Big family supper on a cold night on the farm

It was grandpa's special time to have both granddaughters on his lap tonight.  Rose was really into feeding herself with most of it on the table and herself, and Bernadette just was looking at all the activity!  Grandpa could only sit there and smile sweetly as both of his hands were occupied!  But nothing makes grandpa happier than having our house full of LIFE and LOVE= Grandchildren and our children here with them too!

Then the entertainment of the evening was Ruth giving Nancy a lesson in cutting Gus's hair while dad watched on the phone in California!  David was trying to help Gus by brushing the hair off his shoulders and then trying to keep it out of his mouth, but probably got a bunch in there instead.  A big drink of water helped and then straight into the bathtub for both boys!

A tractor in the lap is helpful for a 1 1/2 year old's haircut in the midst of a house full of LIFE and activity on a cold winter's night.  How we long for some warm spring weather when we can be outside in the evening maybe going out to see the new baby calves in the barn.  Soon it will happen.  Today with the horrible cold we are yearning for it to come... this is a big case of cabin fever!

This was just before grandpa's haircut right after Gus... he stepped outside and said that he could tell that he had lost some cover... "My head feels really COLD!!!"  He put on a stocking cap to help!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Sharing our FAITH in our homes

St John Bosco is a shining LIGHT out there - His story - he grew up in early years that were most difficult, and rather than taking that and becoming an equally hard and lost adult.  He "dedicated himself to the education of the young, founding congregations that would instruct youth in the arts and Christian LIFE."  Wow!  How many times do we see the cycle repeating itself over and over... poor parenting in what really matters, resulting in raising children that are given nothing!  What is most disheartening these days is to see the new generation given nothing by their parents, who were raised in a Catholic home.  I am so sad to know that the parents felt that it wasn't necessary to share the FAITH with their children.  Satan is laughing at those that swallowed his lie that we should allow our children to get to an age where they can choose what they want to believe.  Wrong!  We instill the values and morals of Truth into our children from the most tender of age!

Little Bernadette filled us with JOY at breakfast this morning, as we shared morning prayer by the light of my new lenten candle holder that Nancy got us making at craft-night last night.  Little Gus knows prayer is a big part of his life from meals, to bedtime, to mass - sometimes throughout the week!  We do not rely on the Church to teach our children... Yes!  The Church show us the Truth, and we are to follow it to the letter - no shopping cart Catholics allowed!!  That is truly not the point... if we pick and choose what we believe in our Faith in the Catholic Church... we are turning our back on LIFE, LOVE and LIGHT - the TRUTH!

Jesus, it is so important to share our Faith in our homes.  The LIGHT is to be put on a lampstand for all in the house to see by, and to see the Truth with!  Today in the Gospel YOU remind us that "there is nothing secret except to come to LIGHT."  Mark4  How true this is in our family - we do not have secrets, and everything is in the LIGHT for all to see and share - the good, the bad, the joy, and the pain!  Sharing the pain in our family has brought us close, and so respectful of LIFE!  I never see the value of not sharing, or keeping secrets from each other!  What is the point?  How can we lift each other up in our time of need, if you don't allow others to know of your pain or struggles?  Jesus, hiding your light under a bushel, or the bed accomplishes nothing!  May we share with others in our domestic Church/family all that we encounter on the narrow path carrying our Most Cherished Cross.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"Let the children come to me; and do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  Mk 10:14

Mother Teresa Quotes on Family

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”



"Smile at each other. Smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other- it doesn't matter who it is- and that will help to grow up in greater love for each other."



“In the home begins the disruption of peace of the world.”



“There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives – the pain and loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them.”



“Love begins at home and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into that action.”



“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO_YUOAA1HU 

Small Things by Danielle Rose the way we should approach LIFE and LOVE sharing our LIGHT - inspired by St Therese of Lisieux and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Modern times Communication... keeping the focus on Faith and Family!

Yes, Pat and I are old fashioned with the old flip phones.  Nancy and Bill are keeping in touch with their I phones and even looking at each other while they talk.  To keep Gus from walking away they all laid on the floor last night and talked to dad on the phone.  Even little 2 1/2 month old Bernadette looks at dad on the phone.  I am already noticing that she prefers people around her to the toys she can look at.  Keep that going in your life little girl and place your family and your faith way above things!  Part of our sharing today was the JOY of having siblings over things in our families.  Also the importance of sharing your Faith and Church within your domestic Church/home!  It is such a great time to have our family expanded by Nancy and her two sweet children!  Tonight we were all together over at Ruth's while Paul went to teach Faith Formation.  We had fun with some lenten crafting inspired by Nancy.  Fun with a faith flavor!  Can't be beat!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Adorable finger puppets thanks to Aunt Nancy - she knows that Godson, Simon,is a nut about robots!  He super loves this thoughtful gift!  It doesn't take much to make a young child smile!

David's John Deere Farmer! 

The Sower and the seed teaches us the Truth

Interacting LIFE of brother-sister-dog-Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth! 
The North wind is howling coldly outside our farmhouse this day.  Inside we have shared breakfast and prayer with Nancy and her precious two little ones!   We were overjoyed to have the Gospel from Mark 4 about the Sower and the seed!  Three years ago that was the reading on January 27th - the day of John's stem cell transplant!  Now 3 days later - 3 years later finds John in the midst of a retreat with the other seminarians at a Franciscan retreat house!  How I am praying that the Holy Spirit is speaking to him - sharing with him the Truth of Jesus, and his amazing glorious Bride, the Church!  It is such a JOY to have John share with us about his journey called cancer/healing/seminary... He is very happy and at peace although the studies are a definite challange and humbling... he is loving the community and prayer-life with his fellow brother seminarians.  Daily mass and prayers are so powerful for him as he grows closer and closer to the Lord.  We pray that his soil may be fertile, as it was when his stem cells were planted in his bone marrow 3 years and 3 days ago, so that the harvest may be great - thirty, sixty or a hundred fold! 

Nancy and the kids having a video chat with dad while he is in California on his first business trip of his new job.  With the kids still babies and not tied down with school - she is able to come home to the farm to be with her parents and sister's family for the time that Bill is away!  How special for us to have this time with them, and share our wonderful LIFE on the farm.  Soon spring will be here and the new baby calves will be coming.  I have a feeling that little Gus will be his grandpa's right hand man, when the weather gets nice.  Nancy's wish for her kids to be farmkids is looking like a possibility.  So nice to have them here!

Cousin Dave loves his little baby cousins! 

14 "The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Mark 4

It is so powerful to hear Jesus' Word to us, and to realize that we have experienced all of these ways of receiving the Word!  But we long to truly take the Word into our inner soil and plant it there, water it, feed it with the sacraments and all the blessings of the Church... and that we can then bear much fruit starting in our domestic Church/family and then to all the world around us!  I have learned so much from the Community of the Lamb, and how they truly become the Word/Jesus, and represent HIM knocking on the door of the poor, as they beg for their food from them!  They repeat each line and listen to the Spirit as it speaks to them, and then they find "echoes" from throughout the Bible that enriches the Gospel and makes it speak to our hearts more yet!  I have learned from them that when I go to bed at night I excitedly read the Gospel for the next day and carry that with me into my sleep - filled with wonder and awe at all that HE teaches us as we walk with HIM! 

Jesus, we are thrilled at your Truth in our lives as we walk with YOU, and we see YOU in your Word!  You are all that we long for as we are hungry for YOU - we are fed in your Sacraments and Your Word!  We are filled to overflowing by YOU, O Jesus!  We are reminded of the gallons of water - you turned into wine at the request of your loving Mother at Cana.  We are overwhelmed by YOUR LOVE for us and unconditional forgiveness when we are distracted by the cares of the world or allow Satan to snatch the SEED away from our hearts!  There is more SEED to fall upon the rich soil as we are cleansed by YOU, O Lord!  We are longing to LOVE and follow after YOU carrying our Most Cherished Cross.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

“May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
― Thérèse de Lisieux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtcwQwgdsA  Tenth Avenue North singing - You are More - Watch it!  Jesus, thank you for your unconditional LOVE and FORGIVENESS - AGAPE LOVE!  We are YOURS, now and forever!  May your Word take root in us!

Jesus.... looking out at the world from a room of deep prayer!

Thinking about Hallel - missing her today

My prayers were answered for a "real hug" from Susan/Hallel!!!  We got a call from her telling us that she would be here with their foundress in Kansas City over Thanksgiving.  We were given the 3 days after Thanksgiving to come as a family to see her and get those hugs!  She was able to meet 2 neices and a nephew that she had not met before, and see a lot of the family for the first time in 2 1/2 years.  For Pat, John and I... it had been 1 1/2 year since we were in France for her first vows.  Except for the bugs we brought along with us and stuggled with including making Hallel sick too... it was a wonderful time of sharing in their life and having Hallel there with us to visit and hug and laugh and shed tears - that would be her mother, who surprises no one with her tears of joy as well as deep emotion... as my kids are known to say, when I say that I cried about something - "So what else is new, mom?"

That is a Susie smile!!  Why are my thoughts so strongly about Sue today?  I had the joy of sharing the wonder of her Community, and how they digest/chew/mendicate the Gospel every day with some others yesterday!  I have been forever touched by how they start the night before with the Gospel for the next day.  They take each line and speak it numerous times and then chant it - it is close to lectio devino - in how you start to take it into yourself and how different things come to you through the work of the Spirit!  As they ponder the Gospel - you are touched by parts of it that might not come to you otherwise.  The following morning at prayer they open the Bibles before them and look for "echoes" that relate to the Gospel throughout the Word... whether it be from the OT, psalms or NT/Gospels or letters.  To see these men and women prayerfully sharing places in the Word that relate to the Gospel... it expands and stretchs it to reveal other ways the Word can touch us and allow us to grow in our knowledge and LOVE of HIM and His Bride, The Church! 

Hallel teaches Mary and David how to set up for Mass!  Such a beautiful gift that they have Hallel and the Community in their lives - they are totally unaware of how special they are to have a Little Sister in their family!  So wonderful!  There is a hope out there that next summer/fall we could be blessed with her coming home for a visit when they have the dedication of the new monastery when it is finished!  It would be wonderful for us, yet a sacrifice for her to be away from her prayer and mass with the Community every day.  Most every day we have mass here, but not always on Saturday and there is also adoration two days a week - Tuesday and Thursday - the best hours I spend all week! 

Rosie over this morning to visit Nancy and her two kids, along with mom and brother, David.  Grandma had fun doing her topknot... My day gets off to a great start when I can do little girls hair!  Hallel was my baby girl... and when I had her hair to do, I would go down the line and do 4 girls' hair!  Joy, joy, joy, joy!!!!

Jesus, today is a day when our house is full of little ones, and those girls/moms that were my little ones not that long ago!  I love to have them around me, and it is crazy how fast they have grown up and now have families of their own!  Time has just flown by, but the blessings are immense!  We are so grateful for having the Community of the Lamb in our lives.  They show us the wonder and power of your Word, and how to carry it forth into our lives/domestic Church!  We truly are in not only our family but your family, O Lord!  "For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."  May we be that, O Lord!  How we long to be one with you and to leave our selfishness behind!  Looking at little Bernadette and how she looks around for the people around her to smile at rather than the toys in front of her.  May we, too, love the people in our lives and not the things... How Hallel shows us the JOY of poverty and the freedom to leave the world behind and cling to YOU and your Bride, the Church!  Possessions are weights that drag us down - how I long to simplify my life and I LOVE YOU, O Lord!  Jesus, I trust in YOU!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"You are a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in distress; Shelter from the rain, shade from the heat."

Isaiah 25:4

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

"Like Jesus we belong to the world living not for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength."
Quotes of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaCR24-tkWI  Danielle Rose - If I touch HIM! 

Familytime comes in many shapes and sizes

Two and a half month old Bernadette gives grandma so much joy with her sweet smiles!  Nancy is here for the week with her two kids.  Their dad has a new job that will take him out of town for a week at a time, so Nancy will be able to have more time on the farm with her kids.  We are all happy to have them here more!  We had a great family evening with Great Grandma and cousins at Catholic Schools week - supper and going around the school to see all the sights!  The Verlys show up with 4 generations these days as we are gifted with the presence of Pat's wonderful mother.  Mass was great with the kids too!

The kitty is interesting too!

Big brother thinks that big white kitty is fuzzy and soft.  The farm is becoming a place of the next generation to grow and share in the seasons of LIFE and LOVE.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Life is good and never a dull moment on the farm with daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, husband/farmers, dogs, cats, cows, soon there will be baby calves, tractors, and sleds in the mud.  Just leave the mud and other brown stuff in the garage. 

JOHN winning the battle, and dying to self- Jesus, your rule!

John thanked all those that helped us kick cancer's butt yesterday on FB and got a huge outpouring of LIKES!  We are still amazed that we are three years out and healed.  As one person wrote to John - "He obviously has big plans for you, John."  It truly does seem that way, and there were not that many surprised when he was led to discern the priesthood.  We all are left with that strong realization that the Lord has touched him and healed him in such a powerful way.  That Gospel story of John being lowered in front of Jesus through the roof by his friends just is so much the way we see this.  Jesus starts out by forgiving his sins...and John has shared that he was not making his faith his own and half-heartedly prayed for FAITH!  So powerful in this year of faith to have my son on this amazing journey called cancer/healing/seminary!  He was very excited about a week long Francisan retreat that he is on this week.  After an out of this world TEC retreat last weekend - he is getting a huge dose of Jesus/LOVE! Then Jesus touched him and told him to rise, take up his mat and walk!  He looks gimpy but he is jumping and praising God as he carries his mat down the street!   So many are amazed!

Jesus, you give us all we need and feed us with YOU!  Jesus, we are forever changed and healed by YOU!  Jesus, we ask for safe travels today as Nancy arrives with her two little ones for a week.  Nothing can replace the FAMILY!  Jesus, along with your Saints - especially St Thomas A'Quinas, pray for us and show us how to LOVE you as we ought!  Be with John and the seminarians this week of retreat - may they hear your voice calling them to YOU to bring your LIGHT and LIFE and LOVE into the world as your priests. Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

Prayer for Priests

by St. Therese of Lisieux
"O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.
Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.
Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world’s contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation
here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4uauw38GBM  Third Day - Sound of Your Voice
Jesus, we listen to YOU within our hearts!!!  WE are yours and praise you to the highest heavens!

 JESUS!!!!  May our domestic church/family know you with all we have!!!  YOU are our LIFE, LOVE, and LIGHT!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO Grateful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was the day of John's appreciation gathering at Ruth and Paul's the summer of 2009... we had just gotten back from St Joe's and were hopeful that the tumor had gone for good... Little did we know that it was just the beginning of our journey.  I looked at the huge mass of clouds reaching to the heavens and John standing in front of it - his precious head had revealed that there was something foreign and scary in his brain.  Within a week we were to trust in the Lord as a biopsy was done on him in Rochester to discover the diagnosis - PCNSL - Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma!  The majesty and beauty of the clouds revealed the truth that we soon discovered - Jesus is in control and you can trust that He will heal John and the resulting answer to his half-hearted prayer for Faith is the new John.  Jesus, You rule and we are filled with gratitude now and forever.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

John just called to say that he will be on retreat for the week at a Franciscan retreat house... sounds super wonderful!  Pray for me John!  I pray for you every day.

John's 3rd birthday!!!

Today is the day that John had his stem cells returned to him to take root in his wiped clean bone marrow, and give him a new LIFE 3 years ago.  John shares in his article in the Prairie Catholic that he half-heartedly prayed for faith and the next week he had brain cancer!  He realized a few weeks later after having a brian biopsy and unable to control the left side of his body... I asked for this!!!  He found LIFE in the Cross called cancer/healing/seminary!  Today the second reading is the amazing one from I Cor 12 about the Body..."Brothers and sisters: as a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ."  John felt that he had finally found his way into the body by feeling the extreme pain of being ill and then dying to self and being brought back to LIFE!

Being annointed by Fr Craig just before his biopsy! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGmK8rIX8H0  We had this shared with us!  Watch for the 7 minute mark... I wept a the sight of this in the midst of this beautiful sharing of how we love and adore the body of Christ!  Truly John experienced the words of Christ fullfilled today in the Gospel..."The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has annointed to bring glad tidings to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord... Today this scripture passage has been fulfilled in your hearing."  Luke 4

Lord, we thank and praise you for the healing of John and how You answered his prayer to know YOU by Faith!  Jesus, we fall on our knees in praise and thanksgiving that he is now answering your call to consider the seminary. We know without the shadow of a doubt that you will guide and direct him down your narrow path carrying his Most Cherished Cross!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"Your words, Lord, are Spirit and LIFE."  John 6:63

Update on little Patrick

Maria shared an update on how little Patrick is doing on her blog. He was evaluated on by PT and socially he is right where he should be but mentally and physically he is at 1 1/2 months rather than at 3 months.  "They aren't too concerned about this, and are hopeful that he can soon be right on target with the help of some physical therapy (his mental delay is seen in his left side being "behind" his right side - hopefully both his physical and mental delays will be aided by physical work)." she shares...  So prayer warriors we now know how we are to continue to pray for our little Patrick, the miracle boy!  Another shocking bit of info they shared with her - 3 people were there for the testing - that most cases without oxygen that long as Patrick are "vegetables."  Once again the caliber of the miracle comes rushing upon us and takes our breath away!  

Jesus, on this feastday of St Timothy and Titus we are reminded of your healing LOVE and forgiveness.  We are called to remember the way you used this innocent little Lamb, Patrick, to lead us closer to YOU!  HE experienced death to self and was raised to LIFE through your healing touch at birth.  Continue to be with Patrick and his family as he grows in the knowledge and LOVE of you.   Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"Christ, who committed no faults, loved shame, shunned honors, and in conformity with the divine plan, freely chose to be debased and held in contempt in his life in order to teach his friends how they can grow in merit and in grace through love..."

Blessed Angela of Foligno (1390) was a wife, mother and mystic

3 years ago in Rochester

Here is our little yellow house in Rochester - 3 years ago John and I found this small comfortable house our home away from home.  No, we didn't share the drama and stories of others in the Transplant houses.  Pat thought with the size of our family and those that would want to come and spend some time with us... that it would be better if we rented a house for John to recover and fight the good final fight he was called upon to face... dropping the bomb on his immune system by wiping it out and then replanting his stem cells in his wiped clean bone marrow!  The Gospel the day of his new birth was the sower and the seeds!  So appropriate as his health in every way once again gave him the ability to be the young "rock star" of the transplant floor!  In two days he will have his 3rd birthday and than a week later his 24th birthday!  Both of them will be celebrated while he is in the midst of J-term at the St Paul Seminary!  Today on the feastday of the Conversion of St Paul - we rejoice with the words he has given to us in letter after letter in the New Testament! 

John's dad was our main visitor... he would come for a weekend or day here and there.  It was wonderful to have a home for him to come and spend time with his wife and son in the battle for LIFE!  It was wonderful to have the January Peace surround us in our little yellow house as the prayers of thousands surrounded us and the sacraments of the Church gave us strength and courage! 

Warm and healing family times in our haven of healing and hope.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Through His Cross we find LIFE!

"Because my will is simple as a window

                                     And knows no pride of original birth,
                                     It is my life to die, like glass, by light:
                                 Slain in the strong rays of the bridegroom sun."
This is the beginning of a poem by Thomas Merton called The Blessed Virgin Mary as compared to a window... something I read as a new Catholic the summer I lived at our "farm" in Wisconsin and did my student nursing at the hospital in St Croix Falls, WI.  Thomas Merton and his writing was huge in my early romantic years of falling head over heels in LOVE with the Catholic Church!  I was telling my mom the other day that for some reason this has not changed for me or lessened.  To really be honest, it seems that it has grown more and more... especially after coming off an amazing Catholic retreat Together Encountering Christ in our beautiful Cathedral in New Ulm!  I am filled with such JOY and excitement to go and tell all around me that Jesus loves us unconditionally and forgives us all that has come between HIM and us!  This day is so powerful for this message as it is the day we celebrate the conversion of St Paul in the Church!  "Paul clothed himself in the human Christ- that is, in the sufferings and humiliations of Christ crucified, and wanted no other joy."  St Catherine of Siena  In other words, Paul embraced the Cross of Christ and found LIFE eternal!

St John the Evangelist Church in Rochester was our Home of strength and healing for our weeks we spent there.  This being the anniversary of our stem cell transplant... it is especially close to our hearts and minds.  Spending this last weekend with John - on retreat together- was a true way of celebrating the anniversary of our final 5 week battle in Rochester together called cancer/stem cell transplant/healing/faith journey beginning!  John has since regained his strength and become the new John, he finished his college education at the U of M, after taking a year off for the battle of his LIFE.  Then, with his college degree, he took a full time job as a insurance salesman for Northwest Mutual here in Marshall.  While spending time with his brother through marriage, Paul, and a conversation with him this past summer... John spoke to me while driving in a car by Lake Michigan - "Mom, I am going to do something that will make you happy.  I am going into the seminary to discern the priesthood!"  I was amazed at how the journey continues in this most prayed for and miraculous way!  But we all thought that it would be over a year for it to come to pass, as the new semester would begin in just 6 weeks!  No, the doors flew open and my usual unmotivated son flew through all the paper work and tests that he needed to complete including two papers about what he thought of the priesthood and being called to celibacy.  The Holy Spirit was in charge and it seemed that He wanted to have John on the path sooner than later!  I will once again share John's special version of it all!  I have enjoyed reading it over and over, but then I am his mother after all!

http://dnu.org/news/documents/JAN.2013MASTERISSUE.pdf

Through the followers of Christ - John was lowered into the presence of Jesus by his friends and he was healed!  It continues to this day - from the Gospel for today in Mark 16..."they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."  John was annointed 3 times in his journey!!! 

Jesus, we are so filled with wonder and awe at the beautiful gift to your Church we celebrate this day - the Conversion of St Paul!  His words and actions are so powerful... in showing us that when we are touched by YOU, and shown the LIGHT - there is no turning back!  We long to serve YOU in all that we do and say in this life and forward.  John and his family felt your hand upon us, healing us and showing us that we are chosen by YOU to share the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE!  May we, like Paul, "grow all the stronger... proving that this is the Christ!"  Acts 9:1-22 - the first reading at mass today!  Lord, may we have even some of the words of St Paul in sharing Your Truth, and may our actions show the world that we are Yours, O Lord!  Jesus, we are so filled with unconditional LOVE and forgiveness as we embrace the Most Cherished Cross.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

Our Most Cherished Cross!!!

"Because my love is simple as a window

And knows no shame of original dust,
I longed all night, (when I was visible) for dawn my death:
When I would marry day, my Holy Spirit:
And die by transsubstantiation into light.


For light, my lover, steals my life in secret.
I vanish into day, and leave no shadow
But the geometry of my cross,
Whose frame and structure are the strength
By which I die, but only to the earth,
And am uplifted to the sky my life. "
Thomas Merton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4uauw38GBM  The song from our weekend brings me back... Sound of your Voice by Third Day