For those of you who do not already know, I have been asking for prayer for Ashley Kim, a friend of my sister's who broke her neck in a diving accident Saturday September 12th. She was airlifted to an out of state pediatric hospital and in addition to being in need of prayer the family is also in need of financial help. We all know the Lord provides, and He asks us to be His Hands, His Feet, and in this case His pocketbook.
I have added a donation button to this blog, which will also be added to a care page being set up for Ashley. Eventually I will also have an address for those who would prefer to mail checks. As soon as the care page is set up I will share it.
The thing I think of most as I sit here asking you for money is the Widow's Mite from the Gospel. Jesus told of a widow who gave to God what was essentially her last penny. In 2005 when I was a chaperon for a trip to World Youth Day we accepted donations, and one blessed woman gave us ten dimes.
Many prayers are being offered for Ashley and her family; prayers that she will walk again, prayers that she can be taken off a ventilator, and prayers that the Lord will provide for the needs of her and her family. By clicking the donation button you can be an answer to prayer.
Thank you for whatever you can give.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Novena in Preparation for the Feast of the Transfiguration
I wasn't terribly excited about the only Novena I found in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration, so I did some searching, and decided to cobble together one of my own... and this was the simplest way I could think of to share it! May God Bless you and Transform you.
Novena in Preparation for the Feast of the Transfiguration
Feast Day August 6
Matthew 17:1-9
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Mark 9:2-10
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Meditation and Novena Prayer
We acknowledge the Divinity of Christ - and seek to be Transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Heavenly Father, as we meditate on the mystery of Your Transfiguration, we pray that the light of Christ will transform our lives, rising us from the dust of our human existence into the light of divinity. We strive to live a holy life and aspire to say with St. Paul, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." With St. Peter we rejoice in the spiritual life and say "Lord it is good to be here". Lord, please transform our hearts and minds, renewing them by Your Light, that we may become one body and one Spirit, one in the hope of our call; one with You, our God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all.
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
Scripture passages from the NAB Translation.
Meditation adapted from http://www.theworkofgod.org
Novena in Preparation for the Feast of the Transfiguration
Feast Day August 6
Matthew 17:1-9
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Mark 9:2-10
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Meditation and Novena Prayer
We acknowledge the Divinity of Christ - and seek to be Transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Heavenly Father, as we meditate on the mystery of Your Transfiguration, we pray that the light of Christ will transform our lives, rising us from the dust of our human existence into the light of divinity. We strive to live a holy life and aspire to say with St. Paul, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." With St. Peter we rejoice in the spiritual life and say "Lord it is good to be here". Lord, please transform our hearts and minds, renewing them by Your Light, that we may become one body and one Spirit, one in the hope of our call; one with You, our God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all.
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
Scripture passages from the NAB Translation.
Meditation adapted from http://www.theworkofgod.org
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
IL Government to Cut Needed Funding
For those of you who are not aware the IL State Gov't is planning to cut funding that goes to abused children, the elderly, developmentally disabled, etc...
Please read the below and if you are a resident of IL please speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves!
I modified the below letter from it's original sender to protect privacy, emphasis added is mine
*******************************************************************************************************
Many of you are aware the General Assembly in it's current budget, has passed a 50% budget cut for services funded by DHS and DCFS and other state agencies. Unless this is reversed in the next two weeks, the impact on *** and other social service agencies will be devastating. We received a letter from DHS (DCFS) last week outlining the proposed cuts. Basically, all services that are not paid for by Medicaid will probably be eliminated. This means funding for Respite, Family Support Services, and Supported Employment programs will be eliminated and other programs like residential group homes and vocational day programs may be cut back by 20-30%.
Unless the State passes a tax increase our budget may be cut by 75%. How *** and other agencies serving the developmentally disabled will address this is unclear. In our case, it will mean massive cuts, perhaps closure of many if not all of our programs. If some funding was later restored, we would then offer to rehire some staff and try to reopen some programs, depending on the final state budget.
Our only hope is for the General Assembly to pass a tax increase to reverse this situation. No one wants their taxes increased, yet without such an increase the cost to the citizens of Illinois will be devastating in terms of the impact on abused children, the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and substance abusers, and the elderly. The Chicago Tribune estimates the budget cuts will result in loss of at least 100,000 social service jobs.We can only turn this around by advocating for people with developmental disabilities, abused children, the elderly, etc....
You need to call or write your State Representatives and State Senators or fax them to explain to them why they must vote to support the income tax increase. Please ask every one of your friends and family members to do the same. This is the best way we can really help the people that would be effected and their families. We have attached a sample letter with some points you might wish to include.
If you are not sure who your legislator is go to www.elections.state.il.us For their Springfield phone number go to www.ilga.gov. (I included a link below too)
Administrator N. has noted that in the 40 years he has been working in this field we have never faced a situation as dire as this one. The thought that *** may need to close programs and terminate staff is unbearable.
We can change this if our voices are heard loudly and repeatedly with our legislators. One legislator told N. that she has gotten calls against the tax increase by a 6-1 margin. We MUST change that. We hope the situation will improve. We will keep you apprised of developments as we become aware of them. Until a final budget is passed and signed by the Governor it is difficult to know the full impact of the actions of the legislature.
*****************************************************************************************************
Below is the sample letter I told you about, as well as an editorial about the IL State school for the deaf and the school for the blind which are scheduled to be closed because of the "budget cuts" The Sample letter can be adapted to fit the school closings, DCFS cuts, aid cuts, etc...
Sample Letter:
Dear Representative or Senator:I am asking you to support a tax increase to protect the lives and futures of mentally ill people, people with developmental disabilities, abused and neglected children, and the many other thousands dependent on human services in Illinois. Although a tax increase would be hard on me, without such an increase, our State will be in far worse shape. The Chicago Tribune estimates more than 100,000 social service workers will lose their jobs and thousands of individuals will be denied vital services. Think of the consequences of 100,000 people losing their jobs and the impact on their families and their communities. If my agency closes down this has a major impact on our community. Staff who lose their jobs will then impact the whole community and cause a tremendous loss of sales tax revenue. Think of the impact of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people no longer being able to receive services and the impact on their families. For each person who does not receive needed services, they suffer, their family suffers, and their community suffers. The jail and prison populations will increase. It costs far more to house people in jail (about $35,000 per year) than to provide them needed treatment to remain in the community. Hospital emergency rooms will become the primary care provider, being less effective and costing far more then community care. This will overburden the ER system and cause a breakdown of emergency services.Asking someone who made $50,000 in income last year to pay $375 more (the effective rate with a 1% increase after their federal income tax deduction or $563 with a 1.5% increase) is a small price to pay to avoid stopping services to hundreds of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens and to avoid layoffs of so many workers.Although I hope more efficiency can be found in Illinois government, there is not $12 billion of waste. While correcting past problems we cannot ignore the State's legal and moral obligation to the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, children and elderly who have no one else to protect them.Please vote "yes" to a tax increase to help save human service jobs and my family and to protect the weakest and most needy people in our State. They have nowhere else to turn, no place else to receive their services.
You can go to:
http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1
and type in your address so you can link directly to the e-mail of anyone who has e-mail.
Please read the below and if you are a resident of IL please speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves!
I modified the below letter from it's original sender to protect privacy, emphasis added is mine
*******************************************************************************************************
Many of you are aware the General Assembly in it's current budget, has passed a 50% budget cut for services funded by DHS and DCFS and other state agencies. Unless this is reversed in the next two weeks, the impact on *** and other social service agencies will be devastating. We received a letter from DHS (DCFS) last week outlining the proposed cuts. Basically, all services that are not paid for by Medicaid will probably be eliminated. This means funding for Respite, Family Support Services, and Supported Employment programs will be eliminated and other programs like residential group homes and vocational day programs may be cut back by 20-30%.
Unless the State passes a tax increase our budget may be cut by 75%. How *** and other agencies serving the developmentally disabled will address this is unclear. In our case, it will mean massive cuts, perhaps closure of many if not all of our programs. If some funding was later restored, we would then offer to rehire some staff and try to reopen some programs, depending on the final state budget.
Our only hope is for the General Assembly to pass a tax increase to reverse this situation. No one wants their taxes increased, yet without such an increase the cost to the citizens of Illinois will be devastating in terms of the impact on abused children, the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and substance abusers, and the elderly. The Chicago Tribune estimates the budget cuts will result in loss of at least 100,000 social service jobs.We can only turn this around by advocating for people with developmental disabilities, abused children, the elderly, etc....
You need to call or write your State Representatives and State Senators or fax them to explain to them why they must vote to support the income tax increase. Please ask every one of your friends and family members to do the same. This is the best way we can really help the people that would be effected and their families. We have attached a sample letter with some points you might wish to include.
If you are not sure who your legislator is go to www.elections.state.il.us For their Springfield phone number go to www.ilga.gov. (I included a link below too)
Administrator N. has noted that in the 40 years he has been working in this field we have never faced a situation as dire as this one. The thought that *** may need to close programs and terminate staff is unbearable.
We can change this if our voices are heard loudly and repeatedly with our legislators. One legislator told N. that she has gotten calls against the tax increase by a 6-1 margin. We MUST change that. We hope the situation will improve. We will keep you apprised of developments as we become aware of them. Until a final budget is passed and signed by the Governor it is difficult to know the full impact of the actions of the legislature.
*****************************************************************************************************
Below is the sample letter I told you about, as well as an editorial about the IL State school for the deaf and the school for the blind which are scheduled to be closed because of the "budget cuts" The Sample letter can be adapted to fit the school closings, DCFS cuts, aid cuts, etc...
Sample Letter:
Dear Representative or Senator:I am asking you to support a tax increase to protect the lives and futures of mentally ill people, people with developmental disabilities, abused and neglected children, and the many other thousands dependent on human services in Illinois. Although a tax increase would be hard on me, without such an increase, our State will be in far worse shape. The Chicago Tribune estimates more than 100,000 social service workers will lose their jobs and thousands of individuals will be denied vital services. Think of the consequences of 100,000 people losing their jobs and the impact on their families and their communities. If my agency closes down this has a major impact on our community. Staff who lose their jobs will then impact the whole community and cause a tremendous loss of sales tax revenue. Think of the impact of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people no longer being able to receive services and the impact on their families. For each person who does not receive needed services, they suffer, their family suffers, and their community suffers. The jail and prison populations will increase. It costs far more to house people in jail (about $35,000 per year) than to provide them needed treatment to remain in the community. Hospital emergency rooms will become the primary care provider, being less effective and costing far more then community care. This will overburden the ER system and cause a breakdown of emergency services.Asking someone who made $50,000 in income last year to pay $375 more (the effective rate with a 1% increase after their federal income tax deduction or $563 with a 1.5% increase) is a small price to pay to avoid stopping services to hundreds of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens and to avoid layoffs of so many workers.Although I hope more efficiency can be found in Illinois government, there is not $12 billion of waste. While correcting past problems we cannot ignore the State's legal and moral obligation to the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, children and elderly who have no one else to protect them.Please vote "yes" to a tax increase to help save human service jobs and my family and to protect the weakest and most needy people in our State. They have nowhere else to turn, no place else to receive their services.
You can go to:
http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1
and type in your address so you can link directly to the e-mail of anyone who has e-mail.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Be Still
I've been realizing something recently.
Next month I will celebrate my 3rd anniversary with my company, and it will have been 4 years since I moved in to my apartment. This will be the longest consecutive employment I've had with one company, and matching the longest I ever lived in one home (same house all 4 years of high school). I've been feeling odd and out of sorts recently, and I begin to think it is because my life is still.
Now, please do not think that my life is stagnant, it is certainly not that (and I can't wait to tell you about the Miles Christi Spiritual Exercises retreat I made last weekend), but it is still. I am learning to be a steward of what I have where I am rather than to think about what I want or where I will be. I lived in 5 states by age 12, and attended 12 schools by grade 9. I moved around a lot when I was young, and even though I've now been in Illinois for over half my life, that rootless foundation still has it's effect. Even though I don't want anything to change, it feels like it ought to be changing. And that's not to mention that even though I lived in the same house and went to the same high school for four years, I spent all of that time waiting for college, and then I spent all of college thinking about being married, and my first few years after college still thinking about being married - Now, I am living my life.
I think our society is one which avoids stillness (I'm thinking for example of the recent Kate Winslet/Leonardo DiCaprio movie) and I am no different. I used to wake up to the radio, turn the TV on for background noise, and fall asleep to the radio. I used to spend hours daydreaming about being an actress, an officer in the Marines or the wife of a Marine, the wife of an international diplomat... all very exciting, all very glamorous (OK, maybe the Marines aren't glamorous to you - but when I was little and people asked what I wanted to do when I grew up I always said I wanted to Marry a Marine!) and all pretty "non-stop" in their attributes.
So here I am. On my 30th birthday this summer I will still be in the same apartment, I will still work for the same company, still be single, and still (probably) not have heard God say "Go!" God has been saying "Wait" a lot recently; "Wait and be still". "Stay, and learn", "Sit, and listen". Have you ever looked up the word "still" in the dictionary? According to www.dictionary.com "still" has almost two dozen definitions, including "remaining at peace or at rest", "free from sound or noise", "free from turbulence or commotion", "steadily, constantly, always", "in addition", "to silence or hush", "to calm", "to quiet"....
Job 33:31 says "Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. "
I guess my whole life is God's way of getting me to pay attention. Well the Lord has my attention, and I almost said "now what?" - but the "now what" is to keep my attention on Him. Always.
Next month I will celebrate my 3rd anniversary with my company, and it will have been 4 years since I moved in to my apartment. This will be the longest consecutive employment I've had with one company, and matching the longest I ever lived in one home (same house all 4 years of high school). I've been feeling odd and out of sorts recently, and I begin to think it is because my life is still.
Now, please do not think that my life is stagnant, it is certainly not that (and I can't wait to tell you about the Miles Christi Spiritual Exercises retreat I made last weekend), but it is still. I am learning to be a steward of what I have where I am rather than to think about what I want or where I will be. I lived in 5 states by age 12, and attended 12 schools by grade 9. I moved around a lot when I was young, and even though I've now been in Illinois for over half my life, that rootless foundation still has it's effect. Even though I don't want anything to change, it feels like it ought to be changing. And that's not to mention that even though I lived in the same house and went to the same high school for four years, I spent all of that time waiting for college, and then I spent all of college thinking about being married, and my first few years after college still thinking about being married - Now, I am living my life.
I think our society is one which avoids stillness (I'm thinking for example of the recent Kate Winslet/Leonardo DiCaprio movie) and I am no different. I used to wake up to the radio, turn the TV on for background noise, and fall asleep to the radio. I used to spend hours daydreaming about being an actress, an officer in the Marines or the wife of a Marine, the wife of an international diplomat... all very exciting, all very glamorous (OK, maybe the Marines aren't glamorous to you - but when I was little and people asked what I wanted to do when I grew up I always said I wanted to Marry a Marine!) and all pretty "non-stop" in their attributes.
So here I am. On my 30th birthday this summer I will still be in the same apartment, I will still work for the same company, still be single, and still (probably) not have heard God say "Go!" God has been saying "Wait" a lot recently; "Wait and be still". "Stay, and learn", "Sit, and listen". Have you ever looked up the word "still" in the dictionary? According to www.dictionary.com "still" has almost two dozen definitions, including "remaining at peace or at rest", "free from sound or noise", "free from turbulence or commotion", "steadily, constantly, always", "in addition", "to silence or hush", "to calm", "to quiet"....
Job 33:31 says "Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. "
I guess my whole life is God's way of getting me to pay attention. Well the Lord has my attention, and I almost said "now what?" - but the "now what" is to keep my attention on Him. Always.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Be careful what you ask for...
You just might get it!
As previously mentioned, I know about redemptive suffering. I know about offerring up pain and suffering - for the intentions of the Sacred & Immaculate Hearts, the conversion of sinners & salvation of souls, etc... And thanks to Joseph, I know about "troubling he who troubles me". But as I have been seeking to 'trouble he who troubles me' the fatigue aspect of my fibromyalgia has been increasing and increasing. Argh and growl, what to do...
Last night I was reading "Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity" and on page 30 is a story of St. Therese of Lisiex. While ill, a sister accompanying her on an ordered walk told her she should rest and she replied, "Well, I am walking for a missionary. I think that over there, far away, one of them is perhaps exhausted in his apostolic endeavors, and, to lessen his fatigue, I offer mine to God."
Should I have known that I can offer up my fatigue just as I can offer up my pain? Of course I should have! If in "whatever [we] do, [we] do everything for the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31) then we can offer up our whole lives - our joy and sorrow, our pain and health, our fatigue and our leisure. But did it occur to me until I read the Little Saint's words? Nope.
When I was 12 years old I received my First Holy Communion. My catechist, Mrs. L., gave me a copy of "Mercy My Mission" (a biography of St. Faustina) and a booklet about the Divine Mercy. Even though I was still more Baptist than Catholic I never doubted that (then still) Sister Faustina had experienced everything the book said she did, including redemptive suffering for the salvation of souls, and I remember telling God that I wanted to "do that" too. From the mouths of babes eh?
So here I am, around 20 years later, wondering why I'm always so tired and achey and sore and in pain all the time... I don't always remember to offer up my life as it's happening, but St. Padre Pio once told a priest who had intended to offer a Mass for him, but forgot to do so during the Mass, that it was okay - God had accepted the intention he made while walking up the stairs to go to Mass. And there's a BC comic strip that I cut out years ago, and which is still tacked to my bulletein board at home, which states that 'future events cast backward shadows'. A serpent says that doesn't make any sense... until the shadow of a cross falls across him. The rest of the strip is also deeply meaningful and I'm confidently hopeful that it will be included in "I Did it His Way" - a book collection of John Hart's religious comic strips. These two statements, along with the story of Bishop William Emmanuel Ketteler (also included in the document linked to above) have led me to believe that everything I do with the intent of offerring is accepted by God as an offerring - even if I don't remember it at that moment. When I was 12 years old I told God I was willing to suffer for the conversion of souls, now when I do suffer, whether I remember in the moment to make an offering of it or not, I beleive God accepts it as an offering for the slavation of souls.
Of course, by reading spiritual documents and "think[ing] of what is above, not of what is on earth" (Col 3:2) I find that I am more likely to remember and reaffirm the offering throughout the moments of my day, just as St. Therese, and the lay sister told of by Bishop Ketteler, did. I think this is more efficacious, but since I "know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28) I will rest in Him confident that He accepts all my sufferring... and my fatigue.
As previously mentioned, I know about redemptive suffering. I know about offerring up pain and suffering - for the intentions of the Sacred & Immaculate Hearts, the conversion of sinners & salvation of souls, etc... And thanks to Joseph, I know about "troubling he who troubles me". But as I have been seeking to 'trouble he who troubles me' the fatigue aspect of my fibromyalgia has been increasing and increasing. Argh and growl, what to do...
Last night I was reading "Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity" and on page 30 is a story of St. Therese of Lisiex. While ill, a sister accompanying her on an ordered walk told her she should rest and she replied, "Well, I am walking for a missionary. I think that over there, far away, one of them is perhaps exhausted in his apostolic endeavors, and, to lessen his fatigue, I offer mine to God."
Should I have known that I can offer up my fatigue just as I can offer up my pain? Of course I should have! If in "whatever [we] do, [we] do everything for the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31) then we can offer up our whole lives - our joy and sorrow, our pain and health, our fatigue and our leisure. But did it occur to me until I read the Little Saint's words? Nope.
When I was 12 years old I received my First Holy Communion. My catechist, Mrs. L., gave me a copy of "Mercy My Mission" (a biography of St. Faustina) and a booklet about the Divine Mercy. Even though I was still more Baptist than Catholic I never doubted that (then still) Sister Faustina had experienced everything the book said she did, including redemptive suffering for the salvation of souls, and I remember telling God that I wanted to "do that" too. From the mouths of babes eh?
So here I am, around 20 years later, wondering why I'm always so tired and achey and sore and in pain all the time... I don't always remember to offer up my life as it's happening, but St. Padre Pio once told a priest who had intended to offer a Mass for him, but forgot to do so during the Mass, that it was okay - God had accepted the intention he made while walking up the stairs to go to Mass. And there's a BC comic strip that I cut out years ago, and which is still tacked to my bulletein board at home, which states that 'future events cast backward shadows'. A serpent says that doesn't make any sense... until the shadow of a cross falls across him. The rest of the strip is also deeply meaningful and I'm confidently hopeful that it will be included in "I Did it His Way" - a book collection of John Hart's religious comic strips. These two statements, along with the story of Bishop William Emmanuel Ketteler (also included in the document linked to above) have led me to believe that everything I do with the intent of offerring is accepted by God as an offerring - even if I don't remember it at that moment. When I was 12 years old I told God I was willing to suffer for the conversion of souls, now when I do suffer, whether I remember in the moment to make an offering of it or not, I beleive God accepts it as an offering for the slavation of souls.
Of course, by reading spiritual documents and "think[ing] of what is above, not of what is on earth" (Col 3:2) I find that I am more likely to remember and reaffirm the offering throughout the moments of my day, just as St. Therese, and the lay sister told of by Bishop Ketteler, did. I think this is more efficacious, but since I "know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28) I will rest in Him confident that He accepts all my sufferring... and my fatigue.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Off to a Start
What kind of start I'm not exactly sure, but it's a start!
I actually woke up and got ready efficiently enough to make it to morning Mass, which helps with the fasting in addition to being just plain the best way to start your day. But, on the way from Mass to work I caught myself complaining around half dozen times... and it's only a 15 minute drive!
I don't think fasting is necessarily any more difficult for me than for anyone else, but I am a food person. Food to have something to do with your hands, food if you're bummed, food to celebrate, food if you "have a taste for" something, food to have a full belly; lots of reasons to eat in my little world. So today, fasting, what do I think about every time I get up from my desk - you guessed it, food! I am thankful for having had the opportunity to begin my day with the Real Food and Real Drink of the Eucharist, by God's Grace, every time I think of food today I remember that I am fasting. And why am I fasting? Well, if you said "Because it's Ash Wednesday you might be missing the point. I happened to read a great post at Adam's Ale about purposefully practic[ing] acts of denial, charity, and penance. I highly recommend it.
As for the complaining, well, the Complaint Free World idea is to switch a bracelet from wrist to wrist when you complain. I ordered one (and now think I didn't need to, alas and alack) but don't have it yet, so I decided to use a rosary ring given to me by a friend. The ring fits on my forefinger and not only do I move it from left to right (and back again) when I complain, but becuase it's a rosary I was inspired - deep breath, drumroll, can you imagine - to PRAY when I caught myself complaining. Now why didn't I think of that sooner?
So, here am I at my desk on Ash Wednesday - wearing my ashy smudge on my forehead in spite of the Gospel exhortation to " anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden." - fasting, praying, and working on the practice of not complaining.
Just for the record, how do we reconcile the "wash your face" exhortation with the fact that we walk around ashy all day? My intent is not to have people see my ashy smudge, I was blessed to be able to start my day with Mass, nevertheless, it's there and so I do "appear to others to be fasting"...
I actually woke up and got ready efficiently enough to make it to morning Mass, which helps with the fasting in addition to being just plain the best way to start your day. But, on the way from Mass to work I caught myself complaining around half dozen times... and it's only a 15 minute drive!
I don't think fasting is necessarily any more difficult for me than for anyone else, but I am a food person. Food to have something to do with your hands, food if you're bummed, food to celebrate, food if you "have a taste for" something, food to have a full belly; lots of reasons to eat in my little world. So today, fasting, what do I think about every time I get up from my desk - you guessed it, food! I am thankful for having had the opportunity to begin my day with the Real Food and Real Drink of the Eucharist, by God's Grace, every time I think of food today I remember that I am fasting. And why am I fasting? Well, if you said "Because it's Ash Wednesday you might be missing the point. I happened to read a great post at Adam's Ale about purposefully practic[ing] acts of denial, charity, and penance. I highly recommend it.
As for the complaining, well, the Complaint Free World idea is to switch a bracelet from wrist to wrist when you complain. I ordered one (and now think I didn't need to, alas and alack) but don't have it yet, so I decided to use a rosary ring given to me by a friend. The ring fits on my forefinger and not only do I move it from left to right (and back again) when I complain, but becuase it's a rosary I was inspired - deep breath, drumroll, can you imagine - to PRAY when I caught myself complaining. Now why didn't I think of that sooner?
So, here am I at my desk on Ash Wednesday - wearing my ashy smudge on my forehead in spite of the Gospel exhortation to " anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden." - fasting, praying, and working on the practice of not complaining.
Just for the record, how do we reconcile the "wash your face" exhortation with the fact that we walk around ashy all day? My intent is not to have people see my ashy smudge, I was blessed to be able to start my day with Mass, nevertheless, it's there and so I do "appear to others to be fasting"...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Catholic Blogs
All I can say is, "Wow!"
I knew there were Catholic bloggers out there, my very good friend at Franciscan Focus introduced me to the blogosphere, and Adoro Te Devote is the one who inspired me to finally jump in the pond and swim. I'd heard of Amy Wellborn and the Curt Jester, but after deciding to follow a number of blogs I discover that each blogger has a list of blogs they follow, and those bloggers follow others, and on and on it goes. Now, there are some folk who follow the same folk, but the lists still go on and on (did I say that already?)
Now, on the one hand, this is a little intimidating. I am neither a brilliant researcher, political analyst, or witty commentator. But what I find really amazing is that by entering the blogosphere I have entered a whole new realm of educational resources. Now, the risk is there that I may come upon some heterodoxical blogger who thinks the pope ought to ordain women or some such nonsense, but there are so many wonderful orthodox bloggers out there that I'm pretty sure I'll be able to winnow the wheat from the chaff. Now... where to find the time to read all these wonderful blogs...
I knew there were Catholic bloggers out there, my very good friend at Franciscan Focus introduced me to the blogosphere, and Adoro Te Devote is the one who inspired me to finally jump in the pond and swim. I'd heard of Amy Wellborn and the Curt Jester, but after deciding to follow a number of blogs I discover that each blogger has a list of blogs they follow, and those bloggers follow others, and on and on it goes. Now, there are some folk who follow the same folk, but the lists still go on and on (did I say that already?)
Now, on the one hand, this is a little intimidating. I am neither a brilliant researcher, political analyst, or witty commentator. But what I find really amazing is that by entering the blogosphere I have entered a whole new realm of educational resources. Now, the risk is there that I may come upon some heterodoxical blogger who thinks the pope ought to ordain women or some such nonsense, but there are so many wonderful orthodox bloggers out there that I'm pretty sure I'll be able to winnow the wheat from the chaff. Now... where to find the time to read all these wonderful blogs...
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