We thought that there was adoration at St Edwards in Minneota, so we drove over there to find the church beautifully decorated for Christmas and all alone we shared a rosary, and then John shared his personal way of praying - singing alone to the Lord. I told him to go right ahead, and act like I wasn't even there. So special to hear my son singing to the Lord! We had just shared morning prayer together at breakfast, and his prayers of asking the Lord, who was born for us and died for us, to remain always in our hearts burning with those Truths! As a parent to be carried to such heights of prayer and faith by sharing worship with our children... nothing better under the sun!
The window of the stoning of St Stephen reminded us of the feastday for today! St Stephen, pray for us. You show us that all those that follow the innocent Lamb of God must be prepared to give our all to HIM!
Jesus, we love you and praise you for this time with my seminarian, John! He is growing in such a sweet way in love with you and your Mother, Mary Most Holy! He told me that he has made up his own way of praying the rosary, and that is right after his mom's heart. I kind of made it my own by praying for each of my 5 kids on each of the 5 decades of the rosary. I do know the mysteries on the proper days, but I also use it my way to pray as I know a mother is supposed to - for each of my children each and every day! I have now added 5 more decades to pray for other needs that are very big for me and my loved ones. Foremost is my husband and those that have prayed with us loyally through John's cancer and now little Patrick's battle for LIFE after being born dead!
Joseph wrote this Christmas Card after returning from Alfghanistan to be at the bedside of his critically ill son after a traunatic birth in which he was born 20 minutes without oxygen!
"Dear family and friends-
Our family has had some very dynamic experiences in the last months. These have been saturated with suffering, deep sadness, and moments of near despair. Yet, they have led us to a single, all convicting conclusion: life is about one thing, and one thing only: love. It is love that is worth doing, having, being. Period. And it's not the 'good feelings' part. It's the real stuff - the dirty stuff - the fighting stuff. Why is this? Becaus it is our nature. God is love. Not in the cheesy sense of the fly-by-night Sunday school session, but in the real sense of gift, of sacrifice, of service - of-death-to-self. God's nature compels Him to want good things for us - and He infused this construction in us at our creation - and continues to grow it by grace. No matter the suffering, no matter the evil or be had, there is nothing more powerful. There is no power in hell, no devise of man that can overcome this. The extreme anxiety had over a newborn's traumatic birth or the horror of the battlefields of Afghanistan can only be authentically engaged by a single act of love. This is a most beautiful reality." This was the evangelization... that was the card sent out by Maria and Joseph and their family! Wow!
With that I will once again marvel at the depth that my children and their families take us on our FAITH JOURNEY!
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