Arriving in Kansas City in April... the blue sea surrounding us!
So much today with the feast day of our daughter, and our new family though her becoming a Little Sister in the Community of the Lamb! We know, without a doubt, that she was up very late into the wee hours of the morning with a vigil for St Dominic. We have experienced these amazing vigils at times when we have visited the Community. There is much singing, reading of the Word, and reading the writings of the saints, and it all is very powerful and uplifting and reminds me that our Church is one of great JOY and celebration! Most every day in The Catholic Church is a special feast day of one saint or event or another. The ones that are very important to our Hallel and her Community are very special to us, her family, also. Then the readings today are very amazing too! The first one from Numbers 20 is about God giving them water from the rock in the desert! So powerful knowing that we are fed through The Church built on the Rock - St Peter, and that happens to be the Gospel for today! "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build up my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." Matt 16 It was so crazy out-of-this-world to watch Rome when they were electing our new Pope Francis... there were CNN reporters out in the streets reporting that starting with St Peter and down to this Pope - the line of succession revealed that we were the True Church instituted by Jesus! They acted like they were strictly announcing a fact news story, and not really knowing that they were saying/reporting to the world that we are The True Church! How I love it without reservation! There is nothing that I do not embrace and acknowledge as The Truth! I am not ever or will I ever allow myself to become a shopping cart Catholic - picking and choosing what I believe and will follow in my LIFE! I embrace it all - knowing that foremost in that is embracing my Most Cherished Cross and finding LIFE eternal!
Benedict showing Therese and David the Lamb that she wears - indicating that she has taken her final vows and that she will live her life - "Wounded, I will not cease to LOVE." This is how the Lamb gave us LIFE in that with undying and unconditional LOVE - He went as a spotless Lamb to death on the Cross without a sound of complaint! Hallel wears a wooden cross around her neck, but will receive the Lamb when she takes her final vows in about 5 years or so. We are very excited to know quite a few that will be taking their final vows in a few weeks in France! How we would love to be live closer and be able to go and celebrate this powerful beautiful step in their journey! We do plan to go in a huge Verly caravan to Kansas City for the weekend of Sept 14-15 for the dedication of the Little Monastery they have put down roots in the heart of our country! The next day Marie - the second American after Hallel will change her name and take the habit! Then the other 3 Americans will go to France and be scheduled to take their habits in a year in France! The beauty of their LIFE and the Lord's call to young men and women is beginning!
http://www.communityofthelambusa.org/monastery_progress.html Here is the site that shows the progress and soon they will be moving in! Soon we will be joining them for the celebration of the dedication and we hope and pray that Hallel will be along with the group coming!
Hallel having Therese help her with the sanctuary after mass!
Jesus, we thank and praise you for all the JOY that surrounds us this day of great celebration of their patron Saint - St Dominic! A man, who truly recognized Jesus in His Word and carried that forth into his LIFE. "St Dominic prayed standing bowed to express humility, laying prostrate on the ground to ask forgiveness for his sins, kneeling in penance to share in the Lord's suffering, his arms wide open, gazing at the crucifix to contemplate Supreme LOVE, looking heavenwards feeling drawn to God's world." Pope Benedict XVI How I am longing to come to YOU today in Adoration... so often I find my hands lifting to you with the palms up- pleading for YOU to use me as a vessel of your LOVE for those closest to me in my domestic Church/family. That family is growing more and more - we are close to 100 members on both sides! There is so much need there as I go down the list and place each one with you there in the monstrance. As Maria reminded me long ago - "Mom, there is prayer that you can do for them. Repeat these words as you lift them up - 'Jesus, and Mary I love you. Save souls.' " Yes, Lord, I fall on my knees in your presence and take the time to contemplate You and all that you have blessed and graced me with through the Glory and Beauty of the Truth that dwells within your Church! The True Church instituted by YOU, and your Beloved Bride! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
As Maria stated on her blog today - we LOVE the Little Sisters and Brothers and it is a great gift to have them showing us a beautiful way to serve Our Lord. It is so precious to me knowing that my granddaughters and grandsons will spend time with the Community over the years and consider a call through their exposure to their beautiful LIFE! So excited about this! I had to send my girls to Schoenstatt camp here in the area for them to even see Sisters in habits! Now for our grandkids to have a Little Sister for a cherished Aunt - too amazing!
"After reciting the liturgy of the hours and after celebrating Mass, St Dominic prolonged his conversation with God without setting any time limit. Sitting quietly, he would pause in recollection in an inner attitude of listening, while reading a book or gazing at the crucifix. He experienced these moments of closeness to God so intensely that his reactions of joy or of tears were outwardly visible. In a way, through meditation, he absorbed the reality of Faith." Pope Benedict XVI
My Aunt is a nun!!! So blessed are they and we!
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