I borrowed these pictures from Nancy this morning - she found these great pictures that her husband, Bill, took of the two Patricks interacting - Grandpa Patrick and grandson from Texas/miracle of healing, Patrick, now 14 months and filled with health! Today is the feast in the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, and being still in the 12 days of Christmas we focus on the incarnation of God into this world in the tiny infant given the name above all names - Jesus! "This is the most sacred of all names. It was foretold by the prophets, announced by an angel, proclaimed by the Apostles, and desired by all the saints. O powerful name! O grace-filled and joyous name! O delightful and glorious name!" St Bonaventure (1274)
Being surrounded by many infants now - with 3 grandchildren that are one and a new one at only 2 months - I see first hand and am very much surrounded by how they grow and change and bless the world with their new eyes and understanding that slowly comes to them as they are nurtured and raised as LIGHTS to the world in our domestic Church/family! I see with eyes of Faith that our own spiritual LIFE within us is in a similar way a young LIFE that is to grow, and become more and more as we give up more and more of our selfishness! I see that Maria's family is raised with a firm hand of discipline and that is teaching them that the world does not revolve around them. It is a hard lesson but one that is so necessary in the walk of Discipleship! Why not start young with this life lesson?
Yes, grandpa was giving his little namesake Patrick whisker rub kisses! Nancy wrote a wonderful blog post on her blog - http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pat-and-pat-4.jpg about the miracle of Patrick! I have shared over and over this story as I was given the powerful experience of being with Maria for his traumatic birth! http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-story-of-little-lamb-grandson.html If you want to delve deep here is the page I have devoted to this. As Nancy stated in her blog post - she thought about going back to these pictures that so graphically show Patrick as the sickest little boy in NICU,
"The truth about baby Patrick is that he is not only here, he is perfect. Like any normal one year old he is walking, waving, laughing, eating, and sticking up for himself in a herd of cousins. He will melt your heart with his “gentle kisses” and push you away when his mother walks by. I thought about adding in here a few pictures of Patrick in those first scary days of his life, the days he spent in the cold cap, connected to machines, out of the reach of even his mother…by why? The Lord has mercifully erased all traces of those wounds from this perfect little boy, so why should I remember him that way? I prefer to see him laughing and playing in his Grandpa’s arms."
More kisses!!!! "Jesus - It is truly a glorious name, because it gives sight to the blind, makes the lame walk, brings healing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, and life to the dead. A blest name endowed with such powers!" St Bonaventure
What is so important about little Patrick to those that prayed so hard for him is that he shows the world that Jesus continues to walk among us healing all our needs just as He did in the days when he physically was here healing! Both John and Patrick are miracles here showing us the power of prayer and that Jesus continues to heal! I love the idea that the name of Jesus..."If you think the name of Jesus continually, it purges your sin and kindles your heart; it clarifies your soul, it removes anger and does away with slowness. It wounds in love and fulfills charity... It opens heaven and makes you a contemplative..." Richard Rolle I don't know about you, but I gain great peace and strength in times of difficulty by repeating Hail Marys or the name of Jesus over and over within my inner temple of LIGHT!
Looking at the health of Patrick and his great JOY - he modeled for us the innocent lamb - who had the Cross put on his shoulders 20 minutes before he entered the world within his mother's womb! I was filled with such terror when I looked at the monitor and saw that he had no heart beat! How I fell on my knees and wailed to Jesus and Mary for his protection! I thought I had just watched my grandson die - I had! But he was brought back to LIFE, and was healed through prayer to the most powerful name in all the earth - Jesus Christ!!! "Devout soul, whether you are writing, reading, teaching or whatever you are doing - may nothing have taste for you, nothing please you apart from Jesus. To the little infant, begotten in you spiritually, give the name Jesus, which means: Savior, amidst the miseries of this life. May he save you from the vanities of the world which entice you, form the deceits of the devil which surround you, and from the weakness of the flesh which torments you..." St Bonaventure
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus... Our entire LIFE and existence is made Holy by YOU! We know that in the midst of the storms of LIFE you are in control, and we need only Trust in YOU! We have so many miracles/reminders of your unconditional LOVE and forgiveness of our sins. We kneel before you and lay our burdens and sins at your feet and humbly gain your forgiveness. You lift us into your arms, and carry us away from the prowling hungry wolves and the brambles that want to hold us in the dark - hurt and alone! We need only cry out, and you are there. May we leave our selfish pride behind, and find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT as we embrace our Most Cherished Cross and follow after YOU. Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Maybe Santa should have tried a whisker rub???
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Devout soul, amidst the many scourges of this life cry out:
Jesus, Savior of the world, save us
whom you have redeemed by your cross and blood.
Help us, O Lord our God.
Save us, sweet Jesus, our Savior.
Strengthen the weak, comfort those who mourn,
help the frail and give constancy to the faint-hearted." St Bonaventure (1274) Doctor of the Church
thanks Nancy and Billy for these great pictures I used today with your wonderful camera!
Chris Rice - Come to Jesus
The three one year olds - showing us how to find JOY in LIFE! The pass it on smile - Bernadette smiles at Rose, Rose smiles at Patrick, and Patrick smiles at the world - love is like a river flowing over you and me!
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