The Pope arrives in Madrid today!

World Youth Day is so much on my mind now... knowing that Hallel and some of the community are there to sing and share with the youth and the Pope!  Today the Pope arrives!  I was looking at the official schedule and he arrives about noon and then at 7:30p there is a gathering with him to welcome and greet.  After that there are 12 images of Our Lady from all over the world in the streets "so young pilgrims can visit them, sing to them, and pray before them."  I know that Our Lady of Fatima will be there...

And there is also no doubt that Our Lady of Lourdes will be there... What joy filled me to see my healed son, John, standing before her with a song and prayer in his heart, mind and soul... for the healing of his brain cancer two years before, and the way that she was such a big part of the prayer that surrounded and uplifted him.  It was crazy amazing!

What a wonderful thing to picture - Young people from all over the world gathered together in song and prayer... Singing before her is to me very new, but why should it be?  Just three days ago on the feast of the Assumption, we sang some of those glorious "Ave Maria" songs that we know and love!  How many voices do you think will be raised in THE Ave Maria song?  Too out of this world beautiful and lovely! 

And there is also no doubt that our beautiful - Our Lady of Guadelupe... will be there... as she is rightfully the patronness of the Americas.  How we love her!  Susan/Hallel was forever touched and filled with great joy to walk into the chapel in France and see her image there..." I know that she was there just for me!"  I just found the letter and here are her own beautiful and sweet words on the day of her Postulancy...

 " I am truly so happy to be a postulant in the community.  Yesterday I just couldn’t stop smiling.  It just feels so right and I thank that Lord for the joy that He has given me.  I must tell you this… when I first walked into the chapel for the feast(which is decorated with beautiful flowers and candles and such)   the first thing that I noticed was the icon of our Lady of Guadelupe.  Most of the time we have the Icon of our Lady of perpetual help but for All Saints for some reason or another they use our Lady of Guadelupe.  I was so touched.  I walked in and knew that she was there for me.  (she is the patron of the Americas).  That was all I could think… she is here for me.  It was a beautiful gift from the Lord." 

She has a prominant place in the chapel in Kansas City, and I have spent many deep, and peaceful, and joyful, and prayerful hours in this corner... close to Our Lady!  The black sash means that she is with child - Christ dwells in her womb, and therefore she is the Patronness of LIFE!  So important to the world, and to the Americas!  Hear our prayers for Life, Our Lady!

While we "mendicated the Word" in Kansas City on May 25th - the day that Nancy gave birth to Augustine... I had been given a Bible with this bookmark of our amazing Pope Benedict XVI... It just seems appropriate to use this marker... to remind us of his arrival to the throngs of maybe millions of youth in Spain today!  How my heart cries out in supplication, that many youth will hear the "call", and consider the wonderful life of following Him in this most radical and amazing way! 

On May 25th the Gospel was the Vine and the Branches in John 15..."I am the vine, you are the branches.  Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit... As the Father has loved me , so I have loved you; abide in my love."  May the young people see in the example of all the religious and priests there celebrating World Youth Day with them... that there is so much to be gained, in ways that really matter, when you leave it all behind.

Lord Jesus, along with your Mother, Mary, Queen of heaven and earth... we love you, and honor you, and are filled with wonder at the powerful glory that streams from you... yet the humble state of your presence in this world.  We see you most clearly in those that have stepped away from thinking about themselves, and given all over to you... Your mother is a foremost example of carrying you forth into the world - facing all the misunderstanding of the world when she said "Yes!"  to your coming into her womb.  WE see so often that those that have given their lives to you, as your spouses, are also very misunderstood and pitied.  They have given up the trappings of the world, and the ability to "have a family"... yet they are given many new family members, and a life of love and sacrifice - serving you and one another.  May your marvelous Mother, Mary Most Holy, inspire many youth in Spain to answer your call with a heartfelt and resounding "Yes!"  and may they come to realize the Truth....  We only find happiness when we "take up our cross and follow Jesus."  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen, Hosanna and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

Hail Holy Queen

"Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope.

To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To Thee do we send up our sighs mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
Thine Eyes of Mercy toward us,
and after this our exile show us the
Blessed Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us O Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen and Halleluia!"