This was 7 years ago and as usual in this part of April we had a foot of snow snow us in just as we brought Hallel home for her home visit from KC! We had just celebrated mass in St Eloi Church in Ghent as Hallel needs to attend mass daily. John was home from seminary and we had picked up Maria and her 3 in El Paso and brought them home to be with Hallel! Pat's mother joined us too! As I recall my parents even had plans to come, but the huge snow prevented them.
I just had the delightful sharing with John as he is home today due to a cough. We shared the morning prayer in the prayer of the Church/the office on the ibreviary on our phones. John added it to my phone when he came home from the seminary, and we would pray together in between jobs on his journey post brain cancer and post seminary, and now he is a married man expecting their second child soon- May 5th.
The same altar almost 2 years ago at John and Bobbi's wedding of Rose and Berna now 5 years older and joined by Josephine!
My favorite of John and Bobbi newly married and the altar gracing them with the smiles and graces of Mary and St Therese, who is Bobbi's patron saint and who gave her many roses to keep her faith up that someday she would marry John Verly! She had to wait 10 years of patient praying and trusting through brain cancer, seminary and jobs coming and going...
The story she shared at their wedding reception with the 300 friends and family gathered...
After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special. She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband. Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!! Amazing!!! And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!
Taking roses to Mary during their wedding... how John loves Our Lady and today as we prayed together for 2 young people in our lives that are battling cancer, he spoke to her and how she is always with him taking his prayers to her Son, Jesus Christ!
The Gospel today is Mary Magdalene who encounters Jesus in John 20...
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”
which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he had told her.
For John it took a half hearted prayer for Faith and then finding faith through a battle for his life against brain cancer! He felt that he had nothing to test him, so he had never made his faith his own. That quickly changed... here is his story!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
Assisting Fr Kutch at mass 7 years ago...
Kissing his beautiful bride after sharing a glorious Sacrament of Matrimony on the Feast of Corpus Christi/June 2,2018!
John through his suffering and loss of the use of his left side after his brain biopsy at Mayo - His tears in the back of the chapel in Mayo was when it hit him that he had prayed for Faith and this was how he was to find Jesus. "Why are you weeping?" "If you have taken the Lord, show me where you have laid him?" "John" "Rabbouni" John then announces to the world without hesitation - "I have seen the Lord!"
His sisters in the background, who John admired for their faith. He has now embraced Jesus and His Bride, The Church! How we are overjoyed to share our Faith as a family!
Praying the Office with John this morning as he led morning prayer complete with singing the opening and praying our personal intentions complete with prayers for two in special need now... Amy and Anna! My cup overflows with prayer to Our Lady as we join in our love for her and how she brings us to her Son!
Knowing how she waited and prayed fill me with so much gratitude for this faith filled wonderful woman, whose prayers were and continue to be so powerful in John's journey stumbling down the narrow path!
Roses for St Joseph... John has a special love and devotion for the father of Jesus, and how he protected him. His fears of the future he places in the hands of St Joseph. Let us join him as with the current situation in the world... St Joseph protect us and The Church!
This describes where we find ourselves this year of Easter 2020!
Listening to Bobbi share her story... I looked around to see tears and looks of amazement to hear this story of waiting patiently for LOVE to come into your life!
Lord, how we adore you and are always and forever filled with your Spirit that makes us cry out to the highest heavens - " We have seen the Lord!" May we run to the world and share the Good News with all that we say and do! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah!
"Our people are becoming like Mary of Magdela
when she came to the tomb.
'They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don't know where they put Him' (Jn 20:2).
It is up to us...
to tell our people where our Risen Savior is.
It is up to us...
to tell our people where our Risen Savior is.
The Blessed Sacrament is our Risen Savior
with all the power of His love and mercy flowing
out to those who come into His presence!
This is where we must run, like Peter and John.
This is where we must bring everyone.
For each hour will advance the day
when the light of His love and mercwill shine out,
Excerpt from Letters to a Brother Priest
and then like Him, His people will be resurrected."
Excerpt from Letters to a Brother Priest
Rev. Fr. Vincent Martin Lucia and Rev. Msgr. Josefino Ramirez
Top image: The Three Marys at the Tomb, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Bottom image: The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre, by Dan Burr
Top image: The Three Marys at the Tomb, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Bottom image: The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre, by Dan Burr
The traditional bunny cakes handed down by grandma Ann! Grandpa always ate the tail before the grandkids could even see it!
Yes, Jesus when I am weak and sick is when I turn to you!
Andrea Bocelli - Amazing Grace
We are an Easter People and Hallelujah is our song
O God, beyond all praising - St Michael in Stillwater
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