Charismatic/Holy Spirit/The Church has it all!!!/Sharing my story

  Hallel is making that face as she is so impressed/surprised at how George has grown.  After my fun day with her and The Little Sisters and Brothers, she came home to drop me off and borrow my car.  She stopped in with a good friend, Dorotea, who is living in Poland and is here for Easter!

Hallel and Dorotha...These two... they have shared the Journey starting from the beginning! They met in Chicago knowing that they were both interested in The Community and Hallel got her visa for her trip to France to join The Community in September of 2008.

They took their habits together, first vows and received the Lamb for final vows last August.  We have shared Lourdes with Dorotea and she lived a number of years here in the U.S. with The Community in Lumen Christi including the time they they raised the funds and built their Monastery in the heart of our country!

Thank you, Archbishop Naumann, for inviting the Little Sisters and Brothers here!  I only have 7 hours from my farm to their peaceful beautiful monastery...to spend time with my daughter and after 10 years in Europe... what a gift to have her here!!

Dorotea walked in and was immediately given baby George to meet and snuggle.  Our Community is family and how we love to have them in our lives!  She will return to Poland in a about a week.  I am sure her family is so happy to have her close by in Poland where her parents and siblings live along with 4 nephews!  Nothing better than to have our girls close by and share in their lives often and closely!

Dorotea was St Thomas in their play at the Soup Kitchen yesterday... encountering the risen Lord..."My Lord and My God!"  

I had a older faithful woman kneeling behind me at mass years ago.. proclaim out loud these words when Jesus was lifted up in both his Body and Blood..."My Lord and my God!"  I was very moved and touched and have taken this on at her feet.  It allows me to concentrate on Jesus there for me!

Yesterday made me love my new knee... I could share in their activities at the soup kitchen and at the market where they begged for produce to use for tis upcoming weekend/pilgrimage with many attending and mass following in the park.  

I am so touched and happy that I was allowed and welcomed to share in their special Sunday!  There are these special moments when I can share in my nun's daughter's life, which is a personal gift to me as I discerned a call to be a nun and knowing how wonderful a life it was... I encouraged all my girls and son to discern a call from the Lord for them!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/susan-angela-agneslittle-sister-hallel.html

How I love that we can share family with them!  There are fake plans that John and Bobbi are bringing Jude down here to meet Hallel and all The Community in about a week!  LOVE!

I also am working on plans to get Maria to the farm between Father's Day and 4th of July.. I plan to fly out there and drive them back with a quick stop to see Hallel and introduce Hector to them!  My heart is full and excited!

In my time with them yesterday... there was an excitement among them which centered around a book they are studying now about The Charismatic movement/Baptized in the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church - Patty Mansfield's, Proclaim the Joy of the Gospel, which so much speaks of The Community's LOVE for The Gospel each day!

As we gathered to pray before people entered for the soup kitchen... I was surprised to hear Hallel share with the gathered Community that I was Charismatic and was baptized in The Holy Spirit!  Then I was asked to pray for their mission there.

I was also shown a lot of interest in my story of being prayed over and the fruits of the Spirit in my changed life filled with Jesus in a more powerful way!  How I love to share my story of the Holy Spirit bringing all 13 of us into The Church.  What I didn't realize was that as a Protestant we experienced the Charismatic Movement earlier!  I was baptized in 1965 and Patti was in 1967, which marks the beginning of the Charismatic Movement in The Catholic Church.
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

My little companion is about ready to leave with mom and dad to the Cities.. George smiled and cooed at me while I folded laundry.  I love my sweet little companions wherever I go.  Not much alone time except at night here. Just off the phone with hubby praying while he hauled in corn.  He is my companion at night and that I do miss on my adventures here there and everywhere.

A selfie with my little JoJo as we are dressed in the same color today.  She is a great companion for grandma, too!

One thing I was able to share was how impressed I was after my experience of having hands laid on me to receive the Holy Spirit at 14... when I was confirmed in The Catholic Church as a 20 year old with my parents and siblings and walking forward in the amazing St Paul Cathedral in the grandure and beauty up to have the Archbishop lay hands on me to receive The Holy Spirit!  "This truly is THE CHURCH... they have it all figured out!

So much in the Readings today about The Spirit!
"...enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4

My little companion, soon to be 3 year old Josephine/JoJo Bahkita with the green grass and leafed out trees here.  There is a lilac tree next store that is hard to resist as they are in full bloom!

Jesus speaks of this being born again today in the Gospel according to John 3,,, where he tells Nicodemus about being born from above..
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
'You must be born from above.'
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."  John 3

When I mentioned to Little Sister Agatha about how The Church gives us that Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation..."Yes, but many do not experience that awakening of the Holy Spirit."  Come Holy Spirit!

St Catherine of Siena is a very special Patron of The Community of the Lamb... I am sure they are celebrating her today!  

The dear good God provided this ongoing remedy to strengthen our reason and freedom.  I am referring to the ongoing medicine that is the Holy Spirit, the fire God never takes away from us.  No, God is constantly setting in motion his gifts and graces, so that every day we can and should make use of this sweet holy Baptism, given us as a gift and not because we had earned it.  
St Catherine of Siena (1380)

Lord, how I am overflowing with so much gratitude for how I am blessed by my children taking me ever deeper in my faith!  Sharing that faith as a family is so glorious and I am undeserving of your love and care for this weak poor woman.  I am always needing you, and I must die to self so that you may live and Your Holy Spirit at work in my life.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Looking and smiling at grandma a few minutes before.  In a few months there are fake plans to get our 3 new grandsons together!  LOVE the idea and the family time supreme that will mean for us together sharing Faith/Family/Farm!!!  Bless-bless, Barb

Lauren Daigle - Come alive
This part of the Bible was mentioned by Christophe yesterday in his homily about the Spirit at work... but his words of when Jesus breathed The Spirit upon them in The Cenacle/the Upper room.  "It was the same breath he breathed over the chaos when He was creating the world and LIFE entered the world!"  Wow!  That blew my socks off!

A day with Hallel/Mass/Soup Kitchen/Open air market begging for food/Celebrating Louis Marie

With the rain at home I had a goal to arrive here in KC last night, so that I could join Hallel for mass this morning in Lumen Christi!  Such a blessing... I was there alone as Nancy's family attended mass in their parish!

Happy Easter Hallel!  Delivered 10 dozen eggs for their pilgrimage to take place next weekend!  

They have mowed their grass twice here, and I found lilacs that are bloomed!  Fast forward to spring by driving 8 hours South.

Hallel guided me to a lilac tree behind their monastery!  This accompanied me on my wonderful day with Hallel and The Community!

The washing of their veils and hanging them out to dry after hand washing them.  I felt very touched to share in with Hallel on a very private level today.  Such a warm and special feeling to be able to share in their Sunday!

Seeing this tree behind The Monastery was like seeing an old friend as we sat in it's shade 10 years ago when we came down here to see Hallel before she returned to France after John's battle with brain cancer!

Easter beauty!  Divine Mercy Sunday on this 8th day of Easter.  

Father Christophe shared a story of a large tattooed drug addict, who went into a phone booth in New York to call for more drugs and there encountered a picture of Jesus/Divine Mercy which shook him to his core.  He then walked down the street and found the same image in the store window of a book store.  He entered and asked the old woman terrified clerk at this huge man with chains and tattoos... "Who is that man in the window with the rays coming from him?"  She had him sit and she told him about Jesus's love and how he died for him.  He then joined the Franciscans and was converted with the Divine Mercy image!  Christophe told is much better and I was wiping tears...

Hallel before mass... I surprised her when I walked in, and made no plans to spend time with her after mass.  I left it up to the Holy Spirit, and I was given such a special time.  I was a fly on the wall and got to experience as "a mom" along with The Community!  "It is always wonderful and great to have mom along."  We smile knowing that we are all speaking about Our Lady!

The little Brothers and Little Sisters went over to the Soup Kitchen to entertain while the hundred or more mostly homeless came in to eat... it was so powerful to watch The Community minister to them sharing the Gospel with them in song and a play...

The LIGHT came to join them... the white garments showing they are washed clean by the Mercy of Our Risen Lord!  It was so good to see those attending look up from their food and have a glimmer of interest in their beautiful singing and instrumentals and sharing of Jesus in his Word.  Many Hallelujahs!!!

Today in the Gospel - doubting Thomas... Jesus came in although the doors were locked, and showed Thomas his wounds...  "My Lord and My God!"  He shows us his wounds so that we can show him our wounds without holding back.  

Jesus traveling through those gathered for a meal.. the brothers and sisters sat throughout the room and spoke with many.

Then we went to the open air market where Hallel found her cute little Italian man to speak Italian with... get her fix of Italian in!  "He talks like he just got off the boat!"  It was so fun to watch her get a chance to speak her beloved Italian!  

Feeling like I was allowed to be part of the Community for the afternoon!  

 

I was so happy to have to have my new knee!  I could jump out and tag along with them as they went to beg for some fruit for their weekend coming up with many on a pilgrimage.  

Generous shop owners shared fruit and vegetables!  I am always surprised at those that stop and talk to them or turn to look at them when I am with them.  "That's right I am with a group of nuns!"  So important that they wear those habits and therefore people can see them and acknowledge that they are special and come to speak with them!

Such a powerful witness to the world around them that they are brides of Christ!

The violinist, Louis Marie, had his feast day today on the Feast of St Louis de Montfort!  How he entertained all there with his singing and music!  He was in great form as he celebrated up right!

We gathered over at the Little Brothers' Monastery- Light of Mary, the Mother of God!  Coffee and chocolate and some videos!

Hallel and Dorota brought me home... I am now here with baby George, who needs me... Jesus, thank you for such a wonderful day with both of my girls and their families!  Bless-bless, Barb

The Gospel is the book of the Lord's LIFE-our life too!/proclaim the Gospel to every creature."/Going to KC!

Yes, that is a man made fort in Washington in the back yard of Joseph!  The vision started with 11 year old Therese and with months of work.. here it is!!!  There is a cannon out the window and the two gunners are taking an icy break at the picnic table in the sun.

We are in the midst of cold rain and snow... the farmers are getting discouraged about getting the crop in, but the Lord seems to make it happen year after year.  This will be my 40th year on the farm and planting is different with each new year!

Pat's cousin, Al, washing the windows at church yesterday.  I was going in to pray for Seven Sisters...my great delight every Friday!

Perfect timing to capture him with the Easter flowers and Our Lord's Sacred heart statue.  He took advantage of the sun yesterday, now today is rain and snow mixed in.

I am soon to be on the road to see my two girls in KC!  I am needed by Nancy, and I haven't seen Hallel since Easter has arrived.  Our time with her is very limited during Lent, so I want to get some good visits with her and The Community!

Easter JOY and the tabernacle glowing without the curtain that hid him during Lent!  So powerful and glorious to fill my heart with Jesus!!!

There is so much in the Gospel today and in Acts telling us to "Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."  Mark 16
And as the Peter and John say to those who tell them to not share The Word/Jesus with anyone..."It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4

So true!!!  We burn to share those amazing powerful Truths we are given as we read his Word each day!  Just as the two on the road to Emmaus - "Did not our hearts burn within us as he shared the Gospel with us?"

The Easter candle lit at the Vigil and from which Jude's baptismal candle was lit at his baptism!

Such powerful words in the Meditation of the day by Madeleine Delbrel (1964)
The Gospel is the book of the Lord's life.  It is meant to become the book of our life too.
It is meant to be grappled with rather than grasped - as we grapple with something that it on the brink of mystery.
It is meant to be received within us rather than simply read by us.  Each of its words is spirit and life.  In their freedom and nobility they are just waiting for our soul's hunger for them to become part of us.
Living as they are, they are like that initial yeast which attacks our dough, ferments it and makes it alive with new kind of life.
The words in a human book are understood and pondered.
The words of the Gospel are experienced and endured.
We absorb the words of other books.  The words of the Gospel kneed us, change us, and so to speak absorb us into their own being.
The words of the Gospel are miraculous.  If they don't transform us, it's because we don't ask them to.  But in each of Jesus' phrases, in each example that he gives there is a staggering power that would awe, purify, and raise us from the dead, if only we acted with that immediate and complete obedience toward him that was shown by the paralytic or the centurion.  

As I read this with Pat this morning... I was amazed to read in words the Truth of Jesus in His Word!

 Pat grinding corn yesterday.  Lord, help the farmers to get that window they need to get the crop planted and help them keep the cows and calves safe and healthy in this weather!

 My apple tree getting ready to blossom... I am sure nice weather is good for those apples too!

I was excited to find some lettuce that came up from last year's seed... no garden planting yet, so this will be very nice to have in a few weeks!  

Jesus, we cannot hold back on sharing with all we meet about you!  How we love and adore you and are thrilled each day with how we are fed at your table with your Body and Blood, and by your Word!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

I was hoping that these 3 could be my travel companions to KC, but they are unable to go now.  I guess I will have to share pictures with them instead of the real thing... baby Jude to meet his Aunt Hallel and her Community of the Lamb in person.  You are one lucky little boy, Jude to have all that love and prayers surrounding you from our Family of the Lamb!  Bless-bless, Grandma Barb

Hail Mary full of grace... my chapel on wheels will be filled with my 10 decades of the rosay, The chaplet of Divine Mercy and Christian music to allow me to get down the road to KC!

Jesus Christ... there is no salvation though anyone else/"It is the Lord!"

Evie was my little side kick and made my time there fun!  There was no jealousy in her, but only such a desire to be close to him and touch him and give him her attention and 2 year old loving big sister treatment.  Love this snuggle time in her small chair, and how Hector seems to enjoy his sister.  Having more and more siblings is the best!  Who needs that stuff or vacation or big playthings like boats or campers?  Family is so much more wonderful and important for our eternal soul!

Too adorable for words!

I am working on fake plans to get Maria's 6 here for some time this summer!  To think that I am the only one that has met this sweet new little boy just makes me so determined to get them here to the farm this summer!  There is no limit we will go to get them here to meet the family!  Family time is the BEST!

Last weekend we got George and Jude together in Grandpa Pat's big strong arms!  Those fake plans are flying to get all 3 there... Hector in the middle!  Our 3 grandsons in 6 weeks!  This Easter/Lent was one of prayer and new life!  Our hearts are so full!!!

Pat was out early this morning hauling corn into the corn plant, so we prayed on the phone while he was loading corn... moving the truck from one end to the other, turning off the tractor and getting back into the truck to take that load in.. the different sounds of the job along with morning prayer, our petitions, and Acts and the Gospel according to John...

As Pat worked and prayed, he reflected on the Gospel of Peter fishing overnight with no catch and then the risen Jesus tells him to lower the net again and it is filled with fish!  "They were regular working stiffs."  reflected my hard working strong farmer.

 Praying and working... His sweet prayers for each of his 18 grandchildren by name with the sound of corn in the agar... specially powerful prayers!  How Pat gets on his knees daily to ask the Lord to give favorable weather and help with the health and safety of the livestock!  I think of St Isidore, who had angels helping him with his field work so that he could attend daily mass and pray more!

Our little house for our first 4 daughters was here... now gone, but the joyful nest years were so special and filled with LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE!  Embracing my Most Cherished Cross it became the Tree of LIFE!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

These readings of this Easter Octave/Bright week are so amazing!  There can never be too much LOVE for Jesus after He suffered and died for me in the worst of ways!  How I pray every day that we can return that LOVE we have had poured upon us and dwells within us through dying to self so that the Holy Spirit lives in us... return that love to each other!  Where is that the hardest?  When we are hurt or attacked or humiliated or beaten down my life's hardness, or when those the closest to us wound us..."Wounded, I will not cease to love."  The motto of the Community of the Lamb is what we must live by in order to love and show mercy and forgiveness as we have been give my our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
Peter today in Acts 4 - the Holy Spirit speaking through this weak and fallen man!  So too will He use us!  Please, Lord, I love you more than all else... use me to your honor and glory!

Hector having tummy time nap with his loving companion, Evie, adoring her sweet baby brother!  It reminds me a lot of Susan and John...

Susan was never far away from her new baby brother, either!  We had 2 losses between them that we had shared as a family.  It makes those arms filled with new life so much more wonderful!

Jesus, how we love you... there is no other means to come to Heaven unless we turn to you and with the help of your Mother, Mary the Queen of heaven and earth, we are filled with your Holy Spirit and burn to share the Truth of your Bride, The Church, with all!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Our Lady of Good Council intercede for us.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Together in Colman in 1998 on Easter!  My parents were living there as parish administrators.. my Deacon dad was getting a taste of farm life on the prarie - just 90 miles from my door to theirs!  Such wonderful 3 years for me!  Now the 4 hours to spend with them is doable and how I cherish my time with the two of them in their home together still!  Mom will be 90 this summer and 70 years married in August... sounds like a party is needed!  Bless-bless, Barb

In Mom Verly's pictures... LOVE this one and how much she was in our lives over those 38 years of my living here married to my farmer!  She taught me all I know about being a farm wife!

Happy Feast Day
Madonna and Child (M)
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Feast Day: April 26
Our Lady of Good Counsel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary after a miraculous painting. Tradition has it that during celebrations on the feast of St. Mark, in 1467, in Genazzano, Italy, a cloud descended on an unfinished wall of the church of Santa Maria, amid “sweet music.” When it dissipated an image of Our Lady appeared; 18” square, no thicker than an eggshell, suspended in the air. Many pilgrims visit the church including Popes UrbanVII, Pius IX, Leo XIII, Saints Aloysius Gonzaga, Alphonsus Liguori and John Bosco. Miracles continue to occur, even today.

On my way in to have lunch with John and Bobbi!

Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to you

Danielle Rose - True Love/The Cross