I think that you all will agree... that my son, John, looks absolutely wonderful! It is such a wonderful gift that I can almost begin to forget the last year in which a year ago on Father's Day we were told that there was something "abnormal" in his brain and discovered that it was cancer! He is now free of cancer for almost 6 months of that year and that is a total miracle and answer to so many prayers. I had just taken this picture of John and a friend yesterday before they headed up to the Twins game, and my husband and I headed off to Sioux Falls for shopping and supper. It remained in my heart.... much as the heart of Mary held onto the strength of her Son... as we drove the trip that had shaken our world at the other end - we arrived in Sioux Falls with John a year ago and told that they had to do horrific surgery... going down through the center of his brain and putting shunts from both sides in order to diagnose what he had... Yes, we were also told that in this dangerous surgery we could lose him or have major complications! WE could not go there without the best doctor in the world telling us that this was the only way! WE left for a second opinion in the Cities!
The clouds were a glorious gift to the eyes yesterday as we traveled after the huge amounts of rain we had gotten the night before... Pat's comment over and over; "Rain makes grain!" He gave me a lesson on how a drownd out in a field can be offset by a huge amount of grain on the plants that make it, while if there is not enough rain the entire field is affected and the ending yeild will be less. Makes sense but it still is hard to see parts of the field covered with water...But Pat was pleased with the rain and was listening to the rain fall once again this morning as we woke to more rain yet!
As we drove towards Sioux Falls the memories of the past year came rushing over us.... WE realized that we probably haven't been there since our trip there on Father's Day... Our journey took us away from there and then eventually to Rochester where we found the place for John to be healed with the Hands of the doctors being the Hands of Jesus touching and healing John along with an army of prayer warriors at his side in the battle! Today being he feast of he Immaculate Heart of Mary...so much of what Pat and I just read and shared in morning prayer and the mass readings of the day (see www.magnificat.com ) points out the fact that this is talking about how her heart reflects the Sacred Heart of her Son, Jesus Christ, to the world! I can totally relate to her storing all of the encounters with her Son in her heart to ponder and grow from and share with the world!
"And to this that Jesus lives and reigns in Mary that he is the Soul of her soul, the Spirit of her spirit, the Heart of her heart, so much so that we might well say that Jesus is enshrined in the Heart of Mary so completely that in honoring and glorifying her Heart, we honor and glorify Jesus Christ himself." St John Eudes (1680) was largely responsible for initiating the devotion to the Immacualate Heart of Mary
The Gospel for today is the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple at age 12 - Luke2: 41-51 - This is a powerful mystery for me... being the 5th joyful mystery and therefore all these years that I have prayed for my 5 children using the rosary... it has been the one that I would pray for the 5th of my children, John! I remember well how powerful it was to pray for John when he was the same age as Christ - age 12 - for years I would anticipate that it was coming and then it was here and for that year it was a gift to put the two boys side by side. It gave me new insight into Christ at that age and how much it spoke of how Mary and Joseph in their domestic Church - home had instructed Jesus in his faith.... as "all that heard him we astounded at his understanding and his answers." I have noticed in my years of teaching religion classes with my husband that those that attend Catholic School seem to know so much more about their faith... It of course speaks of the support and instruction they get at school, but also of parents that take their roles seriously in instructing their children! Since John has now passed being 12 by 9 years... this insight into the young but faith filled Christ gives me hope and I send up a prayer for John everytime I pray for him using this mystery... and every day for all of those years is a lot of prayers! I know that the Lord hears and answers and I know that this past year has all been part of that for my wonderful son, John Patrick Agustine!
"Mary 'kept' the word of God in her heart, both by pondering and by obeying. She held the Word made flesh, her beloved Son, in her heart as she had carried him in her body during her pregnancy, and she allowed his word to transform her life." morning prayer... "As the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they heard the word, embrace it with a generous heart, and bear fruit through perseverance." Luke 8:15 Wow! This is absolutely amazing! Never before has this verse of the "good seed" made more sense to me, and given me more hope for my prayers for John and each of my children and grandchildren are being answered! Yes, sometimes it is in mysterious ways that we cannot understand - like cancer - but yet it has been an amazing journey for all of us! We have been forever changed and brought closer to Him through this Cross! Thank you all for being with us as we strive to follow Him and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary is an amazing powerful way to do that!
Most precious Mother of all Mothers... I love you and honor you with my entire mother's heart. Continue to show me how to ponder the gift of life that I have received with each of my children and I place them in your Immaculate Mother's arms to show them your Son and their salvation. Use each of them to your honor and glory and show all of us how to serve our fellow man better with each day. Jesus we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia! Bless-bless, Barb
I think that you all will agree... that my son, John, looks absolutely wonderful! It is such a wonderful gift that I can almost begin to forget the last year in which a year ago on Father's Day we were told that there was something "abnormal" in his brain and discovered that it was cancer! He is now free of cancer for almost 6 months of that year and that is a total miracle and answer to so many prayers. I had just taken this picture of John and a friend yesterday before they headed up to the Twins game, and my husband and I headed off to Sioux Falls for shopping and supper. It remained in my heart.... much as the heart of Mary held onto the strength of her Son... as we drove the trip that had shaken our world at the other end - we arrived in Sioux Falls with John a year ago and told that they had to do horrific surgery... going down through the center of his brain and putting shunts from both sides in order to diagnose what he had... Yes, we were also told that in this dangerous surgery we could lose him or have major complications! WE could not go there without the best doctor in the world telling us that this was the only way! WE left for a second opinion in the Cities!
The clouds were a glorious gift to the eyes yesterday as we traveled after the huge amounts of rain we had gotten the night before... Pat's comment over and over; "Rain makes grain!" He gave me a lesson on how a drownd out in a field can be offset by a huge amount of grain on the plants that make it, while if there is not enough rain the entire field is affected and the ending yeild will be less. Makes sense but it still is hard to see parts of the field covered with water...But Pat was pleased with the rain and was listening to the rain fall once again this morning as we woke to more rain yet!
As we drove towards Sioux Falls the memories of the past year came rushing over us.... WE realized that we probably haven't been there since our trip there on Father's Day... Our journey took us away from there and then eventually to Rochester where we found the place for John to be healed with the Hands of the doctors being the Hands of Jesus touching and healing John along with an army of prayer warriors at his side in the battle! Today being he feast of he Immaculate Heart of Mary...so much of what Pat and I just read and shared in morning prayer and the mass readings of the day (see www.magnificat.com ) points out the fact that this is talking about how her heart reflects the Sacred Heart of her Son, Jesus Christ, to the world! I can totally relate to her storing all of the encounters with her Son in her heart to ponder and grow from and share with the world!
"And to this that Jesus lives and reigns in Mary that he is the Soul of her soul, the Spirit of her spirit, the Heart of her heart, so much so that we might well say that Jesus is enshrined in the Heart of Mary so completely that in honoring and glorifying her Heart, we honor and glorify Jesus Christ himself." St John Eudes (1680) was largely responsible for initiating the devotion to the Immacualate Heart of Mary
The Gospel for today is the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple at age 12 - Luke2: 41-51 - This is a powerful mystery for me... being the 5th joyful mystery and therefore all these years that I have prayed for my 5 children using the rosary... it has been the one that I would pray for the 5th of my children, John! I remember well how powerful it was to pray for John when he was the same age as Christ - age 12 - for years I would anticipate that it was coming and then it was here and for that year it was a gift to put the two boys side by side. It gave me new insight into Christ at that age and how much it spoke of how Mary and Joseph in their domestic Church - home had instructed Jesus in his faith.... as "all that heard him we astounded at his understanding and his answers." I have noticed in my years of teaching religion classes with my husband that those that attend Catholic School seem to know so much more about their faith... It of course speaks of the support and instruction they get at school, but also of parents that take their roles seriously in instructing their children! Since John has now passed being 12 by 9 years... this insight into the young but faith filled Christ gives me hope and I send up a prayer for John everytime I pray for him using this mystery... and every day for all of those years is a lot of prayers! I know that the Lord hears and answers and I know that this past year has all been part of that for my wonderful son, John Patrick Agustine!
"Mary 'kept' the word of God in her heart, both by pondering and by obeying. She held the Word made flesh, her beloved Son, in her heart as she had carried him in her body during her pregnancy, and she allowed his word to transform her life." morning prayer... "As the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they heard the word, embrace it with a generous heart, and bear fruit through perseverance." Luke 8:15 Wow! This is absolutely amazing! Never before has this verse of the "good seed" made more sense to me, and given me more hope for my prayers for John and each of my children and grandchildren are being answered! Yes, sometimes it is in mysterious ways that we cannot understand - like cancer - but yet it has been an amazing journey for all of us! We have been forever changed and brought closer to Him through this Cross! Thank you all for being with us as we strive to follow Him and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary is an amazing powerful way to do that! 
Most precious Mother of all Mothers... I love you and honor you with my entire mother's heart. Continue to show me how to ponder the gift of life that I have received with each of my children and I place them in your Immaculate Mother's arms to show them your Son and their salvation. Use each of them to your honor and glory and show all of us how to serve our fellow man better with each day. Jesus we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia! Bless-bless, Barb
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