Jesus is our ALL - Marion's First Communion in the morning at Lumen Christi- "I will; be clean!" - +JMJ+

7 year old Marion carries forth the cup as she prepares to receive Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist at Lumen Christi Monastery/Light of Christ Monastery in the heart of Kansas City, KS on the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time!  

Her older sister, Colette, is a postulant in The Community of the Lamb, and will be taking her habit in France this summer in August.  We had a glorious parent/family weekend meeting Colette's family from Georgia for the first time!  

Marion shared her First Communion with a French boy living at Leavenworth.  Such a special day for them!  

Starting a closer walk with our Lord as he comes to her each week and with her faith filled family likely daily... Jesus coming to dwell in her in his Body and Blood - nothing better as we also add Jesus in the Word of God.  

Much of the time we had with our Community of the Lamb and our daughter, little sister Hallel, was immersed in Jesus - the Word!  We mendicated/chewed the Gospel for Sunday in the School of the Word and starting the night before. 

The Leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean."  And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.  Mark 1:40-45

The Word brought forth and we bow to Jesus!  

Little brother Louis Marie and Postulant Colette's brother, Peter pointing out the thanks to the Verlys there has been a multiplication of loaves as the Gospel on Saturday was feeding the 4,000!  LOVE how the Gospel is always close at hand with our family of the Lamb! 

We arrived in time for Open Table at the little brothers Monastery - Light of Mary the Mother of God.  We had spent the night before on base with our military family and I had a bad cold, so had a quick supper, put my turkey in the oven for 4 1/2 hours, and went to bed.  Thanks to Maria, who turned off the oven at 11:30p!

Peter filled us with JOY and awe as he played a classical cello piece for us after our meal.  So beautiful!  

Gathered in the kitchen around the left over pie.... Hallel asked her sick mom to make pie, and although I was under the weather - it was my JOY to do this for my nun.  There have been many years when she is living in France or Rome, and so to have her just half an day away.  I have to spoil her a bit with mom's home cooking when she requests it!  That is called a mother's love! 

The second night we spent in the guest room for family or those in need.  I awakened to the morning prayer down the hall starting at 6:30a.  I approached the door to the chapel and the light greeted me from around the door ajar for me to join them.  I could hear their chanting like the voices of angels as they shared the Psalm for the day.  Such a powerful spiritual experience like I am gifted with the ability to step into heaven.  Thank you, Lord and Lady!  

They wear their wool capes with hoods to prayer.  Jesus in the humble wooden monstrance on the altar after sharing prayer morning and night.  Hallel right in front of her Spouse.  There are questions as to why the sisters cannot come home more often for a few days a month.  They are wedded to our Lord and Jesus is their ALL!  They need to receive him in the Eucharist every day and spend time with him in Adoration twice daily not to mention the time with Jesus in the Word which is huge for them!

Such an amazing gift to have our daughter taking us so deeply into prayer in their heavenly prayerful chapel in the heart of the poor in Kansas City, KS!  My Most Cherished Cross holding the Word close to his heart.

"Jesus, I adore you!"

The cupola lit above us - the Lamb - "Wounded, I will never cease to love."  Such an important way the Lamb of God has shown us how to LOVE no matter the wounds we receive on our journey.

Pat and Little Brother David sharing after mass.  David is the first American Little Brother and his blind.  We attended his first vows at St Joseph Cathedral a few weeks ago.  So powerful!  

The celebrant - Do you resolve, following the example of St Dominic, to live in unceasing meditation of the Word of God, to celebrate it in the liturgy, day and night, in the heart of The Church, and to remain in the contemplation of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, who  begs from the Cross for the love of each one of his creatures?

little brother - With the grace of God , yes, I do.

Marion with the 2 Postulants - her sister, Colette on her right and Abbey on her left.  In August in St Pierre both girls will be taking their habit and taking a new name.  Their parents are planning to be in France for this special occasion!  

6 Sunday of Ordinary time - on Wednesday will be Ash Wednesday as well as Valentine's Day.  So Lent begins tomorrow now that I am writing this on Tuesday night.  My life has escaped me with vacinnating calves and buddy Tom here this afternoon.  Now a TEC retreat is just days away too.  

Marion now with her sister's rosary from The Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Fairfield, PA.  Yes, Marion has another sister in a very strict order of nuns.  They keep life very simple with none of the modern conveniences - they have no electricity.

fairfieldcarmelites.org

Just like St. Teresa of Avila and St. Thérèse the Little Flower,

the Nuns practice all the traditional and recognizable aspects of Carmelite and monastic life: the full habit, mental prayer, fasting (the Nuns observe a meatless diet), enclosure (walls, grills), austerity, personal and communal pursuit of virtue, and union with God.

A keepsake picture of sweet Marion with Sr Carmen Marie of the Holy Innocents' Rosary -"It is uniting her to her little sister on this special day when she can't be here with her."  I know well the Truth that there is a Spiritual connection with our nun when she can't be with us in body!  I am sure that this will be shared with Sr Carmen. 

Hallel and her chickens -she talks to them and brings out the scraps for them.  She loves her Minnesota brown chickens.  Her farmer dad brought her 4 pails of chicken feed.  She is truly a farmer's daughter and takes pride in her farmer dad and feeding the world.  

The lilac tree was putting out buds!  On Palm Sunday weekend I bring in some lilac branches to put out leaves in the house by Easter and tiny lilacs too!   My Easter Tree!  I just need to get through Lent first... I must end this for today. It is now 9p with a long day with travels in my chapel on wheels to get some medications for the cows, time with grandson Tom, mass starting the day and swim aerobics...  so much more to share, but with all I need to do for TEC... it might be put off for a while.  Jesus, I feel you reach out and touch me - "I will; be clean."  Jesus, I trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus many little sisters and little brothers.  

I did not lose family with my daughter becoming a nun - we gained a FAMILY!  The other parents are exclaiming that we are united as a family of Faith!

   "Nothing is so beautiful as a pure soul,

a soul nourished by its God.

Purify yourselves then by a good confession,

and each Sunday 
give your soul a good meal."

St John Vianney

 

Do you like challenges? 

Take one from a Saint...

"My children, make yourselves

apostles of the Holy Communion, and

encourage the practice of it by your advice

no less than by your example. 

Come back in six months,

and bring me, each of you,

two or three companions

won over to your cause."

St John Vianney

To consider: St John Vianney's Feast Day is Aug 4 - in about 6 months...

Let's strive to 'meet his challenge' as a Feast Day gift to him, to the Church!

 

_____________________

 

Historically, today, SHROVE TUESDAY,

as well as the feast of the Holy Face of Jesus, are

 celebrated by the Church the day before Ash Wednesday.

On this day, Catholics traditionally confess their sins and

partake in foods that will be abstained from through Lent.

 

Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus is primarily

to make reparation for sins against

 the first three Commandments.

"O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine

be every Adoration Thine." (3 times)

 

Danielle Rose 

Salve Regina - Dominican as sung by Hallel and her Community at night prayer - Angels singing!  

Hail Holy Queen