The Lighthouse on the hill

One day in the street an old man approached some little sisters as they were walking.  "I was always afraid, and carried a knife to protect myself."he said.  "But now I don't feel afraid since you have come here.  You are like a light on the hill!"  This man was a black moslem, yet he could see the LIGHT that filled the community as their lives are centered around Jesus in His Echarist and His Word!  Tonight at mass here in Marshall with Pat's mom... I was reminded of the long pause there is after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist in the mass of the Community.  There is a long time of deep meditation on Christ within before the mass is ended as usual.  This is very reverent and really makes you take notice of the amazing miracle that has just happened!  Jesus, has entered us!!!

The cupola in the roof of the chapel in the little Monsastery - little sister Marie calls a little Lantern.  I can not wait to see it lit up, and I would think that they will keep it lit at all times to show this downtrodden and poor neighborhood - Lumen Christi - Light of Christ!  The next time we return it should be completed and a great celebration will take place there.  There are some fake plans that next September or so when the dedication takes place that Hallel - the only professed American little sister will return to be here for the occassion!  Our wheels are already turning, and this time little David Lanoue should remember that he has an Aunt, who is a little sister.  What  joyous time that will be!  It is so wonderful that our grandchildren have a religious community in their lives!

As we walked around the building we could see the lighthouse in many locations.  As Archbishop spoke at mass yesterday he was amazed that the Community had come to humble poor and lowly Kansas City to build their little Monastery!  The other parents we spoke to came from all areas of our country and it is just about like our trip... Kansas City is truly in the middle of our country - the heart- and the heart of our country needs to be filled with LIGHT and LIFE!  We rejoice to see the 4 young women taking the first step to become the first wave of little Sisters of the Lamb from the U.S.!

The seed has been planted and is yielding 100 fold!  How we thank HIM!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

This mother is so happy to have them building here!  Lord, you are too good to me and to my country!  May the LIGHT shine for all to see, and may the darkness vanish!

The real hugs!!!

What a glorious suprise a few weeks ago to get a call from Hallel telling us that she was accompanying the foundress of the Community - Little Sister Marie to the U.S. for 3 weeks!  WE were given the 3 days following Thanksgiving to be able to come as a family and visit her, and get those real hugs I have been praying for!  All of us could go except for Maria and Joseph and their family.  I prayed very hard that all 19 of us could gather with her...  It was a most beautiful and powerful weekend for our family and those of the other 4 postulants from America and their parents.  It was a lot for our youngest members and there were flu bugs involved in the weekend too!  But it was a total answer to prayer to have her with us! 

When the neices and nephews gathered around her and she started to meet the new ones that she had missed meeting for the last 2 1/2 years.. it was so sweet to see the JOY on her face and know that it truly is a sacrifice for her to not see them or know them.  Hallel is very much into little ones and they seem to know and love her!

The two new little girls - 6 month old Rose Ida and 11 day of Bernadette Anna fill Hallel's arms with LIFE and LOVE!  Their LIGHT will shine so much brighter in their lifetime as they are blessed with having Aunt Little Sister Hallel to show them the beauty of LIFE as a Bride of Christ!

Mary was very sweet and comfortable in the chapel as she helped Hallel set up for mass the first two days.  She found her namesake in a new spot in this temporary chapel in another rectory up the street.  They await the completion of the Little Monastery in the old location of their first home in the U.S. the Belgian rectory... If you would like to keep track of their work... here is their site

http://www.communityofthelambusa.org/monastery_progress.html

Little Gus checks out the icon of the Trinity in front of the altar!  One of the most beautiful parts of all this for our family is the way that young members are so naturally and beautifully brought in a very natural way into the beauty of a LIFE of prayer and dedication to Jesus and his Bride the Church!  They have this very powerful spiritual experience of listening to HIS call and the beautiful graces that are the result!  They have no idea that this is very rare and special - to the little ones it is just normal to be surrounded by the beauty and majesty of Christ and those that are HIS!  We gathered in the chapel here for mass twice and then the glorious Sunday mass in a Catholic Church up the hill with the Archbishop!  Wow!

Mary and Simon are very comfortable and remember Hallel, but it took David a while to speak to her as he did not remember her.  Now he will remember that he is blessed with an Aunt who is a Bride of Christ! 

Little Rose with Little Sister Hallel - she charmed and was charmed!

Mary seems to thoroughly enjoy sharing in the LIFE!  In her blue apron doing dishes with Hallel!  I know that there is a warm spot within her as she shares in the life of those that answered HIS call with a "Yes!" 

The American bunch with the foundress, Little Sister Marie, in front of Hallel!

Rose with the Cross of the Lamb!

Super cute under the scapular!  She is a very special girl with many wondrous experiences ahead of her thanks to her Aunt Hallel being a Bride of Christ!  Such a blessing for her and all of our family!

Another new American postulant making a total of 4 this year taking the first step to join.  Hallel was the first American woman to join the Community of the Lamb.... and now look!

 

What JOY!  The call is being heard and answered to this amazing LIFE and LOVE and LIGHT!  The LIGHTHOUSE on the hill!!!

Lord, we thank and praise YOU!  We are so blessed with the richness of your Truth and Church in Susan/Hallel's following your path!  We are taken to this Spiritual place within as we are allowed to come and share with Hallel in her LIFE!  Her LIGHT is being shared with all the members of her family - most especially the little ones.  They will want to look at a life like this for themselves as we wished each one of our children to consider that the Lord was calling them to HIM alone.  Now to have John looking and discerning the seminary is an added blessing!  Jesus, we praise you and Trust in you! Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

I got many real hugs to tide me over for a while again.

"These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.  They have been ransomed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb.  On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished." 

Revelations 14  The first reading from today!  So wonderful to be reminded by Little Sister Marie, the foundress, and translated to us by Hallel that they are called to live the Gospel and follow the Lamb - "Wounded, we do not cease to LOVE."

Family time in Kansas City!

Hallel meets two of her neices and nephews for the first time yesterday.   It had been two and a half years since her sisters and their families had come to Kansas City to say goodbye to Hallel before she left for France.  Both Augustine and Rose were born since then.  It was a wonderful thing to get that "real hug" I have been praying for.  Thank you, Lord, for answering my prayers so beautifully.  Not only did I get my real hug, but so did most of the family.  It is shere delight to watch her enjoying her little neices and nephews! 

The amazing times of prayer and worship in the small chapel in their temporary home while...

The new little monastery is under construction... this is a sister cell and we will never be able to come back here when it is finished.  It is very exciting to see this LIGHT of Christ taking shape in the heart of our country.  The light in the midst of the darkness

The cupola on the roof of the chapel... Little sister Marie calls it a lantern.  I can't wait to see it lit up!!!  It is very exciting to see the touch of the community here in the U.S.  They have already lit up the entire neighborhood with excitement and pride!  Neighbors do not want to move away and leave their pride and joy - little Monastery - Lumen Christi!

It is so wonderful the exposure the kids are having to religious life!  Hallel has Mary help her with setting up for mass in the chapel, as the others go around taking in all the icons, flowers and Jesus behind the altar!  Priceless times of learning the beauty of the call to a life as a spouse of Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for the real hug that I have been praying for.  Thank you for the time for family to gather and share in the LIFE of prayer and poverty of the Community of the Lamb.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Priceless life lessons that come with FAMILY and FAITH!

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We are off with the wind at our backs, we hope!

If you go to the site for Community of the Lamb here in the U.S. you will see the progress they are making on their Little Monastery!  I went there last night and found this cute little cupola being raised to the roof of the chapel!  The lighthouse for all to see in the neighborhood!  They share the story of the old man, who had lived in fear in this poor gang ridden neighborhood.  He knocked on their door one day to tell them that he no longer carried a knife with him to protect himself because he felt that there was now a LIGHT on the hill, and he was no longer afraid.  Thus they are naming the U.S. Monastery - Lumen Christi - Light of Christ!  Here is their site where you can watch the weekly progress

http://www.communityofthelambusa.org/monastery_progress.html

On the roof of the chapel... a beautiful LIGHT for all to see!  Light of Christ come and lead your people here in the U.S. to your Truth!  You are the WAY, the Truth and the LIFE!  Jesus, give our family and all those traveling safety today and wonderful time with family and Friends.  May we all be your temples of the Spirit.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

What joy I find with my family all around me!  We are now 19, and there will be 5 missing, but that is getting real close for me.  Someday we all will be together... I hope and pray!  So much JOY sharing Faith in our domestic Church/family!!!

The family in Texas will be missing this weekend.  We love you and miss you Maria, Joe, Therese, David and miracle of God, Patrick!

"For the temple of God is holy, which is what you are.  Consider what kind of life, what intensity of life must be his, when the very stones of his temple are living in this way.  Think what you are saying and to whom you are saying, God, who is like you?  Temples are saying to their God, God, who is like you?  Living stones are saying to their occupant, God, who is like you?  Let your minds run over the whole of creation, the earth and everything on the earth, the sea and everything in the sea, the air and everything in the air, the sky and everything in the sky.  He spoke and they were made; he commanded and they were created.  That's why every faithful heart should say,

God, who is like you?  Every obedient tongue should say, every devout conscience say, and say with a qualm, God, who is like you?  It says it, you see, to one of whom it need not be ashamed.  This is fitting, this is worthy of living stones."

St Augustine (430) is called the Doctor of Grace, speaking about the Temple of God -you and I! 

Danielle Rose reminded on FB that the Eucharist means Thanksgiving and that should be the biggest Gift we are eternally Thankful for!  Jesus, travel with us this day and thank you for putting down roots in the heart of our country in the LIGHT OF CHRIST on the hill for all to see! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaGSMb7wF4k  A Danielle Rose song to end with today... it brings back memories of Maria and her little David dancing in the kitchen... In the Silence of the Heart 

Thankful for...

Fieldwork is officially done as the wind howls and the temperatures drop.  The cows were brought in from the cornstalks around our house, the manure is hauled out from the barn onto the field and it was worked in less than 24 hours.  Then there was snow briefly as Pat and I sat down for a quiet Thanksgiving after the Lanoue bunch headed over to his parents for dinner.  Now packing and praying for things to go smoothly as we head to Kansas City in the morning.  I longed to make a collage of family picture today, but tomorrow I will be with all but Maria's bunch... so the camera will be snapping!

So much I am thankful for!  Today talking with Ruth about her deep emotion at having her marriage blessed in Rome just days after her wedding here.  Looking at the amazing keepsake of a photo taken as Paul is asking John Paul II to bless his marriage... I am overwhelmed with the love I have for everything Catholic!  I am reminded how important John Paul II has been in my marriage.  He became Pope just 2 months after we were married and taught me so much about being open to LIFE and forming a Domestic Church within our home!  He reached out his hand and touched us with a blessing even though we never actually went to Rome and had him bless our marriage personally!  When we did go to Rome, when Maria was studying there for a year, and saw a bride in St Peter's square... we finally realized that he did bless couples that were newly married.  I thought that it was so appropriate as he is the champion of FAMILY!  Now Benedict has carried it forward!  This is the grassroots of the Church- good parents of Faith raising their children as LIGHTS! 

Well there are 2 dozen canning jars full of all our wonderful food ready to go with us tomorrow.  Hallel called and asked us to bring our canned food and meat.  Pat has been watching those shows that show the people in Alaska living off the land and their hard work... I feel a bit of that feeling of sharing from the wealth of the land, as I gather food to bring along.  There are some illness in the grandkids, so many prayers that we can be on the mend as we head out to KC in the AM.  Lord, we are surrounded by your LOVE and MERCY.  Go with us as we gather with our little Sister Hallel.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

ST Cecilia - Thanksgiving - Anniversary #9

Had a festive morning with Ruth and Paul's family sharing breakfast and family time for Thanksgiving.  Another part of the celebration is Ruth and Paul's 9th anniversary today.  The weather has turned more seasonably cold today, but nothing like the ice storm we had 9 years ago!  The roads were treacherous and we thank God that no one was hurt getting to and from or for Ruth and Paul when they headed up to the Cities on horrible roads to fly out to Rome!  Yes, the honeymooned in Italy!  We had a foreign exchange student from Italy that year and his family invited them to come for their honeymoon.  So they knew that Pope John Paul II did Wednesday audiences and blessed married couples at that time.  They did to proper paper work ahead of time to be able to have their marriage blessed by him.  He had been sick on and off, as it was just about 6 months before his death, but that Wednesday he was well enough and it happened!!!  They knelt before him in their wedding clothes that they had thrown into the suitcase and Paul looked up at him and said these words..."Please Bless us with a healthy happy family."

Ruth was just sharing the power of the moment that Blessed John Paul II entered the room that day.  "There was such a powerful feeling that overcame all of us present, like this is a very special man and he was so sick at that time."  I can see how deeply Ruth is touched at this moment in the wonderfully glorious gift of a picture we have of this day.  The blessings that have touched them in these last 9 years are helped by the intercession of Blessed John Paul II, and the amazing awesome Catholic Church with all that it gives us to help us on our journey!  Ruth and I marveled that we are going to have lived in the lifetime of a living saint,as we totally expect him to gain sainthood soon!  Probably two with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta there quickly too.  This has a cherished place in our homes and it gives me so much JOY!

Happy 9th anniversary Ruth and Paul!!!  WE rejoice at your LOVE and LIFE and raising LIGHTS for the world!  Ruth reminded me that it was the Feast of Christ the KING the next day, and we looked it up and that is the mass this Sunday too!  I am sure we will celebrate is JOYOUSLY in Kansas City with the Community of the Lamb and our Little Sister Hallel! 

A joyful family breakfast as we thank the Lord for all his blessings - Faith, Family, and Farm!

Mary dreaming of turkey on her plate today... " a fat turkey."  Wishing all of you a wonderful day with family and friends and good food together! 

Jesus, we thank and praise you for all the many blessings that come to us in life.  Ruth and I even talked about how there have been crosses in their marriage, and without the hard things - the good wouldn't be near so wonderful!  Their last two children are prime examples of this fact!  "Most people wouldn't have had David and Rose, and that is so sad!"  Ruth Lanoue

Lord, we are so filled with Thanksgiving today for all the many wonderful gifts we are given.  Yes!  Even our Most Cherished Cross is a very special gift from YOU that we are called to embrace as it bring us LIFE and LOVE!  St Cecilia show us how to always walk with Jesus - no matter what the cost.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"No human counsel has devised nor has any mortal hand worked out these great things.  They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, has nevertheless remembered mercy.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday in November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our benficient Father who dwells in the heavens..." 

Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863