For John and I... praying together out loud back and forth is natural and very much a part of our shared journey... so with tears and lifting our needs to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we prayed for John as he is doing a battery of tests today on his brain. Our Mother is so beloved by the two of us - we see totally eye to eye that there is a much better mother than I, and we love her almost as much as her Son, Jesus Christ does! The "Hail Holy Queen" is our prayer of great beauty and JOY. Then we ended with the litany of our huge Communion of Saints that have followed us on this journey of cancer/healing/married to an amazing wife and two children/many jobs/fears of what the cure of his cancer has and will do to him/putting it in the Lord's hands because he is in control not we ourselves!We are reminded over and over that when we are in distress and things look unsure that we repeat these words and mean them..."Jesus, we trust in you."
Out to do the ducks today... I found this Charlie Brown Christmas tree to put in my prayer space, which fills me with so much each day as I read and ponder and pray over the books mom and dad left behind for me... Brother Victor, Pope Benedict XVI, St John Henry Newman, the prayer of The Church which dad and I shared morning and evening... now filled with dad's input with underlines and words written here and there.
This reminds me of my father, too. For the first many months that he lived with me I had a branch with lights left over from last Christmas. Finally the lights gave up after burning continuously for months... so it all went into the garbage. Dad missed them as comforting through the long dark nights. So today I smiled up at heaven as I know he is smiling.
I also know that he and mother are with John as he is in his testing for 3 hours this morning. Dad is very concerned for John and their prayers have been huge for our family and for John's journey. I smiled also at dad today as the first hour of Monday... I placed the 250+ from both my family and Pat's in the monstrance with Jesus! Many of the 140+ of the Crosses - their middle name is now automatically added after the 6 months on each Monday praying for the entire family - first and middle names! "Eleanor Corrine, Augustine William, Calvin Nicholas,..." Dad you make me smile on Mondays!!!
From my memories of 3 years ago in front of my mother's Christmas tree in their wonderful home in St Croix Falls, WI! My family from Washington! It is a sure sign that they were on their way to Christmas Camp of that year...2017!
It will be a weekend of some sadness to know that our CCC would be happening this next weekend on a normal year. It is the first time in 35 years that we have not had our family Christmas gathering! Yes, some of those years we have had to drive through storms, but not once did it not happen at all!!! Such a sad footnote to what Covid 19 has done to this world.
One positive for the Verly family is that we now have fake plans to have a real Verly Christmas - VCC! All but Hallel here on the farm in January! I am pinching myself at the same time pleading with the Lord that it can happen for real!
My 2020 ornament in the Lord's house! All that we place in the Lord's hands and trust... our big crazy family sharing our Faith/Family/Farm with all the ups and downs, new life - Birdie Barbara this year's addition making our love bigger! Hallel's prayers for us in France this year, and the gift of having her here on the farm for a visit and seeing her grandpa for the first time in 12 years, My parents now both dead 7 months apart, Covid and all that means for our family and this world!
Praying on Friday for Fr Denny with 7 sisters... The Advent wreath/Gaudete Sunday pink candle, Jesus in the tabernacle listening and sharing unconditional LOVE and mercy!
The 25 Psalm from mass today comforts and promises that we will stagger/walk down the narrow path carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross as we are yoked with Jesus...
R. (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Psalm 25
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Psalm 25
All we need do is stay in the yoke with Jesus and HUMBLY follow Him. That humility is painful and allows us to die to self so that He may live in us!
Time with mom and dad in their peaceful resting place. I never would have believed a year ago now that this would be the truth... both gone!
They had it up in their place over Christmas.
With his granddaughter, Sarah - Sally Ann was what dad called her. He loved to play cards with her, and anytime a grand or older great-grand was around dad would rope them in for a game of "Casino"! "I hope you beat me!" he would tell them, and then be quite competitive at the same time.
He was sharp to the end. And what a shock that I am still trying to realize - mom and dad are both gone! With me in spirit, and I find myself throughout the day talking to them. I do not feel too nutty to do this as I truly do believe that they are close to me much like Jesus, Mary and the Saints and Angels!
What JOY to have a sweet baby girl having her first Christmas and each new occasion of celebration in the Glorious Church! My little namesake is the sweetest little girl, and reminds me so much of my own 4 girls! Now to know that we have #20 grandchild coming to add to our love and JOY! LIFE is a gift and should be protected and cherished from conception to natural death! Dad showed me the beauty of a natural death with the help of wonderful hospice! LOVE! Bless-bless, Barbara
How we pray for Peace on Earth in the midst of this mess in our country now. Lots to keep in our prayers without ceasing!
John loves to be involved in the mass and when a need is put out there he willingly says "yes" to reading or serving or being a minister of the Eucharist! It was so sweet to see his little 1 1/2 year old son, Jude, watching his dad up there! I love the example that Ruth's oldest are setting for their younger siblings and cousins. Rose says that soon she will be serving, too!
Jesus, there is so much to help me along this journey of stagger walking down the narrow path. What a blessing to hear your words of forgiveness from the priest last week in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Washed clean and humbled to die to self so that you may live in me and use me to your honor and glory. "Wounded, I will never cease to love." the motto of our Community of the Lamb is reminding me that as Jesus forgives so must we. "They are not evil, but they have made bad choices, and Jesus forgives them and tells them to go and sin no more." Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleujah
What JOY to have a sweet baby girl having her first Christmas and each new occasion of celebration in the Glorious Church! My little namesake is the sweetest little girl, and reminds me so much of my own 4 girls! Now to know that we have #20 grandchild coming to add to our love and JOY! LIFE is a gift and should be protected and cherished from conception to natural death! Dad showed me the beauty of a natural death with the help of wonderful hospice! LOVE! Bless-bless, BarbaraThose sugar cookies will be extra special for the first time at her other grandma's kitchen! One new adventure after another is in store for sweet Birdie Barbara!
How we pray for Peace on Earth in the midst of this mess in our country now. Lots to keep in our prayers without ceasing!For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
He will lead them to springs of living water.
Rev 7:17
"That eternal Spring is hidden
yet I know well where it flows...
I know that there can be
nothing else so beautiful and that
the heavens and the earth drink there...
I know well that its bottom
cannot be found
and that no one
can penetrate its depths...
Its clarity is never muddied,
and I know that every light has come from it...
Well do I know how vast, how mighty is the flow
of the stream born in this Fount...
This eternal Spring is hidden
in this living Bread to give us life...
It is here calling to creatures
and from its water they quench their thirst...
This living Fount that I long for
I see in this Bread of Life..."
St John of the Cross
Doctor (mystical theology) of the Church
Spain ~ 1542 - 1591
Carmelite priest and reformer
Co-founder Discalced Carmelites
w/St Teresa of Ávila
Feast Day - Dec 14
Worship of the Lamb of God – Central detail Ghent altarpiece ~ Flemish VanEyck brothers (1432)
Worship of the Lamb of God – Central detail Ghent altarpiece ~ Flemish VanEyck brothers (1432)
"Where there is no love, pour love in --
and you will draw love out."- St John of the Cross
“In the evening of life, we will be judged
on love alone.” - St John of the Cross
on love alone.” - St John of the Cross
Click here: A Strong Hope - YouTube (2 mins)
St John of the Cross, pray for us!
Gregorian chant for Advent
Bach - Advent Cantata
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