Feast of the CROSS!

 Exultation of the Cross today, and the vigil last night was spent at the Fair grounds for our parish festival.  We missed it last year as we were in Kansas City this weekend for the dedication of the Little Monastery, Lumen Christi, and then the next day was Little Sister Inez taking her habit.  For a long time to come this feast day will remind me of our special time with the Community and our Hallel here for this special occasion.  This was the last time we spent time with her, and now it is  a year away.  As of tomorrow there will be 3 new nephews that she has yet to meet!  The oldest is Luke here with grandma's rosary at mass last night.  The polka music was fun for the kids.  Luke is now 10 1/2 months old. 

 Singing along with the polka band last night. It is special to watch Mary with her great-grandmother... they have a close bond and feel close to each other. 

 Rose and her mom listening to the band during mass.  It is always special to celebrate mass as an extended family.  Much discussion of how the Cross is with Wisdom that confounds the world.  It is there that LIFE was given to us and we are asked to carry it forth from there.  Recently I was told this Truth that makes me smile - "When you can't carry your cross, drag it!"  That is me for the most part!

My Sunday nap is calling me... Baling and the Vikings are going on at the same time today.   John and I picked up many pails of apples and branches in preparation for mowing on this glorious day of the Exultation of the Cross!

Reading 2, Philippians 2:6-11

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped.
⁷ But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being,
⁸ he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.
⁹ And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names;
¹⁰ so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
¹¹ and that every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The second reading from mass today!  Wow! 

 This was in the sky today about noon while we were out picking up apples and branches!  I wondered if the pilot knew that the Cross was to be displayed today - the symbol of our salvation and our ongoing journey to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  And being sports day/Sunday having John 3:16 as the Gospel today just seems super appropriate!  Even more so with the message of our saving grace - Jesus dying for our sins on the Cross!
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. " 

Yes, we have gained our salvation through the Cross but we need to know that we in turn are to take up our Most Cherished Cross and follow HIM!  It is not a blanket of salvation under which we sit and wait for our end.. it is taking up our Cross and carrying/dragging it down the narrow path through loving and serving all those in our domestic Church/family without counting the cost.  In this way the Cross becomes the Tree of LIFE filled with flowers and fruit to fill us with Hope, Joy, LOVE and Peace! 

Jesus on the altar in the monstrance with his bride, Little Sister Hallel giving Him total praise and worship - her name is so appropriate and when others say her name - Hallel - they too are praising God!  Seeing, with the eyes of my heart, this scene of such recognition of Jesus fills me with the utmost of how the Truth is there for all to see and believe - Faith come alive!  This is what met our eyes and hearts, minds and souls a year ago in Kansas City!

Bernadette lifting high the cross.  We have learned that Hallel is to be in Rome for this next year.

Jesus we are so in love with the Cross/Tree of LIFE that brings us ever closer to our life with you for all eternity.  It is painful to die to self so that you may live, but it is necessary to find our way through this world filled with darkness of sin and death.  The thing about the dark is that we make wrong moves and stumble and fall and get lost.  May we be LIGHT in the midst of the darkness and look to You and all that you hold out of us as Truth in your Word, your sacraments, your Church's teachings and dogmas,  all the ways we are helped to know and follow you carrying/dragging our most Cherished Cross and following YOU. Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Gus ponders the Cross...

Enjoying the day of the Exultation of the Cross a year ago in KC with Hallel... we had also dedicated the newly built little Monastery, Lumen Christi/Light of Christ that day.  How amazing to have this LIGHT in the heart of our country shining out for all to see and to follow to Christ and His saving Cross!  I was overjoyed to hear that there are another 2 girls that are American postulants this year.  Hallel also shared that the 3 in France are slowly adjusting to the change of country and language.  Lord, call more to become your beautiful brides, and to say "Yes."

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke the crazy-Catholic dragging her most Cherished Cross down the path and planting seeds of Faith in the furrow it makes - may it bear much fruit as I die to self so that you may live and move and breath and make a difference in this world of darkness and death.

 Bernadette and the Cross and St Agnes protecting the Lamb!
"There is a tree planted by God which we call LOVE. 
You there, you I see up in its branches-
Show me where I can begin to climb'
That I might leave this darkness behind."  Brother Jacopone da Todi (1306)

"St Agnes... help me to stay pure as you did when put in the house of prostitution and you came out pure and untouched!" 

Danielle Rose - a Mother's song - the Crucifixion

Danielle Rose - The saint that is just me

The Afters- Broken Hallelujah

From Maria's blog of Lt Joseph on an 18 mile ruck - the kids joining him as he approaches the end of his 18 miles!