"Day unto day takes up the story" - Most Joyful moment...

I was reminded this morning that I was on the schedule to contribute of Nancy's woman of Faith series that she does every Saturday on her Small things blog -http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/ So after writing this, and realizing how good it was to ponder this topic and remind myself of the sacrament that is with me every day of my married life, and gives us the graces we both need to make the best of each day, and to grow in the knowledge and LOVE of Jesus Christ, and His Bride, The Church!  That joyous occassion in the glorious surroundings of the Basilica of St Mary fills my life with great LIGHT of the Truth! 

                                         My Most Joyful moment as a wife




My most joyful moment as a wife was my wedding day…Pat and I ministered the sacrament of marriage/matrimony to each other in our lifelong vows in the gloriously beautiful Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis, MN. I was married in 1978, and I was older than most women at the age of 26, soon to be 27. I had considered a call to become a sister, and due to circumstances at the time, when the Sr. directing me told me that she was leaving religious life and getting married – the “call” evaporated for me – I see now that I was called to marriage, and this was the answer to my prayers for direction. My entire family had converted to the Catholic faith in 1971, and that is really saying something because my father was a Protestant minister and I was the oldest of 11 children. So 13 of us converted with our first communion together on Christmas Eve mass! If you would like to read about this - http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html



On our first date my husband shared that he had shocked his sisters by saying that he would only marry a Catholic, and after seeing how he is such a determined man – I now see that his prayers for me could have been instrumental in our entire family converting to The Church! I fell madly in LOVE with the Catholic Church, and then madly in LOVE with Patrick Verly! After those years of cherishing the daily Eucharist; being confirmed in a huge adult confirmation at the Cathedral in St Paul along with my parents, some siblings, and what appeared to be hundreds; looking at a call to religious orders; finding such JOY and freedom in frequent reconciliation, and on August 3rd, 1978 we set out to live each day that sacrament of marriage, as we vowed to love, honor, and cherish until death do us part… helped along with the sanctifying grace and all the Church gives us to make that possible! We are approaching 35 years of carrying forth each day that most JOYFUL moment of our joining as man and wife – the Sacrament of Matrimony! By embracing our Most Cherished Cross – each other – we find LIFE, LOVE and bring LIGHT into the world.

A family picture taken almost 2 weeks ago with only 2 son-in-laws missing to make it complete!  WE are 19 going on 20 now!  Embracing our Most Cherished Cross has brought LIFE to us in abundance!  And we pray for each and every member from the moment we know they are in the womb and each day forward...that they are LIGHTS to the world! 
Jesus, we thank and praise you for the opportunity to share the Truth and the life-giving - "you flood the world with your word as a river of LIGHT."  This day as the feastday of St Mark we are reminded by Blessed John Paul II..."Over the years, I have often repeated the summons to the new evangelization.  I do so again now, especially in order to insist that we must enkindle in ourselvses the impetus of the beginnings and allow ourselves to be filled with the ardor of the apostolic preachings which followed Pentecost.  We must revive in ourselves the burning conviction of Paul, who cried out: 'Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel' (I Cor 9:16)."  How very good it was for me today, dear Lord, to be reminded of this most Holy and powerful Sacrament of Your Church which I embarked on almost 35 years ago, and how richly I have been given the graces I needed to embrace my Most Cherished Cross/Patrick each day forward and through that Cross find the LIFE, LOVE and LIGHT that comes to us!  May we truly share that Truth with all those in our lives/domestic Church/family!  We too are called to evangelize and carry forth the FIRE of the Holy Spirit that comes to us through the Sacrament of Confirmation, and then forward each day filled with the LIFE of the Spirit!  Jesus, we are filled to overflowing with YOU!  May we always share that humbly and without counting the cost.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"Those who have come into genuine contact with Christ cannot keep him for themselves, they must proclaim him.  A new apostolic outreach is needed, which will be lived as the everyday committment of Christian communities and groups... Christ will be presented to all peoples with confidence.  We shall address adults, families, young people, children, without ever hiding the most radical demands of the Gospel's message...'I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some' ( I Cor 9:22).' "  Blessed John Paul II

Hence we must stand firm on the Truth - hate the sin and love the sinner!

May the Truth set us free to leave self behind, and to LOVE without counting the cost - "Wounded, I will not cease to LOVE!"

http://www.myspace.com/danielleroseofficial/music/songs/true-love-45413865  Danielle Rose - True LOVE!  This was the song that Hallel listened to over and over before she left to join the Community of the Lamb - when did she know that she belonged there?   "My first day there!" she joyfully answered.  Driving her car, after she left and listening to this in the player - I had to pull over to cry at the beauty of it all!!!  May we embrace our Most Cherished Cross this day and forward!

Earthly farewells are a Cross also!