Mom humbly bowed before her Lord Jesus in deep acknowledgment and prayer, and dad reverently praying and sharing The Body of Christ with her. Our weekend was spent in constant prayers for different issues in the family from a granddaughter in emotional distress, and a death of a husband of a niece after a long suffering battle leaving behind 4 children.
Grant, we pray, almighty God that we may experience the effects of salvation which is pledged to us by these mysteries. Through Christ our Lord.
Dad read twice pondering the words; experience the effects of salvation... Yes, Lord, our eyes are focused on you most of all and how we stagger down the narrow path carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross towards our goal of heaven forever with you! You are our food for the journey!
I guess we all knew that dad would probably be more able than mom with her lung problems for all these years. Dad with his kidney failure causing some problems these last years it has been kind of a bumpy road, but now we have had over 7 fairly good months and we are taking it one day at a time! Dad did mention if dialysis was in his future. "No, dad, I think when we come to that point that you will just say that it must be time to go to Jesus."
Each day I pray that my parents may have more good time together! As I was leaving with my brother and his wife, who had stopped in for a short visit... we commented on how good they seem, and then we also said that for today this is the case and we can only take "one day at a time sweet Jesus."
How I cherish my gift of time with both of my parents!!! We have found a new normal now in this next phase of their lives. We would have many discussions of what the next step in their lives would look like and now we are there! They shared with me about residents that have now gone into the nursing home that is next store and one that has died, so they are well aware of how things can change from one day to the next.
I love my regular visits and sitting at the feet of my father - this time he shared with me pearls of wisdom he has gained from St John Henry Neumann sharing the 3 things that follow us through our spiritual journey - pain, suffering and trouble. The trouble seemed like a word not often used, but dad would point out in our sharing over our weekend - "This is trouble or that is trouble" and I now see that our crosses are our troubles and when they come into my line of vision they will remind me of my dad and of his prayers and wisdom gained and shared with me to my JOY!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
LOVE to have dad share his deep wisdom and Truth!
After a great talk with my brother, Jim, he sent me these pearls from the Catechism of The Catholic Church about the Church we LOVE with no reservations!
823 “The Church . . . is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as ‘alone holy,’ loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.”289 The Church, then, is “the holy People of God,”290 and her members are called “saints.”291
824 United with Christ, the Church is sanctified by him; through him and with him she becomes sanctifying. “All the activities of the Church are directed, as toward their end, to the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God.”292 It is in the Church that “the fullness of the means of salvation”293 has been deposited. It is in her that “by the grace of God we acquire holiness.”294
825 “The Church on earth is endowed already with a sanctity that is real though imperfect.”295 In her members perfect holiness is something yet to be acquired: “Strengthened by so many and such great means of salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or state—though each in his own way—are called by the Lord to that perfection of sanctity by which the Father himself is perfect.”296
As my brother said; "Wow!" We are so blessed and given so many graces with each new day!
Today St James speaks to us about spiritual wisdom...
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
James 3
I see this in the wisdom of my father as he shares from his studies and his prayer(Holy Spirit insights)… there is always a strong element of peace and many good fruits show from whence his words and prayers truly come. They long for peace to reign amongst the 140 plus in their huge family!
"The Body of Christ."
We are reminded that we truly are members of His Body within The Church! How I rejoice at the unity of Faith that I share with my wonderful parents, and our family! Sharing with my brother today was a joyful gift as we are united in prayer and in The Church!
A
Almost 30 years ago - Easter at my parents on Angel Hill in Taylors Falls, MN.
Jesus, how we are filled to overflowing with your True Church! You feed us in your Word, Body and Blood, we look to your Saints, and your Mother, Mary the Mother of God, is always at our side as we stumble down the narrow path taking our needs to her Son, Jesus Christ! May we die to self so that You may live in us and we may become your hands and feet! May we truly become the saints we are called to become - serving without counting the cost! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Hallelujah for only today and then tomorrow for the last time till Easter!
Melvin and Ed over 65 years ago! Pat milked cows in that barn up until 1986. The first 8 years of our marriage were spent milking cows, and now we have close to 200 beef cows and that calving will start in a couple weeks now. Busy times ahead and lots of prayers for a good year and favorable weather! The Lord always keep us on our knees! Our life is in his hands along with the weather. Bless-bless, Barb
From the Gospel today...
Jesus said to him,
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Mark 9
Lord, help my unbelief!
More from the Catechism! Wow!
865 The Church is ultimately one, holy, catholic, and apostolic in her deepest and ultimate identity, because it is in her that “the Kingdom of heaven,” the “Reign of God,”380 already exists and will be fulfilled at the end of time. The kingdom has come in the person of Christ and grows mysteriously in the hearts of those incorporated into him, until its full eschatological manifestation. Then all those he has redeemed and made “holy and blameless before him in love,”381 will be gathered together as the one People of God, the “Bride of the Lamb,”382 “the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.”383 For “the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”384
869 The Church is apostolic. She is built on a lasting foundation: “the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev21:14). She is indestructible (cf. Mt 16:18). She is upheld infallibly in the truth: Christ governs her through Peter and the other apostles, who are present in their successors, the Pope and the college of bishops.
870 “The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, . . . subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him. Nevertheless, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside its visible confines” (LG 8).
I love, Love, LOVE The Church!
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