What a gift it was to have a day with John before we both headed off - John to the Cities and I to work. I was just filled with so much laughter and LOVE as we shared fond memories, and looked with great anticipation at the new outlook for our amazing Church! It was super amazing that on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes we could be together and then to have some time with Hallel on the phone... so wonderful! We then received the news of her coming home for a couple months to Kansas City, and that she will be coming home for a visit after the Easter octave - from April 8 to the end of the month she will be able to come home for a week or so! We are all so excited and have many fake plans flying around! The knowledge that Simon will be celebrating his first communion on the 28th made Ruth and I get crazy with imaginings that we could have a huge family gathering for that occassion with scores of people coming from both sides of the family - knowing that Hallel would be here too! Then Pat reminded us that he would be busy planting corn later in the month and maybe more free to spend time with Susan/Hallel at the earlier time in the month. Well, it will be interesting and it will take the Holy Spirit to sort things out for us... but we are super thrilled at the news! John and I found an aritcle on line that gave a brief description of some of the front runners for Pope - Pat thinks that it will a total unknown, however - John and I got really excited at the possibilities! "Wouldn't it be super fun if they chose Augustine for their name?" said John - St Augustine is his patron saint!
Praying midmorning prayer with John yesterday - he read a quote by St Bernadette, which was a total gift! Her description of the Lady and how she followed her command to dig in the mud and discover and uncover the tiny spring - which is now a large springfed pool that the faithful enter with prayers for healing... a miracle that continues to heal thousands on all levels of their body, minds and spirits! A modern day healing - we consider John's 2 visits to Lourdes to be part of his total healing along with the prayers of prayer warriors, the sacraments, saints- he was prayed over with two relics, the devotionals - Our Lady and her rosary was a lifeline for us. There is no way we can seperate any part of this - the whole along with the work of the medical community at Mayo adds up to his miraculous healing and foremost his walk and discovery of FAITH! If you missed John's sharing of his journey - here is the link to an article from last month... http://dnu.org/news/documents/JAN.2013MASTERISSUE.pdf It has been such a joy to have this to read and reread to once again remind us that this was all an answer of prayer for John and now the journey called cancer/healing/seminary continues!!! We are so blessed by HIM and his beautiful bride, The Church! Pat and I were just sharing how blessed we are to have 5 children and their families that are so strong in the True Faith! There are some that think they are drawing them away or influencing them to question parts of what we believe... but as Nancy said today - "No way in heck is that ever going to happen!"
One of those family times shared - John and I laughed and laughed about a 4H experience all 5 shared when they put on a share the fun skit with just them in it! John was a couch potato with a pillow under his sweatshirt, and the girls all put on funny scenes in front of a large TV screen relating to 4H from Barney to weather... so great! And they won a trip to the State Fair as they took first place. How John loves to reminisce and anything he can do with his sisters is number one and all of his sisters is out of this world! Maybe in a month or so that wish will actually come true! It is what I am hoping and praying for! John also talked about getting back to seminary to discuss the crazy news of the Pope resigning and all that means. "I want to talk about this with my brothers." made both of us laugh with great JOY the way the Lord answered his prayer for brothers with so many!!! And the best kind of brothers ever! Brothers that will lead him on an amazing journey deeper and deeper in FAITH, and LOVE of his Church!
Jesus, it was a day filled with surprises and great excitement! Our old tired Pope is stepping aside to make way for one, who can keep pace with the pace of this fast world. He is humbly allowing the Spirit to guide and direct his Church to find the right man to be the head/servant of Your Church! The young men listening to your call are seeing the wisdom of this humble wise man, and his acknowledgement that it is the time to step aside. A man, who is attuned to YOU and YOUR Spirit within. We place this all in your hands and Trust! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
http://www.catholicity.com/baltimore-catechism/lesson29.html Pat and I got great benefit looking at the Baltimore Catechism on line - so good to get to the meat of the sacraments, O Lord!
Francesca Battisteli - Beautiful, Beautiful
http://news.msn.com/world/papal-succession-can-a-latin-american-claim-the-papacy Here is a great article that John and I found - it gives a brief description of some of the possiblities... we are getting very hopeful and excited! Join us in prayers for the man, who will say YES to this huge job in the midst of this dark world! Lord, bring your LIGHT into the world!
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