"Like John the Baptist, he decreased to nothing so that Christ might increase."

Adoration of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Today John, Pat and I gathered for morning prayer... St Bartholemew today and all of us remember the statue of him holding his own skin as he was martyred in that way... Graphically showing how he was willing to give his all and suffer a horrible death for his love for Christ and His Gospel.  "Bartholemew is one of the anonymous apostles: all the personal details of his life have disappeared behind the Gospel he proclaimed."  See http://www.magnificat.com/ What really spoke to me this morning as we were praying together.... each for a good report tomorrow as the three of us head to Rochester together for John's 3 month check up... "I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?'  'Here I am,' I said; 'send me!' " Isaiah 6: 8

I wholeheartedly say that to my Lord!  I have already experienced the arrows that are fly at us from the enemy... nothing to the daily attacks and eventually death that the apostles experienced as they took the Word and the Truth out to all the world!  How very hard, beyond imagining, was the lives of those that armed with the Spirit and the Truth... went forward to share the Light with the world that was covered with darkness!  Yet, I envision how amazing was the JOY of those that saw the Light for the first time!  I just finished the coversion story of one of my most favorite writers... C.S. Lewis... his was a very cerebral coversion, yet in the end he could no longer hold out against the Truth, and we all know from his books - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe et all - the Narnia tales... that he came to love and know our Lord very well indeed!  Christ - Aslan - has a very personal and deep understanding through the eyes and talented writing to Lewis! 

Wo wonderful to see ST Joseph enshrined in his own beautiful space with this wonderful landscape behind him... it allows us to go to him in a very powerful and real place as he stands at the feet of Christ... interceding for us and for families.  Last evening I so needed to spend some time before him... beseaching that he protect marriage and the family from the attacks that are being done out of misguided "love."  It looks to be such a loving and needed thing to allow same sex marriage, yet it is truly hurting all that it touches.  St Joseph, hear our prayers and petitions for Truth to reign!

And Our Lady... presenting her Son to the world for it's salvation... We pray to you to intercede and convert the hearts, minds and souls of those that are misguided and misled.  Yes, you are there with open arms to one and all... wanting them to find the narrow path to heaven and true Happiness here on earth.  The Church is there for us, and all we need do is look to the Wisdom of the Church in all these tricky issues that present themselves in our lives... sex before marriage - cohabitation, same sex attraction, contraception, abortion, in vitro fertilization, so many more that seem to come up daily.... The heirachy of the Church spends countless days, hours, months, years reseaching all of these issues and praying over them and putting the best minds to work on them... they have two goals in mind for us, foremost...
#1  That we all go to heaven forever with Christ.       #2  That we find True Happiness - embracing our Most Cherished Cross - here on earth!

How we can totally and without reservation put our entire Trust in The Church, and without any holdbacks believe and follow every last thing that they hold out to us!   We are not called to be "shopping cart Catholics" we are called to be Catholics totally and that is how we will, with the Word and the Sacraments, become "saints" and find our way to heaven!  Jesus, Mary and Joseph...we turn to you and ask that you use us to the honor and glory of the whole world!  "Here I am, send me!"  May we say that and mean that and follow through with that no matter what!  Give your armor and strength in the battle, and go with us tomorrow as once again we face the battle of our lives - Cancer/healing.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"

—Ephesians 6:10-18