Spiritual care first then for your body/Aglow -"I say to you, something greater than the temple is here..."/A special stop along the Highway

The newest sculpture of the Scourging at the pillar just arrived in the Reflection Park a month ago or so.  It is so powerful with his hands showing his suffering and the lashes visible all over his body! 

Every time I go to the Cities I pass this along Hwy 19... I am always on a schedule with a destination, but yesterday I only had to get to Redwood Falls for an errand, and then no real schedule to get back... so, I stopped for the first time right at 3p when when we recall Jesus' dying for us at that time each day, and spent an hour in prayer there in the bright hot sun - yet, a wind kept me pleasantly comfortable.  

It was a reminder to me also of my Deacon father and I praying on my porch at 3p each day - Rosary and Chaplet for the last 6 months of his life here on the farm living with me on hospice!  

Mass this morning algow with the humidity and the great LIGHT we have received - Jesus in Word and Eucharist!  Fr Denny shared that Jesus in the Gospel is reminding us of his "tremendous Mercy"  As he began mass he kissed the altar - where Jesus comes to us in His Body and Blood!  Our beautiful Church/temple brings our thoughts heavenward - Yet, Jesus tells us today this truth - "I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”  Matthew 12 

I prayed here for my family on the 2nd Sorrowful - Jesus is scourged at the Pillar.

Next he has to take up the Cross on those torn shoulders and back and carry it to his Crucifixion.  

The landscape all around is corn and bean fields as far as you can see.  Such a special humble place to come across this place of prayer recalling our Lord's LOVE for us!  His Mercy for us if only we follow Him - "Take up your Cross and follow me."

So close to Him and able to walk around him and take it all in.

Looking towards heaven and doing as His Father asks of him.  The only Sorrowful Mystery that is not here is the first one - Agony in the Garden.  Not sure if it will be next year, but his posture says what we hear in the First Station - "not my will but yours be done, O Lord."

Off the road as you begin the path around Reflection Park.

Blue skies, bean fields and an occasional whispy cloud, and of course, cars and trucks going by on the road.  As I pass this over the years - since 2016 - I cross myself.  

Now to be so close to him...

You have folded up my life, like a weaver
who severs the last thread.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Those live whom the LORD protects;
yours is the life of my spirit.
You have given me health and life.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.  Psalm from Mass today - Isaiah 38

I was sharing with a friend today at Water aerobics that I go to mass before I come to exercise - "You do spiritual care and then care for your body."  Yes!  Jesus has "given me health and life."  

A couple years ago this was the first new statue added - Jesus carrying his Cross the 4th Sorrowful mystery - I just am back from praying for Fr Denny with 7 Sisters and for the 4th Sorrowful - I do the stations of the Cross all around the church - as dad and I would mention 10 Stations for each bead and follow Jesus on his Way of the Cross!  

He is looking at us as he asks us to take up our own Cross and follow Him!  I have added a decade to my rosary each day for my Most Cherished Cross - Patrick, my husband.  I combine carrying/dragging my Cross as I need to embrace my Cross to bring LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT into my marriage, and add to that the Crucifixion as I need to die to self and serve him above myself.  

The motto of The Community of the Lamb - "Wounded, I will never cease to love."  speaks of Jesus, The Lamb slain for us out of total LOVE! 

The heavy rough wood of the Cross on those wounded shoulders and knowing that he was soon to be nailed to that unto death.

The Crown of thorns - 3rd Sorrowful decade of the rosary - totally ridiculed and humbled even though he was God!  

Many times we are unjustly called judgmental and that our morals and values are antiquated and wrongly harmful to others.  Yet, we must stand against wrongs that are made to be right!  There is no justification for the taking of innocent life in the womb, and marriage is only between a man and a woman for life!  To name a few for which we are ridiculed, and a crown of thorns are placed on our heads for all to see that according to the world's standards we are wrong.

Praying for my brother, Phil, today when I gazed upon his window...

Now my brother, Jim, side by side with Phil... Lots of prayers for so many when you come from a BIG family!  We are over 140 in my family and over 100 for Pat's = Over 250 when I lift them each up by name during my hour of Adoration on the first hour of Monday each week!  My family litany is my JOY!  I love to have those new lives in the womb to begin to pray for as soon as I know they are there!  I currently have one on my side...

Good to stop and spend some time.  Thankful for this unexpected holy place in the middle of our prairie farm land.  Thank you!  

The wind was welcome and reminded me of our prairie winds, which are most often with us.  Also our Lord always with us!  

Memories from 8 years ago on Beautiful Beach!  How I love and miss my weeks in Michigan with family!  

Grandma loves to spoil and dress alike - 2 year old Rose and Berna in matching hot pink tutu swim suits!  

Now the other way!  Sugar sand and clear cool waters in the Big Lake Michigan

St Bonaventure today - dad thought he had a lot of good to say and so he did!  

Amen.  Amen!

Dad's man, Brother Victor Antoine, today is very special about the beauty of Gregorian Chant in their prayer! 

"the sound of heaven, with the vision of the eternal."  

Hail Holy Queen/Salve Regina as sung by the Community of the Lamb - gregorian chant!  

Now the daily meditations of Pope Benedict XVI left behind for me by my mother, who read this for 10 years over and over.  Benedict is wonderful and so smart that he takes my breath away sometimes, too!  Now that I am able to attend daily mass before my time at the Y... these all make me smile as they take me deeper into the wonder of daily Eucharist!  I have wanted to start going and having mass most days at 7a with time to do morning prayer after mass and then head over to the Y for 8a water work out... It is a whole new way to start my day with what is truly good and important!  Spiritual followed by physical!  Then to have Pope Benedict to expand my mind! It is a complete package!  Thank you, Lord!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah!  

This was at the foot of the Cross... Such a good reminder of how we all have those things in our lives to lay at the foot of the Cross.  Father Denny reminded us today that there is the Sacrament of Mercy in our attending the Sacrament of Reconciliation - how we find it so hard to admit our sins to Jesus, but he is there to forgive us unconditionally if only we do!  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 53 - 34 with us and 19 in heaven including our parents and my sister, Mary, and Brother, Lincoln. 

Danielle Rose

Zach Williams