragedy we had just witnessed days before. As the presenter of the Women of Peace workshop, I could hardly speak at times with so many broken hearts in the room. The divinely orchestrated moments of that poignant day were indelibly impressed on my heart forever.

In our grief and confusion we received consolation and clarity. As our minds listened to those timely messages, we received life in greater measure and truth that truly set us free...

Now here we are ten years later remembering our nation's sorrow over 9/11. Surely, Our Lady of Compassion still has a sword of sorrow piercing her heart for all the grave offenses that continue against the Sacred Heart of her son, Jesus, our Lord.

There is an incisive description of her seven sorrows on the following blog site: http://vultus.stblogs.org/2011/09/the-seven-sorrows-of-the-mothe.html

Let us ask for her intercession. Our Lady of Sorrows and of great compassion, pray for us.

Sowing Peace

" To live by love
 is to go through life
sowing peace and joy
in hearts."  St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower

What are ten practical ways to sow these seeds?:

• Call others by name
• Listen carefully
• Be gentle in speech
• Encourage others
• Do kind deeds
• Recognize people's birthdays
• Celebrate others' achievements
• Reassure others of God's unfailing love and goodness
• Reconcile quickly
• Be a hope bearer

Peace and joy to you this day!

Rooted in Him

" So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,
walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one captivate you
with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to human tradition,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ.
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power." Col 2: 6- 9

This strong exhortation from St. Paul to the Colossians reminds us that we need to stay true to the faith. Many people however today are pulling away from what they were taught and wavering in their faith for various reasons. All of us can be tempted to do that.

Perhaps it's what we've chosen to think--our own adopted philosophy of life, or our particular needs, and at times illnesses cause us to withdraw from God's love doubting that He's still with us as He promised. Whatever it may be, we need to be mindful of the factors influencing our relationship with the Lord.

Pope Benedict XVI asserts that "the seduction of a materialistic culture of individualism" is causing people to be self-centered. According to a news report by Fiona Govan in Madrid, he addressed pilgrims gathered there recently at World Youth Day telling them to avoid “the fashion of individualism” and not to keep their faith private but to participate in church life and share the faith.

“We cannot follow Jesus on our own,” the 84-year old pontiff said. “So do not keep Christ to yourselves! Share with others the joy of your faith.”

Because of individualism he says we need a re-evangelization of the Christian world, not just evangelization of non-believers.

Let us guard against this error in the world, strive to be other-centered and share our faith freely. And in all things be "abounding in thanksgiving." The antidote to modern individualism, Benedict says, is the Eucharist--which means thanksgiving. Thus will we find the fullness of peace within ourselves and go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Nativity of Mary

Rejoicing today on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the day we remember Mary's birth.

She is a perfect role model for those of us interested in becoming women of peace in our hearts and in this world. She was a disciple--a person who exquisitely listened to God and to her son, Jesus.

What other qualities can we glean from her life?

• She was open to the will of God
• She praised Him for what He called her to do and be
• She found joy for the mission

Let us say with the psalmist today, "With delight I rejoice in the Lord!" Ps  13 : 6

Filipinos Ready to Pray 1 Million Rosaries

Spirit Daily has this article online today:

MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 31, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The Family Rosary Crusade in the Philippines is spearheading a campaign to get 1 million Filipinos to pray 1 million rosaries in 200 days for all nations in the world.

Dubbed "A million roses for the world: Filipinos at Prayer: Peace for All Nations," the campaign aims to rally Filipinos to offer one rosary each day for a particular country in the world in 200 days. The nationwide activity will begin Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and end May 31, 2012, Feast of Our Lady of All Nations.

Bishop Nereo Odchimar, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, lauded the campaign, saying that with 1 million peace-loving Filipinos praying together, "we can claim peace for the world from the hands of the good Lord and his mother."

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, director of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education, which partners with the Family Rosary Crusade, also encouraged the faithful to join a similar rosary campaign for schools nationwide dubbed "1.1 on 11/11."

This initiative will bring students of Catholic schools, colleges and universities to pray simultaneously 1 million and 100 rosaries at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2011. "This campaign aims to teach our youth that prayer can change the world and people who pray can change the destinies of peoples," the archbishop said. "Indeed there can be no world peace without prayer."                                  

Seek His Face

"Seek the face of the Lord and long for him:
He will bring you his light and his peace."  M. Joncas

Come my child into the deep silence
of my quiet presence.
There I can speak better
to the deep recesses of your heart.
I will embrace you there.
I will bless you beyond measure.

Come to me with all your heart,
and let not fear keep us apart.
I want to draw you closer
than you've ever been before.
Come follow me.

Come into a quiet place
where I can speak
to the deep recesses of your heart,
from the deep recesses
of my heart.

Come away from the noise and stimuli
that dull your senses,
from the clanging and banging
that keep you from hearing my voice.

There are secrets I long to tell you,
secrets of my heart,
deep secrets you can only hear,
when you come away with me. 1 Cor 4: 1

Be Prepared

When I reflect on the things going on in my life and in the world, the words that come to me are: Be prepared! My husband said that's the Boy Scout's motto. So I guess we should all be like boy scouts.

More and more natural disasters are threatening our world. Earthquakes happening--now a major hurricane; we've seen our share of tornadoes and flooding too.

Last weekend a young newly ordained priest of our diocese and a young seminarian were killed in a tragic car accident. The Lord came for them at an unexpected hour.

How do we prepare? Here are some practical tips:

• Stay close to the Lord through prayer
• Be thankful which helps us grow in grace
• Confess our sins readily
• Stay in the Word which gives life and direction
• Serve Him with our gifts and talents 

" 'Be prepared for what?' someone once asked Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting. 'Why, for any old thing,' said Baden-Powell."

Are we prepared for any old thing?

"The training you receive in your troop will help you live up to the Scout motto. When someone has an accident, you are prepared because of your first aid instruction. Because of lifesaving practice, you might be able to save a nonswimmer who has fallen into deep water."

With the increase of disasters all around us it might be good for all of us to have first aid instruction and, when you think about it, God should be our "First Aid" since he's our primary source of assistance!

"But Baden-Powell wasn't thinking just of being ready for emergencies. His idea was that all Scouts should prepare themselves to become productive citizens and to give happiness to other people. He wanted each Scout to be ready in mind and body for any struggles, and to meet with a strong heart whatever challenges might lie ahead. Be prepared for life - to live happily and without regret, knowing that you have done your best. That's what the Scout motto means." 1

What about this motto strikes you:

• become productive citizens?
• give happiness to other people?
• be ready in mind and body for any struggles?
• meet with a strong heart whatever challenges might lie ahead?
• live happily and without regret?
• do your best? 

Maybe it's time to reflect on Boy Scout's 101 and make sure we are prepared.

"Therefore stay awake! ...So too, ...be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Mt. 24: 42 & 44

Grace & peace,
Sheila

1. Excerpt from page 54, Boy Scout Handbook, 11th ed.

Battle to Love

The Story of A Soul, St. Therese of Lisieux's autobiography is kept on our breakfast room table. Twice in two days I have randomly turned to the same page and my eyes fell on the same excerpt. It is well worth pondering because she shares how she overcame a problem in relating to another person with an increase of charity in her actions. This is what she said that caught my attention:

"I am, I confess, far from practising what I know I should, yet the mere desire I have to do so gives me peace. If it happens that I fall and commit a fault against charity, I rise again at once. For some months I have no longer even had to struggle. I can say with our Father St. John of the Cross: 'My house is entirely at peace,' and I attribute this deep peace to a certain battle which I won. Ever since this victory the hosts of heaven come to my aid, for they cannot bear to see me wounded after I fought so valiantly on the occasion I am going to describe."

Therese demonstrates the great moral virtue of a true saint. They fall like us in their humanity but get back up quickly! Take notice of how she found deep interior peace from exercising her free will to obey Jesus' greatest commandment to love as He loved. She continues:

"Formerly one of our nuns managed to irritate me whatever she did or said. The devil was mixed up in it, for it was certainly he who made me see so many disagreeable traits in her. As I did not want to give way to my natural dislike for her, I told myself that charity should not only be a matter of feeling but should show itself in deeds. So I set myself to do for this sister just what I should have done for someone I loved most dearly. Every time I met her, I prayed for her and offered God all her virtues and her merits. I was sure that this would greatly delight Jesus, for every artist likes to have his works praised and the divine Artist of souls is pleased when we do not halt outside the exterior of the sanctuary where He has chosen to dwell but go inside and admire its beauty."

Isn't it helpful to hear the saints speak honestly about real problems in their lives and learn how they dealt with them? Okay, so Therese too was irritated by the behaviors of another person that she lived with. How many of us can relate to that? But right away she says she doesn't want to "give way to my natural dislike." So we're not alone; everyone struggles with this same issue. We don't like everyone we meet and it's those very people that can be gift to us because they cause us to change, to convert our own heart as we talked about in yesterday's post.  Quickly Therese resolves to bend her will to goodness and mercy just as we would for anyone we love.

Well, Sr. Therese succeeded. One day the nun came to her and said, "...will you please tell me what attracts you so much to me? You give me such a charming smile whenever we meet.." And Therese's shared in her autobiography that it was "Jesus hidden in the depth of her soul who attracted me, Jesus who makes the bitterest things sweet!"

If you're like me, you just chuckle hearing the question the other nun asked her. Because of her obedience to the command to love, Therese says that a heavenly host came to her aid to help her since she fought the valiant fight to love. Do we think of it like that--a valiant fight to love?

Here's a recap on the practical steps Therese took so we can apply them in our life:

1. Recognize the problem and admit it
2. Rise quickly after falling into error
3. Desire to delight Jesus
4. Make a conscious choice to love
5. Pray for the graces necessary to overcome
6. See that person as the work of the divine Artist
7. Desire to put into practice what we should
8. Pray for the person we dislike
9. Offer God all their merits and virtues

May we also win the battle to love and find what Therese experienced: "My house is entirely at peace."

I Confess

"Cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside may also be clean." Mt 23: 26

Ever wonder why things may not be going as well as you hoped? We look all around at circumstances in our life wanting to find something or someone else to blame. But what about ourselves? Are we being honest with ourselves about what we might need to be responsible for, what we might need to change?

This scripture reading from today's gospel speaks about the need to examine our own selves for whatever may need to be cleansed within us.

It is true God's purposes can not be fully accomplished in our lives when there is strife in our relationships and instead of expecting someone else to change, let's see what we can do about changing ourselves.

Praying for the grace of God to shed light on truth and asking for a revelation of truth is most helpful. The reception of these graces means we'll see the sin within us more clearly, have the courage to admit it, find the wisdom to understand it and finally overcome it.

The Holy Spirit can come into our hearts and do a mighty work when we are open and resolve to sin no more. Let's pull up the covers this week over our souls and get rid of the filth.

As soon as we do this, new hope is born in our hearts and we can rejoice knowing God's purposes will not be hindered in our lives.

World Youth Day

" Faith is a gift of God, faith is a relationship with Christ Jesus, and following Jesus in faith means walking at his side in the communion of the Church."

The homily of Pope Benedict XVI reiterated these points during the concluding Mass of World Youth Day.

"Growing in friendship with Christ necessarily means recognizing the importance of joyful participation in the life of your parishes, communities and movements, as well as the celebration of Sunday Mass, frequent reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation, and the cultivation of personal prayer and meditation on God's word.

Friendship with Jesus will also lead you to bear witness to the faith wherever you are, even when it meets with rejection or indifference. We can not encounter Christ and not make Him known to others. So do not keep Christ to yourselves. Share with others the joy of your faith. The world that needs the witness of your faith surely needs God."

Pope Benedict XVI
Madrid, Spain
August 21, 2011

All Ye Saints

One Christmas after our children had just left
to go back home after the holidays,
my husband and I felt a sense of loss 
because suddenly it was so quiet
and their presence was gone.

And then my husband was inspired with the idea--

let's name each room after a saint.

And in that moment it seemed our home
filled up with presence again.

Some of the rooms were easy to name.
Religious objects received as gifts
had been placed in them years before.

The large living/dining room for instance
had a picture of Our Lady,
as seen in Medjugorje,

so it became Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

Our breakfast room is the littlest room in our home,
so it's in honor of St. Therese of Lisieux,
my favorite saint. 

We keep her autobiography in there for reference.

For our den, we chose the late Pope John Paul II,
who we so greatly loved

and has since been beatified, 

a step closer to canonization as a saint.
We have a prayer book he wrote on our coffee table.

Our kitchen had a plaque

of St. Catherine of Siena, holding a lily,

so it was named after her.

The utility room and garage are for St. Joseph,
the father of Jesus and a carpenter.

It just seemed fitting
to name the work rooms after him.
Our son's name is Joseph,
and someone gave him a statue
of his namesake.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, became the saint of our study

because we love to learn his teachings

about listening with the heart

and journaling what we hear
that still small voice say.

Since we were married

on the Feast of St. John, the Evangelist,

our bedroom was dedicated to him.
A photo from our pilgrimage to Knock,
an apparition site in Ireland,
where St. John appeared with Our Lady,
hangs there reminding us of our wedding day.

Our guest room, since we are Benedictine Oblates,

is, you can guess,...St. Benedict

because of his great teachings on hospitality.

The entry hall is for St. Michael, the Archangel.

His picture was already hanging there.
A gift given to us by my mother.

And finally, our yard--to St. Francis of Assisi,

a statue of whom was given to my husband
as a gift from co-workers. 

I wasn't sure about naming the bathrooms,
but a close friend suggested at dinner one night
that we do.

So our master bathroom was named after St. John Vianney,

who in that year of 2009 was the patron saint
for the sanctification of priests.

And our guest bathroom is dedicated to St. Padre Pio,
another reader of souls like John Vianney,

so that seemed fitting
since souls were naked to these holy men of God,
and our bodies naked in the bathroom.

And now we can call on these saints in a litany,

and the sense of community has grown

and filled our hearts and home

with fullness and joy.

Our home is permeated
with the holy presence of these saints.

Whenever I'm feeling critical of my surroundings,

I remember to call on their intercession

and my perception shifts.

I see beauty again and my heart fills with gratitude

for what I have been given--
friendship with saints.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us

St. Therese, pray for us

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us

St. Catherine, pray for us

St. Joseph, pray for us

St. John, the Evangelist, pray for us

St. John Vianney, pray for us

                     St. Benedict, pray for us

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us

St. Padre Pio, pray for us

                St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us

Scripture says, "We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses..." Heb 12: 1 We have mighty powerful friends above who we can call on to pray for us and our families and those we know who are in need.

These saints found the peace that surpasses understanding, preached and lived the Gospel of peace, and now rest in peace.

All ye saints above, PRAY FOR US!!

Sr. Jacinta Dorado, O.S.B.

Today's Woman of Peace is Sr. Jacinta Dorado, O.S.B. She is a Benedictine Sister of St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A. Last October, she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee which is the anniversary of sixty years of religious profession.

I met her when she was the principal in the grade school I attended. I have distinct memories of her being very serene. As a young child, I sensed her extraordinary peace and over the past five decades, she has radiated that same peaceful spirit every time I see her.

This is what she said about peace:

"What is peace? Every human person on earth wants peace. If we wish to have peace, we must be willing to be transformed by the love of Jesus. What does this mean?

Like clay in the hands of the potter who molds it into an earthen vessel, we must be willing to have our inner life, our inner being reshaped by the Great Potter, Jesus.

Throughout the Bible God places clear choices before us. He admonishes us when he says: 'Do what is right and you'll have peace,' and 'Love one another as I have loved you.'

Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity. Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ. 'He is our peace.' Eph 2: 14 He said, ' Blessed are the peacemakers for they will see God.' " Mt 5: 9

For more information on the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monastery see this link: http://stjosephmonastery.org/

Mother's Message

"Dear children!

May this time be for you

a time of prayer and silence.

Rest your body and spirit,

may they be in God’s love.

Permit me, little children, to lead you,

open your hearts to the Holy Spirit

so that all the good that is in you

may blossom and bear fruit

one hundred fold.

Begin and end the day

with prayer with the heart.

Thank you for having responded to my call."

Our Lady of Medjugorje's July 25, 2011 Monthly Message

This morning in prayer I said,
"Speak Lord, your servant is listening." 1 Sam 3: 10
And the word I heard
was rest.
"Rest, I just want you to rest right now."
And I added, "Could you please confirm that word?"

Finding Our Lady's monthly message this evening
was confirmation.
She is giving her children the same message,
"Rest...!"

How hard is it just for us to rest?
To give ourselves permission to rest
and not feel guilty that we're not
accomplishing something?
How important is it
to heed the Lord's command
to rest on the Sabbath?

We need this to maintain
a balance in our lives of
action and contemplation.
We need rest in order to
become women of peace.

Rest, ...just...rest!

Bloom Where You're Planted

He could read hearts.

With such a gift people would travel
for hundreds of miles
just to go to him
for confession of their sins.

He was given an assignment
in a very small town
most priests wouldn't desire.
Maybe he didn't either.
But it didn't keep him from blooming
where he was planted.

Are we blooming where we are planted?
Or are we waiting
for another stage in our life,
a better time, a better place?

This is the time, this is the place, now!

Like St. John Vianney,
through the grace of God
we can be faithful to our "ars."
Ars is the place he was assigned.

Wherever we are assigned right now--
our home, our family, our circumstances--
is the place we need to bloom.