Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Time with hubby - thanks Exodus 90! First fire in 7 years!/The Most Holy Name of Jesus - love you dad! T's #3 Newsletter so good! - +JMJ+

Some of our last precious minutes of being together at VCC - Verly Christmas Camp a week and a half ago.  3 of the 5 families represented by the 3 boys in 6 weeks... they are all now 4 together.  I have written 3 posts about some of the wonderful experiences we had over Christmas starting with all but our nun at Lakota Lodge at Lake Shetek Lutheran Camp, and then on to Kansas to spend Christmas with our nun and military family.  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: 5th day of Christmas -"I love to be a beggar for the goodness in people"/Presentation in the temple - Mary's heart pierced for us - +JMJ+  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The 4th day of Christmas - Beautiful heavenly mass for Cathy Verly - 3 Priests!/Feast of the Holy Innocents -"God is light..." - +JMJ+

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: A new tradition for VCC/A glorious Weekend sharing Faith and Family at Shetek then to KCK with our nun and military  

I poured my heart out, yet it still doesn't seem like enough to express the great gift we were given by being all together in our beautiful Lakota Lodge on a warm unusual winter.
Our last morning Ruth and Paul served us a wonderful breakfast complete with 7 pans of the wonderful cinnamon rolls his mother, Phyllis, makes for special occasions.  So yummy and so appreciated by the many growing boys and girls we have in our 23 grands.
We had our first dance in the gym with numerous games.  Joy loved the glow sticks and had a great time at the first of many dances!  
Red shirts for the girls thanks to Cindy!  We love them!  Thank you.  
The boys had black shirts - Bumpa and Tom.
Maria taking her two youngest around to smile and touch the hands of the residents of the nursing home.

I still get emotional about the new tradition we have now adopted as a family - caroling to the residents of the nursing home.  Thanks to granddaughter, Therese, who has a heart for those that are in need and poor.  We gathered at Tracy Nursing Home after sharing 4P mass, which was they were serving their humble supper of a slice of pizza and salad. 
The 3 little boys in the family picture. LOVE!  
VCC - Verly Christmas Camp with Rose holding Hallel on Simon's shoulder - All together in spirit!  
The BEST and greatest gift!  So grateful for our family and the precious time we are blessed with!  How we love that our military family is now half a day away, and that our nun is here in the only foundation in America in the heart of our country in KCK!  

We were able to jump in the car at noon and be on base in Fort Leavenworth by 6:30p on the day before Christmas.  We then were blessed by Christmas Mass with our nun and her Community of the Lamb at 11A on Christmas Day.  Followed by a wonderful meal at Little Brothers - Open Table!

Gathering for mass on Christmas Day in Lumen Christi/light of Christ Monastery the day after our wonderful family weekend at Lakota!  No wonder I continue to be filled with so much JOY and Happiness!  
We filled the monastery and with our military family of 9 - we are so grateful that they are just half an hour from The Community for this year!  
Maggie keeping an eye on her Bumpa!  
Adoring the baby Jesus - God come to earth in The Incarnation.  
We love you, Lord Jesus!  

Today is a day devoted to The Most Holy Name of Jesus.  My dad loved "the name" and underlined it all throughout the his Prayer of The Church.  A group of books that I can have each day and share with my dad now in heaven as he died here in my farm monastery over 3 years ago after 6 months of hospice!  
A wonderful prayer answered that our military family could have lots to time with Hallel and her Community of the Lamb!  I long for little Maggie to go running into the arms of the Little Sisters and hold a special place in her heart for them for the rest of her days!  
The Lamb in the cupola  with the motto they live by - "Wounded, I will never cease to love."  How we are called to follow the example of Jesus  - the Lamb of God.  
Major Joseph and his 4 boys - he has done a man's retreat, Exodus 90, numerous times.  So we are familiar with the difficult and demanding experience it is for husbands and fathers.  This year Pat has decided to join with other local men.  

Last night Pat and I listened to a priest, who does exorcisms.  He spoke about how men are called to be authoritative in their homes and protect their homes and families from bad influences entering.  

A visit to John and family on New Years!  We love how our children are open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Our marriage stories - "The world needs LIGHTS!"

I have Exodus 90 to thank for time with my husband with no interruptions by TV or phone!  They are limited for him, and much prayer is added.  We have started praying the rosary together at night before night prayer and reading the Gospel for the next day.
We have a fireplace in the basement, which in the 7 years we have lived here - we have not used.  Last night we lit our first fire, and spent some time watching the warm glow as we listened to a wonderful sharing by a priest about the role of men in their families as protecting and leading in their Faith!  
Thank you, Exodus 90.  

Exodus 90 is a ninety-day spiritual exercise for men based on Christ’s roadmap to freedom: prayer, asceticism, and fraternity12. Men who desire to grow in the spiritual life and gain greater freedom call together a fraternity of 5-7 men to join them in following a set structure of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity for 90 days1. The program involves taking cold showers, abstaining from alcohol and most media, fasting twice per week, giving up snacks and desserts, along with various other spiritual tasks2.

What is Exodus 90 and Why should I do it? - Exodus 90  

Pat has always loved having a wood stove, so it was special last night to enjoy the beautiful stone fireplace we have not used yet due to having our living on the main floor.  The basement has been devoted to our huge canning for the 6 families.  Hundreds of jars empty and full!  
You will find us there again tonight.  
The Gospel today is John and Jesus from John 1 - John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world..."  

I am excited to share that granddaughter, Therese and her friends have written their 3rd Newsletter - Letters from a young Catholic - LettersFromAYoungCatholic_DEC_2023.pdf  

Another amazing Editorial by Therese!

Letter from the Editor

 Dear Reader,

 I have been trying recently to grow my “sacramental imagination.” That is–I have been trying to see the reality of the faith in the world around me. A month ago, I watched the movie, 1917. It was my brother’s turn to pick what we watched for a teen-parent movie night and, of course, he (a war history nerd) picked 1917. I dragged my feet to the couch, groaning all the way, because I have never found value or enjoyment in war movies. Most of the time, these films seem only to depict despair and evil. However, given my attempts to see more deeply, I found something I had not seen before. As mentioned in a previous editorial, I read The Screwtape Letters this fall. There, one demon explains to another demon that war’s “tribulation” can divert people “from themselves to values and causes which they believe [are] higher than the self.” Simply, suffering can draw us away from selfish desires toward charity. By this, the challenge of war causes many to become more virtuous. Though war is an ugly thing, God uses it to bring out the selflessness in people. To be a selfless person is not to forget about oneself, but to be able to care about someone else's wants/needs over your own. In 1917, there is a scene where the protagonist soldier is in a troop carrier surrounded by vulgar talk, but his mind is not confused by the sinfulness of his colleagues. Rather, he is selflessly focused on his mission (delivering a message that would save hundreds of lives). At another point, the same soldier runs through enemy territory and collides with a French girl who is trying to survive with a baby. He sees her struggle and immediately gives her all of his supplies. By this, he demonstrates selflessness. This movie showed me that war is not only despair and evil. The seeking of a higher good, which is required in war, brings about the realization that we are not the center of the universe. It gives us a chance to move towards God by serving those around us. If God is using war to lead us to him, then he must be using our every day “tribulation” to lead us to him. Let us then use them to grow towards him, not away. 
Christus regnat, Thérèse Librande 

Thérèse is a sophomore in high school who is often found babysitting, water coloring, or working on her many projects, one of which is this newsletter. She is the eldest of seven energetic siblings and a military kid who has lived in over ten states. She currently resides in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. 7 Art Thérèse Librande  
Dad and The Name!  LOVE and miss you, dad!  LOVE that you point to our Lord Jesus and his Lady, Mary the Mother of God.  
Yes!  How I love when we say the Rosary together - saying the name of Jesus in the first part of the Hail Mary with great reverence for The Name Jesus!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus many Little Sisters and Little Brothers
8 years ago...  To see John alone - he has now added a wife and 3 children!  Their story is amazing and truly The Holy Spirit is in charge! 

After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special.  She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband.  Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!!  Amazing!!!   And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!

Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
January 3
______________________
 
At every Mass, before the priest
begins the Eucharistic prayer, we pray:
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
 
St Paul proclaims: "God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him 
the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus 
every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
to the glory of God the Father.  - Phil 2:9-11

 
"There are two things that make it easy for souls to adore Our Lord in the Sacrament of His Love: they can seek His Human Face, though it be veiled by the appearance of the Sacred Host; and they can call upon Him by His Human Name.
These are the two things that people crave in a relationship: knowledge of a face and of a name. From these, one experiences the heart of the other, and so a relationship becomes a communion, an exchange in which one finds fulfillment, that is, joy and a response to one's love in the other. ...
Come close to Him, then, who has made Himself so close to us. ..
This knowledge of Him - of His Name and of His Face - comes through Word and Sacrament in His Holy Catholic Church. Only there can souls come to experience Him as the Risen One with whom they can enter into a relationship so real that it is consummated in a Holy Communion, in partaking of His Body and Blood, and in becoming one with Him, even as He is one with His Father. ...
The Sacred Name and Sacred Face of Jesus are fire and light in this world that is becoming colder and darker by the day. In the end, the darkness will be forever vanquished by the fire of His Name and by the light of His Face, and then there shall be peace in His Kingdom fully revealed, and in the company of His saints who will sing praise to His Name and adore His Face, shining more brightly than a thousand suns, and this unto the ages of ages."
Dom Mark Daniel Kirby
 
 
Thoughts of St. Bernard of Clairvaux who wrote hymn "Iesu Dulcis Memoria"- sung today on the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus:
"The sweet Name of Jesus produces in us holy thoughts, fills the soul with noble sentiments, strengthens virtue, begets good works, and nourishes pure affections. All spiritual food leaves the soul dry, if it contain not that penetrating oil, the Name Jesus. When you take your pen, write the Name Jesus: if you write books, let the Name of Jesus be contained in them, else they will possess no charm or attraction for me; you may speak, or you may reply, but if the Name of Jesus sounds not from your lips, you are without unction and without charm. Jesus is honey in our mouth, light in our eyes, a flame in our heart. This name is the cure for all diseases of the soul. Are you troubled? think but of Jesus, speak but the Name of Jesus, the clouds disperse, and peace descends anew from heaven. Have you fallen into sin? so that you fear death? invoke the Name of Jesus, and you will soon feel life returning. No obduracy of the soul, no weakness, no coldness of heart can resist this holy Name; there is no heart which will not soften and open in tears at this holy name. Are you surrounded by sorrow and danger? invoke the Name of Jesus, and your fears will vanish."
___________________
 
MORE on Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus:  http://www.fisheaters.com/holyname.html
 
MORE on the Wonders of the Holy Name of Jesus: http://www.olrl.org/pray/wonders.shtml
 
MORE on spreading devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus: http://www.nahns.com/
______________________________________________
 
Tenth Day of Christmas
 
__________________

 





Danielle Rose 

Will Morrison Will I 


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Monday, January 1, 2024

Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God/Time with John and family for New Years - one week left for Christmas tree! - +JMJ+

 

After mass celebrating the glorious Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God with hubby, we picked up doughnuts and went to visit John and his sweet family.  4 year old Jude and 3 year old Birdie poured over a book on animals they were given by Uncle Kirby.
They make grandma and grandpa so happy to hear them talk excitedly about Criss Cross Christmas Camp!  This year mom was sick so John, Jude and Birdie came along with Pat and I.  What fun we had with about 40 of my extended family.  
Jude making the sign he and Birdie have for Criss Cross Christmas Camp!   Grandma giggles every time!  
Lucy with roasted marshmallows from a game they got from their New Jersey cousins.  She will be one in 10 days!  
Grandpa holding Lucy and the others gather around...
Beautiful Christmas LIGHT with 3 of our youngest grandchildren.  So sweet and fun and smart!  
Jude loves the hump backed whales.  Pat said that he is starting to learn to sound out words and to read at 4!  So smart!  
The ornament for 2023 on their tree.  A picture I took by our little red barn.  They have a tradition of a pitch fork picture since they took one for their save the date cards using the stoic pitch fork picture we have all seen.
The other side - new Lucy Marie this year - our 23rd grandchild!  
It was fun to drop in and visit.  A week ago we had all been together at Lake Shetek Bible Camp for VCC!  So wonderful!  It is fun to visit them at their home!  
Visiting the Poor Clare Monastery for Easter 2004 - Maria had entered on New Year's Day to discern a call to religious cloistered life!  She discerned out in 5 months and was very sad that she was not called to this life of prayer.  She is now a wife and mother of 7 - married to Major Joseph and living 7 hours away in Fort Leavenworth, KS.  They live just half an hour away from our nun, Little Sister Hallel and her Community of the Lamb in the heart of the poor in Kansas City, KS.  

Pat and I are just back from a wonderful few days with both celebrating Christmas.  My heart is very full!  I made sure that my girls were exposed to nuns in habits by sending them to Schoenstatt Camp in Sleepy Eye.  Having discerned a call myself leading me into The Catholic Church with my family of 13 - I knew what a wonderful life it would be and wanted my girls and son to discern a call. On the way back from camp when Hallel was only about 10 - she shared that she thought that she would be a nun!  So powerful!

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Now the stories of John's 4 sisters...Ruth, Nancy, Maria, and Susan/Little Sister Hallel! 

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Susan Angela Agnes/Little Sister Hallel - the story of a Call .

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

From our time with the military family and our Family of the Lamb over Christmas... Oldest daughter, Therese, has a young Catholic Newsletter and is now working on the 3rd edition with the help of her dad, Major Joseph.  She really pours her heart out in it - so uplifting!  
The day after Christmas we took 7 year old granddaughter, Evangeline to share mass for the Feast of St Stephen - the first martyr.  
Little Sister Stella asked her to help ring the bells through the neighborhood at the Gloria.  
Sharing the Glory of the Lord through the neighborhood!  
Maggie is never far from her Bumpa!  "Isn't she the sweetest?"  
Joe was very sweet and we had a glass of wine together.  Burgandy is good!  
So wonderful - the Little Brother's Newsletter!  
LOVE this sharing about "being beggars of the goodness of men."  They leave home without a dollar in their pocket like Jesus sent out the Disciples by 2.  Amazingly depending upon Divine Providence!  And the stories they have to share from their missions of begging for their food from the poor!  

The 4 Little Brothers in the U.S. above the Grotto of The Incarnation with their Monastery - Light of Mary the Mother of God!  Such a holy special place - especially on the feast of the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God.  
Such a powerful image of Mary among the poor - so True of her.  She chooses the poor and downtrodden to appear to and to bring the world to her Son!  
Our wonderful old Nativity from every one of our 45 years of marriage and probably that many years before!  Our grandchildren carried up this shepherd in the procession of Children at the 4p Christmas Eve mass.  
Poinsettia Mary at the foot of the Cross and Jesus in the tabernacle.
Praying for Fr Denny with 7 Sisters towards evening with the sun streaming in - I got carried away with taking pictures on the glorious altar!  
St Patrick's Cathedral in New York City ready for Christmas!  Wow!  
Yesterday was the Feast of the Holy Family - our model to live by in our domestic Church/family!  

4 of the farm kids at mass - Simon and Mary leading the singing, and David and Rose serving at the altar.  Tom giving grandma a smile over dad's shoulder.  
I pray that they make their faith their own and always love Jesus, Mary and The Church!  Hear my prayer, O Lord and Lady.
So beautiful!  We still have a week of Christmas that ends on the Sunday of Epiphany next week.  
Joy and Tom up to visit Jesus in the stable with his parents on Holy Family Sunday.
Joy looks like a pretty poinsettia and Tom is just plain cute .
Rose joins after serving.  Thank you, Rose Again!  
Tom doing laps around the table after we share brunch on the farm after mass yesterday.  A long standing family tradition that we all love to share in with doughnuts, fruit, yogurt and eggs from our farm chickens!  Rejoice in the Lord always!  Rejoice!  
On his way around the table by the patio door filled with lots of beautiful snowflakes.  The kind of snow we like on the farm!  Pretty and not a lot of work outside.
Grandpa and Joy looking festive on this 7th day of Christmas - Sunday Feast of the Holy Family!  
Rose with Teddy, who came in for some warm up and snuggles.  More snowflakes on the front picture window, too.
Mary napping, Tom running and Rose talking...
LOVE sharing family time with our wonderful children and their spouses and children!  We are united in our Catholic Faith and know that we are all attending mass as families in KCK, Fort Leavenworth, Delano, MN, and Marshall - Holy Redeemer.  This Sunday John and Bobbi went to St Elio in Ghent, MN.  United in the Eucharist!  
Blessed 
St Mother Theresa of Calcutta on the last day of the year - Let us begin!  
Another aritcle from the Little Brothers Newsletter.

After mass this morning with hubby - tomorrow we will be back into our routine of 7a mass and then I can get back to my water aroebics at the Y at 8a.  
Now with Our Lady of Perpetual Help - how we need you, our Mother of God!  
After our visit with John and family.  We hit Menards and bought this Christmas tree off the floor.  It is prelit and comes in 3 pieces.  So easy we brought it home and put it together for the week of Christmas that is left for us.  The green grass outside is kind of nuts to see...

Thank you, Lord and Lady for all you give to us!  The LORD bless you and keep you!  
The LORD let his face shine upon      
you, and be gracious to you!  
The LORD look upon you kindly and      
give you peace!  Numbers 6 from the first reading today... Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus many little Brothers and Little Sisters.
Will Morrison  - I will 
 


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