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!
3p Prayer afire - many prayers united/"Mary like every other mother is a giver of LIFE... the LIFE that is eternal"
John returning to Lourdes in 2011 as we were in France for Hallel's First Vows with The Community of the Lamb. John had been here 2 years previous in the midst of his battle with brain cancer and bathed in the healing waters of Lourdes for the first time! He fell head over heels in love with Mary!
Saturdays are devoted to the Blessed Mother, and Nancy wrote this 2 years ago for Catholic Sprouts
This week in the Catholic Sprouts Podcast we are talking about the sacrament of anointing of the sick. This is perhaps the least visible sacrament since it is usually administered in the privacy of the home or a hospital room. So, here are some pictures of my little brother receiving the anointing 11 years ago.
At the time he was battling brain cancer. My cousin, Fr Craig, came to administer the sacrament right before John went in for a very scary biopsy. My little sister, Susan, came back from France where she was going through her year as postulant before joining the Little Sisters of the Lamb for this moment as well.
It was a scary, terrible moment for all of us, and I remember being terribly touched that Jesus had given us a sacrament specifically for moments like this.
Well, a lot happened after that. John’s cancer got worse and my sister took her habit, over in France. Miraculously John wrapped up his first round of chemotherapy, jumped on a plane and came to witness her receive the habit. And then we drove the 2 hours to Lourdes where we prayed very hard for a healing and bathed in the waters.
Spoiler alert: Mary came through. 11years later John is married and expecting his second child in May.
I hope this journey through the sacraments has been helpful and encouraging for you! God is so good to meet us at all these key moments with buckets of grace.
Prayers for all the sick and suffering today, in mind, body, and spirit.
"Thanks, Mother Mary! My mom and I agree that there is a better mother than our mothers."
John anointed by Fr Craig August 2009 at St Mary's Hospital in Mayo with Hallel and Benedict at his bedside - so many prayers!
I found myself arriving to the silent light filled church at 3p for my hour of prayer with 7 Sisters for Fr Denny! It struck me that just 5 days before we had filled The Church with the Confirmation of 50! I was struck then with the sunlight streaming in the front windows knowing that The Holy Spirit is called upon to dwell in each candidate.
Alone with Jesus and Mary at prayer for my hour... Come Holy Spirit fill me and use me as your hands and feet.
The 3P hour is very special for prayer as it is the time that Jesus died on the Cross and saved us from our sins by the wood of the Cross - shedding his Blood to wash us clean! Dad and I would go out on the porch here on the farm for an entire growing season and pray at 3p our Rosary together and our chaplet of Divine Mercy! So powerful as we prayed for many in our huge family as the needs came up.
Dad had shared after mom died in a day in March, that she was praying more perfectly for us now...There was even the week that we were praying for a sister and discovered that during that time she had a heart attack with little damage! How we rejoiced together... "We went to the cemetery to thank mom for inspiring you to pray for me in a special way leading up to my heart attack. I'm sure I benefitted from your collaboration!"
The Cross in the LIGHT at 3p... The fire of the Holy Spirit visible for me.
As I was praying I became aware of the many prayers uniting with mine. Each candle represents someones prayers and intentions! My prayers became that much more powerful to join together with so many.
Pondering the needs that these candles represent for those who lit them - asking for needs which are not in our control to do anything about except pray! How often do those needs bring us to our knees and that alone is what we have to find Trust and HOPE!
The first part of the Gospel today seems to speak of our time with the Lord at these hard times...In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.”
Prayers to St Joseph to intercede to his stepson, Jesus.
Just as in the Gospel, Jesus is caring for us and listens to our needs. Bishop LeVoir reminded us when we were devastated at John's cancer growing through his chemo..."When in times of distress repeat these words; 'Jesus, I trust in you.'" We found peace and had prayers answered - John is now 13 years cancer free! The new John shows the world the power of PRAYER!
Spirit Juice video that cost him a year's wages to make so that he could share his story of finding Faith through brain cancer and teaching many the power of prayer!
How blessed are we with a special way to pray without ceasing? I have candles lit today as I am praying for the Men's Emmaus Retreat going on. Pat spoke on prayer this morning... John is certainly a part of that sharing!
Prayers to Mary is so huge for me each day! Wonderful sharing in The Magnificat today about being Sustained by Jesus and Mary.
Mary as mother brings forth LIFE...Mary twofold motherhood - By her divine motherhood she brought forth God in the flesh; and by her spiritual motherhood she gives birth every day to the life of God in the souls of men and women.
Mary like every other mother is a giver of LIFE!
So special today is dad's man, Brother Victor, who lived just a few miles from Lourdes and visited often in his lifetime. The candles lit are hundreds of Petitions to Jesus through Mary!
Looking back 11 years to find pictures of candles in Lourdes - I got distracted! Our cat Thomas - TomTom watching Little Dave in a bubble sink.
Tom-Tom with Simon on the bouncy seat tractor probably 15 years ago. Ruth smiles when she calls her baby son, Tom-Tom, as that was a well spoken name for many years on the farm!
In the apple tree - hopefully we will have apples this year as there were none last...
My curly bangs of years ago...
Marge and I - she brought me to my life on the farm and 43 years of marriage to Patrick Gerard Verly!
Mary and Therese with Mary's pet, Snowball, about 11 years ago.
Dimple showing Nancy 25+ years ago with cute brown calf.
Close up of me and calf... watching gates left time for pictures I guess.
One of my favorite spots for pictures - the front picture window still there in Ruth's remodeled farm house. Therese and soft kitten in the sunlight 11 years ago.
I did find one picture of a lit candle in the dessert train with The Community years back. The children march around the dining with desserts with candles and songs of great JOY!
The green jacket handed down to all 5! Maria in the snow over 35 years ago
Nancy 38 years ago
The first wearing this second hand snowsuit - Ruth 40 years ago! Believe me when I say that Susan wore it as well as John, but I would waste too much time finding them now.
Jesus on the Cross in the bright sunlight through the front windows as I was leaving yesterday. Always in my heart! How I love, love, love The Church with no reservations! Thanks, mom and dad for bringing ALL or us into The Church 50 years ago!
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