Much to do before heading back to be with mom and dad...Pondering the LIGHT on a lampstand

5 years ago with Maria in El Paso for the arrival of this sweet baby boy, Romeo!  How he knows love for his mother at a week old is so precious!  Maria has had 2 since - Evangeline and Hector, who recently turned 6 months.

I am being called in many directions so that I can get on the road to my parents' home tonight.  I just wanted to quickly touch base here with a brief sharing of this most special feast day - St Pio, and the Gospel proclaiming the LIGHT on a lampstand to give light to all in the house!

Another memory from 7 years ago of John home from seminary and ripping the field during harvest.  So much has happened in those 7 years after he discerned out and is now asking the Lord where he wants John - in school and now a husband and father.

How I loved to sit in the tractor and share with John about how seminary was going.  The studies were more than he could deal with, but the prayer life with the wonderful young men/brothers was very special!  He brought that love of prayer back home and we shared the office whenever we could manage. Now I share it regularly with my Deacon father... a couple times a week when I am living with them.  Nothing better in this world!

 Joy sharing my hour in front of the tabernacle praying for Fr Todd with 7 sisters... she is recognizing the special times when the priest consecrates the bread and wine and it becomes Jesus each Sunday since she has been born!

Joy has seen this happen in front of her every Sunday and Feast day and School mass since she was born!  The bells ring 3 times when the Body is held up and then when the Blood is held up... bringing our attention to Jesus here for us - "My Lord and My God!"  The words of St Thomas when he finally recognized Jesus risen and overcoming the sting of death!

A beautiful spray frames Jesus in the Tabernacle aglow with the LIGHT of the world!

The Gospel today is this amazing proclamation to take to heart!
Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light..."
Luke 8

This speaks of how we are called to share the Truth without holding it in!  And also to hold anything in the dark from our Lord in the Confessional is not possible - He knows all there is to know about our sins!  Give them to Him!

Now the Cross - How St Pio embraced the Cross in a very visible way with the wounds of Christ on his body and the suffering shared!

Jesus, may I die to self so that my may live in me and use me to your honor and glory.  May your LIGHT shine on what is true and right and just.  Jesus, go with me and be with my parents and family this week.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb



Happy Feast Day
Saint Padre Pio
1887 - 1968
Feast Day: September 23
Patronage: Civil defense volunteers, Catholic adolescents
St. Pio of Pietrelcina, was a Capuchin Catholic priest from Italy. He was born Francesco Forgione, and given the name Pius when he joined the Capuchins, thus he is popularly known as Padre Pio. He became famous for bearing the stigmata. He also had the gift of reading souls and the ability to bilocate, among other supernatural phenomena. On 16 June 2002, he was canonized by Pope John Paul II.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/c

Danielle Rose - A Mother's Song/the Crucifixion