Letters from a young Catholic First Issue!/St Luke Feast Day -"Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom" +JMJ+

 

The two Lukes a few years back - Barbara Luke and Luke Paul sharing our Feast Day today - St Luke, the Evangelist!  He wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles!  

Joy and Rose 3 years ago with some fall decor that were in my dad's room.  He had a scare about a week before he passed away peacefully in his sleep.  He had lived his last 6 months on hospice in my home on the "Farm Monastery."  Allowing me to share in his religious life after being a Permanent Deacon on The Catholic Church for 44 years!  We shared Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church.  Also Chaplet and Rosary on my porch each day at 3p.

My father had brought our family of 13 into The Catholic Church 52 years ago.  I was 20 years old and considering a call to be a nun, so when dad asked me to decide on my own - "I want to be a nun, so yes I want to be Catholic!"  We all took our First Communion at Midnight Christmas Eve Mass at The Cenacle Convent.  The following Easter the ones old enough were Confirmed at the St Paul Cathedral with a huge group of converts.  As we walked ahead to have the Bishop in the tall hat put his hands on us to receive the Holy Spirit - I took the Saint name of St Luke as he was a physician and his Gospel speaks of Mary to us.  He is also huge sharing the Mercy of Our Lord in his Gospel!  

Today is the Feast of St Luke, and I went to mass armed with flowers from my garden as well as leaves in my hair!  Barbara Luke was there to celebrate my Feast Day!

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The amazing story of the 13 becoming Catholic!  

Just back from Kansas over the weekend - we took along 4 of the farm kids and spent our time with our military family on base at Fort Leavenworth.  The 3rd wave of family is on their way - Nancy and Bill with their 6 are going to spend some days with Maria and Little Sister Hallel over the MEA break!

While we were there 15 year old Therese was working on her Letters from a Young Catholic Newsletter - Issue #1!  I just received it and I am so thrilled with these young girls and what they shared from their hearts about their Catholic Faith in different areas From Science to Music, and Literature... 

Therese with her baby sister squinting Maggie and grandpa.

Here is the Editorial that Therese wrote!  Imagine a 15 year old girl going so deep in her Catholic Faith!  I was in tears just now as I spoke to her about how much she is needed in this messed up world!

Letter from the Editor

Dear Reader,

What moment are you living in?

I was inspired to write on this topic because it has come up a lot in my life recently. First I

was reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and came upon a striking image. In the

book, Screwtape (a senior demon) advises his nephew demon on the best ways for devils to

undermine God and humanity. One way is to cause humans to get caught up in worrying

about the past or the future - anything except the present. In doing so, a person loses track of

eternity. “For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity...in it alone freedom

and actuality are offered.” So, the present is the only time in which God offers us the ability

to act upon our free will and the time in which we are the closest to Heaven.

While reading this, I was also listening to a podcast that mentioned St. John Paul II. It

was said that he spoke to individuals with such love that they would feel as if they were the

only person in the whole world he was speaking to.

It was clear that the Holy Spirit was trying to bring this idea of “being present” to my

attention. I began to think about how this could lead us to just focus on the present moment,

not on that exam tomorrow, that appointment, that interview, or that anticipated moment

years from now (marriage, college). I had never really stopped and thought about the great

value of now. As I ponder it, I realize that some of the best and most meaningful moments of

my life were when I just stopped everything and saw how blessed I am. I am blessed to have

brothers who drive me crazy, but who are also always there to expel my boredom with their

yells and foam swords. My day is more joyful when I stop and notice how truly spectacular

the sunset and sunrise are. Something so beautiful could not come about of its own accord.

By being present, I appreciate the gifts of God on a whole new level. In the same way, the

best conversations I have had were the ones when the person talking to me acted as if I was

the only person they wanted to talk to and love at that moment.

So, what is a practical way in which we can do this? If you are like me, you are worried

about many things. I challenge you to try every day to spend just five minutes putting your

worries aside, and in the present moment, either in a conversation or just in life, paying

attention with your whole self.

Christus regnat,

Thérèse Librande

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oKP74rulmKYAj_G4wyfmXIhv-TE6jOTe/edit?pli=1

Therese with her sister, Eve and cousin, Joy.  

Personal Encounter With God

The Peace that Came from a Simple Prayer

Rose Lang

Oftentimes, when people talk about the effect of prayer, it's things you’ve

heard before, and it seems almost impossible that prayer could help so much.

But nothing is impossible for God. I’ve had many amazing experiences in

prayer. The one that has helped me a lot was most unexpected. I had been

having a hard month. I felt broken inside, like something was missing in my

life. I was never really content. I knew something was wrong but didn’t try to

figure out what or why. This went on for a while. I was in my room late one

night, and I was praying out loud. I was sick of feeling this way, so I told God

how I had been feeling. It really helped me to just say it out loud, and I asked

God to help me trust in His plan for me. I told Him that I knew I was missing

something, and I prayed to be content with whatever He gave me. I

surrendered everything to Him. I realized I needed to refocus myself on God

and make Him the center of my life. I realized so many things that night. I

realized that God has everything under control, His plan will fulfill me, and

He’s always here if I need him. Since that night, I’ve felt much more peace in

my life. I’m also more whole and content. When things aren’t going well, I

remember to bring it to God. I always try to keep Him at the center. That small

moment of surrender has changed me for the better. It’s not always easy, but I

know that God is always with me and working for the greater good. Prayer can

change lives. God will use a small act of surrender in marvelous ways.  

Another sweet sharing by a friend from the Twin Cities.  I hope that you can visit her newsletter and appreciate how much work and effort Therese and her friends did to share their light with the world!  

Mom Maria French braiding Therese hair while we were there. 

Maria shared that it was stressful to take on this huge project, but she pulled it off!  Wow!  You go change the world Therese Marie!  
 

Another special moment that happened last evening.  Ruth spoke about Natural Family Planning with some Young Adult Catholics!  They wrote this about the evening they shared with Ruth, who is a Creighton Model Instructor, and has used it personally in her own life.  

"A special thank you and shout out to Ruth Lanoue for sharing an overview of NFP with us tonight! There were so many questions and great conversation that the time flew by!" I am so happy that these young Catholic women are realizing that The Church's teaching where we use Natural means to plan our families allows God to be involved and He knows best! Our families are then a Domestic Church where God and Jesus are foremost in our families!

I love the picture we have of Our Lady from St Luke!  

Fr Denny at mass this morning - Feast of St Luke, a martyr for his Faith!  

It is kind of hard to crawl out of bed to get to 7a mass, but is sure is worth it!  Fr Denny preached using the refrain from the Psalm 145 - an Hallel Psalm from mass today...  Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

He shared that St Luke was that kind of a friend to our Lord and to St Paul.  We too are called to spread the Gospel, and how I burn to do that here!  I was kind of put in my place by grandson, Big Dave - "Your old Lady blog, grandma."  I would rather love to think of it as an Our Lady Blog!  

So wonderful to see Therese taking to heart in sharing "the glorious splendor of your Kingdom."  

Flowers and leaves for my special day today - a friend prays to Mary each morning after mass.  Today she is driving to see her new granddaughter for the first time!  Clare Marie!  I am sure the rosary beads are with her and her car is a chapel on wheels!  

Yes, I had to celebrate with leaves in my hair!  

St Luke up above the St Joseph alcove.

The window for St Luke - the bull/ox!  Marrying my farmer - dairy now beef farmer 45 years ago - I see the humor of having St Luke for my Patron Saint.

A perfect saint for a farmer's wife!  

I share this day with grandson, Luke Paul!  

St Luke on one side and the Cross on the other.  Such a day of great rejoicing as I see the Lord and Lady at work.  Our Church is so wise and wonderful - there is nothing that I disagree with!  I love it all!!!  It gives me so much JOY to see that the young are seeing the Truth and how  there is so much happiness to be found in following the teachings of The Catholic Church.  

May I die to self Lord and be a true disciple of yours going forth to share your LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus many Little Sisters and Little Brothers.  I hope and pray that Nancy and family will have time with both Maria and Hallel!  We need to go back to take some chickens for eggs and to see our nun in the beginning of November!  

More from amazing Hallel Psalm 145 - meaning that it is giving God all the praise - Hallelujah!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Our cottonwood tree is a hunderd + years old and so perfect in the morning sun!  

Golden beauty 

A trip to Kansas City during MEA 4 years ago.  

Our canning on the shelf in Lumen Christi/Light of Christ Monastery in the heart of the poor in Kansas City, KS!  One of our 7 families and why we do the work!

Bernadette in her blue apron helping in the kitchen.  I hope they will be able to share time with both Maria and Susan

The Lukes

Only Luke has The Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan - Mercy Gospel!  

Prayers for the farmers - it is raining now.

Patrick 11 years ago - getting better with every day!

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The story of little Lamb - grandson Patrick  

We can't  love her more than Jesus does.  No mother, no son!  

Peak colors in town on the way to mass, and meals on wheels

Pope Benedict XVI

Dad's man, Brother Victor, speaking about St Luke today!  

St Mother Teresa of Calcutta today with her words of wisdom!  

Venerable Fulton Sheen today, too!

The LIGHT came into the world to chase away the darkness of sin and death!  The Culture of LIFE is our JOY!

 "If evils increase, the devotion of the people of God

should also increase."- Pope St Paul VI

 

“All the supreme teachers, the popes, have been

unanimous in proclaiming that the devotion to the

Most Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Rosary

are the hope and salvation of the world

in our evil and dangerous era.

 

 

They have endeavored, by word and example,

to bring the faithful

more closely to Jesus Christ

in the Most Blessed Sacrament

and to Our Lady’s Rosary.”

 

Louis Kaczmarek

The Eucharist and The Rosary:

The Power to Change the World

_______________________________

 

 Today...also remembering...

 

St Luke

Evangelist, Martyr

Wrote Gospel and Acts of the Apostles

In Dives in Misericordia, 

St JPII calls Luke: "Gospel of Mercy"

Greek, Physician, Painter

Convert, then fellow-Worker of St Paul

Symbol: winged ox

Patron:  Artists, Physicians and Surgeons

Feast Day – October 18

 

 

St Luke, thank you for enlivening our love of Jesus 

as Friend through the holy Gospel!

 

"This is a Friend who will not terrify you, 

who will not abandon you.

Hope in Him, and Heaven is yours! "- St Joseph Cafasso

 

Click here: St. Luke - YouTube (2 mins)

 

Saint Luke, pray for us!

Danielle Rose 

Danny Gokey