Joyfully buried in an avalanche!

Lately in the evening, when I usually do some spiritual reading before bed, I have been at loose ends with really nothing on the go... I was just ready to go on a search throughout my daughter's bedrooms - looking for something to grow with.  The Lord answered my request in a huge way, and I am filled with joy and gratitude! 

The frosty trees outside beckoned us to the front window with Indian braids this morning... Therese was excited to have braids in her hair as they have been reading the Little House books at night and they are in book 2, and have started to read about some Indians in the area... 

I am so blessed to have Maria here with her two kids for these months... her clarity and wisdom is a constant source of understanding to me!  As she was lovingly touching and explaining each book to me last night as the pile grew and grew and became pile after pile....I was overwhelmed in gratitude for the ways that the Lord takes me deeper with the help and direction of each of my children! 

As Maria handed me all these amazing books - little Therese looked at me and said - "Your welcome grandma."  I knew that she knew that they were giving me a great gift and that I should be saying over and over how thankful I was!  I did have her come in her sweet Indian braids today and pose by the piles of books that I am gladly being buried alive in... and I said to her with total heartfelt joy,  "Thank you Therese and Maria and Joe and David for the hours of growth and deeper journey of faith that these books will and have already allowed me!"  Not really.... I merely said, "Thank you for the great books, Therese!"  She smiled ear to ear! 

I think that she already knows the fact that books are a wonder and a path to great adventures and wisdom in our lives here on earth!  Just like anything else - we need to guard what goes into our minds through books... I am sure that she will, with the help and guidance of her parents - make wise decisions.  Sharing the books about Little House on the Prairie is certainly an amazing start! 

I already picked out some books, and devoured one last evening... it is written by one of my early teachers in the Catholic Faith - Thomas Merton!  How I loved to read any and all that he wrote, but somehow this little book called, Praying the Psalms, escaped me back in my early Catholic days!  It is very small and has a great picture of him on the front - more than I have ever seen of him before... I feel like I know him better by having that view of him...

I have noticed about religious orders and the Office that they follow every day - that they focus on the psalms a lot!  In Susan/Hallel's order they read all 150 psalms every week!  You will see them in chapel with the book of psalms reading them, and when we gather in the chapel for prayer we will chant about 5 or more of them every time!  I do know that for me - they are very wonderful, and powerful, and I love them!  Now that my daughter has taken the name with the Community of the Lamb as little Sister Hallel - the Hallel psalms have become like a personal love letter from her every time that they are shared in the mass for the day or morning or evening prayer! 

Today for instance the psalm in mass is Psalm 149 - a Hallel Psalm!  I will see that and exclaim to all that are in earshot around here - "It's a Hallel Psalm today!"  "Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord loves his people,

and he adorns the lowly with victory.

The Lord takes delight in his people."

Merton writes this about the amazing psalms -"The psalms are the songs of men who knew who God was.  If we are to pray well, we too must discover the Lord to whom we speak, and if we use the psalms in our prayer we still stand a better chance of sharing in the discovery which lies hidden in their words for all generations.  For God has willed to make Himself known to us in the mystery of the Psalms."

Jesus, I am so overwhelmed with your answer to the prayer of my heart - that I may always be learning and growing in faith and love of your amazing Church and all that it holds!  There is no end to all that we can learn about and the wisdom of those that love you and your Body the Church!  I am filled with such gratitude for the ways that my children love you and lead me closer to you! The prayer of a parent for their children to embrace the Truth has certainly been answered over and over.  I am humbled and overwhelmed by your LOVE!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"The Church loves to sing over and over again the songs of the old psalmists because in them she is singing of her knowledge of God, of her union with Him.  To put is plainly:  The Church loves the Psalms because in them she sings of her experience of God, of her union with the incarnate Word, of her contemplation of God in the Mystery of Christ."  Thomas Merton

"Cathedrals house Jesus." Allen Hunt

After a night of work - the words are slim, yet the heart is brimming with a wonderful chapter that I read last night from - Confessions of a Mega Church Pastor.  He is speaking about how as a Protestant minister... he became increasingly aware and hungry for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist to the point that he finally left his job and life and joined the Church!

This was a beautiful mass in an outside Cathedral the night that Susan took her habit and changed her name to little Sister Hallel in France on the vigil of the Feast of the Queenship of Mary! 

I will let Allen's words speak for me today;  "It became obvious to me why Catholics had built such beautiful cathedrals and chuches throughout the world."

"Not as gathering or meeting places for Christians.  But as a home for Jesus Himself in the Blessed Sacrament.  Cathedrals house Jesus."

"Christians merely come and visit Him.  The Cathedrals and churches architectually prepare our souls for the beauty of the Eucharist."

Here are two young people that show the joy that they have discovered in the glorious beauty of daily Eucharist in their lives!  They radiate HIS Love and Joy!  They are standing in front of St Peters while they were both studying there in 2006... So many blesssing in our out of this world Church!

Pat and I were blessed with 10 days in Rome while Maria was studying there in 2003... These words of Allen about the Cathedrals being built to house Christ in His Body and Blood - the Eucharist!  They could not be glorious enough to contain Him, but they get darn close - you enter these places and your jaw drops to the floor in the beauty and grandeur of it all. 

Humble yet beautiful chapel of the Community of the Lamb in Rome - where Susan fell in love with the community and started to hear the "call."  Allen again; "The Eucharist is our family meal.  It is the gift of God.  Jesus comes to us and feed us with Himself in the elements.   Our worship focuses on the altar because that is how and where Jesus presents Himself to us."

Jesus, how I love you and how wonderful is the beauty and granduer of the houses that have been built for God to dwell in!  Our hearts, minds, and spirits soar to the highest heights in heaven as we kneel before the altar in all the churches throughout the world.   I hear from some insiders that our church here in Marshall will join the ranks of beauty after this remodeling... we are filled with joy and thanksgiving for we want to adore you and give you a place worthy of YOU!  Yet we also see the simple and humble beauty of the chapels of the Community of the Lamb and know that you are beautifully worshiped there also!  We love you and honor you and serve you and rejoice at the diversity of your Church throughout the world and the united Presence of You in the Eucharist!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia! 

Bless-bless, Barb

So needed to have a light for Christ there! 

"Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.  But he kept calling out all the more, 'Son of David, have pity on me.'  Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.'  So they called the blind man saying to him,'Take courage ; get up, Jesus is calling you.'  He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.  Jesus said to him in reply, 'What do you want me to do for you?'  The blind man replied to him, 'Master, I want to see.'  Jesus told him, 'Go your way;  your faith has saved you.'  Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way."  Mark 10: 46-52  The amazing Gospel for today!  Jesus, I want to see!

Reconcilliation night at Confirmation class tonight...

Using Little Sister Marianna's photography tonight... so amazing!  I am filled with great appreciation and wonder at the beauty and power of the sacraments that our Church provides for us!  Tonight was Reconcilliation night for our 9th grade class as well as all the other 11th-7th grade students - Fr had 4 priests there and it was a powerful time for me to sit and pray deeply for our kids and all of the young people as they heard the words in their ears and in their hearts - "Go in peace, you are forgiven your sins."  The priest is Christ's representative here on earth to provide us with the unconditional love and forgiveness that HE has for each one of us! 

Lord, we are weak and sinful and that is where you come to us- we turn to you knowing that without you in our lives... we are lost in the dark.  As it said in morning prayer this morning - you are the gate through which we pass into the sheep fold - it is in the shape of a cross and that is where we are called to pass through to find the life and the joy and all the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.  Thank you for the wisdom and gifts we are blessed with through your sacraments.  May we use them often to gain a stronger and more loving relationship with you, Our Lord, Our God and Our Salvation!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his

blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour,

and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto

Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever."

(Revelation 5:12-14)

Why aren't you Catholic?

On the way to work yesterday morning - I had a smile on my face as I remembered this wonderful story that John had shared from his Fraternity a few years back...

There was one of his Fraternity brothers, who was on fire for his faith, and one day in very excited terms said;  "Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were services every day of the week so that we could gather and worship Him?"

John and his best buddy, Brad Lanoue, looked at each other and said;  "There is a Church that has that already - The Catholic Church!" 

I just roared when John told me that story - and once again was amazed at how the Catholic Church has it all figured out!  And I was also reminded about how many times I think that people are trying to reinvent the Catholic Church, when it is right there all the time! 

The book that we are reading and studying now called The confessions of a Mega Church Pastor... there are times that he is asked by those in the Church about why he isn't a part of it..."You sound so Catholic."

I will never forget hearing on the local Christian Music station about how they needed to keep the Vatican in the UN because it was the only voice for Life!  Once again one of those times where I think to myself - How come you don't see us - we are here!

I know that this is what the Sisters of the Cencacle Convent were thinking and praying about when my dad, mom and I were involved in the Charismatic prayer group before we converted. 

They made it no secret that they were praying for us to convert!  And in time the Lord dealt with my dad, and spoke to him without any doubt that he was being called to convert!

I have shared it many times... He was on a retreat there- the Ignation Exercises and was reading Isaiah 55: 1-2...."The Lord says, 'Come, everyone who is thirsty- here is water!  Come you that have no money- buy grain and eat!  Come buy wine and milk- it will cost you nothing!  Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry?  Listen to me and do what I say, for you will enjoy the best food of all."

Those words are very Eucharistic and have come to Truth in our lives within the True Church!  We have come to enjoy the "best food of all!"

Thank you Lord, for all that we have and continue to be blessed with as members of your true Church!  We are fed with the finest wheat and the finest wine... every day is the wedding at Cana - where you make water into wine, and wine into your blood that was shed for us to set us free from all sin!

Going back to my original story- I think that it would have been on John and Brad's mind..."Why aren't you Catholic, because there is an amazing Church where you can go to mass every day and not only that but you can receive Jesus at that mass?!" 

It is so wonderful to have these 2 thousand years of truth and wisdom behind us... starting with Jesus making St Peter the first pope!  There is more than we can ever gather in or learn in our amazing Church.  We are on fire and filled with wonder and awe!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia! 

Bless-bless, Barb

"I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."  John 6:35

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats of bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."  John 6:51

Finding a soft bed outside on the farm...

There are things in nature that can allow you to take a rest and be on something soft... Mary thought that she would try out the feed in the cows' feed bunk.  It looked fluffy and soft and so she thought that she would take a rest there while dad, and Uncle Bill, and grandpa were bedding the cows and calves in the monoslope barn... it made for an unusual picture, which I am always looking for...but I am also never really surprised by anything that happens... Never a dull moment is my life, and although this looks like a possible dull moment for Mary... can you imagine the feeling, and the smells, and the sights that she is experiencing on this winter day in late February?... not very normal I assure you!

And the same goes for both dog and two 2 1/2 year olds... a nice soft doggy getting a nice affectionate rub and caress... while the two little ones are finding a nice warm soft place to lay their face on, and get a lick from a warm wet tongue too!  Nice to find such loving warmth on a chilly day for both dog and kids!  Special times shared with our loved one on the farm!  

The hay in the hay rack is not exactly soft,but it is a safe haven when you are petting and feeding the large unpredictable animals on the farm of the cow variety... Grandma feels safer to have the kids inside an iron cage of the hay feeder looking their good friends in the eye, and enjoying the view from safety.... quite a view, and a surprise pat here and there on the forehead or nose of some unsuspecting cow... the girls think that they have made a new friend, but the cow isn't too sure about these girls in bright snowsuits that are in and amongst their food!  They are not edible so what are they?  The girls say, "Friends forever!" But then those are girls for you!  Next thing you know... they will want to have a tea party with them.  A tea party on the top of a round bale in the hay rack on a beautiful spring day... just might happen... sounds like never a dull moment to me!  Bless-bless, Barb

"Bless the Lord, my soul." Psalm 104

A day at the nursing home today...Not much stirring inside of my head at this early hour.  So many times I am influenced by what I read and pray in morning prayers.  Today it was influenced by the words of my husband..."If a cow has a calf, she will be mooing to it."  This was after I had gotten up to look at our TV in the barn... there are about 50 cows locked up in a small barn and the camera rotates back and forth so that we can hopefully get an idea of some that might be calving.  With so many large black bodies... it can be challanging to know just what is going on - hence my husband's words of encourgagement!

"Now ask the beasts of the earth to teach you, and the birds of the air to tell you; and the fish of the sea to inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of God has done this?  In his hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life of breath of all mankind."  Job 12: 7-10  This is so cool and I will carry it forth with me into the day... realizing that I might be the last to know that God is God - all the beasts of the earth are way ahead of me there.  The way that they go about their lives without worry and just do what they are supposed to do with the firm and kind guidance of my farmer husband - should be a living lesson of God's providing for all of our needs and caring for us!

Thinking of Hallel in her far away France... From a Hallel Psalm in today's morning prayer - Psalm 104

"Bless the Lord, my soul!

Lord God, how great you are!

How many are your works , O Lord!

In wisdom you have made them all.

The earth is full of your riches.

I will sing to the Lord all my life.

make music to my God while I live.

May my thoughts be pleasing to him

I find joy in the Lord.

Bless the Lord, my soul."

How it that for an upclose look at Saint- Pierre, France where our little sister Hallel/Susan is now living in a joyful living of the life with the Community of the Lamb?  Jesus, we love you and ask you to go with us today and allow us to KNOW with your wisdom the Truth of your presence in our lives!  How we love you and need you and turn to you in our weakness.  WE need you to help us on the way of following your path laid out for us!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"We adore you ,O Christ, as we live by love and no lesser motive,

Because by your cross you have redeeemed the world."