Blessed Seraphina provides a model for how to use physical suffering and humiliation to advance our spiritual growth. Jesus, help me to bear my aches and pains, and illness by keeping an image of your suffering always in my mind and heart.
Meditations for Each Day, pg.96, Detachment from the World. “Work & Pray with our feet on the earth and our minds in Heaven. Seek God (not ourselves) in everything we do.
Scripture Reading Day 12 “The Way of the Cross” Luke 23:34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]* They divided his garments by casting lots.r
In a few short days, Easter week will arrive. Have you taken a moment to make note on your Lent? Have you considered whether it was difficult or easy? Did it bring you closer to Jesus? Did you have any light bulb moments that you plan to take with you as you continue your journey to Christ? Have you considered making a weekly “Holy Hour”? Think about it. Pray about it. Just you and Jesus, one hour, every week, in conversation.
St. Eulogius reminds us how effective prayer-based action is in building the Kingdom of God. Jesus, teach us how to pray to the Father, remind me to use the words You gave us often and with deep sincerity.
Meditations for Each Day, pg. 95, The growth of Jesus. It is impossible to standstill in life.
Scripture reading for Day 11 of “The Way of the Cross” Matthew 26:39 u He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father,* if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”
Good Morning! Today I am weary, so I am extremely thankful my day is easy. Just a few hours of pick-up and delivery, and I am finished. I see we have “weather” moving in. Looks like north of us will get the brunt of it. I can live with that. The last payment on a 2-year debt has been made. Live & learn, should have paid cash and didn’t, dumb move on my part. On the upnote, have more jingle in my pocket now. Had a moment yesterday to speak with DS#4… always good to hear his voice. Looking forward to seeing him in April. Also passed a message to DS#3… hopefully he considers the source of the original message. DD#4 sounded hopeful yesterday. I was glad to hear that in her voice. Oh, life can be a butt kicker if you don’t have hope.
Today’s ponder... “You cannot pray in faith and wait in doubt.” This should be on a T-shirt.
Today, we celebrate with Kurt & Cecile as they celebrate their 19th anniversary.
St John Ogilvie reveals that conversion as a thoughtful process is as valid as conversion through our emotions. Jesus, let me never take my closeness to You for granted, for it is only when I am aware of You in my life that I can bring others to You.
Meditations for Each Day, pg 93, The Hidden Life of Jesus There are many who complain that their work is degrading or heavy or unsatisfying. This is an indication that they are working for themselves rather than for God.
Scripture Reading Day 10 of “The Way of the Cross” John 12:24-25 * Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;r but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life* loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.s
Taming Trents is a blog worthy of following. “The Gardner” was particularly moving for me
“Maybe I was never meant to harvest the beauty as fast as it appeared Maybe I was supposed to let it stay. Let it scent the air. Let it catch heaven’s dew in the early morning quiet. Let it exist without needing to be cut, held, or shown. I’m grieving the garden I keep destroying Because I thought I had something to prove.
Good Morning! Another early morning with places to go and people to see. A lot is happening in my life these days. Much of it brings sadness. But that’s to be expected when you’re a mother with many children, each with their own personalities and ghosts to fight. The plight of the adoptive mother who took on the child that was already broken when it arrived, and did the best you could with the help of God to heal what was damaged. I believe, for the most part, my children healed well. Some have scabs and scars that are seen at different times when they are confronted with the past. Some have chosen to make it all my fault… a compliment in a mixed-up sort of way. Sort of validates my power as a parent over them. Gives me standing in their life, as if I were the biological parent. All of them are now in adulthood. Making choices and decisions that at times have me furrowing my brow. The old adage, “you can bring a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink,” comes to mind when I see them deviate from what they were taught and how they are living life. I see them struggle, as I did/do with decisions that I have decided to “fix” myself instead of taking to God through prayer. I love them. Plain and simple. Always will (even if I don’t agree) because I see they are trying, struggling, and doing what they believe they should (just as I did). Eventually, they will come to the realization that without God, there is no happy, satisfied place.
Sts. Perpetua & Felicity inspire us to greater sacrifice. Jesus, I pray for the strength to give even a fraction of what the saints gave.
Today, we remember Richard Murphy, who passed from this life to the next in 1995. May he rest in peace.
Scripture Reading for Day 7 of The Way of the Cross Matthew 16:24 q Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,* take up his cross, and follow me.
Meditations for Every Day, pg.89, St Thomas Aquinas
Way too much to do today, and little initiative to begin it. Had a wonderful day shopping, talking, and laughing with my friend Alma. She brought 3 of her teenage girls along; they had never been to Walmart, Hobby Lobby, or a thrift store. It was fun to watch them.
As you all know by now, I despise DST. It starts at 2am, tomorrow, ugh.
This man has awesome podcasts with good advice. JayJayDouglas, I cannot believe how much I enjoy what he has to say. I wish I had known some of these things at an earlier age.
Village shrouded in fog, peaceful, reminds me of an old mystery movie
Coffee strong
St Chrodegang helped bring us the movingly beautiful Gregorian Chant; we celebrate our faith and love for God. I pray to appreciate the many forms of worship enhanced by music, art, and writing with which God has gifted us.
From the Margins: Wisdom, Justice, Power, Mercy, constant guardians of the law.
Scripture Reading for Day 6 of The Way of the Cross Matthew 10:38-39 and whoever does not take up his cross* and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39*v Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Meditations for Each Day, pg. 88, Holy Contentment: …the knowledge that everything we suffer for the love of God helps us to merit (the quality of being particularly good or worthy)heaven.
Back in the 90’s, when we began foster care work with Core 3 children. We were nervous about expenses but felt called to care for these troubled children. I remember standing in the kitchen of our home on Manchester Ave in Earlville, IA, and hearing God tell me, “I take care of the Sparrows, I’ll take care of you too.) So, I quit my job, gave up my retirement plan, health care benefits, etc., and became a full-time mom. There was not one time God did not provide in some way, shape, or form exactly what our family needed. He continues to provide this today. There is nothing fancy about the way we live. Our lives are modest and simple. We do what we can, for whom we can, with what God provides for us daily. At one time or another, I have upset each of our children with my blundtness by stating in verbal or written words that the choices they are making are placing them in the near occasion of sin. That if they continue the path they are on, they will sin. Some have chosen to stop having a relationship with me. I’m okay with that because I find comfort in knowing I did what a parent is to do: counsel a child when they are headed in the wrong direction. I know I have done what God instructed me to do. The estrangement doesn’t mean I don’t love them. It means I have stopped enabling them to believe there is nothing wrong with their actions. We all struggle. We all fall short. But the learning begins when we stand firm in beginning the change in our lives that will lead us onto the pathway to a strong, intimate relationship with Jesus. Picking ourselves up, acknowledging in all honesty that we stepped off the path and need to begin again, praying that Jesus will keep us moving forward toward him. We all doubt, we all hate to be told what to do, we all want to be in control, we all go through dryness, we all wonder if there is a heaven at one time or another in our lives. These things are normal phases everyone goes through while cultivating a relationship with Christ.
Our deepest sympathies to the family of Mitchell Simonson. May he rest in peace.
From the Margins: The salvation of the state is the watchfulness of the citizen. (from the wall at the Nebraska State Capitol)
St Virgil teaches us to support our churches through prayer, work, and money. Jesus help me to be creative and generous in sharing my time and talent with my local church.
Meditations for Each Day pg. 87 Our Martyrdom: John 12:24-25 * Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;r but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life* loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.s
Scripture Reading for Day 5 Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.s
Good morning… My heart goes out to the family of Mitchell Simonson, age 17, who passed away suddenly. There are no words to express how shocking it is for one so young to pass without warning.
My day will be easier today just earlier and later than normal.
Hit deer #5 of the year last evening on my way home. The Lord was good to me, a few scratches and deer hair, not much else. For this, I am grateful. So that makes it: left front bumper, left front quarter panel, left front door, left rear door, and front bumper of a different car. No insurance claims as damage is minimal.
Birthday greetings to Chris P Anniversary greetings to John & Dora We remember Valerie K today may she rest in peace
Blessed Placida Viel demonstrated affection and cheerfulness as she educated poor girls in Fance. Father, help me to embody a good cheer and kindness as I teach others about You.
Scripture Reading for Day 4 Galatians 6:14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which* the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.k
Meditations for Each Day pg.86 The Imitation of Saints We are taught by words and attracted by examples. Acts 1:1 In the first book,a Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
Morning Early start for me today
Off to Loganville on a drop-off turnaround, then my usual workshop run, a midwife clinic run, then a run to Sparta to pick up “the Die Bote”, back to take workshop home, back to Loganville to pick up what I dropped off, and finally home.
Had I known ahead, I would have attended the Mass & Lunch in Hillsboro for Val. I miss her but remember her in her art. My all-time favorite is “Jesus in the Boat.” She didn’t title it that, but that’s what I see every time I look at it. Which led me to Padre Pio “…stay in the boat in which our Lord has placed you, and let the storm come. You will not perish. It appears to you that Jesus is sleeping, but let it be so. Don’t you know that if he sleeps, his heart vigilantly watches over you? Let him sleep, but at the right time, he will awaken to restore your calm.” (Her title was “Fallen”)
How’s Lent going for you? I found a small pamphlet with powerful information. “The Real Presence” by Fr. James B. Buckley FSSP is full of what Catholics teach about the Eucharist. I wish I could remember where I picked it up. Fraternity Publications should have it.
Birthday Greetings to John H and Lois B. Hoping both have a blest day!
St Katharine Drexel encourages us to stand against bigotry in all forms wherever we encounter it, whether in our communities or churches. Jesus, cleanse me of prejudice and let me be a friend to those who are persecuted and discriminated against.
Scripture Reading for Day 3 Galatians 2:20 yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.p
Meditations for Each Day, pg.85, The Shortness of Time How often we complain of the swiftness of time… Weigh it all up… How many hours do I spend… in useless pursuits of idle conversation or excessive entertainment or serious sin? How many hours do I spend… in prayer…mortification… apostolic work… helping my neighbor? Really heavy on one end, isn’t it? Let us determine to make good the deficit, resolve to use God’s precious gift of time in a manner befitting a reasonable human being and Christian.
I am guilty of wasting time… every day I get lost in the sloth of one kind or another. My days look scheduled, but mixed in there, I could be doing so much more with my faith life. Some days I even find myself making myself busy to avoid doing something I don’t really want to do, but that really needs doing. Make some time today to look at yourself, how you conduct your time, and why you plan it that way.
In the "Wilds of Wisconsin & Cornfields of Iowa" 