LIFE begins at conception/the Annunciation/Christ came into the world at conception!/The handmaid of the Lord

The words of Nancy today after this powerful moment in the life of their 5 week old son, George Blaise!

Hey there!

I am writing to you positively reeking of chrisom oil! Little George was baptized on Sunday afternoon and since he is basically my 24-7 snuggle buddy, he shared a little bit of the oil with me. And it is like breathing in HEAVEN!

The baptism was so beautiful. Our incredible Archbishop did the baptism and my sister surprised us by showing up, which was so nice since we live far away from family, and no one else was able to come. George slept through most of it, as peaceful as an angel.

Goodness, the sacraments are so beautiful!!

Peaceful George being washed clean and entering into The Church officiated by Archbishop Naumann in the Cathedral in Kansas City yesterday afternoon.  Archbishop will baptize families welcoming child #4 and up as he is promoting that we listen to the wisdom of The Church as it asks us to be open to LIFE and raising them as LIGHTS for this world, which more and more accepts the lies of the culture of death.

Yes, siblings are a gift to us and so much more valuable in our lives than acquiring things!  A big house and vacations and power instead of welcoming others to share our lives with on this journey traveling down the narrow path after Jesus carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross!

Love that Hallel joined in the celebration and represented family sharing in this occasion... we were all with them in Spirit!

So much today that I am overwhelmed by all of it... My heart is swelling and my head is trying to sort out  all the thoughts and deep emotions as our family in the midst of so much new life and the welcoming of that new life into The Church that we share and LOVE without hesitation and with no picking and choosing!  We LOVE all that the Church gives to us and know of it's wisdom and Truth!  Nancy's words of "The Sacraments are so beautiful!"  truly are from the heart and we are overwhelmed by His LOVE!

I must pinch myself to know that our nun is now able to share in family occasions!  Not only that but she is the lone family member there to represent the LOVE we have for this step of Faith for George!  So many prayers and sadness over these last 10+ years that have separated us by an ocean as she has been in Europe until these last 2 years in KC!

As a result of these two new little ones coming into the Church on consecutive Sundays - Hector was baptized on March 17th in Washington - and how close baby Verly is to joining us any day now... and this being the feast of The Annunciation as we are now 9 months til His Birth.. the beauty and Truth that all LIFE is real and Truth from conception on is filling me to the brim!

Over to the farm this morning... baby calves in the warm sunshine!  New LIFE abounds!

Mary, the Morning Star, shines bright today in the reading from Luke! I chose St Luke for my patron Saint as I came into the church as a young adult.  I was in nursing school and his being a physician was part of the reason, but a huge part was how he wrote about Mary and his first chapter is out of this world with the words of the rosary - "Hail Mary" and all we see of the Annunciation, the Magnificat, The Visitation, on and on!  LOVE!

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."  Luke 1
May she assist us in accepting those times of complete surprise and doubt in our journey... and like Mary Trust and say "Yes!"
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

Getting a calf to nurse with another curious baby looking on in interest.  I had to help keep the calf on the teat and nurse.  Pat is ever vigilant getting them to get here safe and get the nourishment they need as well as the cows needs, too!  A full time job this time of year.

Is there any better argument to LIFE beginning at Conception as the Gospel today?  The Word/LOVE became flesh and dwelt among us..."The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God."  Luke 1

LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT came into the world at this very moment!  Our Salvation came into the world...the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us!"   Isaiah 7/the First reading from mass today!

LIFE on the farm!  

Lord, please give us a warm and dry spring for calving.  That we may feed the world according to your plan.  And may ALL LIFE be cherished from conception to natural death!  End the horror of abortion and may the culture of LIFE reign on earth.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

Much time spent on his knees these days...

The gestation of a cow is the same as humans... 9 months, but they deliver up to 100 pound calves which is at least 10 times bigger than humans.  Just give that some thought, and realize that the wonders of this world that reveal the wonders of our God are all around us!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke and family... now 28 in The Church and one soon to join us as we await the birth of Baby Verly and entry into The Church!

Table of Contents

• The Necessity of Baptism
• The Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism
• The Form of the Sacrament of Baptism
• The Minister of the Sacrament of Baptism
• What Makes a Baptism Valid?
• Does the Catholic Church Consider Non-Catholic Baptisms Valid?
• Infant Baptism
• Adult Baptism
• Baptism of Desire
• Baptism of Blood

by Scott P. Richert

Updated June 24, 2018

The Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The door of the Church," because it is the first of the seven sacraments not only in time (since most Catholics receive it as infants) but in priority since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Once baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church. Traditionally, the rite (or ceremony) of baptism was held outside the doors of the main part of the church, to signify this fact.

The Necessity of Baptism

Christ Himself ordered His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In His encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: "Amen, amen I say to thee unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." For Catholics, the sacrament is not a mere formality; it is the very mark of a Christian because it brings us into a new life in Christ.

The Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism has six primary effects, which are all supernatural graces:

1. The removal of the guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have committed ourselves).
2. The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this world and in Purgatory) and eternal (the punishment that we would suffer in hell).
3. The infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace (the life of God within us); the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the three theological virtues.
4. Becoming a part of Christ.
5. Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.
6. Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace.

Happy Feast of the Annunciation, Christmas in 9 months

Danielle Rose - The Annunciation/Let is be done to me

The journey continues... soon to be a father for the first time!  So excited and thankful!

Danielle Rose - wonderfully made /Psalm 139