The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
Oh my!!! 10 years ago in the pasture is Mary with her wonderful pet, Snowball! 5 year old Mary thought that all little girls had a pet heifer that would come up to be petted in the willows. It was pretty evident that she is the animal lover and care giver that she is today. At 15 1/2 she is a goat farmer, works at the dog kennel, and does goat chores for a neighbor when they go to goat shows.
A year ago today... dad and I made our last trip to Sioux Falls for his nephrostomy tubes to be changed. I did not know that we were less than a month from his death here in my home/farm monastery.
I am working suddenly on a talk that has happened to open up at the next Emmaus Retreat - Knowing yourself through prayer. Dad's 6 months with me will definitely be part of it as we did "our work of prayer everyday", and with his prayerbooks left behind for me with all his Lessons underlined and highlighted it continues with each new day!
Today in the Office of Readings - the words of St Jerome, who translated the entire Bible as we know it today!
How my father along with St Jerome loved Jesus in The Word!
The first reading in mass today is so beautiful in the great LOVE that the people had for the words of the Law and the Prophets - much of the OT! How they bow, and weep when the words are read to them from the scroll by Ezra the Prophet!
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground. As the people remained in their places, Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. Neh 8
So wonderful and comforting to find The Sacred Heart of Jesus at Avera in Sioux Falls with my dad on our journey for his last 6 months on hospice in our farm monastery!
said to all the people: “Today is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep”– for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!” And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.” Then all the people went to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them. Neh continues today!
With huge struggles and sadness around me these days - it is always good to have a feastday of celebration come up as today is devoted to St Jerome! I am truly lifted up and reminded of all the blessings we are given - really each and every day to help us face all that comes our way! The JOY we are given on the journey is such a gift!
I was blessed with a special ministry of the Holy Spirit last evening where I was ministered to and so these words today of “Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.” are truly felt and real! The tears are coming less and are replaced with HOPE and witnessing the Holy Spirit at work in our lives/family!
I was gifted this morning at 4a with Pat's hour of Adoration as he was up till after midnight combining corn with the rain coming this morning.
The 4th Station always beckons to me as I love to go to Jesus through our Mother Mary! She is there on the way of our carrying our Cross and following him down the narrow path with heaven forever as our goal! She is there at the foot of the Cross as He gives her to us as our Mother and we bring her into our home!
“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much; you can never love her more than Jesus Did!” Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
He is a modern day martyr - taking the place of a father - killed in the Concentration Camp. Such a powerful Saint to turn to in Heaven! How he loved Our Lady as do I!
Then the 5th Station is Simon helping Jesus carry his Cross. May we be willing and able Simons that help with the weight of the Cross and not add to it!
Special deep prayer alone time with my Jesus - placing our 2 families in the monstrance with Jesus! "Jesus and Mary I love you. Save souls."
The glowing golden tabernacle behind...
St Michael the Archangel defend us in this battle!!! As grandson, Dominic, famously said a few years back when he was about 4..."Why didn't St Michael just kill him with that sword?" Well, he cast him into Hell where there is everlasting death!
6 years ago - girls looking down and boys looking up.
Baby Luke 6 years ago - he will be 8 in a month on All Saints Day - November 1st along with his cousin, Evangeline Mary, who will be 5! Talk about a Holy Day! It also will be our Hallel's Feast Day - as he name comes from Hallelujah - which all the Saints in heaven are proclaiming endlessly on their Feast day and always!
5 years ago towards the end of Pat's mother's life sitting in the sun in her sunroom.
Ruth petting our pet cow, Baby in the pasture here 5 years ago.
David in the clouds - how I love my clouds and love to envision how it would be to be in them!
Every month for me! Huge part of my talk, too!!!
My love for them is so connected and so amazingly wonderful - my JOY!
Please take the time to read these amazing words from mom and Pope Benedict XVI today! Another one that appreciates and shares the LOVE of St Therese! The Eucharist is there every day for us! Jesus fills us with LOVE/LIGHT/LIFE! Jesus, we thank and praise you without end! (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye; R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. Psalm 19 Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Now dad giving me his man, Brother Victor, who delights me with the shared experience we are given through our daughter, Little Sister Hallel, whose order is in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains!
I am a lake person, but I definitely experienced "the mountain" experiences and the "moving of mountains" by faith! LOVE! Bless-bless, Barbara
Invited by hubby to help with the first load of corn put in the bin for harvest 2021. A job I can handle with telling him when to stop over the hopper. How I admire and adore how he does so much with so much passion and precision.
Of course he wants me to record with pictures, but my famous from behind pictures are the safest. No dirty looks and sticking out his tongue.
3 seems to be what I need to cover the situation well enough.
Pat invited me along for a load so that we can catch up on our day. Sharing our large family with all that goes along with it keeps us prayerful and occupied in their lives. Words from Pope Benedict XVI today in his meditation on this Feast of the Archangels really spoke to me! "Precisely in catastrophic situations he can suddenly break in, if I am awake and if someone helps me decipher the message."
A river of Gold! It is about half the crop of last year due to the drought. I am shocked that we even have this after the summer so hot and so dry! Kind of miraculous!
Pat and I certainly experience over and over the Lord entering a catastrophic situation over the years.... John's cancer, Patrick's traumatic birth, numerous losses during our childbearing years, and other times...
Out in the field with Pat... watching the unloading of corn into the grain cart on the fly!
I look at John's battle against brain cancer, and recall how helpless we were - We had no choice but to give the control over to Jesus through Mary and Trust! Bishop LeVoir wrote us on our caringbridge site to remind us to "Repeat these words in times of distress, 'Jesus, we trust in you.' " Since this has become our constant prayer for all that comes our way!
Perched in the truck while it is loaded by the grain cart. Always praying for safety for the farmers and farm families that we can be kind and patient with one another.
"It's full.... let's go!"
There is so much evil all around us! The normalization of taking innocent human life if we are inconvenienced to welcome a life into this world up to birth. The evil that is just a mouse click away on our phones or computers. It can become very depressing and sad to know that we are looked down upon if we are moral people that hate the sin, but love the sinner. Yes, sin involves living out a same sex lifestyle! It is sinful to live out a homosexual lifestyle -no matter how much we are fed the lie that this is according to God's plan for same sex physical love it is not! It is just as sinful, however, to cohabitate with a person before marriage, and to have sex outside of marriage . Cohabitation is not a natural progression step to take to see if two people are compatible for marriage. How Satan laughs at our taking the world's lies as truth!
Picking up Pat to come and do chores - I was able to get some nice ones of dumping into the truck a river of gold towards evening.
With this heaviness in my heart at the evil that Satan is calling right, and good, and truth... how wonderful to have this special feast day today devoted to St Michael, St Raphael , and St Gabriel - the Archangels, who are there to take on the work and war against Evil!!!!
The stirring Revelations story of St Michael fighting Satan and winning!!
War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them.” Revelations 27
Harvest 2021 is like no other in recent history with a severe drought that showed how miraculous is a corn plant to go down and down to find water for even half a crop!
I am lifted up and given HOPE by the knowledge of St Michael there for us to fight our battles against evil! This prayer is on our hearts, minds and souls as we fight the good fight!
We now say this after mass each day, too! There is so much evil to contend with in ourselves as well as around us! We are not alone as we face evil!
It looks like I will need to do Pat's hour overnight 4a-5a as he is getting shorter and shorter on sleep. I must say that I am always excited to spend that silent hour with Jesus!
My hero Archbishop Naumann, who loves LIFE and brought Hallel and her Community of the Lamb in Kansas City!
Yes! Die to self so that we may be that grain of wheat and bear 100 fold for our Lord and Lady!
So comforted and even brave to have them with me in this battle! I am weak and poor at most that I do, but I rely on Jesus, Mary, the Saints, the Angels, The Church!
Working and praying... My Most Cherished Cross brings LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT to my world!
My JOY is having my Mother Mary with me on this daily journey of praying without ceasing! Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
6 years ago we did 200 quarts of applesauce - this year none. Each year is different and we make the most of what we are given. Bless-bless, Barbara
LOVE how we are blessed with so much each day of our journey down the narrow path as we carry/drag our Most Cherished Cross and follow Jesus!
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Because she was with child, she wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky: it was a huge dragon, flaming red, with seven heads and ten horns; on his heads were seven diadems. His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, ready to devour her child when it should be born. She gave birth to a son—a boy destined to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert, where a special place had been prepared for her by God; there she was taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. Although the dragon and his angels fought back, they were overpowered and lost their place in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent known as the devil or Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out; he was hurled down to earth and his minions with him.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come, the reign of our God and the authority of his Anointed One. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who night and day accused them before our God. They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. So rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, earth and sea, for the devil has come down upon you! His fury knows no limits, for he knows his time is short.”
When the dragon saw that he had been cast down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the boy. But the woman was given the wings of a gigantic eagle so that she could fly off to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she could be taken care of for a year and for two and a half years more. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth to search out the woman and sweep her away. The earth then came to the woman’s rescue by opening its mouth and swallowing the flood which the dragon spewed out of his mouth.
Enraged at her escape, the dragon went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep God’s commandments and give witness to Jesus.
RESPONSORY See Revelation 12:7, 10; 19:1
There was silence in heaven when the dragon fought with Michael the archangel. – Then I heard a loud voice crying out: Salvation, glory and power belong to the almighty God.
Now salvation and power have come; the reign of our God and the authority of Christ are at hand. – Then I heard a loud voice crying out: Salvation, glory and power belong to the almighty God.
SECOND READING
From a homily on the Gospels by Saint Gregory the Great, pope (Hom. 34, 8-9: PL 76, 1250-1251)
The word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature
You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels.
And so it was that not merely an angel but the archangel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary. It was only fitting that the highest angel should come to announce the greatest of all messages.
Some angels are given proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform. In that holy city, where perfect knowledge flows from the vision of almighty God, those who have no names may easily be known. But personal names are assigned to some, not because they could not be known without them, but rather to denote their ministry when they came among us. Thus, Michael means “Who is like God”; Gabriel is “The Strength of God”; and Raphael is “God’s Remedy.”
Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power. So also our ancient foe desired in his pride to be like God, saying: I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of heaven; I will be like the Most High. He will be allowed to remain in power until the end of the world when he will be destroyed in the final punishment. Then, he will fight with the archangel Michael, as we are told by John: A battle was fought with Michael the archangel.
So too Gabriel, who is called God’s strength, was sent to Mary. He came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers. Thus God’s strength announced the coming of the Lord of the heavenly powers, mighty in battle.
Raphael means, as I have said, God’s remedy, for when he touched Tobit’s eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness. Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly called God’s remedy.
RESPONSORY See Revelation 8:3, 4; Daniel 7:10
An angel stood by the altar, holding a golden censer; a large quantity of incense was given to him, – and clouds of incense rose from the hand of the angel in the presence of the Lord.
Thousands upon thousands waited on him, and myriads upon myriads stood before him. – And clouds of incense rose from the hand of the angel in the presence of the Lord.
Feast of Archangels
St Michael~St Gabriel~St Raphael
September 29
"O, angelic spirits, who guard our tabernacles,wherein lies the adorable treasure of the Holy Eucharist,
Sitting on the tractor seat, praying and worrying is what this city girl come to the farm is famous for doing. This man makes me go out of my comfort zone and that is what my life is all about - dying to self and attempting to serve without counting the cost. But... when I see him climbing up and down bins I pray harder and feel shaky and worried inside!
On his way to the top... thankfully his shoulder has recovered enough for him to safely climb the grain bins which will happen over and over probably a hundred times in this harvest. Many prayers!
Getting the grain auger just right is part of placing the corn in the bins.
Thankfully he only had to climb once this time. Thank you Lord and Lady!
Thanks to the drought we have to haul water to the cows... 3 water tanks that have to be filled a couple times a day.
So much to think about at this busy time of year as we are busy with the harvest plus caring for the animals as we make the food for feeding the world.
Caring for his cows, who are now pregnant with their calves to be born starting March. Another busy time on the farm and Pat cares for each one of his 150 cows and their newborn calves.
How I love to spend time with my Jesus in the Tabernacle! Truly I am transported to a very special glimpse of heaven with My Lady taking my prayers to My Lord!
A memory of the apple picking crew 5 years ago. Apples from Paul's parents - 14 pails to make into sauce. No apples this year for us... Less work and less to share with our 7 families.
Such beautiful days for praying on my porch with my two bittens/kittens playing on me and around me. Watching for white trucks out on Hwy 59, as dad would say during our prayer time - "There goes a big white one!"
Felix the cat loves to get up around my neck and purrrr!
The final line from Psalm 87 today - “My home is within you.” The psalm is speaking about the Holy City Jerusalem, yet it is true of our inner temple where Our Lord dwells in His Holy Spirit, and our prayer is constant as we ask our Lady to take all our needs and thanks to her Son, Jesus!
Peaceful prayers on the porch...
How I loved to read these words by Venerable Madeleine Delbrel in the meditation in the Magnificat today!
Resolutely determined? In the Gospel today Jesus is "resolutely determined" to journey to Jerusalem where he will be offered up for us! The Heart with a Cross planted in it = Total LOVE
Yes, the virtues - Poverty, Obedience, Purity, and Humility sound negative and unattractive to us and they are difficult to live out - yet, they "make us free to love." By choice an object of contempt! Wow! The Cross is something we must embrace to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
All I can say is wow! And Lord and Lady help me to accept suffering and then LOVE!
The beautiful porch/my prayer space where dad and I did our work of our farm monastery - prayer for our farm and family as we share our entire unreserved Catholic Faith!
Pat shares that he prays while he works, which is from before the sun comes up to after it goes down.
Joy at 18 months just 3 years ago. She comes out to the shop and goes with grandpa to check the calves - "She goes in barefoot with the calves to see her Snowball that she fed a bottle to for many months. As she gave her the bottle she would pet her with her other hand." Oh JOY!
We are so very blessed to have Jesus dwell within us with actual food for the journey!
Beautiful Ruth watering her fall creations this morning - "My fat belly." "You know that I love to see your baby belly, Ruth! You are so beautiful!"
Nothing is more wonderful or beautiful in my eyes! I was so happy when I was pregnant and longed for the next one soon after I had one in my arms. I am a bit of a nut case, and the Lord had a different plan for me - 7 in heaven and 5 precious lives here with me to share in my journey and to teach me as they are LIGHTS for the world and for me!
Ruth's passion is for making all things beautiful around her! Yes, we are called to give Thanks for all that we are blessed with the good and the hard!
Love readings St Mother Teresa of Calcutta every day! PRAYER with every breath that I take and every beat of my heart! "Jesus and Mary, Jesus and Mary, Lord and Lady!"
Here we go with mom and Pope Benedict XVI today! This is his version of embracing our Most Cherished Cross to discover LIFE/LOVE/LIHGT in our marriage! That is how we get the rough edges taken away and "we must think of love as suffering." Yes, so true!
I will say that the marital act of love is for me... the joy and physical love which makes me feel loved and happy to be married to this wonderful yet infuriating man! And allows me to die to self, and turn towards each other - in the reality of love.
LOVE this and our amazing wonderful Church!!! How Fr Denny pointed out to powerfully on Sunday at mass that we cannot leave the Church as we are leaving behind Jesus in The Eucharist and Sacraments! Wow!
Yes, I shouldn't worry but it just seems like that keeps me on my knees praying...
Pope Francis on his visit to the U.S. a number of years ago!
Truth!
End the horror of taking of innocent human life in abortion!!!
Yes, we need to die to self so that we can love those in our domestic Church/family!
7 grain bins were behind my house when we were first married...
Jesus, I am weak and lowly and need to die to self so that you may work in me! Please keep all the farmers and family safe and sane. Jesus we trust in you. amen and Hallelujah
Ready for corn - load after load. May my heart beat better with a cross planted in it. Bless-bless, Barbara
"Who we love shapes what we become." - St Clare of Assisi
When St Margaret Mary Alacoque left the world
and consecrated herself to God in the cloister,
she made a private vow and wrote in her blood,
"All for the Eucharist,
nothing for me."
It is useless to attempt to describe
the Saint's burning love for the Eucharist.
When she was not able to receive Holy Communion,
she broke out in ardent expressions of love like these:
"I have such a desire for Holy Communion that if
I had to walk barefoot along a path of fire to obtain It,
