Thinking about MERCY

"Praise the Lord, his people, praise Him!
Wounded souls his comfort know.
Those who fear him find his mercies,
Peace for pain and joy for woe;
Humble hearts are high exalted,
Human pride and power laid low."  From the morning hymn to be sung to the tune of Angels from the Realms of Glory  see http://www.magnificat.com/

Greeted by the special rose bush, that always reminds me of ST Therese of Lisseux and the prayers that she promises for us from heaven... I had the joy of spending time with my Lord in Adoration yesterday.  Some fellow prayer warriors met me as I was entering and said that it was such a big space - back in our church after 6 months in the small and sweet chapel at the school while the rennovations were taking place.  There certainly was a very intimate closeness to our Lord on the altar in the chapel, yet there is a majesty and beauty now returning to our home in the main church. 

Yes, he is farther away in distance here and the monstrance seems to melt into the tabernacle as the gold of both... they are both the "Beating Heart" and they cannot be separated... He is everywhere!  He is within each one of us and even those that do not know Him... merely need to fall on their knees, and ask Him to forgive them, and they are HIS!

The new gathering space welcomes all of his family - our brothers and sisters in Christ to pause a while and look into their eyes and smile and share...  The statues of the saints are there to join with us in the Communion of Saints and reveal to us the Lord's undying mercy and love for us.  Many times we read the lives of the saints... we see that many were fallen and lost people that through prayer and a change of heart - Metanioa - they discovered the Path of Truth and Life and Love! 

With a wonderful Catholic School - we are blessed as our grandchildren now can experience the many blessings that we had with our kids - now their parents.  There is much hard work that goes into this and the education of the youth in classes taught by those that are willing and able. Pat and I just signed up to teach 9th grade together this year... Use us to your honor and glory and help us to share YOU with these young people.  May they come to know your Mercy, and turn to you at all points of their journey in life!

Jesus, we love you and need you and know that we are weak and sinful... we ask for your forgiveness, and merciful love to show us, step by step, a better way to love and serve you.  May we take advantage of your sacrament of reconcilliation - where we can lay all our burdens at your feet and go forth to make a difference in our lives.  A change here and there to allow us to follow the path to sainthood.  WE love you Jesus, and need you to show our humble hearts how to love without counting the cost.  "The last will be first, and the first will be last."  Mt 20:16  As it says in the Humility prayer..."That others become holier than I... provided that I become as Holy  as I should."  Jesus, we trust in you - have mercy on us.  Amen, Hosanna, and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"The Hour of Great Mercy"
"Just as the Image can serve as a reminder of the ocean of Divine Mercy, as well as its price, so can the daily remembrance of the Divine Mercy at the hour of Christ's death. Jesus asked Saint Faustina, and through her us, to celebrate this Hour of Great Mercy, promising tremendous graces to those who would, both for themselves and on behalf of others.

"At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy ... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. (Diary 1320)."
From the Biography of St Faustina   see this link for more... http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/index.htm
For the Divine Mercy prayer put to song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eym833fy8Uc&feature=player_embedded