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!
3 hours with Jesus - He spoke to me!/the prayers of children are heard!/Go to the Mountain of the Lord and be healed and fed!!!!/Blessed Charles
Oh my! John and Bobbi's two little ones in front of their wonderful Christmas tree last evening!
This arrived in the midst of our 3 hours of prayer vigil asking the the case brought before the Supreme Court today can end the horror of abortion! I was so impressed by the parents that brought their children to pray as we all know that the prayers of the "childlike" come before our Lord and Lady like no others!
Sweet 2 1/2 year old Jude putting on some decorations or is he taking them off? Sweet regardless!
Birdie Barbara in the light and aglow with this wonderful Advent Season!
A memory from a year ago... John and I at Rochester in the midst of the pandemic with another year cancer free! We are now at 12 years of having the new John of finding his Faith through brain cancer. Tonight he speaks to youth in Minneota about his vocation... after discerning the priesthood for a year, and beating brain cancer - he found his spouse, Bobbi, who had been praying and waiting for him for 10 years since they were seniors in high school together!
The story that amazed all at their wedding reception!!!
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!
My wonderful husband beside me last evening as we had a 3 hour vigil of prayer to end the horror of abortion in the St Mary's chapel of the school. Just down the hall from our small intimate St Joseph's adoration chapel where we have 24/7 adoration. It was moved so that more could come and pray for this most important issue!
Pat shared this far and wide from Catholic Vote and brought many to join the country in prayer!
Our Lady statue looking over our prayers as she crushes the head of the serpent! How I have loved her over my 43 years of marriage and attending this beautiful chapel of our wonderful Catholic School!
3 hours or prayer was so deep and powerful for me. I consider that my nun daughter, Hallel, spends at least that each day with her spouse Jesus... I see more clearly how that is such a gift to her and how she grows so deep in her love and wisdom as she shares the Truths that come to her.
As I prayed the sorrowful mysteries... I was led into such a depth with each one - 1. Agony in the garden... All the prayers that we have prayed to end abortion in great agony as we recall the total disrespect for innocent LIFE. Even hatred and total betrayal by the parents of the child! The Gospel from some weeks ago about how parents will turn against their children finally made sense in light of abortion!
Jesus and Mary - the Lord and Lady!
2.Scourging at the pillar... This one really sent me into the horror of what is done to the innocent little ones in the womb! Suction abortion where they are ripped to pieces, saline abortion where they are burned in salt solution put into the womb - so much of Christ's being ripped by the scourges came to me! "The silent scream" as they suffered with their Lord!
3. the Crown of thorns - The mocking and spitting and total disrespect of God made man, Jesus. The LIFE in the womb totally disrespected and we are mocked when we fight to save those lives! We are made in the image and likeness of God, and how did it ever come to this where LIFE is trampled underfoot?
4 Carrying the Cross - carrying the instrument of His death on his shoulders as he walks the way of the Cross and is spit upon and falls over and over! These tiny lives in the womb have the Cross set upon their shoulders as they sit in the abortion clinic and their mothers await their turn to have them ripped from the bodies of their mothers. Imagine the fear and sadness that they are given from their mother's at this last hour and probably regret and hopelessness!
5. The Crucifixion of the Son of God - Silently he went like a Lamb to the slaughter. Often I have seen images of the Silent Scream as the baby tries to get away from the suction catheter which is coming to tear them limb from limb. They are Lambs in the womb! One of the most touching parts of the vigil was to see the young children there deep in prayer as we all know that the little ones' prayers lift to heaven ahead of others! So powerful and so grateful for the parents to bring them out in the rain to pray for LIFE!
At the end of our 3 hours - Deacon Ken took Jesus back to the Adoration chapel with great reverence!
One pearl that came to me so strongly as I knelt here in prayer and pondered the Alpha and Omega symbols on the front of the altar - Yes! Jesus is the beginning and the end! The beginning of LIFE is to be cherished and protected from conception to natural death , and as we believe with all our hearts, minds and souls - LIFE continues on into eternity with our Christ our Lord and Savior saving us from death!
Jesus, back in our St Joseph's Adoration chapel with my Most Cherished Cross, hubby Patrick, on his knees asking for LIFE to be protected and cherished from conception to natural death!
At some point I was aware of the crowd from heaven that without a doubt were joining us in prayer... my parents, St JPII, and St Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and all the angels and saints, and the 60 million souls taken to Jesus and Mary after their abortion! Such a powerful PRAYER with all the millions of prayers from all across the country to end this horror - taking innocent lives through abortion!
4 years ago in Kansas City - Lumen Christi/LIGHT of Christ Monastery of The Community of the Lamb! My nun daughter, Little Sister Hallel with her spouse on the altar.
I see much more now how her many hours with Jesus has brought her to such a place of wisdom and Truth, which we are so blessed to have her share with us on our journey!
I then pondered the joyful mysteries and found much comfort there and Truth of how LIFE is such a gift of which there is no doubt as in the first mystery - The Annunciation we see with eyes of Faith the Conception of the Son of God when the Holy Spirit places him in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin! It is right there for all the world to see that LIFE begins at Conception! Then the Visitation where the two women - Elizabeth with her 20 week son in her womb, St John the Baptist, just when we feel movement - "he leaps for JOY as he recognizes the Lord! So much! These two pregnant women represent the beauty and importance of LIFE at all stages in the womb - it is LIFE!!!!
So powerful!!! Mary crushing the head of the serpent! Jesus in her womb is our answer to finding LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT to bring us through this life to heaven forever!
One month old baby Luke, 8 years ago! I wrote that he was awake all though mass as he recognized that this was beautiful and important in his little sweet heart . Now Ruth has her new son, Thomas Robert, who came to pray with his family last evening to end abortion. So powerful to see Ruth and Paul bring their family to kneel and pray! I looked over to see 8 year old Luke, kneeling and praying very hard for LIFE!
Advent candle lit for the big case before the Supreme Court today!
Such amazing readings in mass today! I brought along my Magnificat and did evening prayer and as I have learned from The Community of the Lamb - I with great excitement went to the readings for the next day - today! Wow!
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.
On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
Isaiah amazes for Advent and this was too good not to share the whole thing! "He will destroy death forever." Let's start with the death that takes place in the womb!!!
Thanks, Ruth and Paul, for bringing your kids to pray last evening! Their prayers are like incense coming before our Lord and Lady - stop this evil now of taking innocent life in the womb!
My parents are always united in our prayers when they were alive and now united in heaven praying for us more perfectly!
In a special way my 7 in heaven and now my 6 grandchildren - 13 souls praying for me and our family and the end of abortion!
Ruth had just taken her 2 youngest and decorated the chapel. It made me smile to look around and see her touch to make our beloved Catholic School chapel beautiful! Thanks, Ruth!
I have 4 grandchildren in this picture of Catholic School! There are 3 more to come in the years ahead, and 2 have now gone on the high school! We have had 4 generations and love our Holy Redeemer Catholic School!
Thanks, Bobbi, for our wonderful calendar! December is a JOY to turn the page and find!
LOVE this from St Bernard - here it is easier to read and be amazed! Fr Denny preached this Truth on Sunday last week!
From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot (Sermo 5, In Adventu Domini, 1-3: Opera omnia, Edit. cisterc. 4 [1966], 188-190)
God’s Word will come to us
We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among men; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on him whom they pierced. The intermediate coming is a hidden one; in it only the elect see the Lord within their own selves, and they are saved. In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming he comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming he will be seen in glory and majesty.
Because this coming lies between the other two, it is like a road on which we travel from the first coming to the last. In the first, Christ was our redemption; in the last, he will appear as our life; in this middle coming, he is our rest and consolation.
In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself says: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. There is another passage of Scripture which reads: He who fears God will do good, but something further has been said about the one who loves, that is, that he will keep God’s word. Where is God’s word to be kept? Obviously in the heart, as the prophet says: I have hidden your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.
Keep God’s word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.
If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you. The Son with the Father will come to you. The great Prophet who will build the new Jerusalem will come, the one who makes all things new. This coming will fulfill what is written: As we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, we shall also bear the likeness of the heavenly man. Just as Adam’s sin spread through all mankind and took hold of all, so Christ, who created and redeemed all, will glorify all, once he takes possession of all.
The Gospel is too good not to share the entire thing today, too!!
At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.
St Mother Teresa of Calcutta today!
Pope Benedict XVI goes deep with the beauty and Truth of Advent - it is such a special season in The Church! We are given so much with each new day!
Dad's man, Brother Victor! Blessed Charles is very important to Hallel and her Community, too!
Blessed Charles, pray for us to be more like Jesus as we die to self.
Our entire existence, our whole being must
shout the Gospel from the rooftops.
Our entire person must breathe Jesus,
all our actions.
Our whole life must cry out that we belong to Jesus,
reflect a Gospel way of living. Our whole being
must be a living proclamation, a reflection of Jesus."
Bl Charles de Foucauld
"The goal of every human life
should bethe
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament."
Bl. Charles de Foucauld
Priest, Martyr ~ 1858-1916 nee France ~ Missionary in the Sahara of Algeria
Inspiration and writings led to the founding
of the Little Brothers of Jesus congregation
Feast Day – December 1
Blessed Charles de Foucauld and six others
will be canonized 15 May 2022!
Charles returned to the Faith, after living an immoral life.
Regarding his conversion, Charles said,
"The moment I realized that God existed, I knew I could not do otherwise than to live for Him alone.…My religious vocation dates from the same moment as my faith: God is so great. There is such a difference between God and everything that is not."
______________________
Prayer of Bl Charles de Foucauld: both prayed and lived...
Father, I abandon myself into Your hands; do with me what You will. Whatever You do I thank You. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only Your will be done in me, as in all Your creatures, I ask no more than this, my Lord. Into Your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to You, O Lord, with all the love of my heart, for I love You, my God, and so need to give myself - to surrender myself into Your hands, without reserve and with total confidence, for You are my Father.
So true!!!
This week HOPE! Advent was always a big time for our young family to gather in prayer! Our domestic Church/family is the most important place for our Faith to be passed on and to grow in each one of our family members!
Jesus, how we love and adore you! Please end the horror of abortion and change the hearts of those that are considering the taking of the life in their wombs this day. May we die to self and become your hands and feet as we love and serve you in all those around us - most especially those the closest to us in our domestic Church/family. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Use me Lord. I am clay in your hands. Bless-bless, Barbara
First up, in this busy time of year, how can you, as parents and the primary faith-educators of your children, take advantage of the season to help your children grow in faith? Nancy Bandzuch from Catholic Sprouts joins us with some ideas.
Visit catholicsprouts.com to find an abundance of Advent resources, as well as a daily podcast for kids and so much more!
Practicing Catholic airs Fridays at 9:00pm, Saturday at 1:00pm, and Sunday at 2:00pm on Relevant Radio 1330AM. Visit our new show archives at practicingcatholicshow.com to listen to segments by topic! #practicingcatholicshow
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