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!
"Shout for Joy for what the Lord has done" Psalm 33 on John's 33rd birthday/Sharing mass and throat blessing/Companions for the journey
John's 33rd birthday today started with sharing 7a mass with mom and dad. Visiting the altar where he proposed to Bobbi 4 1/2 years ago.
Visiting Our Lady was so fitting, as Father Tony preached about the Gospel today where Jesus sent out the Apostles in pairs of twos. "They were not alone, they had a companion to share everything with. " Such a beautiful Truth of our lives!
John was born on the Feast of St Blase on a very cold day. Feb 3,1989 was 50 below windchilll, and the silo unloader froze so we were late ariving for our induction. With my high blood pressure I was induced a few weeks early.
The day before I had an amniocentesis to see if his lungs were developed enough to have him. While Dr LaPorte was doing the test - he commented that it looked like he was a boy. "No, I had an ultrasound at 20 weeks and they said she was girl #5." "Oh, than it must be a big toe." Dr told me later that he knew he was a boy, of course!
Blessing of the throats - Pat, I and John had our throats blessed today. A special gift on John's birthday each year.
Making John's card last night I did as I learned from Hallel - I went to the 33rd Psalm and it was a wonderful one for him! It begins with "Shout for Joy for what the Lord has done... sing a new song to him, shout for JOY!" Psalm 33:1-3
"We put our hope in the Lord; he is our protector and our help. We are glad because of him; we trust his holy name. May your constant love be with us, Lord, as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:21-23
Throat blessing at a time in this world where we really need it with the constant bombardment of fears of the pandemic!
The blessing we received today - hear our prayer and intercede for us St Blase!
For we do not preach ourselves,
but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves
as your servants for Jesus' sake.
- 2 Cor 4:5
Invoked for the healing of throat diseases, St. Blaise wrote:
“Father of mercy and God of all consolation,
graciously look upon me and impart to me the blessing which flows from this Holy Sacrament[the Eucharist]. Overshadow me with Your loving kindness,
andlet this divine Mystery bear fruit in me."
St Blaise
Armenia + 316
Physician, Bishop, Martyr
Patron of Throat Diseases
and the Wool Trade
Feast Day – Feb 3
Image above: Lamb of God surrounded by the four Evangelists by Fr Raphael Pfisterer, OSB Detail from mural (1927-1931) at St Anselm College ~ Manchester, New Hampshire - USA
At first he was a doctor who … Attended human life … And then he ministered to souls … In spiritual strife … A bishop in Armenia … St. Blaise acquired fame … By many healings he performed … In God’s most holy name … Especially the little child … Who nearly choked to death … And through St Blaise’s prayers returned … To free and normal breath … And that is why one day each year … His saintliness we note … And ask his prayers to guard us from … Diseases of the throat … And even more important to … St Blaise’s great renown … Is all the torture he endured … To earn his martyr’s crown.
Protect our throats, St Blaise, from all … Those sicknesses today … And from the utterance of words … That we should never say … Lend wisdom to our voice, St Blaise … And pray that we may be … Forever steadfast in our faith … For God eternally.
From Poem Portraits of the Saints by James J Metcalfe (1956)
Today's blessing: Through the intercession of Saint Blaise,
bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from
every disease of the throat and from every other illness.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
+ and of the Holy Spirit.
St Blaise, pray for us!
John humoring his old mom at a very special place in the Church! How John fell in love with Our Lady starting in Lourdes with his battle with brain cancer in August of 2009! This spot is where he proposed to Bobbi November of 2017... they married June 2nd, 2018 - Vigil Feast of Corpus Christi!
John with Our Lady of Lourdes - head over heels in love with her! "Mom there is a better Mother than you." "Yes, John! I totally agree!!"
Visting the spot where John proposed a few months before. 4 years ago we did a photo shoot in the Church for their engagement pictures.
Their story of finding each other after attending all 13 years of school together as classmates is such a lesson of praying for our spouse!
Here is what sweet Bobbi shared at their wedding reception to all 250 guests! I looked around at the look of amazement on people's faces!
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!
An official pose 4 years ago. Now they are blessed with soon to be 3 year old Jude on March 26th , and soon to be 2 year old Birdie Barbara in the beginning of May! The Lord is good indeed!
John recalled his helpmate given to him to share his journey of Faith and Family! "I really want to pray when I kneel down!"
"Thank you, Lady, for my life after surviving brain cancer and now my life with wife and children. Jesus, I trust in your plan for me!"
Spirit Juice video he made to promote how he burns to share his story of finding Faith through brain cancer. Go out and share the Good News!
He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. Mark 6 - the Gospel today!
Beginning his 33rd birthday with Lord and Lady!
Psalm 33 continues for John...
His plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally. Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, happy are the people he has chosen for his own! The Lord looks down from heaven and sees all of us humans. From where he rules, he looks down on all who live on the earth. He forms all their thoughts and knows everything they do. ... He saves them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. May your constant LOVE be with us, Lord, we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:11-22
Cold winter morning shared with husand, Farmer Pat, and son, John on his birthday!
My fat spoiled farm cat, Ignatius, taking a nap in the sunshine on a cold winter February day.
Father's homily really reminded me that we are not alone! We have the Lord with us as The Holy Spirit dwells within us. We are also given our spouse in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony to share our journey with us - by embracing our Most Cherished Cross we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
Bright white snow in the sun and on the back of the couch.
Our Lady inside and out with Iggy.
Now St Therese and Our Lady at the church they were married in - St Eloi in Ghent - Bobbi's church!
John home from mass sharing breakfast with his 2 little ones, and opening cards. "We love you daddy!"
Krispy Cream doughnuts "to fill that throat that just got blessed with doughnuts!" Sounds like a plan for the birthday boy.
From dad today in The Office of Readings. Yes, we are called to take up our Cross and follow Him!
Called to become adopted Sons and Daughters and share in a close relationship with the Father through the Son!
LOVE to sit by the fire with Brother Victor while he writes today! The office where I write is the warmest room in the house with a heat vent right under me! Since we no longer have our woodstove to sit by... we have discovered that this is where we can get warmed through and through.
My hours of winter writing are very warm here in this spot!
Dad with me in my warm spot as I write. My 6 months with him here on the farm while he was on hospice and modeled a "natural death" for me and our family! Miss you dad, but thanks for being with me each day in prayer.
My family wall represents our family which is only a big second to sharing our Faith - our greatest JOY!
FAMILY sharing our Faith is my JOY!
Jesus, I love you and thank you for the new John. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barbara
On it is Jesus This one is just as Hallel and her Community sing it during night prayer before they leave for their cells for the night. So beautiful to hear their voices in the candle lit darkness of the chapel!
Salve Regina
Salve Regina from Sister Act - so sad about Whoopi... what a mess!
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