"New thorns to pierce thy steady brow..." opening hymn

Little 1 year old David dancing with his 6'4" uncle John last winter, when Maria and her kids lived with us ; I know that it is less than clear, but I think that the fuzziness of it and the looking up of little Dave at his uncle, who has just returned from "the battle"... is very special!  The morning hymn spoke of the Crown of Thorns this morning and that has been huge and continues to be in our prayer for John's healing from brain cancer! 
"Lord Christ, when first thou cam'st to earth,
Upon a cross they bound thee,
And mocked thy saving kingship then
By thorns with which they crowned thee.
And still our wrongs may weave thee now
New thorns to pierce that steady brow.
And robe of sorrow round thee." 
To be sung to the tune of Sing Praise to God who Reigns Above
see http://www.magnificat.com/
Early in our battle against John's brain cancer - it just seemed like the mystery to pray for all those that had joined us in prayerful battle against the enemy cancer- knowing that we all have our hardships and problems.  It has continued to this day for me, and it is where I lift up all those others that are fighting brain cancer and also the families of those that lost the battle - Lisa and Michael and others.  I have added another group of people here too...those that struggle with emotional and mental illnesses - especially the epidemic of depression that attacks so many that we know and love!  This is a huge time of prayer for these 10 beads of beseaching Our Lady to intercede for all those that suffer with the Crown of Thorns around their heads! 

This is the song so familiar to many of us... take the time to watch it this day of the Last Supper, and as we enter the Tridium

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrPAZbD6fG0&feature=youtube_gdata_player So powerful with pictures from The Passion!  Jesus... we are the reason that you gave your LIFE to give us eternal LIFE!  We fall before your Cross and look up at your bloodied face and tortured body... We cry with your Mother, Mary Most Holy, there and are so wounded with her, as she shares in your suffering!  How much as mothers do we share in the suffering of our children?  How often do we say that it would be easier to bear the pain and suffering of our children, rather than to stand helplessly by and watch them face suffering and death?  Yes, give me the pain rather than my sweet helpless child!  Mary, show us how to let go and let God!  Mary, we join with you these hard three days - yet days that brought LIFE into the world by embracing that Cross - the Tree of LIFE!  This was the day that you,Jesus, instituted our sacrament of LIFE - the Eucharist and passed it on into our day and age through the Priesthood!  May more young men listen to and answer your call to the Priesthood and continue to bring LIFE into the world through Your Most Precious Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar!  Satan is trying to destroy LIFE in this world by making those you are calling deaf to your Call - but more and more dometic Churches - Families of Faith in your True Church are raising men, who are Lights to the world and are answering your Call with a "YES!" heard around the world and resound throughout Heaven!  Thank you, Jesus, for the amazing young priests that are coming from our parish - Fr Zach, and seminarian Garrett Ahlers!  And thank you for those coming from our family - Fr Craig Timmerman and Fr Paul Timmerman!  Thank you for the Gift of LIFE - Your Eucharistic Body and Blood from the hands of your extention here on earth - your Priests!  Bless them in a special way on this day of the PRIEST!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

Pat with the two Davids - thank you, Lord, for the priesthood!  Rejoice!

In reflecting upon the priesthood, St Norbert wrote:

"Oh, Priest, who are you?

Not through yourself,

since you are nothing,

Not for yourself,

since you are mediator of men,

Not to yourself,

since you are the spouse of the Church,

Not yours, since you are servant of all,

Not you, since you are God.

Who are you then? You are nothing, and all."

Give a preist a hug today - our little 3 1/2 year old grandson, David Lanoue, loves priests - he goes running to the back of church with his arms outstretched for Father to pick him up and give him a huge HUG!  Ruth has called her David her little miracle child and her future priest!  He was a child that many couples wouldn't have had as they were told no more children after her uterus ruptured after having her second child!  But with patience - allowing things to heal for a good long time - David got here safe and sound and such a blessing and now in just a few weeks #4 is to join us!  Prayers please for safety for Ruth and her little one!  Jesus, we trust in you and thank and praise you for all LIFE!  I am sure that David will consider the priesthood along with farmning!