Weekend with John's kids/31st Sunday of Ordinary Time and back an hour/First Jesus, then others, and finally me/Amazing Phil 2!! - +JMJ+

8 year old Joy with their fall kitten and Lucy who will be 2 in January.

After sharing mass as a family on the 31st Sunday of Ordinary time we gathered at our farm for our wonderful family Feast Brunch with all the goodies we can imagine to show our JOY!  Here is our granddaughter, Joy, with our youngest granddaughter, John's youngest Lucy.  We had Lucy and her two older siblings for an overnight and Sunday.

Grandpa and grandma work as a team getting the 3 ready for 8a mass - as grandpa Pat said - "We have a lot of practice getting kids ready for church, and usually the early mass was where you would find us."  

The look of prayer time before bed time - I called it "active prayer time" with a hard hat and running on the couch.  

Neumann got lots of attention and seemed to enjoy the pets from the kids.  He looks like he is smiling.  We had an extra hour for sleeping - the hour that keeps on giving!  

Tom here for the day for his mom to sleep after working overnight.  He loved his tower that was as tall as him!  

Engagement pictures of our 4 married children by the grain bins.  Pat and I and our nun... love to see LOVE and prayers for our marriages and families!  

So many prayers today for this election day in our country.  How I long for America to return to Truth and beauty of Christian values! Hear my prayer, Lord and Lady!  

Granddaughter, Therese has another issue of her Letters from a young Catholic

LettersFromAYoungCatholic_NOV_DEC_2024 (4) (1).pdf  

Here is her amazing Editorial!

Letter From the Editor Dear Reader,

 Life seems to fly by sometimes. It is now over a year since this newsletter was established. The reality of growing up is becoming more real. For quite a while I feared this leaving of childhood, but I have now come to embrace the adventure and freedom of growing up. What is an adventure? An adventure is something that is full of unknowns and things that challenge and solidify who you are. Adventure is so important, because it is the way that we can discover if we are actually committed to the faith we hold true. When we leave home we are no longer holding the hand of our parents and we are really starting a great adventure. Without parents, in a sense directing our desires and life, we are able to choose to be free or to become enslaved by our missguided passions. The embrace of true freedom, the choosing of the good, is the only way that we can truly be fulfilled and find happiness in this adventure of adulthood. I believe that many young people today don’t realize what true freedom is. They see freedom as a license to do whatever they want. I have noticed this especially in America, since Americans love their right to liberty. However, they do not know what it means, and in the attempt to become more free they become more addicted to their phones, food, drugs, and all sorts of pleasure. Even though some of us may not misunderstand freedom to that degree, we may still be slaves in some way. I challenge you to really dive into what you are choosing with your freedom. Remember: “Life with Christ is the greatest adventure!” Christus regnat, Thérèse Librande 1 

Thérèse is a junior in high school who is often found babysitting, water coloring, or working on her many projects, one of which is this newsletter. She is the eldest of seven energetic siblings and a military kid who has lived in over ten states. She currently resides in Fort Riley, Kansas  

Tom playing with our wooden hosts - it has been a toy of our kids and now grandkids for probably close to 30 years!  

Lots of time painting with John's 3 kids over the weekend!  

At mass last night Fr Denny spoke about Msgr Richter's funeral mass last week and the prayer card that went to all attending... "On the back of the Saint card were these simple words - Christ First, Others second and myself last."  Wow!  Doesn't that say it all and isn't that hard to do?  

Lucy enjoyed the jacuzzi!  

Tub time is a great way to get clean and have fun at the same time!  

Such an adorable face huh Lucy?  

The first reading today was the most wonderful one ever from Philippians 2

Reading 1 PHIL 2:5-11

Brothers and sisters:
Have among yourselves the same attitude 
that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and, found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.  

Pat poked me in the side when Fr Steve read the part about "the name of Jesus" as we were both remembering my dad, Deacon Robert Cross and his love for "The name!"  He circled it everywhere he found it!  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Deacon Robert Cross - my dad on hospice in our Farm Monastery for 6 months - 4/16/20 thru 10/23/20  The page I wrote about my dad living with me for the last 6 months of his life here on hospice!  

LOVE this!!!  

This is the huge issue today in our country!  How did it ever come to taking the life of the innocent babies in the womb?  LIFE is the greatest gift!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb  and the 33 plus 7 children in heaven, 6 grandchildren, mom and dad and sister Mary along with brother Lincoln.  So many keeping our eyes on heaven forever!  

The generations merge as Tom looks at a painting I did of my home with my kids - "Me?" he asks for the little boy playing in the flour while I am making pies.  Actually it is your Uncle John, but it can be you too Tom!  

He is saying Rose for what was Aunt Nancy.  

"He who comes to Communion loses himself in God,

as a drop of water in the ocean.

They can be no more separated." - St John Vianney

 

 

 

 "His union with those whom He loves surpasses

every union of which one might conceive, and

cannot be compared with any model.

 Therefore even Scripture needed many illustrations to be able to express that connection, since one would not suffice.  In one place it employs the figures of an inhabitant and a dwelling, in another those of a vine and branch, here that of a marriage, there that of members and a head.

None of those figures is adequate for that union, for it is impossible from these to attain to the exact truth.  Above all it is necessary that the union should conform to friendship - yet what could be adequate for divine love?

 

 ...So I come to that which is strangest.  To whom else could one be more closely united than to oneself?  Yet this very unity is inferior to that union.  For each of the spirits of the blessed ones is identical with himself, yet it is united to the Saviour more than to him.  It loves the Saviour more than itself."

 

Nicholas Cabasilas (+ 1392)

Greek monk, mystic, bishop

 

 

Traditionally...

During the Octave of All Saints' Day (Nov 1 thru Nov 8)

any of the faithful, by devoutly visiting a cemetery

and praying for the departed, can obtain

a plenary indulgence (each day this is done),

applicable to the holy souls in purgatory,

(under the usual conditions for obtaining indulgences).

 

Make every effort to do this!

Let us empty Purgatory!

 

Lauren Daigle

Danielle Rose 

Danny Gokey

Kansas trip seeing two of our girls and families/All Saints birthdays and Feast!/"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." +JMJ+

This happened - we took 4 of Maria's children 2 hours to see our Community of the Lamb - our daughter, little sister Hallel and the 5 little sisters in Kansas City!  Today is Evangeline Mary's 8th birthday, and she had fun wearing the frames of glasses and sharing them with ls Marie Jean!  

We bought lunch for the 13 of us at a local chicken place, and it was much appreciated after a very busy weekend with a group of 30+ young adults.  

Patrick in his pork chop shirt and a smile for grandma..."He is such a nice boy." Grandpa Pat

Church's Chicken for 13.   It was nice to give the sisters some time off from cooking - Hallel describes her life as "Prayer and dishes."  They do not have hot water... they have to heat their water on the stove for cleaning and for their own 'sister showers' to clean themselves.  True poverty!  

The Beatitudes from the Gospel today - "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."  Matthew 5

I love to envision the rejoicing that is happening in Heaven and I love to think that mom and dad are a part of that!  

We arrived on base at Fort Riley on Sunday night - the first thing the next morning we were hard at making apple pie filling - 40 quarts, and applesauce over 100 quarts!  

3 year old Maggie with ice cream and apple pie filling on top  - why we do the work.  "Grandma your apple pie filling is the best!"  

A new way of doing applesauce with no sugar and the peelings - better for you!  

2 on the corer peelers made the pie filling go fast.

At the same time Therese was making some Saint creations with Maggie and Hector - St Cecilia loved music!  Today is all Saints day and the birthday for 2 of our grandchildren - Evie is 8 in Fort Riley and Farm boy Luke is 11 today.  

It is also the special Feast day of our nun, as her name is the first part of Hallelujah and every time you say her name you are giving God all the praise as the Saints are doing today in heaven!  

The first reading today from Revelations 7 - After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:

"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb."

All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:

"Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

We took time away from our canning day to go to mass on base - we had 3 priest military chaplains - a Nigerian priest, a Polish Priest, and an American!  So powerful and special to have the 3 together on the altar! 

Today Evangline is 8, and she had the job of putting the lids and rings on the jars.

The farm family stopped over for trick or treating last evening.  Princess, biker - birthday boy Luke, who is 11 today, Rose is a chicken taco, and Tom is a dragon.

John's 3 were our other trick or treaters!  

All Saints mass this morning... tomorrow All Souls and we will remember our sweet farm wife, Rita, who died on Mother's Day.  How we miss her!  May she be on the path to heaven forever! 

Beautiful in every way and so missed!  St Rita hear our prayers.

Nancy's 6 love the Saints and today they dressed up for their wonderful Catholic School - St Maximilian in Delano.  13 year old Gus is Servant of God Fr Kapaun.  They visited his memorial when they were down in Kansas over MEA with Maria and the military family.  Father Emil J. Kapaun | Official Home Page (frkapaun.org)  

The 6 - how we love our Saints.  Sharing the lives of the Saints was huge in our family when the kids were little!  We had a saint book and the kids had their favorites.  The Saints show us how we can be followers of Christ no matter what we face in our lives!  

Soon to be 12 year old Bernadette was St Gianna Molle.

2 year old Gina - Joan of Arc!  

George is his namesake - St George!  

Out by the chickens with our nun - she really enjoys seeing the nieces and nephews!  They military family live 2 hours away now, so not seeing her quite as often as when they lived just in Leavenworth half an hour away.

LOVE to see 2 of our daughters and their families!  

Prolife breakfast on Sunday before we hit the road for Kansas.  

Mary home from the U of M for the weekend, so I had to get the 9 together in front of their wonderful Apartment building!  It as so great to see how happy her siblings were to see her!  

Choices Pregnancy had fetal models there for the little ones to touch and "see" that LIFE is beautiful and the greatest gift!  

Oh, Tommy always LOVE LIFE!  

Rose and David serving on the altar!  LOVE to see their reverence...

Jesus - the Word!  

Pat and I did the last 2 pails of apples for the season!  Applesauce the new way with the peels on and put through the blender.  Cinnamon and zero calorie artificial sugar...

We filled the jars that we got from the sisters and some that Ruth had emptied already with her family of 9.

Tom so cute from behind too!  

The final canning of the year!  What a year it was for apples - the cows got many pails too!  Nothing went to waste either!  

Newmann happy to have us home - finds the booster seat just right for him to be close to us while we are canning.

St JP II my hero for LIFE and for family!  

Dominic is St Paul one of the super Apostles!  

Magdalene is St Lucy for All Saints Day today.

8 year old Josephine is St Kateri.

Pat and his applesauce!  Canning Season is done!!!  What a year - we filled every one of our jars and that is hundreds!  We also began a new traveling canning supplies to take the work to our other kids and not leave it all on Ruth's shoulders!  

The Truth about Halloween.  

Today all Saints and tomorrow All Souls!   

Keep our families together!!!  

Maggie loves the Applesauce we made and that makes us so happy!  Why we do the work.

Farmer Pat with his Maggie just before we left Kansas for home on Wednesday morning - we drove through rain much of the way, and then we got a wonderful half inch of rain here on Thursday!  So grateful for some rain!  

LOVE!!!  

Her pantry is full so she is now putting them on top of her cupboards - how we love our new way of sharing the work with our other families!  She is cutting some of the 6 pails we left behind for her to dehydrate for crunchy healthy snacks for her husband and 7 kids!  

LOVE our family meals sharing around their big table - a lot like the Waltons!  

Princess Maggie ready for Trunk or Treat at dad's law office.  Such special times with our military family now just 8 hours from our door to their door.  We are already talking about our next trip down there in 3 weeks.  Therese is going on a college visit to University of Mary in Bismarck and I will be with the other 6 kids!  We love U of Mary!  Both of our 2 oldest daughters, Ruth and Nancy went there for college.  Ruth is now an RN and Nancy has been an teacher... she uses her abilities in her ministry - Catholic Sprouts | Cultivating Vibrant Catholic Homes  

Dehydrating apples takes almost 20 hours and Maria keeps it going!

Finishing up the final applesauce - we made over 100 quarts and then we took a couple dozen to the little sisters.  Who knows maybe we will can with the little sisters and little brothers?  I can see it happening.  

Lord and Lady, I love you and all the Saints in heaven!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb and the 33 here.  We have 7 children in heaven and 6 grandchildren plus our dear dead - mom and dad, my sister, Mary and brother Lincoln.  That is a lot of reasons to get to heaven and a lot of prayers for our help to stagger down the narrow path with heaven forever as our goal.  

 

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The amazing story of the 13 becoming Catholic!  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Our marriage stories - "The world needs LIGHTS!"  

 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom

and will possess it forever - yes, for ever and ever. 

 Daniel 7:18 
____________________

 

Solemnity of All Saints*
November 1
We are called to remember all of the saints, known and unknown,

whose lives have served as holy examples for us. 

"To become saints means to fulfill completely what we already are, raised to the dignity of God's adopted children in Christ Jesus...” … “This, then, is the meaning of today’s Solemnity:  looking at the shining example of the Saints to reawaken within us the great longing to be like them:  happy to live near God, in His light, in the great family of God’s friends.  Being a Saint means living close to God, to live in His family…” Pope Benedict XVI

 

 

"Saints of God, perfected in love 

and victorious over sin, who now enjoy 

the reward of adoring Our Lord face to face 

in everlasting JOY and GLORY:

Be gracious to remember us, flawed and failing, who 
still struggle on earth, who kneel here adoring Our Lord 
hidden in the tabernacle, who long for the day when we 
too will be made like Him and will see Him as He is.  
Gather around us here in His Eucharistic

Presence to strengthen us with your prayers

and to enrich our feeble worship 
with the mighty chorus of your praise.  
Teach us by your example to love Him above all things, 
so that we too may become the pure in heart to see God, 
who enjoy with you the eternal blessed fellowship 
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
 
Paul Thigpen
From Jesus, We Adore You,
Prayers Before the Blessed Sacrament

 

Image above: Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven, Fra Angelico - 1428-30

 

 

"Make up your mind to become a saint."

St. Maria Mazarello 
__________________________________

"Never say, 'What great things the saints do,' but,

'What great things God does in His saints.'"

 St. Philip Neri

__________________________

 

"The saints did not all begin well,
but they all ended well."

 St John Vianney
____________________________

"The saints were as weak as we are;

grace sustained them. 

Why should we doubt that we, too,

will be sustained by grace?"

 Bl Clelia Merloni

Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me

Lauren Daigle - Trust in you