The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
I could not take my eyes off of the white veils of the Sisters of Mary the Morning Star as they sat in the sunlight streaming in the windows at the funeral mass for Fr Paul yesterday morning! Such a powerful image that was missing for so many years around here! Now we have two groups of sisters living in the New Ulm Diocese! I had to send my girls to Schoenstatt camp in Sleepy Eye for them to see Sisters in habits! I wanted my kids to consider the wonderful possibility of religious life, and to ask God to show them his path for them.
Time in prayer before the mass...
I had such a powerful reminder of the beautiful option that choosing the priesthood or religious life is for a person... Observing the sisters as they sang with angel voices during the mass with very reverent and prayerful attitudes throughout. I was very struck by the huge beaming smiles on many of their faces - that JOY coming from within!
I love the lighting and the beauty of their veils in the LIGHT!
They had met Fr Paul at the end of his life, and ushered him into heaven as they sang Vespers from the office around their bed and then the rosary. A nurse said that he heard the voices of angels here on earth and then entered heaven to hear then around the feet of Jesus. After hearing them sing the Psalms during mass - I agree! So out of this world beautiful and amazing!
Such a sight of great beauty - the LOVE for Jesus comes pouring out in their smiles and their voices and their reverence and awareness of Jesus present in the tabernacle!
Looking around at the faces of the 25 priests gathered and Bishop LeVoir as well as the people there - they were deeply touched with awe at this beautiful sight to behold. It has so long been missing from our Church! Of course, it brings to me my Little Sister Hallel, and how deeply touched I am by her call and her Community of the Lamb!
It was so powerful to see over 25 priests gathered around the casket of Fr Paul and the Bishop saying the mass! I was so excited to see two young TEC friends, who have both considered a vocation. One was in a Dominican order for over a year and discerned out. And the other is entering an order on the East Coast in October. We shared the wonder of this experience of the respect shown a priest, who died to self so that we might have LIFE!
The respect shown to Fr Paul!!!! A sight to behold and awe inspiring!
The priests, Bishop, Knights of Columbus in their regalia, the Sisters of Mary the Morning Star, and my young friend stood outside as the casket was loaded, and sang in Latin the Memorare! So beautiful and a small slice of heaven!
Now gathered in the sunlight - they spend their days in prayer as they are a contemplative order in our midst! Prayer is so needed in this world!
I had a wonderful chance to share with my two young friends, and catch up on their journeys following their Lord and loving Him in their lives whether in the convent or out! It was such a gift to see their JOY and excitement to discover their path laid out before them by their loving Jesus! Lourdes came up as they had just studied in Rome and gone there. "Can you imagine how powerful it was for me to go there with John after his second chemo, and with Susan after she had just taken her habit with the Community and become Little Sister Hallel?" I asked them, and the tears and the depth of it all overwhelmed with as a huge wave of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT took me under! It is so enormous to have this reminder of Jesus at work in my life!
I was overjoyed to find this "treasure in heaven" after experiencing a small slice of heaven at Father's funeral and then the sharing of our journeys! Today in the Gospel Jesus tells us that we need to store up our treasures in heaven and not on this earth! Matthew 6:19-23 Someone today spoke about how we need to be realistic about life and get a job, and make money, and not just follow after Jesus... For most of us this is the case, but for some the world holds nothing for them and they truly can leave it all behind and follow HIM!
So powerful to put all the litany of our families in the monstrance with Jesus - my family is approaching 110 now and Pat's is about 90! It is so exciting to put some new "life" in there - a niece, who just announced a pregnancy and Nancy's new little one in heaven...
Jesus, life can be hard and confusing for us, but it truly helps to keep our eyes focused on You and on the treasures we have in heaven. My 7 little ones keep my eyes there and now 3 grandchildren! May we die to self so that you may live in us and we may willingly walk away from the allurements of the world and see where the real value lies in things of the heart and soul. Jesus, we trust in you.
Amen and Hallelujah
The first time Susan/Hallel met her nephew little Dave - "Do you know who I am?" "No, but you look just like my mom." Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
The Feast of the Queenship of Mary - August 2009 - John on a walker after his second chemo for brain cancer, and Hallel taking her habit with The Community of the Lamb!
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