There is an island of peace to be found... in the midst of our busy lives it is a delight to enter our beautiful church and kneel before our Lord in the tabernacle - "The Beating Heart"-
The evening light baths the image of our Lord upon the cross - reminding us of his words that we are to follow Him - carrying our Cross. How can this be? Today in the Gospel He tells us exactly how this cross is shaped and placed on our shoulders..."Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." Mt 19: 23-30
The "castle wall" stetches back to the corn field from the station of the cross - Jesus falls the second time. My thoughts are with all the youth that are in Madrid for World Youth Day! There are many that we know from TEC retreats there, and with Facebook we are getting a view into their experiences there as they share from Spain! One girl wrote this morning that she rose early due to the time change and watched the beautiful sunrise on the other side of the world! I now await their sharing of the Pope and the experiences that they will have... 
There is an official site that you can go to and read about what will be happening there... http://www.madrid11.com/en There is also a blog that you can check out and read about Madrid and the experiences going on there. I would think that EWTN would also have coverage... But most of all we need to pray that many youth will listen with their heart and soul to the call of our Lord and truly consider the wonder of religious life as a wonderful and powerful possibility for them in their lives.
Castle walls within and without, lends a softness and a beauty to our farm. Lord, may we all learn to seperate ourselves from the "things" of this world, and even from the people in our lives... we don't need to control them and use them and own them... we need to serve them without counting the cost and to forgive them - "wounded, I do not cease to love." Even holding onto anger and resentment is being hurtful and selfish to our faith journey and to others... give us the strength to leave it behind and to look to you and your Cross! May the Cross truly become for us the Tree of Life! May you speak to the hearts, minds and spirits of all the Youth in Madrid with the Holy Father and leaders of the Church... may they hear that "still small voice" of the Spirit asking them to consider a life given totally to YOU! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Hosanna and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb
The party before the party
"Madrid celebrates the Assumption in advance of WYD
Madrid, August 15, 2011 - A flash of red swirls in the wind, claps sound out against the cobbles as a girl in a full, ruffled skirt is swirled around by her dance partner in time with the music pulling at the heartstrings of those watching from the side of the street . This is a “verbena,” a celebration involving dancing in the streets, traditional food, wine, and sweets, is one of the many ways the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is celebrated in Spain and Europe.
The August 15th feast is a national holiday in many countries around Europe, including Spain. This year the feast also coincides with the day most of the over 450,000 young pilgrims will be arriving in Madrid for World Youth Day. " A little taste of what the pilgrims experienced yesterday... Our hearts and prayers are with them!
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