A wonderful farm 4H family welcomed #10 child yesterday with loving and excited arms! New life is such a blessing and time of great joy as you meet and greet the new LIFE! Speaking to Nancy yesterday on the one week birthday of Bernadette, she was saying that it seems much longer that she has been here, and she is automatically acceptanced and loved by her brother, Gus. Nancy was having contractions the week before on election night... as the sad hard results started to show that all hope for a change for the better was gone, Nancy said that Bill started to speak about bringing a baby into this mess of a world in the despair of the moment. We need to continually remind ourselves that "the world needs lights!" Now more than ever we need to become the domestic Church open to LIFE and taking very seriously raising LIGHTS! There is nothing more beautiful than a family that is filled with siblings that share Faith and LOVE for Christ and his Bride the Church!
One amazing thing I noticed with little Bernadette is how calm and relaxed she is! Her little fingers are totally open and relaxed showing to me that she is a peaceful and content baby from day 1. After just having Rose born 6 months ago... I remember that her little hands were in tight fists most of the time and that is quite common in my memory of newborns, but not so with Bernadette! She is the picture of PEACE and JOY! And in just a couple days she will be able to meet her Aunt Little Sister Hallel! What rejoincing will be happening then! Everytime we say Hallel we are praising God to the highest Heaven, and we will be shouting it, singing it, and speaking it without end. Amen and Halleluia!
Adoration yesterday was a landmark one... I could pray for and put in the monstrance with Jesus a new little one in the womb in our families and also put our new little Bernadette there too! It is always so exciting and glorious when I can add a new family member to our litany of FAMILY! I being the oldest of 12 and Pat the middle of 10 there are over 150 of us that I pray for with my eyes glued on Jesus in the monstrance and my heart beseeching HIM to minister to all the needs of each member of our families! Living or dead they are in need of our prayers, and I feel like I am in the sea of HIS LOVE as I pray - lifting up all that the Lord has given to me in my life called FAMILY!
Today being the Presentation of Mary in the temple by her parents, Joachim and Ann... reminds us that as we raise lights for the world, we need to present our children in the temple to the Lord. We must do this in our domestic Church/ home where we share the Way, the Truth and the LIFE - Christ Jesus. We must also do this by attending mass and worship together as a family every Sunday and more often if possible. I know that Maria in El Paso attends daily mass with her 3 children. We all know that Patrick was presented to the Lord in the temple at 2 hours old when he was baptized and united with Christ and his Bride, the Church, through baptism! No better way to be armed to fight for his LIFE! Little Sister Hallel is my 4th child, and so she is prayed for on the 4th joyful mystery on Monday and Saturday... the Presentation of Christ in the temple by Mary and Joseph. I often think that this is most appropriate for her, as she has pursued her call to the celebate/obedient/poor life of a little Sister in the Community of the Lamb. So powerful for her family to share in, yet truly a sacrifice for us to not have her more in our day to day lives. But the rejoicing is that much more powerful and wonderful... when for most of the family it has been 2 1/2 years since they have laid eyes and hands on her! Her lap will never be empty from all the little ones climbing into it! This is so true of the Crosses in life - after the pain and suffering the healing of coming through the Cross into New LIFE is that much more glorious! If life was all good and wonderful with no pain... we would get totally bored and it would not be near as great day after day! So when things are tough... rejoice! When the hurt is gone...it feels so GOOD! "Does the Lord so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams." I Sam 15:22
Lord, there is so much rejoicing in heaven at the birth of a new little one into a family that LOVES YOU and shares your LIFE, LOVE and LIGHT within their domestic Church/family. There is such Peace and Joy in the heart of a family that has brought their children into your Temple and presented them to YOU! They have placed each child in your loving and forgiving arms, and starting with Baptism, into YOUR CHURCH... they grow and develope into your LIGHTS! May we continually share YOU in our midst by worshiping together, and embracing the wonder of YOUR WORD and Sacraments. May the Saints walk with us every day as we learn from them how to serve and worship YOU with all that we do and say. May we touch those around us with your Truth and your LIFE! You are the Way we follow as we embrace and carry our Most Cherished Cross, and follow after you. Jesus, we are filled with rejoicing at this time of year for families to gather. Be with all those that are hurt and lonely at this time of year. May they be gathered into your arms as little weak lambs. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
"Upon her presentation,
A gift of great delight
Appears in dedication
As pleasing in Your sight.
For in Your Holy Temple,
The place Your glories fill,
A daughter meek and humble
Now comes to do Your will.
Beyond the incense rising,
Surpassing goat and dove,
Preferred to bullocks dying,
And bread to show above,
This girl in faith believing
Will hold the off'ring true,
When Christ the Lamb conceiving
She is the Temple new."
Hymn to be sung to The Church's One Foudation
from Morning prayer - see www.magnificat
Halleluia! Halleluia! Halleluia! Have a glorious Thanksgiving tomorrow one and all!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOWiNFNLthE Danielle Rose, Pursue Me
Her song about answering the call to religious life.
"The Mother of God was led up to God by her parents, not as a young girl, nor as a child, not just slightly younger than that , but as a three-year-old... But at that age she gave proof of discernment worthy of those capable of making sound decisions, for she was clearly seen to go forward with unspeakable joy. When they were already near the outer doors of the Temple,... she demonstrated that she was more aware than anyone else of what was happening to her and what was going to take place. Solemn, graceful, and admired, she was making her orderly way among the others, with a wonderfully calm bearing, manner, and purpose defying description.
As soon as the High Priest came out to meet her, and surely spoke the prophetic verse to her, 'Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father's house; so shall the king greatly desire your beauty.' (Psalm 45: 10-11), she stopped reverently for a moment, then, on hearing these words, she rose up again. Immediately leaving everyone behind, her parents, nurses, contemporaries, she seperated herself from the assembled company and went forward to the High Priest, absolutely alone and full of joy. Turning her gracious and gentle gaze upon him, she affirmed with whatever gestures she could, and with childish murmurings, her whole-hearted devotion to God."
St Gregory Palamas (1359)
My oldest daughter, Ruth Ida, at about 3 years old... Lord, I am yours!
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