How I love this photo of these two amazing people in our time... Saints? Yes, one will be tomorrow and the other will be soon behind, I predict. WE are watching the festivities closely on EWTN. As I write this I am listening to a heart warming story of a man, who as a young Swiss guard, was brought to faith by John Paul II! He describes his first Christmas away from home that he was on guard outside his door as he came out to do the Vigil Christmas mass... the guard had been crying and John Paul embraced him and pointed him on to the Cross... "This is not a pope from Poland - this is a pope from Galilee. He brought us to Christ." "Stop praying for something for me but pray that we can see those he encounters as Christ sees them." "Be not afraid. Have courage!" "To be a saint you need to be eternally young. The Holy Spirit is the source of that." "Deep internal life - so solid!" We are now listening to some Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word speak about what they know and love about Blessed John Paul II.
So true!!!!
I am under the weather this day, and home sick from work. I feel sluggish and less than enthusiastic about all that is going on around me due to this head cold... Yet, I am filled with so many warm feelings of love and gratitude to this man being the fabric of our first 27 years of marriage! All that we valued and held dear was upheld and cherished by John Paul II! He encouraged us when the world told us not to be open to family and to have a large family. He taught us how to embrace our Cross and find life when the world was telling us to think of ourselves and our wants first. He was the champion for all LIFE when the world around was saying that abortion was OK to get rid of that inconvenient pregnancy, millions of lights have been extinguished and continues to this very day and hour! He showed the world though his theology of the body that sex is a beautiful gift if used in the sacrament of marriage and that artificial birth control does not allow that LIFE to enter into our relationship in which we are called to be faithful, fruitful, free, and total one to the other. When we use the natural means of preventing children when called to in our marriages - then God and His Plan can be a part of this journey of our lives - called to LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT!
A great picture of my parents with their newest grandson, Ian Odland!
I just did the official count and Ian should be the 101st member of our family! There are 3 more on the way... Nancy is due in a little over a month!
Jesus, this canonization weekend is one that truly reminds us of the message of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT that comes to us from our Church! When we went to Rome when Maria was there studying for the year we saw that he had newly married couples come forward in their wedding clothes to have their marriage blessed. That is so right that he does that! He is our champion for marriage and family and LIFE! John Paul II did not allow us to look at him alone as our source of all that is good - but he then pointed on the Christ - He is who you are looking for - Christ brings us all goodness and truth in our lives! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
I will add some of his words here...
Sad but true. St John Paul II help the world save the family/domestic Church!
Yes!
Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me
Happy dance for the 2 pope saints
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