Questions that come with LIFE? Give them to Christ in prayer and Trust! We have the mind of Christ!

Hallel kissing the Lamb which she will wear around her neck always!  "I promise unto death!"  It really struck home with me when she shared that no longer would she be renewing her vows every other year... the final vow has been made and proclaimed for all to hear, most especially her spouse, Jesus Christ!

The words of St Paul to the Corinthians today are "out of this world"/amazing... "we have the mind of Christ"!!!  His Holy Spirit dwells within us and He will direct our path according to His Plan and LOVE for us!

The Lamb is now in her heart til death, and her motto for her life - "Wounded, I will not cease to LOVE!"  The perfect example of this is Jesus, the perfect Lamb without blemish who was sacrificed on the Cross for us!

To those that ask about our time in France... "out of this world" is so appropriate and true!  As granddaughter, Mary, said about witnessing and taking part in her Aunt Little Sister Hallel's life..."It is very different from ours!"  Yes!  She is living outside of the world in her poverty, chastity and obedience!  "My life is prayer and dishes." Hallel has said

Hallel's lamb is a sign of her promise unto death, and it was cut from this outer ring of the branch which is for her parents stating "Wounded, I will not cease to love."  Pat's huge hard working hand holding them together is a powerful message to me. 

Hallel's card to us on the occasion of our 40th anniversary:
I give you the image of the Trinity.  In the Trinity each one is serving the other.  No one tries to dominate the other.  They only ever want to be the first to love and to serve.  We are made in the image of the Trinity so may the same be true of you, with the grace of God.  
Lastly, I leave you with a treasure that will help you live the years to come:
Wounded, I will never cease to love!
I love you!
Your Little Sister Hallel

The newly weds sharing their JOY... John and Bobbi in the beginning of the summer and Hallel towards the end!  United in answering "yes" to their personal call from Jesus!  Hallel 10 years ago left for France, and Bobbi heard "John Verly" in her heart 10 years before as her future husband and prayed and trusted through brain cancer, seminary and girl friends and the ups and downs of their lives!   Talk about having the mind of Christ no matter the obstacle!

Jesus, we trust in you!
" no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God," 
I Corinthians 2
Yes, Lord we know that your plan will be revealed to us in your perfect timing as you are in control and not we ourselves!  The Cross is to embraced to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  Bless-bless, Barb

Our two youngest sharing France and the life of their Aunt Hallel!  Rose is 6 and Bernadette is 5 soon to be 6!  Talk about a journey of "out of this world" proportions and making for a change of heart to what really matters in our lives - Christ foremost and His Bride, The Church, and answering "yes" to his plan for us personally!
 

Labor day with family/know nothing but Jesus Christ Crucified/bawling cows and calves/weaning time

This smiling happy girl is making this a special labor day indeed!  Grandma got to pick out some cute clothes out of her closet and do her hair.  Mom, dad and the older 4 are out bringing the calves home and off of their mothers... weaning time always happens around Labor Day, and hence...

Grandma's part of the operation is to watch the two youngest, make meals and try to share a bit here with multiple interruptions... Sigh.

St Paul continues in I Corinthians today and his spoken conviction "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God."  

How true is this for us on our journey that we may know nothing except for Jesus Christ crucified?  We are constantly dying to self and stepping aside to allow Christ to fill us with his Holy Spirit and use us to his honor and glory so that the Faith of those around us may rest upon the power God, for He is in control and not we ourselves!

Following my Most Cherished Cross out to the pasture to retrieve a creep feed wagon with a flat tire... it took us until after dark to get a tire that worked and bring it home!

It seems that the work can't be done in daylight but well into the night.  

The noise outside is getting louder and louder with bellowing cows and calves as they are being separated from their mothers/weaning so that the cows can now concentrate on the calves they are carrying in their wombs and start again with a new calf in the early spring.  It seems harsh but is all part of what it takes on the farm.  Bawling calves is the term used as they call to their mothers... over days it gets to be less and less.

Joy in her cuteness last evening... I mentioned getting her into her pajamas and she brought me first the cute top and then the jammie bottoms... this little girl likes to be cute and grandma loves to dress her up!  She also loves to be outside and barefoot is preferred by her, too.  Even when she walks across gravel... she loves to be out like her mom did.

Last night after dark mom and dad and grandpa and brothers and sisters were still bringing calves home... Joy took grandma's hand and walked us over to the apple tree to get a fresh apple for a snack.  You sure have a great life on the farm little Joy Jean!  

Stars and lights make it a special night indeed!

Our bean fields are turning yellow with ripeness and not with drought this year.  We plant seed beans and they take a shorter time to grow so they are turning ripe ahead of others.  September has arrived and it looks like fall!!!

An hour of Adoration on Sunday afternoon!  Jesus in the monstrance and tabernacle aglow!  Jesus on this Cross and the symbol of LOVE... the Cross and how the perfect Lamb died for us!  The Perfect Sacrifice for our Salvation!

Apples are yummy in the dark with doggy paws and jammies...

Jesus, may we know nothing but your Salvation for all the world!  Carrying within us the faith in our hearts gained through the power of God!  As Hallel now wears the Lamb on her heart and has promised unto death to be yours... may we also vow to be yours unto death and then to come to heaven forever with you, Mary, St Gregory the great and all the Saints!  How we long to be there with you, O Lord.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Therese and Bernadette in France that I just found my one of my cameras!  I was talking to Mary about the amazing summer she has had with 3 camps, 2 fairs, and family trip to France and Italy plus working for a neighbor caring for their goats while they were away at numerous shows... Wow!  Her favorite was her trip to Europe and seeing the life of our Aunt Little Sister Hallel no doubt!  She would need many pages to tell about her summer vacation.  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke

Mary outside our home in France in a medieval village, Fanjeaux!  Adventures supreme!  

Prayer for priests/Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

Hallel taking our group of 20 on a walking tour of her life of humble prayer in living out her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience...."I promise unto death!"

A humble cell for one of the sisters in the Community called "the mountain"... Yes, the Gospel where Jesus speaks of having the faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain from here to there... this came to life for us when 21 of us gathered in France to celebrate Hallel's final vows! 

Son-in-law, Joseph shared these thoughts on our deeply spiritual time there...
It was far more than a celebration with Hallel on her vows. It was a chance to reconsider the whole Christian life. Being around such a community should convict us all to re-think our evangelical approach. For me, the trip to France was absolutely life-changing. The liturgies, the prayer, and just the simple example of the sisters has washed over me and opened me to a more complete way to live in Christ.

The grandkids longing to get out of the heat and ride with grandma... love all their faces and the knowledge of how they are being exposed to the powerful life of their Aunt Little sister Hallel and her "yes" to Christ "I promise unto death!"

Today was my first time back at mass at our parish here in Marshall as last weekend I was with my parents at their church in Taylors Falls.  One thing I have noticed that has stuck with me since France is now I want to receive Jesus on my tongue as I did there.  I am a bit awkward but I want to continue with that ounce of respect for Jesus in the Sacrament and it causes me to reflect on the Real Presence!  I am not to the point of finding fault with family and those that do, but for me it is a change of heart since France!

Hallel sharing her life!

I have recently joined a group called Seven Sisters Apostolate which prays each day for the priests in our parishes.  I am overjoyed to be praying for a dear friend, Fr Denny!  He was the TEC priest and for many years we have worked closely with him on many retreats, and so appreciate the time and energy he has put into this evangelization tool supreme!

I would like to share this beautiful prayer that was shared with us for our priests.  It is St Mother Teresa's Prayer for Priests
Mary, Mother of Jesus throw your of purity over our priests.  Protect them, guide them, and keep them in your heart.  Be a mother to them especially in times of discouragement and loneliness.  Love them and let them belong completely to Jesus.  Like Jesus, they too are your sons, so keep their hearts pure and virginal.  Keep their minds filled with Jesus, and put Jesus always on their lips, so that He is the one that they offer to sinners and to all they meet.  Mary, Mother of Jesus, be their Mother, loving them and bringing them joy.  Take special care of sick and dying priests and the ones most tempted.  Remember how they spent their youth and old age, their entire lives serving and giving all to Jesus.  Mary, bless them and keep a special place for them in your heart.  Give them a piece of your heart, so beautiful and pure and immaculate, so full of love and humility so that they, too, may grow in the likeness of Christ.  Dear Mary, make them humble like you and holy like Jesus.  Amen

On our tour, Bernadette and Big Dave outside the place where they eat and make meals along with some of their cells...

The chapel where they gather for prayer and adoration during the day... mass shared each day, also.  When Christ is your spouse you require that closeness to Him of daily mass and prayer and adoration!

The words of St James today speak to us of the importance of Jesus feeding us each day in Word and Sacrament!
"He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves."
James 1:21-22

The two Daves with Fern/Palm branches... the kids had great kid time playing in the hills all around us.  They found many snails and sticks and branches to become swords and light savers.  The foothills of the Pyranees were their playground sharing cousin time!

Dave and Gus looking down from the hillside during the final vow ceremony... many priests to celebrate the mass... so very powerful and truly changed me and brought great new depth to the mass today.  Such a gift to hear every word in English, and that was so appreciated indeed!

Receiving Eucharist at Hallel's mass... under the Cross!  Pat and I sat under the Cross so that we could get a better view of each part of the ceremony... It was a perfect place to be sharing this huge final step for our youngest daughter.  The Cross is truly where we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT and there it is definitely a part of our sacrifice of our daughter to this life.  Painful at times, but so life-giving and life-changing as Joseph pointed out so eloquently!

 My hearts joy comes from sharing our Faith as a family with great JOY!  Pat always promoted worship as a family!  We would bring our days old newborn along with the other children to mass a family. We would never split up and go in tandem... This was important in sharing our Faith with them always together and joyful!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

An adorable young French boy, who had been hauling around sticks he found in the woods during the 3 hour ceremony, watches Father giving out Jesus in His Body and Blood, the Eucharist!  Too cute!

Paul and Bernadette on our tour of Saint Pierre... family time in the deepest and most powerful and amazing sense.  Sharing this experience with so many eyes, hearts, minds and souls accentuated it for me!  Thank you, Lord!

 13 year old Simon with his 10 year old brother, David.  Sharing a once in a lifetime experience!

Jesus, how we love you and long to serve you better in our lives and in our domestic Church/family where we share our Faith with JOY!  May we give without counting the cost and always pray for your Church and your priests, who bring you to us in the most Holy Sacraments!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

As we were going into Walmart today Pat was recalling this market we bought meat,cheese, and fruits, but we had to go across the street to get bakery bread for our time in Lourdes!  Quite the experience of a slower and more simple way of life!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mark Luke

Therese loving her bread in Lourdes!  

John and Bobbi making their way home from New Jersey in the next few days from her brother's wedding... such an amazing summer it has been for them! 

Danielle Rose - True love/the Cross

Francesca Batisstelli - Lead me to the Cross

Foolish and weak that's me in a nutshell! You chose me, Lord, and I fit the bill!

A great selfie of Pat and I after sharing Vespers and Adoration with Hallel and The Community in Trinity Cathedral.  We have the glow of an encounter with Jesus it seems and in our hearts this is truly the case!  I had just put each member of both our huge families in the monstrance with Jesus... over 200+ of family.  I am always happy to put our family in there twice as we are first and middle in the order of each!  Twice the prayers and time with Jesus... I know that I need it, and I am happy to do it for all of our family!

St Paul's words to the Corinthians today could be taken offensively by them and us, but I have learned a long time ago in the event of my new hip about 10 years ago... that I am weak and that is where I need to be to turn to Jesus!  I certainly also know that I am very foolish and what has shown me that beyond a shadow of a doubt... Marriage and being a city girl come to the farm!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

Yes, when I am in the tractors... I get in touch with my foolish, weak and unsure and anxious side.  The words of St Paul today;
God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
I Corinthians 1:26-31

It is so amazing to have St Paul to the Corinthians for our first reading at mass read all around the world!  And this lesson was learned very well by me when I had my hip replaced and I was talking to Hallel about how weak and helpless and hopelessly needy I was.  "Well, mom, it is when we are weak is when we turn to Jesus."  Yes!!  May I always be weak and need Jesus to go forward down the narrow path!

Trying to get into a sunflower field in France... I was tripped then ripped by a thorny vine... the sunflower and I are droopy indeed!

Hubby is around today more as we did not go to KC for Labor Day holiday as we had fake plans to do.  Hence this is late and choppy and I need to keep it short as my rosary is calling out to me.  Yesterday in the midst of tomato soup and picking up bales... I would have my rosary beads in my fingers while behind the wheel.  Going to get a part about 15 minutes away allowed me to get some good decades in... I love my chapel on wheels and my prayers without ceasing with my wonderful Mother of Heaven and earth!

The wild sunflowers while I was shakily helping picking up bales... I had better buck up and say a lot of prayers and do it, as summer is filled with bales and getting them home!  Then there are corn stalk bales in the fall... hundreds of them and countless trips.  I am helped to know of my weakness on a day to day basis, and prayer gets me through!

I truly do live down to what St Paul writes today!  I must depend upon Mary to intercede for me with her Son and for Jesus to carry me a lot of the time... there are truly only 2 footprints in the sand!  

In morning prayer this morning devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary... the reading from John's Gospel where Jesus gives us Mary under the Cross and us to Mary and we take her into our home!  Such a blessing and gift to have "the best mother of all" in my home and so powerfully in my domestic Church/family!

Lord, may you keep all safe!  I am yours weak and lowly and afraid, but dying to self so that you may live in me!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Out watching a gate and turning the fence on and off between a bale and a red barn... that I can do without too much worry.  Some jobs are better for me... the roar of a tractor engine fills me with worry.  It is probably good that I am not overly confident and cautious, right? 

Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke

Yes, I cut a couple inches off my hair last night... I couldn't stand it any longer.   I wonder what it looks like in the back... What I can't see won't hurt me, right?

The bright sun shining on Jesus in the Monstrance on the altar in the Trinity Cathedral!  The deepest prayer and finding my strength to carry/drag my Most Cherished Cross and follow Jesus down the narrow path with Heaven forever with Jesus, Mary and all the Saints!!  

The month of September is especially dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.
William Adolphe Bouguereau created magnificent portrayals of Our Lady of Sorrows; here is a powerful merging of 2 of his paintings, which show stunning parallels between Mary holding the Son of God both as a child and after the Crucifixion.
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

So true!

Don’t allow any sadness to dwell in your soul, for sadness prevents the Holy Spirit from acting freely. St. Padre Pio