Each one of these beautiful children has been surrounded by daily prayers from the moment we knew they were in the womb! There is a promise that this will never end! I have a beautiful story about 6 year old, Mary. She was spending the night with great-grandmother and her great Aunt... they had been on an adventure walking downtown and back in the evening. They got back home very tired and the plan was to go straight to bed, but Mary told them that they needed to pray first! She then shared with them the litany of prayers that she shares every night with her siblings and parents, including the intentions on their hearts. It was a very beautiful testament to the home of prayer and faith that she is being raised in! When I heard this - I told my daughter that she is doing a wonderful job - showing her children that they need to turn to God with all they face in LIFE and LOVE! Ruth has seen the fruits of prayer, in realizing that her last two children would not be here without her faith and prayer, and those prayers of many others, that prayed them safely here. She was told by her doctor here in Marshall that she should have no more children, after she ruptured her uterus having Mary. But she returned to the Catholic woman surgeon, who saved her uterus in Sioux Falls, and she told her that if she gave her uterus a year to heal and with close monitoring - there was a 90% chance that all would go well and she could have more by C-section! Now she has 2 more beautiful Gift-of-God children, and how she praises God everytime she looks at them! The prayers were constant and trusting!
Mary and her younger brother by 2 years, David! St Monica is a mother, who didn't ever give up on her trusting tearful prayers that her pagan son, Augustine, would come to know the Truth! There are many mothers, me included, that find constant need to be praying for their children, children-in-law, and grandchildren! In my life over the last years, I have prayed for my son, John. He struggled with his faith and said often that he didn't have any because it hadn't been tested. "I don't know what I believe." Well, on Father's Day 3 years ago, he discovered that the double vision and lethargy he was experiencing was due to a tumor in his brain - in a few weeks we heard the diagnosis - Lymphoma of the brain - brain cancer! Many were with us in prayer as we battled and won cancer! He is now 2 1/2 years cancer free, and now he knows the power of prayer and the Christ is alive and actively working in his life! His faith is found and strong, and he is the first to say that it took the 2x4 cancer to hit him beside the head! No, I didn't pray for that horror of all horrors to hurt my son - he will never be the same John - he is the new John with wounds from the cancer journey! Yet, this changed young man is in a better place and now looking at entering the seminary in a few days to discern a vocation to the priesthood and answer the burning question - Why was I spared, when so many others died?
Little Rose sure loves to be with her siblings... all the activity and the closeness.. while I was over there last night, the older two were doing homework, and Rose was in her swing fussing. I asked David to come over and spend some time talking to her, and she responded to him with smiles and joy right away! Ruth is so thrilled to have her new baby girl, as are all in her loving and active family! She is a symbol of all the many prayers we say for our children. But I know that in my family there are generations of PRAYER! I know that my parents pray for each one of us and all of our offspring and theirs every day as they gather together in morning prayer! My dad being a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church, does the office morning and night with my mother! Each of us are prayed for by name and we are into the 70s now in number! I too pray for all of my children and their family daily as I say my rosary - a decade for each of my children and their growing families are prayed for with them, of course! And I know that each of my family is praying and going to mass daily - Maria and Nancy - and that they too are praying constantly for their families. Maria with her two mischarriages in the last few years is now praying and trusting moment to moment for the safe arrival of little Patrick in the next month! I know from experience that the losses along the way, make the ones you have that much more precious and prayed for without ceasing!
Rose loving the attention from her older brother, David. She lights up!!
Jesus, this is such a glorious day as we are reminded of the power of prayer and tears of a mother! Did I mention tears, O Lord? You know that I am a virtual river of tears always! "O God, who consoles the sorrowful and who mercifully accepted the motherly tears of St Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine, grant us, through the intercession of them both, that we may bitterly regret our sins and find the grace of your pardon." openning prayer from mass today. I now can rejoice in my tears and know that they are watering the seeds of faith that Pat and I planted in our children! We took to heart the message of Faith and Truth - "The world needs lights!" We thank and praise you,Holy Spirit, for showing us the Truth to follow carrying our Most Cherished Cross - each other in marriage! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb Life doesn't get any better than on a beautiful summer evening to be holding a sweet baby as he little hand touches mine in prayer and PEACE and BEAUTY of nature all around! Thank you, Lord! Our Lady and all your women saints there to show us the way to happiness... we are so blessed as women in your True Church! I am filled to overflowing and yes - that becomes a river of grateful and joyful tears too! Life would be dry and dull without TEARS!
Ruth's two Miracle children! They are PRAYER in the flesh!!!!!
Christ speaking in the words of Thomas a'Kempis
"Follow me; 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life' (John 14:6). Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without life there is no living. I am the Way that you must follow; the Truth that you must believe; the Life that you must hope for. I am the Way inviolable, the Truth infallible, and the Life interminable. I am the straightest Way, the sovereign Truth, the true life, the blessed life, and uncreated Life. If you continue in my way you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, and you will attain everlasting LIFE.
'If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments' (Mt 19:17). If you wish to know the truth, believe me. 'If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions.' (Mt 19:21). If you wish to be my disciples, deny yourself. If you wish to have a blessed life, do not get lost in this present life. If you wish to be exalted in heaven, humble yourself in this world. If you wish to reign with me, carry the cross with me. No one but the servants of the cross find their way to the light and happiness of heaven."
What a joy to be reading a book I found at Leaflet in the Cities - Solace in Suffering - excerpts from Imitation of Christ by Thomas a'Kempis - my wonderful friend from my early Catholic days! Isn't he the best????!!!!!
All I had to say was - "If you kids don't look at me there will be no TV!" Miraculously they were all looking and most of them smiling!
a'Kempis reminded me of this song by Danielle Rose - the humility litany! Blessed Teresa's order - the Missionaries of Charity pray this prayer weekly! So hard to ask for this to be answered in our lives, but Christ desires this for us! Hear our prayers!
A beautiful bouquet of LIFE and LOVE! Thank you, Lord!!!
Please continue to pray for all in harms' way - especially our son-in-law, Joseph! Jesus, protect Joseph and all in harms way! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen
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