Category: Musings

82) Candles

      I’m here on retreat at Christ the King Retreat House watching the candles burning in the chapel.  So many candles, so many prayers being lifted up to the Lord!  Each one representing someone’s need, or thanksgiving – each one seen and the prayer heard by the Lord.  I believe He sees each person as they consider lighting that candle; He knows what’s on their heart, He knows the faith that is calling them to light a candle, and He’s ready ahead of time to answer that prayer – always in His perfect timing, and in His perfect provision.  Not always in the way the candle lighter envisions it, but always in the way that is best for the intention.  I thank God that He’s given me the faith to believe that, for I’ve lighted many candles in my life, and to know in my heart that each one was seen and received by the Lord is a great consolation to me.

      Being raised Protestant, the candle lighting had not been a part of our family’s religious practices.  I first became really aware of it when Bill and I made our first retreat at Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island.  It was a spiritual turning point in our lives, and re-set our course to a more serious look at our faith and how we practiced it.  We were facing bankruptcy and all that entails, and were so deeply blessed to hear the wise counsel of the retreat director, Fr Leon, advising Bill to let it go, as the loss of the business was killing all of us.  Bill received this counsel, and the beginning of peace in his heart which he needed to begin again.

      We were in the chapel of the retreat house, looking at all those candles burning, and we lit one – both in gratitude for this holy encounter, and in supplication for God’s help moving forward.  And we took a candle home with us, to light when we felt called to come to the Lord for help.

     That was when we lit it at first – just when something special was calling for prayer.  It might be a birthday celebration, or a need for healing, or safe travel, or….  As time went on, we lit it more and more, until it became a perpetual light near our little Mary space, with a statue of the Blessed Mother and a flower in her honor.  This holy practice has become a part of my devotional life ever since, and it’s been 45 years since we lit that first candle.  

     When I go to the cabin, I light the candle on the fireplace and keep it burning til we go home, asking God to bless our family time there.  Prayers for safety, for the healing of any strained relationships, for traveling mercies, for any family member in most need of help, in thanksgiving for Gma & Gpa Fellman who made the place possible!  So many petitions lifted up to the Lord, and He hears each one!

     At home now in my office room, the candle is lit when I get up in the morning, and I usually blow it out at night, to make the candles last longer.  The Lord knows that the candle is lit in my heart 24/7, with the flame of love from the Holy Spirit keeping me warm and connected to God’s burning love for His people.  I thank God for the gift of candle light, and for the greater gift of “His Light shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). And it never will!

     Lord God, thank you for sending Your Son Jesus as the Light of the world!  Thank you for the gift of candles, the little lights we can ignite to remind us of Your great love and provision in the ups and downs of our lives.  May we always keep a candle lit in our hearts, trusting in Your perfect care and mercy for us and for all we hold in our hearts…

81) Sunsets and Clouds

At our weekly Bible study, we were sharing thoughts about how the Beauty of Creation fills our hearts with consolation.  One of the ladies commented about a friend who had a great view of the outdoors from his house, and often took photos of the sunset and then sent them to others, with a note of gratitude for this gift from God.

     One of the fellows made a joke about cloudy skies, how they obstructed that lovely sunset.  This was countered with the claim that often the clouds actually enhanced the beauty of the sunset.  Her comment, “without clouds it’s the sun going down, and that’s it, but with the clouds the sunset lasts longer and is even more beautiful.”

     We had also been speaking of the faith of those who experience many and grave trials, yet stand firm in their faith; perhaps stronger than if there had been no trials.  All of this seemed to lead naturally to the reality that for our faith to grow strong, we need these trials and challenges.  How we respond hinges on many variables, leading to the importance of developing an attitude of praise and thanksgiving before the hard times come.

     The book PRISON TO PRAISE by Merlin Carothers was shared with me almost 30 years ago, and has helped me immeasurably in adopting this attitude of praise!  I practice it in the small and simple difficulties of daily living, and now when bigger challenges arise, my response of praise rather than complaint comes more quickly.  The Christian classics repeat in so many ways that to really trust God means to thank Him for each and every trial, as well as for the obvious pleasant blessings He brings us each day.  If we really believe that “all things work for good, for  those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28), then to praise and thank Him in all circumstances is the appropriate and sole response we are to give.

     Sometimes when surprised by a trial, I forget!  That’s when I need friends who also want to live praising God, and who will remind me of this Truth, and set me back on the right path.  I’ve come to appreciate the cloudy sunset even more as I experience that it is indeed evermore beautiful, and that it lasts longer!

     Lord God, thank You for sunsets, thank You for clouds, thank You for teaching me how to live a joy-filled life praising and thanking You in all circumstances!  Thank You for companions on the journey to remind me and lift me up when I forget!  May I live a life of praise, trusting in the Good God in every kind of weather…

80) Praying for the Dead

November is a month dedicated to prayer for the dead, with visits to a cemetery on my “to do” list.  I’m grateful for the wisdom of the Church to teach me about this, with the reality of communion with the holy souls awaiting our prayers to speed them on the way to purification and union with the Trinity.  Knowing that they in turn are praying for us, for me, is a source of comfort and deep gratitude as I acknowledge the truth of the communion of the saints!  The veil is often so very thin, and I’m especially aware of this amidst the gravestones.

     I’ve always loved cemeteries!  This was especially true during the covid isolation days.  We couldn’t congregate indoors, and the parks and public spots available for social distancing were often crowded.  I desired more space, and found the cemeteries to be the perfect answer – quiet, few people around, and the awareness of being on holy ground with the saints 🙂  I’ll stop and read some of the epithets, wondering what their life on earth was like, and what it’s like to be united now with those who have gone before them.  Homecoming celebrations in Heaven are the best kind!

     Again and again I’ve been reminded of the great value of “remembering death,” memento mori.  This last week our Marian Servant community was blessed with a Day of Reflection led by Fr Daniel Klimek, who confirmed this beautifully as he spoke of the value of meditating on Christ’s Passion, uniting our sufferings with His on the Cross. This leads so naturally to the reality of our own death, and desiring the help of the saints to live this life well and so be united with Christ in Eternity.

     I’m headed out soon to pray in the cemetery at our parish church, and   one day this week I’ll join a friend to pray by her husband’s grave.  Mentally I’ll spend some time visiting the family graves back in my hometown, praying for the repose of their souls, and seeking their intercession for family and friends who don’t yet know the Lord, His Love and care for them.  

    Lord God, may I be ever mindful of the shortness of this earthly life, grateful for this gift of life, especially eternal life with You!  May my prayers help to speed holy souls on their journey to you, even as they offer prayers for us here and now.   “Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.  May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.”

79) Keep Holy the Sabbath

     Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy…. I’ve been reminded often lately of the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath.  Not just a suggestion, or a good thought, but a commandment of God Almighty! 

     I’m home alone most of today, with those words echoing in my thoughts as I go about various low key activities.  Blessed of course to begin the day spending some quiet time in my bedroom, praying my daily morning offering prayers, followed by holy Mass with my daughter and the little ones, always an adventure!  Of course, donuts after Mass, and meeting new parishioners was another good part of our Church time 🙂

     The words from the homily stuck with me today – the absolute necessity of daily prayer time!  As the rest of the family was headed out for various adventures, I took out my journal and asked, what next?

     I set my timer for 30 minutes and savored the words from tomorrow’s Gospel of Luke: “whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.” Repeating these words over and over, my desire to receive the Father was strengthened.  I want to welcome Him into my heart, into our home, into every aspect of our lives. 

     Keeping these words close to my heart, I made a phone call to my sister-in-law to plan a visit, a text to secure an overnight bed, took a walk outdoors on this beautiful day and prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet, followed by a nap!

      Refreshed in body and spirit now, some time was spent on small household tasks, to help make life a little easier for this busy little family.  Prepping some fruit as I listened to Christian music, sweeping up a bit around the front entrance with the music still on my phone in my back pocket, picking up a few of the odds and ends that are wanting to find a home 🙂  “Cleanliness is next to godliness” is a phrase I’ve heard all my life, and whenever I manage to tidy up a spot or create more order, I know it’s pleasing to God and helps us all on our path to holiness 🙂

     It’s hot out today, so I sat down with a cool drink and did a little spiritual reading.  Today was Renewal Ministries monthly newsletter about their mission to Uganda, and was truly inspiring and encouraging to hear of the faith of the people there. Ralph Martin’s sense that the “hour” of the church in Africa has arrived spoke to my heart, and reminded me of the blessings of our visit to Zimbabwe, where we visited our friends who were doing medical missionary work there.  It also reminded me of my great niece’s mission work in Egypt now, and to pray for her and their family as they discern the next step hearing God’s call for a new location.  This prompted me to spend a little more time lifting certain recent intentions to the Lord, knowing He hears and answers each one as only He truly knows best.

     I was interrupted in thought by a text from our daughter in Canada – we had a phone date on the calendar for this afternoon, and she was checking to see if the timing was good!  I had forgotten!  But God hadn’t, and His timing was perfect!  We had a short chat, and were blessed to remember the gift of growing up in our little family in the early years when we had no money and our recreation was focused on simple outdoor adventures: going to the park, walking in the woods, spotting glow in the dark mushrooms!  We each spoke words of appreciation and encouragement, and especially gratitude for each other 🙂  

     Well, I just hung up and felt the next thing to do was to jot down these thoughts about keeping the Sabbath holy.  So here I am, with peace in my heart and deep gratitude for the gift of a day to “be still, and know that You are God.”  Indeed, Your gift of a Sabbath rest is essential to live a holy life that will bring blessing and healing to this fast-paced society we live in. May I keep the remainder of this day as a Day of the Lord, for His praise and Glory!

     Thank you Lord, for Your commandment to keep holy the Sabbath. How much we need this time to slow down, connect with friends and family, and enjoy the beauty of Your creation!  To gather for worship and prayer, receive Your Word, and seek to live it each day in gratitude for life itself, and all the blessings you provide.  Be with me now as I listen and follow Your lead to whatever You desire of me next…

PS – “next” included playing in the sandbox with my grandson and helping with apple peeling and dinner dishes, all wrapped up in evening prayer.  I feel like this is what is looks like for me to keep holy the Sabbath 🙂 Thank You Lord!

78) Stay Home

At the National Eucharistic Congress, I was blessed with an image of the Lord Jesus, sitting in the armchair in my bedroom and waiting there for me at home.  Home – the place where I’m with Jesus; safe, comforted, protected, at peace :). I saw myself as a little girl, entering the room, coming to sit on His lap, and He wrapped us up in the afghan that had been crocheted by my mom, with a prayer for each stitch.  What a precious place to be, warm and cozy, snuggled close to His Heart! 

     Sharing this image and story with my spiritual director, I mentioned that a word that has been reappearing in my journals has been, “Stay Home!”  The temptation to run off to various spiritual opportunities has not always been in balance with my duties and responsibilities as a wife and mother. I’ve been seeking to come to the right equilibrium as this word continues to show up!

     As our session continued, more thoughts of Home began coming to mind, in different variations.  I’ve moved a fair amount in the last ten years, as I’ve cared for my Mom in her last years, experienced divorce, and moved from our house to a house of my own, then to a small apartment, a more permanent apartment, and now to two bedrooms in my daughter’s house.  In the process of these later moves I’ve recognized that Home for me is being close to a Tabernacle, where Jesus is always present and waiting for me.

     The last several moves brought me to a new geographical place, away from friends and Church community I had known for more than 40 years.  These moves have brought me to two new faith communities, starting all over again in meeting fellow parishioners.  Yet this sense of Home, always having an Adoration chapel and daily Mass as an anchor have made the transitions quite smooth.  I’ve been so grateful for the generous hospitality offered in these parishes to newcomers like me.   

     The Girl Scout song I learned years ago comes to mind here: “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver, but the other Gold.”  The Gold is my friendship with Jesus, and to be with Him is always a coming Home.

     Today I’m at our family cabin the the North Woods, a place that has always been Home for me.  My parents bought it in 1946, when I was just one year old, and it’s been the place of family connecting and a stable peaceful retreat location as I’ve made all the many geographical moves in my lifetime.  From city to city, state to state, house to apartment, this spot has always been there, always a coming Home destination. 

      As I sit here at the family table, I see the names of our family members which had been etched on the chairs around the table.  I’m surrounded by the communion of saints, praying for me and calling me to join them in the eternal Home, in Heaven!   

     Another level of Home began to surface in reflection, that being the reality that Home is in my very own heart, where Jesus resides always.  In the wake of the Congress, with the Eucharistic Pilgrimages, I came to recognize that each one of us is actually a Eucharistic Procession, as we carry Jesus with us wherever we go!  I can envision Christians around the world, each with the Light of Christ within them, radiating that Light and bringing it’s Glow into the darkness of this suffering world.

     “Home is where the Heart is,” is a saying that’s often been shared.  If indeed Jesus lives in my heart, as His Word proclaims, I’m always at Home, no matter the time or location. I can indeed stay home, for Home is in my Heart! May I continue to live in that awareness of Jesus in my heart, to “stay Home” through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Home to the Heart of the Father in Heaven!

     Lord God, thank you for all the images and remembrances of Home.  Thank You for connecting the dots between Home and Heart, between Home here and Home in Heaven.  Thank you for calling us to live in communion with Your Heart, present within us, and to bring the Love of Your Heart to all we meet, to stay in the intimacy of Home with You… 

77) Call to Holiness

     A friend was sharing about a book she had recently read and enjoyed, which sounded like a nice easy read for the summer.  I ordered a copy, expecting to relax and enter into its narrative, touching on memories that resonated with my own growing up years in the country.  The book also spoke of the author’s first romance, experienced in an era of more grace and restraint than our modern culture demonstrates.  As I read of the budding romance that led to marriage, I was struck by the purity of the courtship, and surprised by how my heart was being moved, to the point that tears began to flow freely.

     I’m not one to cry often, and rarely in the presence of other people, so the intimacy of entering into this story proved to be a place where I was more open to God’s touch.  For indeed He was touching my heart, and I didn’t understand why.  When I casually mentioned my crying experience to my daughters, they asked me the “why” question, and I didn’t elaborate for two reasons.  One (1), I knew I would begin to cry again (I could feel it!), and Two (2), I didn’t know the answer. 

     A classic rule of a spiritual direction session is to bring forward the thing you least want to talk about. So, obedient to the model, I started to relate this experience to my director, and sure enough, there were the tears again, waiting to come forth! She gave me some space, and then named the word that solved the “why.”  It was “Purity.”  The beauty of witnessing 

Purity, and how it blessed the people who were embracing it in their relationship, was a grace of God.  A gift, that He wanted me to recognize and receive.

     As I thought about this reality, another conversation confirmed it for me. I was briefly mentioning being surprised by tears as I read a book, without going into any detail or speaking of purity.  My friend immediately connected with my experience, as he spoke of also being surprised by tears recently.  He was googling “stuff” and came across a clip of four little girls singing the national anthem at a football game in Texas.  He clarified that he was not drawn to any of those details; little girls, Texas, football or the national anthem. What touched his heart, as it had touched mine, was the purity, the beauty, of the singing.  Their voices were in perfect sync with one another, and the arrangement had some additional harmony that was excellent.  He found himself crying, it was so pure, and I would add, holy.

     Vatican II has called all the baptized to a Universal Call to Holiness.  I’m recognizing in this call how much Purity, a manifestation of Beauty, is central to holiness. I googled Truth, Beauty and Goodness and came up with these thoughts: “Truth, Beauty and Goodness are considered to be transcendentals, or eternal attributes of being that are present in all things created by God… God is the source of these attributes, and possesses them in their ultimate perfection… Humans, since they are made in the image and likeness of God, not only have the attributes as a reflection of Him, but are also aware of these transcendentals and are drawn to them because the desire to seek God out is written in the human heart.” (From http://www.corpuschristiphx.org, June 2021)

      These words brought great consolation to my heart, as my friend who was moved by the purity / Beauty of the little girls’ singing is presently at odds with God and outwardly resistant to His Love.  I rejoice to know that his response to  these attributes corresponds to the desire to seek God that is written in his heart!  I’ve known and believe that God has His Hand on him, and this series of events has confirmed that for me, praise God!

     Thank You Lord, for the gift of tears experienced and shared which has opened another window to Your Goodness. Thank you for Your attribute of Beauty, manifest in purity that lifts up the call to Holiness. Thank You for again weaving experiences and events together in unexpected and surprising ways to reassure me of Your love and care for those I hold in my heart.  May I continue to trust in Your Divine Providence as You make Your Goodness manifest to eyes that are open…

76) In Haste, or Procrastination?

Today is the Feast of the Assumption, and in the Gospel readings for Mass, we hear again the beautiful words of the Magnificat!  The ones that often especially resonate with me are when Mary goes “in haste” to visit Elizabeth.  Often I’m stopped by the words “immediately,” too – words that are pregnant with the importance of the task at hand.

     In contrast to this of course is “procrastination.”  Putting it off, mañana, I’ll get “around to it,” later…. I remember my mom telling me her Dad often scolded her for procrastination.  I also remember buying a book on how to overcome procrastination, but I never got around to reading it!  That speaks volumes in itself. (No pun intended 🙂  My mom’s Motto in her later years was D.I.N.  DIN = Do It Now!  Don’t put it off; if it needs to be done, get at it right now!

     I started googling “procrastination” and was challenged by the many negative consequences listed as the result of procrastination.  Missed opportunities, the thief of time, and the verse from James, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”  (James 4:17). This is not doing it at all, and not just being late in acting.  But indeed, when I’m slow to do what I need to do, it sometimes falls through the cracks and never gets done at all; it has become a sin of omission, that could have been a blessing for someone!

      Of course I started writing this two weeks ago, and then got derailed by whatever.  So TODAY I determined to at least plop a few thoughts on the paper, and pray that by so doing I may begin again to fight against my tendency toward delay. 

I’m thinking my snooze button may be one of the options I need to dispose of, as it definitely leads to that dreaded “p” word!  And I’ll find some good Scripture verses to use as weapons in the battle, for I find it indeed to be a battle!  And I’ll hop ahead and post this NOW, pray for Mary and my Guardian Angel’s help, and return to this in a few weeks to see how it’s going.

     A word of encouragement the Lord just gave me is the reminder that my mom overcame her own struggle with procrastination, and gave me that acronym DIN.  Thanks, mom!  Help me to put that into practice, now!

     Lord God, You know how much of my life has been plagued by procrastination.  I understand how hard it can be to change something that has been a habit for so long.  I come to You now, knowing that of myself I can do nothing, but with your grace, all things are possible!  I bring this to You now, out in the open, and beg Your help to act with promptitude as Mary did.  Be it done unto me, according to Thy Word…

75) God Always Keeps His Promises

Rainbows

     Faithful reminder

          God always keeps His promises

     Now and forever

Time of temptation

     Doubting His Word

          Is my loved one safe?

     Is he beyond Hope?

Sitting on the dock

     Clear blue sunny sky

           Puffy billows of clouds

    And then I see His sign

Personal for me

    At the time of questioning

          Just the hint of a rainbow

    Perhaps a sundog one

But it goes straight to my heart

     Reminder of God’s Promise

          Gift to lift my spirits

     Stop temptation in its tracks

Reminder of times past

     Times when the impossible happened

          Always at times of fear

     For the welfare of those I love

Perfect love casts out fear

     God’s Word is True

          It has the power

     To defeat the enemy’s lies

Replace fear with trust

     Restore the sense of peace

          All is in Your Hands, Lord

     I need to hear that again

Loving brings sorrow and pain

     Along with the gift of joy

          Echo of Your Heart, Lord

     To see Your children suffer

I’ll keep the rainbows before me

     Chasing away the doubts

          Lifting my heart with Joy

     You will never fail me

It may not unfold as I desire

     But that’s not the measure of faith

          I’ll trust that Your desire is fulfilled

     All in Your way, in Your time

Thank You Lord, Praise You

     For the Gift of another Rainbow

          You always keep Your Promises

     And Your promise is to Love

74) Stand Firm

      I have a perpetual calendar on my desk from 2007 with the words “Stand Firm” on the cover, taken from the Scripture Col 4:12b, “stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”  It has a verse about standing firm for each week of the year, often accompanied by words from a Christian witness, hymn or poem, or from the founder of “Moms in Touch,” Fern Nichols.  I had joined a Moms in Touch prayer group in our parish, where we met together weekly to pray for our kids and our schools.

Our little group always began with a few songs, “As the Deer” and “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” were on the top of the list.   

     Then we would focus on a particular attribute, name or characteristic of God, reading the Scriptures about it and praising Him for Who He is.  After a short time of silent confession, we would invite the Holy Spirit to lead us, and then pray God’s Word into the lives of our children and our schools.  So many Words planted in the hearts and minds of our kids as we lifted them up in prayer, with the Lord strengthening us in our faith and trust in Him.  How grateful I am for those weekly meetings, as I look back now and see how they were shoring up the foundations of my faith, preparing my heart to indeed stand firm in the trials and struggles of the years that followed!

     

The memory of those years, and of that calendar, have been coming back to my mind recently as I heard that phrase echoed by Msgr James Shea, President of the University of Mary in North Dakota.  He spoke at one of the break-out sessions of the National Eucharistic Congress, on the topic “The Religion of the Day: Breaking Free from Post-Christian Influence.”  How are we to respond to the non-Christian culture we live in?  By “standing firm” in the faith of our fathers – in the Truth of the Bible, of the Catechism and the Magisterium of our Catholic Church.  We’ve been given what we need to resist being confused or frightened by what’s going on in our society, in the world.

     Last Saturday I was blessed to hear Peter Herbeck, Vice President of Renewal Ministries, repeat the same admonition: “Stand Firm!”  It’s not complicated; we know who we are and Whose we are.  We know Who has won the Victory, and He has us in His safe keeping, if we but stand firm in our faith!  I go back to the words of that classic hymn, “The Battle Belongs to the Lord!” By Jamie Owens-Collins

With heavenly armor
We’ll enter the land,
The battle belongs to the Lord!
No weapon that’s fashioned
Against us will stand,
The battle belongs to the Lord!

Refrain:
We sing glory, honor,
Power and strength to the Lord!

When the power of darkness 

Comes in like a flood

The battle belongs to the Lord

He’s raised up a standard

The power of His Blood

The battle belongs to the Lord!

Refrain

When the enemy presses

In hard do not fear

The battle belongs to the Lord

Take courage my friend

Your deliverance is near 

The battle belongs to the Lord!

Refrain

How grateful I am for the Truth of the Scriptures, often put to music that resonates in our minds and hearts.  

 Isaiah 30:15 -”For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:  “by waiting and by calm you will be saved, in quiet and in trust your strength lies…”  “By waiting and by calm;” to me that translates as “stand firm!”  Elisabeth Elliot”s words: “The Lord’s decrees (His promises, His plans, His every word) stand fast.  The events in our private lives and the great catastrophes in the world do not budge the solid ground on which the Christian takes his position.” 

Lord God, thank You for Your Word, that repeatedly calls us to stand firm in faith!  Thank you for putting that word on the lips of leaders in our faith, reminding us of the posture we need to assume to live a victorious life amid the strife and confusion of this world.  Thank you for all the ways you bring this Word to our awareness, and remind us of It’s Power! May we indeed stand firm with You, as we trust in Your mercy and love step by step on our journey home to You…

73) National Eucharistic Congress (1)

     Blessed beyond all imagining!  Those are the words that immediately come to mind as I begin to process the incredible gift of attending the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in the year of Our Lord 2024!  Main takeaway?  The tangible holy energy of being among so many Catholic believers, all focused on the Reality of Jesus Christ, truly present among us in the Blessed Sacrament, and in one another.  Each one of us carrying Christ within us, blessing and greeting one another with respect and joy!  How grateful we all are to be living right now, and experiencing His coming among us with the promise of much more to come!

 

    I’m reminded of Cd Dolan asking his Jewish Rabbi friend why he would come to Mass and sit in a front pew.  His answer blesses me today: he saw people coming forward with expectant faith, receiving the Eucharist with reverence and respect, and then returning to their pews in an attitude of faithful recollection.

     Fr Mike Schmitz reminding us to keep the fire burning, and to consider the question, “what are our fire extinguishers?”  To be concrete, and put a name to them, for revival is impossible without true and sincere repentance.

     Bishop Espaillat’s words, “God is Great; don’t hesitate!”  God is never late; may I not be late in responding!

     Martha Hennessy, granddaughter of Dorothy Day, with the reminder that Dorothy spent 20 minutes in silence each day after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion.  How often I pack up and leave without this time of recollection; what am I missing that the Lord would have me hear?  Dorothy’s plea of penance in the wake of the dropping of the atomic bomb; what bombs are being exploded daily in our culture and world that we are called to do reparation for? “Scripture and Eucharist have power that nothing on earth can withstand.”

     Sr Josephine Garrett, “God is doing something here and we need to perceive it!”  “Ordinary and simple encounters are sacred and profound.”  We are called to be repentant pilgrims, “broken and sinful, yet hopeful and joyful!”  She had a word from the Lord for each category of pilgrims at the Congress, from Bishops to laity, all called to cherish the Church as Mother and to bring God’s love to the world.

     So many more good words! I think I’ll save some for the next post, so I can savor them and not just rush through them all.  But I’ll end this segment with a gift the Lord gave me when Sr Miriam Heiland suggested we ask Jesus where He wanted to meet us.  

     I saw Him in my bedroom at home, sitting in the arm chair, waiting for me.  (He looked like Jonathan Roumie 🙂 He reminded me that I don’t need to go looking for Him “out there, somewhere,” but that He is with me in all places, everywhere.  He was happy that I was at the Congress, but waiting for me at home.  Little me walked into the bedroom and climbed up on His lap, and He wrapped us up in my Mom’s afghan – which she had crocheted with a prayer for each stitch.  

    

Thank You Lord, for calling me home, for holding me close to Your  heart.  Thank You for the Eucharistic Congress, and for pouring out Your Spirit on us all as we gathered in Your Name.  May You seal the graces we received, and multiply them to be given as gift to this world so in need of Your Love and Mercy….