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!
Prayer for priests/Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.
Hallel taking our group of 20 on a walking tour of her life of humble prayer in living out her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience...."I promise unto death!"
A humble cell for one of the sisters in the Community called "the mountain"... Yes, the Gospel where Jesus speaks of having the faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain from here to there... this came to life for us when 21 of us gathered in France to celebrate Hallel's final vows!
Son-in-law, Joseph shared these thoughts on our deeply spiritual time there... It was far more than a celebration with Hallel on her vows. It was a chance to reconsider the whole Christian life. Being around such a community should convict us all to re-think our evangelical approach.
For me, the trip to France was absolutely life-changing. The liturgies, the prayer, and just the simple example of the sisters has washed over me and opened me to a more complete way to live in Christ.
The grandkids longing to get out of the heat and ride with grandma... love all their faces and the knowledge of how they are being exposed to the powerful life of their Aunt Little sister Hallel and her "yes" to Christ "I promise unto death!"
Today was my first time back at mass at our parish here in Marshall as last weekend I was with my parents at their church in Taylors Falls. One thing I have noticed that has stuck with me since France is now I want to receive Jesus on my tongue as I did there. I am a bit awkward but I want to continue with that ounce of respect for Jesus in the Sacrament and it causes me to reflect on the Real Presence! I am not to the point of finding fault with family and those that do, but for me it is a change of heart since France!
Hallel sharing her life!
I have recently joined a group called Seven Sisters Apostolate which prays each day for the priests in our parishes. I am overjoyed to be praying for a dear friend, Fr Denny! He was the TEC priest and for many years we have worked closely with him on many retreats, and so appreciate the time and energy he has put into this evangelization tool supreme!
I would like to share this beautiful prayer that was shared with us for our priests. It is St Mother Teresa's Prayer for Priests Mary, Mother of Jesus throw your of purity over our priests. Protect them, guide them, and keep them in your heart. Be a mother to them especially in times of discouragement and loneliness. Love them and let them belong completely to Jesus. Like Jesus, they too are your sons, so keep their hearts pure and virginal. Keep their minds filled with Jesus, and put Jesus always on their lips, so that He is the one that they offer to sinners and to all they meet. Mary, Mother of Jesus, be their Mother, loving them and bringing them joy. Take special care of sick and dying priests and the ones most tempted. Remember how they spent their youth and old age, their entire lives serving and giving all to Jesus. Mary, bless them and keep a special place for them in your heart. Give them a piece of your heart, so beautiful and pure and immaculate, so full of love and humility so that they, too, may grow in the likeness of Christ. Dear Mary, make them humble like you and holy like Jesus. Amen
On our tour, Bernadette and Big Dave outside the place where they eat and make meals along with some of their cells...
The chapel where they gather for prayer and adoration during the day... mass shared each day, also. When Christ is your spouse you require that closeness to Him of daily mass and prayer and adoration!
The words of St James today speak to us of the importance of Jesus feeding us each day in Word and Sacrament! "He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves." James 1:21-22
The two Daves with Fern/Palm branches... the kids had great kid time playing in the hills all around us. They found many snails and sticks and branches to become swords and light savers. The foothills of the Pyranees were their playground sharing cousin time!
Dave and Gus looking down from the hillside during the final vow ceremony... many priests to celebrate the mass... so very powerful and truly changed me and brought great new depth to the mass today. Such a gift to hear every word in English, and that was so appreciated indeed!
Receiving Eucharist at Hallel's mass... under the Cross! Pat and I sat under the Cross so that we could get a better view of each part of the ceremony... It was a perfect place to be sharing this huge final step for our youngest daughter. The Cross is truly where we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT and there it is definitely a part of our sacrifice of our daughter to this life. Painful at times, but so life-giving and life-changing as Joseph pointed out so eloquently!
My hearts joy comes from sharing our Faith as a family with great JOY! Pat always promoted worship as a family! We would bring our days old newborn along with the other children to mass a family. We would never split up and go in tandem... This was important in sharing our Faith with them always together and joyful! http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html
An adorable young French boy, who had been hauling around sticks he found in the woods during the 3 hour ceremony, watches Father giving out Jesus in His Body and Blood, the Eucharist! Too cute!
Paul and Bernadette on our tour of Saint Pierre... family time in the deepest and most powerful and amazing sense. Sharing this experience with so many eyes, hearts, minds and souls accentuated it for me! Thank you, Lord!
13 year old Simon with his 10 year old brother, David. Sharing a once in a lifetime experience!
Jesus, how we love you and long to serve you better in our lives and in our domestic Church/family where we share our Faith with JOY! May we give without counting the cost and always pray for your Church and your priests, who bring you to us in the most Holy Sacraments! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
As we were going into Walmart today Pat was recalling this market we bought meat,cheese, and fruits, but we had to go across the street to get bakery bread for our time in Lourdes! Quite the experience of a slower and more simple way of life! Bless-bless, Barbara Mark Luke
Therese loving her bread in Lourdes!
John and Bobbi making their way home from New Jersey in the next few days from her brother's wedding... such an amazing summer it has been for them!
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