Lunch guests/The JOY of farm life/Hospice meeting our every wish/Jesus flesh for the LIFE of the world!

How we are feeling about sharing this journey of Hospice - walking together with much peace and comfort into the sunset of dad's life!

Oh my!!! The shared First Communion and Baptism of big brother, David, and his baby sister, Joy Jean!  

Father baptized Joy in the middle of a huge First Communion of 50 children.  His message loud and clear..."I baptized these children 8 years ago why haven't you parents brought them to mass each week?  Please bring them to receive Jesus now forward.  The Lord will bless you richly and the fruits of the Spirit will dwell in your homes!"

 Joy came for lunch with her beloved grandpa Pat and is getting more and more comfortable with her greatgrandfather, Deacon Robert.

Out to do the chickens after lunch with this sweetie!  She gets so excited about finding eggs and seeing the chickens that lived in the shop for the cold of the winter months.  She and mom would go out and find the eggs each day and soon they would be baking cookies!

 Two brown eggs one for each hand!

 Dad not eating alone anymore as he was in the Assisted living... alone in his room was so hard to think about with mom's loss being so recent.  To go from 70+ years side by side to no one that could even visit was horrific!

Dad I pray after breakfast and supper sharing the prayer of The Church in morning and evening prayer!  The wind beneath our wings!

Sharing the Gospel... now into the meat and potatoes of John 6!
"...I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

John 6:51

"... The soul is not only sustained but invigorated by feasting on the food of the Eucharist, which gives to the spirit an increasing for heavenly things... To comprise all the advantages of this sacrament in one word, it must be taught that the Holy Eucharist is most efficacious towards the attainment of eternal glory...All these matters will be fully expounded by dwelling on the 6th chapter of ST John!"  

The Catechism of the Council of Trent

 I got artsy on the way to the mailbox... God's perfect creation in dandilions in the grass.  Soon I will mow them as I am waiting for my mower to get tuned up for spring by my very busy farmer husband.  Finishing up the last fields to plant these next few days.  I guess the dandilions get to survive a few more days...

 Hallelujah He LIVES on my barn...

 JOY in the sunshine with her pail for the eggs!

 Full hands... and bare feet and JOY in her heart!

 Into the LIGHT of spring on the farm.

 A puffy cloud kind of day - today the sky is total blue and the sun it to warm us to 70!  Dad and I will be praying out on the porch our rosary and chaplet this afternoon and maybe soon lunch out there too.

 Little girl in pink under the puffy clouds with an egg in each hand!  She took them over to her mom, and they are probably now made into cookies!  How Ruth and Joy love to bake together.  Joy is known to have the butter melted in the microwave, the mixers out and the flour and the chocolate chips!

My husband left this morning saying that the first thing he does is go and say "goodmorning" to his Joy. The other day she was still upstairs in her new bunk bed in the room she shares with Rose.  Grandpa took off his boots and went up to see her.  She awoke and waved "bye bye Grandpa."  She has stolen his heart!

Showing great-grandpa her eggs... taking them home to mom!

Dad and I are very pleased and impressed by everything we have in our minds that we need to address with his journey or to make things go smoothly comes to our door with smiles and speed.  Hospice is making our time together as wonderful as possible!  Dad was suffering with his foot/hammer toe throbbing during the night and waking him up... within a short time we had a topical gel that is helping.  It makes us feel at peace and assured that we are not facing this alone - no matter what it may be.

 Morning prayer!  "The Spirit is the same Spirit of God that worked all the wonders of the world and of Jesus on this earth!"

Romans 8 - If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead  dwells in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.
Dad proceeded to sing a song about this Holy Spirit from our Charismatic days!  So cute!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

 Mother's cross, the Rabi and the Torah over his shoulder... the roots of our Faith!

 Praying with my Deacon father is my fondest wish come true!

Jesus, I am so blessed by you and the pouring of your graces upon me these days with my wonderful amazing father under my roof.  Together we are joined in sharing religious/farm life!  Such a powerful answer to prayers at this most difficult time in our world.  May you be more and more adored and worshiped by ALL!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

 So fun to see them having some mom and son silliness!!!

Can't get enough!

The best wisdom is hers!!!

Dad and I are living proof that this is truth!!!

Jesus said to the crowds:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:

They shall all be taught by God.

Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

Praise be to the LORD... the LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy,

and I will give thanks to him in song. - Psalm 28:7

 

"The liturgy is, above all, adoration.
The Church is the work of God, God's action; 
it is recognition of what God does for men.

And the adoration that the liturgy expresses, especially the Eucharist,

is the acknowledgment of God,
that everything comes from Him,

that everything that belongs to us must find Him."

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares
___________________

Pope Pius V tirelessly worked to promote the true faith

and Divine Worship.  He standardized the Holy Mass

by promulgating the 1570 edition of the Roman Missal.

Danielle Rose - See you in the Eucharist

Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to you

Kutless - Holy of Holies

O God beyond All praising - St Michaels in Stillwater in 2015

Robin's nest/JOY to the Lord!/Prayers lifted up here/St Catherine of Siena bring peace to the Church

 Rose will be 8 in 2 days and she came to interview my dad about her ancestory for a school assignment..   

She discovered that my father's father goes way back in being one of the early Americans here from England - John Hancock is said to be one of his ancestors!  Dad's mom was Dagmar, a 100% Swede, and my mother a combination of Irish, English, Scottish, and hence I call myself a mutt with a Swedish grandmother.  Pat's side is pure Belgian.

 My dad recited the 100th Psalm for Joy Jean as it is filled with JOY!

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 

Each morning we say the 100th Psalm to begin our morning prayer together!

 Dad shared much about his growing up during the depression.  Lost jobs and homes and trying to survive makes this current crisis we are facing seem much less difficult.  Keep the world safe and please end this virus.

 Joy filled Joy Jean! 

Much of the readings today have also much JOY in them!  The reading from Acts 8 starts with the mourning for the martyrdom of St Stephen, and then the persecution by Saul of the Christians, but it ends with the Apostle Philip going to Samaria and casting out evil spirits, and healing many paralyzed and crippled people..."There was great joy in that city. "  Acts 8

 Rose and Joy in the barn on Monday... bottle feeding the calves Rose feeds 3 morning and night.

Rose and Joy share a room now, and decided to put on dresses for the day on warm wonderful Monday!  Farm girls in dresses are my delight!

The Psalm for today 66 speak of the theme of JOY!
R.    (1)  Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
R.    Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R.    Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R.    Alleluia.

 Sharing a room now and their lives on the farm.  Big sister Rose teaching her little sister, Joy, how to be a true farm girl!

Such a good life they have with many siblings and lots of LIFE all around them to care for and keep them busy away from too much screens.

St Catherine of Siena was the 24th of 25 children!  That is a huge family indeed, and she was named a doctor of The Church for her work in bringing peace between warring factions in Italy, and attended to plague victims... Dad prayed today for her assistance in bringing some that have lost their way back to the True Church.  She can also be asked to help with this health crisis we are facing these days.  How this has turned our world upside down and turned our attention to Jesus and His Bride, The Church!

Two days from being 8!  She reminds me so much of her mom, Ruth Ida!  Rose is a lot like my girls!

A memory from 5 years ago with that year's baby kittens.  So soft and sweet with then almost 3 year old Rose Again. 

The story goes that at Easter Vigil when she was about this age she reported to us..."I heard my name!  I heard my name!"  "When Rose?"  "Rose Again!"  from the creed.  She wanted to be called that for a long time and still answers to that name.  Grandpa would ask her; "Should I call you Rosie Tosie?"  "No, Rose Again!" 

Love how they are listening to the words during mass!  LOVE sharing mass as a family each week!  How we miss Jesus in the Eucharist!

 My father has been watching a lot of activity out of his door... I took a picture to show him the work of art that two robins are making on his light.  Soon the blue eggs will be laid in it, and then the sitting and the frantic feeding.

 Much swooping back and forth to keep him occupied.  LIFE goes on in the circle of life! 

Jesus reminds us today of his undying and unending love for us as he feeds us with His Body and Blood and Word! 
Jesus to us...
Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”
John 6:35-40

We are precious in his sight and He is always there to care for us and we are asked to take up our Most Cherished Cross and follow him down the narrow path.  It isn't all sweetness and light, but through The Cross we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  

 Puffy clouds and the nest just outside my dad's room...

 The glory of the heavenly heights....

 The new leaves are soon to fill the trees with green LIFE!

Jesus, bring peace to your Church and your world!  May we die to self so that you may live in us and we may be your hands and feet and voice sharing your Truth.  St Catherine of Siena pray for us and bring us into your presence singing your praise with unending JOY!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Also prayers for 5 year old grandson, Romeo Joseph, in Washington, who is recovering from a concussion. 

We are on our knees in our hearts, minds and souls here with prayer throughout the day and evening, and sharing a Rosary and chaplet at 3p - outside if the weather is warm enough.  Bless-bless, Barb and Deacon Robert sharing religious/farm life.

Saint Catherine of Siena
Doctor of the Church
1347-1380
Feast Day: April 29
Patronage: against fire, bodily ills, firefighters, illness, Italy, miscarriages, people ridiculed for their piety, sexual temptation, sick people, sickness
Catherine was the youngest of 25 children. She started having mystical experiences and visions when she was only 6. She became a Dominican tertiary at 16. A brilliant theologian, although she never had any formal education, she persuaded the Pope to go back to Rome from Avignon, in 1377, and when she died she was endeavoring to heal the Great Western Schism. In 1375 she received the Stigmata, which was visible only after her death. She died when she was only 33, and her body was found incorrupt in 1430.

Happy Feast Day
Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort
1673 - 1716
Feast Day: April 28
St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, a French Catholic priest and confessor was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI. As well as preaching, Montfort wrote a number of books and is known for his particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary. Two of his most notable works are True Devotion to Mary and The Secret of the Rosary.

  "Love does not stay idle."

- St Catherine of Siena, Letter T82

Precious Blood,

Ocean of Divine Mercy:

Flow upon us! 

Precious Blood,

Most pure Offering:

Procure us every Grace!

Precious Blood,

Hope and Refuge of sinners:

Atone for us! 

Precious Blood,

Delight of holy souls:

Draw us! Amen.

Prayer of

St Catherine of Siena

Italy  ~ 1347 -1380

Doctor of the Church

Reformer, mystic, writer

Third Order Dominican

Incorrupt

Feast Day - April 29

 

 "I treasure your knowing how to
give the world a kick." ~  St Catherine of Siena

"Be who God meant you to be and you 
will set the world on fire." - St Catherine of Siena

"Proclaim the truth and do not be 
silent through fear." - St Catherine of Siena

Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me

Casting Crowns - If we are his body

Mary with us - the Angelus/St Louis de Montfort/Jesus our Bread of LIFE!/farmgirls in dresses

Oh my!!! Little farm girl in boots and dress with the setting sun and the green spring grass!  Grandma heaven!

Getting tickled by baby kittens after supper on the porch on a glorious evening on the farm.  

Dad got into his chair for some TV, so I headed for an hour on the farm with all the baby animals and to borrow a gallon of milk from Ruth.  I had so much fun!

 Kids and kitties hard to get a good on, but the kids faces are special to grandma.

Dad and I just finished breakfast and morning prayer with hubby here on the phone due to the rain.  An interesting combination of farm talk and prayer.  Pat and I did manage to pray our morning prayer from the Magnificat before the day began.  It feels good to share prayer with my busy hard working farmer, who is very anxious about the mess of our economy these days due to the virus.

 The ducks like the swimming pool and that they do not have a dog anymore.

 Next we visit the baby chicks, who are starting to get their feathers, but are still cute.  Luke has a special one that he likes to hold and show her markings - they will be egg layers for the farm family.

 Luke likes the stripes on her wings... maybe green eggs from this one?

Praying with dad we recognized St Louis de Montfort as a force in his devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.  Dad was pointing out how the Angelus which is recited at noon hits the high lights and important beautiful things we adore about Mary!

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
    Hail Mary, full of grace,
    The Lord is with Thee;
    Blessed art thou among women,
    And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
    Holy Mary, Mother of God,
    Pray for us sinners,
    Now and at the hour of our death. AmenV. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
    Hail Mary, etc.V. And the Word was made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
    Hail Mary, etc.V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

This wonderful prayer evolved from a recitation of three Hail Mary’s following an evening bell around the 12th century to its present form (with morning and midday recitations) in the 16th century.

When prayed in a group setting a leader recites the verses and everyone recites both the responses and the Hail Mary’s in between each verse, as shown above.

Although the Angelus has been traditionally said three times daily, at 6 am, noon and 6 pm, you can pray it at anytime! It is still accompanied by the ringing of a bell (the Angelus bell) 

The bell is rung at Lumen Christi/Light of Christ Monastery in KC when they recite these words!  LOVE!  

 While I was there Rose fed her calves - she is in charge of feeding 3 orphan calves morning and night.  Rose will be 8 on Thursday - May 1st.  It was very impressive to see her mixing their bottles so expertly.

 Mixing in the milk replacer...

 3 year old Joy put on a pretty dress in the morning - she and Rose share a room now and decided that this was wear a dress day!  Grandma loved it! 

 Rose with her bottles on the 4 wheeler - they call this one gramps as it is from Paul's grandfather after he moved into assisted living.   Love the sunset behind her.

I was having so much fun last night capturing the kids on the farm!  It made me glow inside!  I am loving getting more into John 6 with Jesus powerfully sharing the Truth that He is our Bread of LIFE!  I am eternally grateful for my parents bringing our entire family into The Church!  The only place where Jesus is alive and well in The Eucharist!
So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
John 6:35

 Love this with the huge bottle!!!  I am in grandma heaven!

 Rose is a kind and patient teacher and shares her confidence and happiness as she performs this job on the farm.

As Ruth says about this stay at home order... her kids are out helping with chores and not just languishing in front of games and TV.  Joy showed no fear and giggled delightedly when she fed the calf!

Watching big sister, Rose Again!

 Rose gave Joy the empty bottle to give the calf to suck on!  Pure JOY!

 She lives up to her name!

We are so blessed by each one of our grandchildren, and just got a request from John to say an extra "Hail Holy Queen" for Bobbi and the new baby.  She is just days away from her due date of May 5th, so we are lifting them up for a healthy and good arrival soon!!!  That will be grandchild #19!

 Rose feeds both bottles at the same time usually, but today she had Luke to help her.

 Joy and the bottle make for a keepsake!

Yes, grandma took too many pictures, but I also use them all!!!  Too many?  Never!

 Oh my!!!

LOVE the old tractor with the little farm girl in a dress.  Today with the cold rain she would not be in this summer dress, but last night it was 75 degrees and no wind.

 Morning prayer with dad while mom looks down on us... My Easter tree was done after 4 weeks in the house, but I just had to keep out my cross and butterfly for this year.  It is still Easter Season!!!

My mother's passing is still so recent.  She is close at hand for me.

 Dad and I have added evening prayer shared after supper.  As a permanent deacon he is asked to pray Morning and Evening prayer from his well worn prayer book.  He gets around it will skill and ease, while I have it all laid out for easy use on my phone.  Together we are a pretty good team of prayer!

Hallel asked us to pray for Mariano, who is going to be ordained a deacon in The Community of the Lamb in June.  So appropriate for dad to remember him in prayer.  Also we are praying for Bobbi in a  special way as she is soon to deliver her baby.

Mother and father united in prayer.  Dad shares that mother is loving us more perfectly now from heaven... She is at work in the lives of her family and that could mean many things to bring us closer to Jesus and His Bride, The Church!  The Cross has become the Tree of LIFE!  Jesus in the Bread of LIFE and we will never hunger or thirst with Him!

Jesus, we are taking seriously our religious LIFE shared here.  Thank you for all your beauty and wisdom gained through your Bride, The Church!  May we die to self so that you may live in us!  Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah

LOVED this time, and will cherish these always.  Bless-bless, Barb

Jeremy Camp - Same Power
So often dad and I speak of the Holy Spirit in the Word and in our lives! The same power indeed!

St Louis de Montfort used to remain after Holy Mass for thanksgiving

at least a half hour, and he would not permit any need or assignment

to serve as a reason for omitting it.  He said,

 "I would not give up this hour of thanksgiving

even for an hour of Paradise."

St Louis de Montfort

France ~ 1673-1716
Priest, Marian devotee

Author: Secret of Mary, True Devotion to Mary

Founder ~ Sisters of Divine Wisdom

Feast Day - April 28