Visceral - Immaculate heart - deep inward feelings

John called me from outside last night, as he was helping Pat do some breeding - "Mom, the sunset is pretty special."  So I headed out to the edge of the field for some peaceful time admiring the corn now up a ways, despite the cold, and the honeysuckle bushes that have blossomed.  My little sidekick, Roger the dog, was with me too.  This morning is the feastday of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - a mother's feastday to be sure!  How I rejoice to know that I have this wonderful Mother, Mary Most Holy, to keep me strong in my compassionate call to be a Mother above all! 

This sweet picture was on Maria's blog today, and it just begged to be shared.  The Great JOY of Therese at the many blessings and graces we are given through our Church!  It is such a sign of Truth to see the fruits of the Spirit alive in the homes of our children as they share the Truth of Faith with their children.  They each carry forth the message of their father - "The world needs LIGHTS!"  Open to LIFE in their marriage and then raising them with great diligence in the Faith!  It is powerful to see the Fruits of the Holy Spirit shining on the lampstand for all to see -  ^{Galations 5:22-23"}But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."  How we take the raising of LIGHTS to heart!  Maria is Catholic Homeschooling her children, and Ruth sends her to Catholic School, and then Nancy and Bill will do that too.  They all pray in their homes, and Ruth just added books of the lives of the Saints to be read in the evening along with their litany of prayers.  This was ever so powerful for our children, who are now the mothers in these young families.  Mothers that have inward deep feelings/visceral for The True Church and for their chidren to love and embrace The Way, The Truth, and The LIFE - Jesus and His Bride, The Church!  It is a small slice of Heaven here on earth to share The Truth with each one in our Family!  There is nothing more wonderful!

The corn is now getting some much needed rain today.  Lord, we thank YOU for loving us so much and giving us your Rock/Church to have a firm foundation for our domestic Church/family!  We are filled with great JOY to know and love YOU and your Bride, The Church within our families.  We are so filled with all that we are blessed and graced with each day... Your Word, Your Saints, Your Sacraments available each day for us - the Banquet of LIFE, Your unconditional LOVE and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconcilliation, and Your Mother, Mary Most Holy, who deeply and inwardly holds your Truth for us, and that grows and grows ever larger and consumes us totally, we pray!  Lord, help more and more of my selfishness to die so that You may LIVE in my heart!  "I treasure your promise in my heart lest I sin against you.  Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes... I take delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."  Psalm 119  My heart is bursting with all that you fill it with that is good and wonderful!  I am a fountain overflowing in a glorious cascade of life-giving waters that YOU fill me with!  May that nourish and drench with LIFE all those in our domestic Church/family.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"As for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance."  Luke 8:15

"... his mother kept all these things in her heart."  Luke 2:51

St Luke, my patron saint, thank you for sharing the wonderful message of Our Lady!