Morning Offering for intention of Priests

Morning Offering for intention of Priests

Holy Blessed Trinity,
I offer You all my prayers,
Works, joys and sufferings,
Of this day. No matter what
little thing I do, I offer it to
You In reparation:
# For holy priests
# For the conversion of priests
# For more priests
# For the return of many priests
# Who have left the priesthood
# For the priests still in purgatory
# Especially those most in need.

I offer myself this day (optional:
And hereafter until my death)
As an offering for holy priests.
In union with the suffering,
Death and resurrection of Jesus.
And in union with the Sacred
Body And Blood of Jesus
Consecrated daily on all the
Altars of the world by Your
Holy priests.
I make this offering freely,
Trusting that You will take care
Of all my needs, spiritual and
Temporal, for the state in life
To which You have called me.

I make this offering through
The Immaculate Hands and
Heart of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Mother of Divine Love,
That She might take this
Imperfect prayer and
Present it to Her Son,
That through His Sacred Heart,
He might perfect it,
And present it to Our Father
By the Power of The Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

(With ecclesiastical approbation.)

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Happy First Friday!

Hi!

Happy First Friday!

I was offline for Lent and ENJOYED IT! Who knew?!

It was wonderful to be cut off from the "online" world...such freedom! LOL It really was a great experience that I did not expect.

It took away most of my desire to be online...blogging, twittering, facebook, seemed more like a chore after Lent's fast. Although I use my online time for Catholic evangelism and it never "took away" from my priorities, it did take time and energy and effort that I didn't fully comprehend until after-the-fact! So, all in all, it was a great Lent and I did change from it. ;)

I will blog when I can, but not w/ obligation. My first obligation will be (after my normal obligations such as wife and mother,etc.) prayer. Deep unity prayer from the heart in silence...not rushed or "obligatory" prayer. That time needed for this was realized by giving up all online activity. It was really wonderful ;). I am spoiled now and not about to give it up. Lent was very fruitful. My prayer life, which I thought was good, is even better.

Lent ended with a wonderful Easter and wonderful Divine Mercy Sunday after that. We had my son's confirmation at 3pm on DM Sunday! Just fantastic stuff!

Ok...wanted to check in and see how your Lent went and to say I'll post here but it will not be daily.

God speed!

Kelly ;)

Lent Absence

For Lent, one of the things I am doing to offer up a sacrifice to the Lord is giving up my blogging (it is not a business, just ministry ;)) and my Facebook and Twitter.

I did see on Twitter that some saw that and didn't understand WHY I was giving it up for Lent.

One person asked another: What is the point?

The other replied she had no clue as she had no problems using FB and Twitter in her spiritual life, in fact they compliment it.

Neither do I have a problem with it! LOL That is indeed why I blog, Twitter, and Facebook...and have been blogging for about 10 years (Catholic blogging). It compliments my spiritual life, too, to be connecting with other Catholics and doing Catholic evangelism. It's good stuff! ;)

Everyone has to make their own unique life and I don't think you really should be questioning what others are doing as a sacrifice for Lent....someone's sacrifice would not be a sacrifice for another...or not make any sense...perhaps even bad for them. So, I'm not suggesting everyone do this nor that I am doing the "better" thing! ;P No no no.

I am going to take 40 days off as one of my sacrifices for Lent. For me, those things are like "candy" that some "give up"....just some goodie you enjoy...and it's my "candy"so-to-speak and I really enjoy blogging, FB, and Twitter.

So, I'll be back after Lent. :) (God willing, eh?!)

I wish you a blessed Lenten season! :))
God bless you!
Kelly

PS: Thank you for the invitation, ST BLOGS PARISH, to join! I'll check into that upon returning.

Urgent Prayer Request for Fr. Robert, CFR!

In the mailbox...
--------------------
Subject: CFR events and Urgent Prayer Request for Fr. Robert, CFR!

*Urgent Prayer Request for Fr. Robert Stanion, CFR*
Please pray fervertnly for Fr. Robert Stanion, CFR, one of the founders.
His condition is very, very serious and he is in great need of prayer.
As we begin our preparations for Lent, let us offer up some small sacrifices for his healing!
Updates on Fr. Robert's health: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.cfr-newmexico.com
Join with those who are praying: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=50810478519

The friars are asking us to say this special prayer for him each day, if we can:
"O Mother of Divine Mercy, look with compassion on your son and servant, Father Robert. Extend your hands of healing upon him. Invoke the all-powerful name of Jesus! Invoke your Spouse, the Life-giving and Holy Spirit to descend like a sweet and gentle dew upon your faithful servant. Drive away every illness! Draw down healing from on high! Yes Mother, we choose to hope and pray. May the will of the Father be accomplished for His glory and the good of your servant. We pray through Christ Our Lord. Amen!"

Make your LIFE "Pauline" this Pauline Year!

Quick coffee break and I was just thinking...
I was just adding on my theme yesterday of the year of St. Paul...
Have you heard of The Holy Family Institute?

For those who are married but wish to be consecrated...God opened the door in our times for such a thing..and in this "Pauline" year...the Year of St Paul, what a better time to share in case you have not heard: it is called: Holy Family Institute. Yes, you can be married and consecrated with Church regulated vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. Started by Blessed James Alberione.

Website: http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/

It's for Catholic couples or widows, who wish to live their lives in a more consistent, God-oriented way. They draw inspiration from the Holy Family of Nazareth, model, light and source of grace. The goal they set ourselves is the sanctification of married/widowed life...and the "poverty" is nothing out of the ordinary as you have a family, of course!, but it is poverty in the sense of living normally and not blinging out with materialism...chastity is just what we are to normally live...it is nothing extra...it is chastity as is normally expected by the Church of ANY marriage...and Obedience of course to the Church which is what you are "supposed" to be doing anyhow! It is not scary as it sounds...no walking around in bare feet and robes and ashes. :P

Check out Holy Family Institute if you are looking to be consecrated laity vowed with Church regulated vows.

What the Institute is

* A branch of the PAULINE FAMILY;
* People living in ordinary families who have
consecrated and vowed their lives;
* Who are exclusively married or widowed;
* And are not Religious but consecrated laity.

What the Institute does for you:

* Accepts you where you are spiritually;
* Provides intense training for membership;
* Invites you to correspond regularly for direction;
* Invites you to our Triduum or Retreat, three great
days of Prayer and Friendship with families from
all over

It was definitively approved by the Vatican on March 19, 1993.

It counts hundreds of members in the United States and thousands worldwide.

Who should join?

Membership in the Holy Family Institute is open to any Catholic husband and wife who lead normal lives and observe the teaching of the Church in their marriages. There is no upper age limit or special educational requirements. Widows, widowers and childless couples are also eligible.

IN PARTICULAR . . .

Pro - Life activists should consider membership: the media are constantly promoting promiscuity within marriage and outside it and this undoubtedly adds to the number of abortions. And, of course, the anti-life bias of the media is well-known.

Knights of Columbus may wish to add the great value of the vowed and consecrated life to their present activity. The Knights have always defended the family and the HFI blends very well with their apostolates . .

Teachers generally and CCD people in particular can find support for their difficult work in their relationship with the Pauline Family and their activity is a fine expression of their HFI commitment.

Writers and Artists of every kind can associate their lives and work to similar work being done by Pauline Family members.

Cursillistas are those who have made a Cursillo retreat. St. Paul is the patron saint of the Cursillo movement.

IN A WORD . . . It is not easy to think of someone who will NOT profit by HFI membership - and the HFI will equally profit as members contribute their time, talents and energies to it. Even if there are problems in your marriage, why not contact us anyway. We may be able to help.

THE BRANCHES OF THE PAULINE FAMILY

The Pauline Family has no less than ten branches!

Priests and Brothers – the Society of St. Paul – the priests help in parishes on an occasional basis but mostly concentrate on editorial work. The Brothers help on the managerial and technical side.

There are four different Congregations of Sisters.

The Daughters of St. Paul whose work is similar to the work of the Society.

The Sister Disciples of the Divine Master, who devote themselves to the Eucharist, the Liturgy and the Priesthood.

The Pastorelle or Shepherdess Sisters who work in Parishes and run schools.

The Queen of Apostles Sisters for Vocations

Finally, there are four Institutes: Nazareth Today
The Annunciation of Mary – single women

St. Gabriel the Archangel – single men

Jesus the Priest – Diocesan priests who also become members of the Pauline Family

THE HOLY FAMILY

The tenth branch of the Family includes many Cooperators laymen and women who support the Family financially or otherwise collaborate with the Family’s work.


Now, let’s concentrate on

THE HOLY FAMILY INSTITUTE


Outstanding Paulines
It is a branch of the Family like the others. And so its members, like the others, are consecrated and vowed! A wonderful divine privilege.

What do we mean by “vow”?

St. Thomas Aquinas remarks that a vow is “an act of religion.” By “act of religion” he means any action which is totally directed to God, such as a prayer, fasting, penance, hearing Mass, a pilgrimage, etc.

Most people make acts of religion only a certain number of times in the day and some hardly any – even on Sundays.

But the whole life of the vowed member, not just an occasional part of the day, is totally directed to God! So it can be said that his or her life is radically changed even when there is no visible change in the married or family life or the work of the member.

What do we mean by “consecration”?

By consecration we mean that the member is “set apart” or “dedicated to” a specific goal. In our case members are dedicated to the goals of the Pauline Family.


HOLY FAMILY INSTITUTE VOWS


Are the Institute vows difficult to observe?

No.

THE VOW OF POVERTY implies a modest lifestyle in keeping with the norm in our social circle, honesty in business dealings, avoidance of needless expenditures, care of our property and the property of others, prompt payment of debts.

THE VOW OF CHASTITY in practice means the observance of the laws of the Church in marriage.

THE VOW OF OBEDIENCE involves observance of Church and civil laws and, in the Institute, collaboration with directions on practical and spiritual matters.

In a word: to a large extent the vows involve what a good Catholic is already doing in normal life. That is because – as we mentioned at the beginning – it is our commitment to living our ordinary family life well which is important.

But, surely, vows should be more difficult than you say?

The meaning of vows is not to make life difficult (it already is!) but to concentrate our energies on our daily duties at home or at work.



BECOMING AN INSTITUTE MEMBER


You become a member in 3 stages.

POSTULANCY – a period of 6 to 9 months during which the candidate learns the history of the Pauline Family and gets initial spiritual orientation.

NOVITIATE – a period of two years during which the spiritual orientation is intensified. (The Institute is governed by Church Law which requires two years in this stage).

PROFESSION – the Novice joins others (if possible) at our Annual “Triduum” or 3 Days of Prayer and Friendship and recites the formula of the vows during the appropriate ceremony.

Vows are renewed each year for three years and then the Member may make Perpetual vows.

Candidates are free to leave the Postulancy or Novitiate at any time and may also not renew their Temporary vows.

FORMATION This takes place through a Course of instruction by monthly CD’s and literature. The candidate corresponds regularly to ensure personal guidance.

OFFERING: $5.00 weekly



Can you afford to let this blessing pass you by?

Our Divine Master has opened a door for you: NOT the door to being a cooperator, collaborator or helper; NOT the door to anything except the door to a new and exciting Church development which you can join as a "founder member" (and such members always have more merits than those who succeed them).

Other people have heard the Divine call - and answered it! Decide to join them. A few times in your life, your decision can make a RADICAL difference to your future. This is one such time.

Even if there are problems in your marriage, why not contact us anyway. We may be able to help.

Coffee is over....I'm contemplating Holy Family Institute...what a great year to join in! ;)

The Catholicism Project ...Trailer

Hi, I'm up late due to my little one being up late...little stinker.

Anyhow, I'm not having coffee because it will keep me up...however, I am looking through my emails and my mother sent me this...and I am forwarding it to you!

Tomorrow I have to take my son to the dentist (dentith :P) and I may not have time to share coffee conversation with you...so it's good to post now in the wee-early morn.

Top of the morn' to you! ;)

Soon you can discover the rich heritage of the Catholic Church in an epic media experience. Word on Fire Catholic Ministries offers a vision of the Catholic Faith, which has never before been seen. This vision seeks to explore, through a global journey, the living culture of the Catholic Church. From the lands of the Bible, to the great shrines of Europe, to the shores and heartland of America, to the mysteries of Asia, to the rich landscapes of Latin America, to the beating heart of Africa - and beyond, witness the passion and glory of the faith that claims over a billion of the earth’s people as its own.
Now in production.
Ten-part series for release on TV and DVD: Fall 2010.

This magnificent television event is hosted by Father Robert Barron.

Please click here to donate via their site and/or to see the trailer!!

http://www.wordonfire.org/CatholicismProject.aspx

Coffee today, posted Sunday

Hi.

I put today's post in Sunday's...updated Sunday's and then just stayed there and added to it.

:)

Blessed Tuesday to you!

The Pauline Year...sources :)

Hi.

Sitting and having a fast coffee on a very gloomy day (need interior lights on at 2:00pm CST).
Came across some resources to share with you for the Pauline Year...
Pope Benedict 16th declared this the Year of St Paul (cool!).
I tried to share it earlier, but Scribefire messed it up ;).

Some resources for the Pauline Year:
1) Our Sunday Visitor: Deepen your faith during the Year of St Paul.
2) Official Pauline Year Website.
3) Special Indulgences for the Pauline Year

I absolutely love St Paul...he's such a major "goodie" to contemplate!
A few of the things I think of when I think of him is how fiercely zealous he was in pursuing the truth as he thought it was...BUT, he was wrong....and saw that AFTER God, who is TRUTH itself, opened his eyes up....it reminds me about how we need to be sure we are in God's truth and not just using our own minds to "reason up" truth....because we can be sincere, but sincerely wrong! We can have misplaced compassion and be in sin. So, we need to ground ourselves in TRUTH...and there is only one truth...and it has a name: Jesus. The way, the truth, and the light....as soon as St Paul was instantly converted, he was "on his way" which was following God, he was "in the light" and in the Truth....on the real correct path this time. It reminds me also that there is ALWAYS hope for conversion for those we think there is no hope. St Paul would have never guessed he'd be a Christian and also "ST PAUL" at that!! :P Nobody else would have guesses either! But, God gives graces. Somebody obviously was praying for this St Paul. Perhaps they saw he was sincere but sincerely WRONG. ("Behold, I make all things new."--Scripture "Nothing is impossible with God" --Scripture).

We all have those we pray for...for their conversion back to God or just to God for the first time. And, for many we think, we'll pray for them, but I can never imagine THEIR conversion! :P Well, we must never lose hope! That shows a lack of trust in the Divine Mercy. We must always pray and hope and not worry about things that we can't worry about. Conversions lie with the soul and God...we play our part by praying for sinners...for the grace of conversion. God came for sinners and loves all souls. All without exception. St Paul is a shining example that anyone can be converted at any moment, too! Keep the faith! Keep praying!

St Paul also reminds me to "keep on keeping on"....even when I am "in jail"...whatever that form of "jail" may be.....even when I am "locked up"..."bound"....even when I am tired....even when I see I have a lot of "miles ahead"....even when it seems that it's easier to die than to keep up the good fight LOL...we must keep up the good fight....rest will come!.... St Paul felt that way and kept on keeping on for our sakes....for souls. We are God's hands and feet and mouth and touch here on earth....we need to be here as long as He wishes and to be his instruments of love, charity, mercy, forgiveness, hope,etc.

I just love reflecting on St Paul, don't you?!

What a guy! What a saint!

Thank you, St Paul, for your role in the Church history!

Pray for us, St Paul!

Coffee break is over...

Pope's Lenten Message

Good morning.

It's Thur (if you follow our Lady of Medj. that means to read a specific Bible reading from Matt. about serving two masters).  Tomorrow is (reminder) First Friday (yea!) and Sat is first Saturday :).

I'm sipping coffee and discovered we are out of coffee...so when I am done, it's done :(. Need to get out to get more asap. (EMERGENCY! haaha)

Sharing this for those who didn't get to read it....usually I will NOT post big long things like this on this particular blog.  I focus only on short coffee conversations.
 

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009



Fasting Is a Great Help to Avoid Sin and All That Leads to It



Here is Benedict XVI's Lenten message for 2009, dated Dec. 11 and
released today. The theme of the letter is "He Fasted for Forty Days
and Forty Nights, and Afterward He Was Hungry."



* * *



Dear Brothers and Sisters!



At the beginning of Lent, which constitutes an itinerary of more
intense spiritual training, the Liturgy sets before us again three
penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian
tradition -- prayer, almsgiving, fasting -- to prepare us to better
celebrate Easter and thus experience God's power that, as we shall hear
in the Paschal Vigil, "dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores
lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace
and humbles earthly pride" (Paschal Præconium). For this year's Lenten
Message, I wish to focus my reflections especially on the value and
meaning of fasting. Indeed, Lent recalls the forty days of our Lord's
fasting in the desert, which He undertook before entering into His
public ministry. We read in the Gospel: "Jesus was led up by the Spirit
into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty
days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry" (Mt 4,1-2). Like
Moses, who fasted before receiving the tablets of the Law (cf. Ex
34,28) and Elijah's fast before meeting the Lord on Mount Horeb (cf. 1
Kings 19,8), Jesus, too, through prayer and fasting, prepared Himself
for the mission that lay before Him, marked at the start by a serious
battle with the tempter.



We might wonder what value and meaning there is for us Christians in
depriving ourselves of something that in itself is good and useful for
our bodily sustenance. The Sacred Scriptures and the entire Christian
tradition teach that fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that
leads to it. For this reason, the history of salvation is replete with
occasions that invite fasting. In the very first pages of Sacred
Scripture, the Lord commands man to abstain from partaking of the
prohibited fruit: "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in
the day that you eat of it you shall die" (Gn 2, 16-17). Commenting on
the divine injunction, Saint Basil observes that "fasting was ordained
in Paradise," and "the first commandment in this sense was delivered to
Adam." He thus concludes: "'You shall not eat' is a law of fasting and
abstinence" (cf. Sermo de jejunio: PG 31, 163, 98). Since all of us are
weighed down by sin and its consequences, fasting is proposed to us as
an instrument to restore friendship with God. Such was the case with
Ezra, who, in preparation for the journey from exile back to the
Promised Land, calls upon the assembled people to fast so that "we
might humble ourselves before our God" (8,21). The Almighty heard their
prayer and assured them of His favor and protection. In the same way,
the people of Nineveh, responding to Jonah's call to repentance,
proclaimed a fast, as a sign of their sincerity, saying: "Who knows,
God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we perish
not?" (3,9). In this instance, too, God saw their works and spared them.



In the New Testament, Jesus brings to light the profound motive for
fasting, condemning the attitude of the Pharisees, who scrupulously
observed the prescriptions of the law, but whose hearts were far from
God. True fasting, as the divine Master repeats elsewhere, is rather to
do the will of the Heavenly Father, who "sees in secret, and will
reward you" (Mt 6,18). He Himself sets the example, answering Satan, at
the end of the forty days spent in the desert that "man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"
(Mt 4,4). The true fast is thus directed to eating the "true food,"
which is to do the Father's will (cf. Jn 4,34). If, therefore, Adam
disobeyed the Lord's command "of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil you shall not eat," the believer, through fasting, intends to
submit himself humbly to God, trusting in His goodness and mercy.



The practice of fasting is very present in the first Christian
community (cf. Acts 13,3; 14,22; 27,21; 2 Cor 6,5). The Church Fathers,
too, speak of the force of fasting to bridle sin, especially the lusts
of the "old Adam," and open in the heart of the believer a path to God.
Moreover, fasting is a practice that is encountered frequently and
recommended by the saints of every age. Saint Peter Chrysologus writes:
"Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. So
if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition
to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear
to others, you open God's ear to yourself" (Sermo 43: PL 52, 320. 322).



In our own day, fasting seems to have lost something of its spiritual
meaning, and has taken on, in a culture characterized by the search for
material well-being, a therapeutic value for the care of one's body.
Fasting certainly bring benefits to physical well-being, but for
believers, it is, in the first place, a "therapy" to heal all that
prevents them from conformity to the will of God. In the Apostolic
Constitution Pænitemini of 1966, the Servant of God Paul VI saw the
need to present fasting within the call of every Christian to "no
longer live for himself, but for Him who loves him and gave himself for
him, he will also have to live for his brethren" (cf. Ch. I). Lent
could be a propitious time to present again the norms contained in the
Apostolic Constitution, so that the authentic and perennial
significance of this long held practice may be rediscovered, and thus
assist us to mortify our egoism and open our heart to love of God and
neighbor, the first and greatest Commandment of the new Law and
compendium of the entire Gospel (cf. Mt 22, 34-40).



The faithful practice of fasting contributes, moreover, to conferring
unity to the whole person, body and soul, helping to avoid sin and grow
in intimacy with the Lord. Saint Augustine, who knew all too well his
own negative impulses, defining them as "twisted and tangled
knottiness" (Confessions, II, 10.18), writes: "I will certainly impose
privation, but it is so that he will forgive me, to be pleasing in his
eyes, that I may enjoy his delightfulness" (Sermo 400, 3, 3: PL 40,
708). Denying material food, which nourishes our body, nurtures an
interior disposition to listen to Christ and be fed by His saving word.
Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the
deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the
hunger and thirst for God.



At the same time, fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation
in which so many of our brothers and sisters live. In his First Letter,
Saint John admonishes: "If anyone has the world's goods, and sees his
brother in need, yet shuts up his bowels of compassion from him -- how
does the love of God abide in him?" (3,17). Voluntary fasting enables
us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends low and goes
to the help of his suffering brother (cf. Encyclical Deus caritas est,
15). By freely embracing an act of self-denial for the sake of another,
we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a
stranger. It is precisely to keep alive this welcoming and attentive
attitude towards our brothers and sisters that I encourage the parishes
and every other community to intensify in Lent the custom of private
and communal fasts, joined to the reading of the Word of God, prayer
and almsgiving. From the beginning, this has been the hallmark of the
Christian community, in which special collections were taken up (cf. 2
Cor 8-9; Rm 15, 25-27), the faithful being invited to give to the poor
what had been set aside from their fast (Didascalia Ap., V, 20,18).
This practice needs to be rediscovered and encouraged again in our day,
especially during the liturgical season of Lent.



From what I have said thus far, it seems abundantly clear that fasting
represents an important ascetical practice, a spiritual arm to do
battle against every possible disordered attachment to ourselves.
Freely chosen detachment from the pleasure of food and other material
goods helps the disciple of Christ to control the appetites of nature,
weakened by original sin, whose negative effects impact the entire
human person. Quite opportunely, an ancient hymn of the Lenten liturgy
exhorts: "Utamur ergo parcius, / verbis cibis et potibus, / somno,
iocis et arctius / perstemus in custodia" (Let us use sparingly words,
food and drink, sleep and amusements. May we be more alert in the
custody of our senses).



Dear brothers and sisters, it is good to see how the ultimate goal of
fasting is to help each one of us, as the Servant of God Pope John Paul
II wrote, to make the complete gift of self to God (cf. Encyclical
"Veritatis splendor," 21). May every family and Christian community use
well this time of Lent, therefore, in order to cast aside all that
distracts the spirit and grow in whatever nourishes the soul, moving it
to love of God and neighbor. I am thinking especially of a greater
commitment to prayer, lectio divina, recourse to the Sacrament of
Reconciliation and active participation in the Eucharist, especially
the Holy Sunday Mass. With this interior disposition, let us enter the
penitential spirit of Lent. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, "Causa nostrae
laetitiae," accompany and support us in the effort to free our heart
from slavery to sin, making it evermore a "living tabernacle of God."
With these wishes, while assuring every believer and ecclesial
community of my prayer for a fruitful Lenten journey, I cordially
impart to all of you my Apostolic Blessing.



From the Vatican, 11 December 2008



BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Thank you :)

Hi.
Nice to see you over coffee again!
Missed your presence.

Thank you for your patience while I am sick.

I got the flu 1-15-09 & it hit me hard (in bed a week...so not me!).
I was weak from it and caught a cold immediately after.
My body got so worn down...
after the 2nd week sick I went to the doctor
who said my white blood cell count was so low, very below normal...
so he gave me a steroid shot to help me somehow.

It is now 2-4-09 and I'm still weakish and my breathing is still sort of "hard" (like asthma sort of feeling). Frustrating and a big lesson in patience (with myself!).
I want to fly...to run...and I can only crawl! LOL

So, I am guessing by next Monday I should be back to normal. :)

Meanwhile, please check out a new site I made and will update daily (M-F).
It is strictly Catholic Quotes.
http://thecatholicquotes.blogspot.com

Stop by.
Tag your Catholic site on the TAG box so that people can visit it!
(Insert your name, your catholic blog/website link , and the "message" is your blog/site NAME)

Must go for now.

It's been nice to have coffee with you!

Kelly ;)

Confession

Busy catching up after so long being "down" with the flu.
(I am still sniffling and have a teeny left over that I'll keep an eye on.)

Not in full swing, but, while sitting inside on this cold dark day
I made up this Confession blog on blogger.
Feel free to check it out:
Get To Confession.

I'll add more when I can, but that was a LOT for me today...phew! ;P
I get tired easily still.

If you have any nice Confession links to sites, podcasts, or interviews, and wish to share them with others, let me know!
E-mail me and I'll add them.

Must get to bed. It's been a long day.

Today is the first day my chest is not hurting badly (I was going to rush to the doctor today).
I had a dream last night that I was in a Church building (not the chapel part, but just the big building part). I asked someone where the Adoration chapel was. They told me "First right after you enter the front door." I was like "hmmmm" and snuck away to see it! ;)
Well, low-and-behold, I didn't find any adoration chapel, but I did come across this HUGE HUGE statue of Mary, Our Lady of Grace! It was like the statue of libery.
There was this big bed (?) below it and I layed down to gaze up and contemplate it.
It was made of medal.
I noticed it move then..and quickly shut my eyes as if I were asleep...but I peeked!
I saw Mary take an angel that looked like 2 feet tall and in a white gown and she tenderly was straightening out the wrinkles of the gown and stuff...very sweetly.
When she was done, she let the little angel "go"...and went back to a statue!
I then opened my eyes as if I didn't see it, but I was wondering about it.
That's when I woke up.

You know, sometimes we have these funny dreams and don't know what to make of them (and perhaps nothing!). But, I always enjoy a dream where I see Mary :)) Don't you?!

Anyhow, have a good night.
We are expecting an ice storm in Dallas tonight.
I bet there will be no school tomorrow! Oh happy day! ;P

(PS: Sorry I didn't get the opportunity to change my music on here yet!)

Rosary Stars: the DVD!

I thought you all might like to know that Eduard Verastegui, the star

in Bella, is producing a DVD: "Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel".

Family Theater Productions' latest project is due to be released in

February 2009. The film will feature contemporary celebrities and

champions sharing their inspirational reflections on how they live and

pray the Rosary every day. Copy and paste the link below to see video

trailer. It is awesome!!! This is not meant to promote anything. It

is just another means of providing inspiration for those of us who

need to be reminded to do as Our Mother asks.



http://www.familytheater.org/tv_film-media_clip.html?pageFormat=popup&mediaClip=rosarystarstrailer.flv

Been Sick

Been sick with the flu and in bed for over a week.
Hope to be back online next week! God bless.
Prayers for life 1-22.
Kelly

Blooming

Grabbing a quick coffee.
Don't sit too close!
I have a cold...yes, it's been going around the nation and finally hit me. How silly to have thought I may possibly escape all other fellow's citizen's fate. :P
Yes, I have been gone a bit, but that is due to I was busy tending to my children who had it before me.
Excuse me as I grab a tissue....

I have a quick thought to share...something that I have been thinking about...

We had a pastor leave our parish.
He is fantastic and will be sorely missed.

In fact, he grew up in that very Catholic school and parish!
Neat, huh?
To have attended as a kid and grow up to be the pastor?!

Anyhow, he was there a long time.
He thought he would retire there.
They were his family.
He was quite attached.

That is what I have been pondering...
attachments we have.

As he spoke to address the Mass attendees,
he was really choked up.
He did not expect this curve ball this late in life.
He was going to have to be going out "into the deep"....
into strange lands...
foreign territory....
well, not so foreign as the new parish is within an hour's drive...
but "NEW" "Different" "Unknown".

(At least, a big comfort that I see in being a Catholic is the routine is the same regardless of where you go....per se....so it's not like something completely utterly unknown.)

But, I did see a deep attachment.

It got me thinking about attachment.

I moved a lot my whole life long....
all 29 years. (hahahaaha Okay, okay..so more than 29....)

I never had the chance to form big attachments to places
because I was used to having to "detach".

So, I felt his pain because he seemingly lived the opposite:
he lived attached to one place and one people...
even one building.

That had to hurt to be told "you're out in 2 weeks."

But...at the same time...
I was thinking:
Father, this is a perfect time to teach the lesson
"Bloom where you are planted."

(Usually the one who says that to the one who is being "planted" is not really appreciated by the one being "planted"...the one being planted usually is thinking:
"Why don't you just go and ....BLOOM!" :P )
That's just because it is difficult and someone going through something difficult
does want to hear short flippant sounding answers.

(Yes, I know. I have been there. I had to do the big fake smile and say, "Thanks!"
Well, the folks speaking little upbeat quips to you DO mean well...so that is appreciated.)

But, I think I was shocked at how hard this separation hit Father.
I felt his pain and so did every person sitting there in the pews.

It was sweet to see his love for everyone...
but it was a little surprising also to see the deep attachement.
Sure, he is human.
We all are.
But, especially as Christians, we need to show our sadness at our detachments with a mixture of:
God's Will be done!
Fiat!
And, I am not alone: God is with me always.
In fact, He resides in me!

I guess I was hoping he'd use the opportunity to teach us a little about that.
Be an example.
"Bloom where you are planted"

They say all healthy potted plants need repotting every now and then to stay healthy.
Maybe God knows this ;).

I was hoping it would be a teaching opportunity about
how everyone is human and forms attachments,
even him, yea, even a priest, but we have to learn
to let go and always keep our one main attachement:
God.
God's Will.
Because, in life, God should be our first love, our first home, our only home, our destination, our eternity, our eternal now, our present moment, our hope, our joy, our contentment, our source, our buddy/friend, our companion, our brother, our Father, our family, our constant....etc.

God is one thing that never changes.
He is always the same.
He never leaves us.
He gave thought to us, He bore us unto life, He is with us in life, He grasps us at death and welcomes us home.
Everything else is a far, albeit lovely in many instances, second.

I guess that was what I was hoping our Pastor would show.
This is definitely difficult.
I definitely will miss you.
I love you.
You were such a big part of my life.
It will be hard to release you...in fact, I won't...I'll keep you in my heart always.
I am sad.
I don't want to say goodbye.
I am scared to move on.
I don't know what my future holds.
I don't know if my next parish will be my last...so I go there without a net of security.
I don't know where I will wind up.
I may form new attachements and if I let them go as deep,
I'll be very hurt again and I am not sure I can do that.
I am afraid I'll close my heart a little to attachments due to that fear.
I want to do God's Will.
Sometimes, I am sad to find myself wanting to do it only with my feet kind of kicking.
I kind of hear a "no!" in my heart.
But, my "Yes! Thy Will be done." is louder and stronger than my no.
I don't like to admit I sometimes feel that "no."
You can't trust "feelings" as a way to make sound moral decisions.

I guess....
I was hoping he'd be the superman and say:
"This is so sad, but I am so in love with God and doing His will and serving Him,
that it's my joy to announce that I am moving to a new parish...."

Yet,
I was one who was told by a priest friend
Fr Peter Mary Rookey OSM
"Bloom where you are planted.
Let your very special light shine."
And, I thought:
But, how do I bloom? What does bloom mean in it's fullness?
I wonder if he realizes how hard it is to be separated
from every relative you have...
maybe he doesn't and maybe he's just trying to comfort me.
Maybe he does and is speaking from experience and wisdom.
(I decided it was the latter!)
I always held in my heart all these years of moves...
every child of mine was born in a different state....
always moving....
"Bloom where you are planted!"
Held it in my heart not as a flippant silly saying,
but as something deep to contemplate/meditate on.

Over the years I come to see what he meant/means.
There even leaves more for me to contemplate in that phrase.

But one thing I came out thinking,
after the Pastors sad departure speech,
was.....
instead of my first initial thoughts of:
"Why is he SO sad? You think he lost his entire world. He is God's priest by His own choice. He is here to go where God plants him..."...
I felt this deep compassion for him,
a man who is following his calling ....
who is doing God's will (and wonderfully so might I add)
a man who has a big heart and who opened it and had the courage to LOVE his people...
I came out with this:
Priests are human, too.

And,
I left with the conviction that we need to PRAY for our priests way more than we do.

Coffee break is over and I need to get back to bed and hopefully get better soon.

Our Lady, Mother of the Clergy, pray for them :)

Men and Porn: Confessor's Point of View

Time for a quick Cappuccino and quiet...and when I say quick, it's unfortunately quick! (But, that is what makes it all the more sweeter! A stolen peaceful quiet moment, ah, 'tis gold! ;)) Thanks for joining me. I'm rushing this (as it seems to be whenever you have gold, you're in a rush!).

I was given this PDF link on Porn and how addictive it is to men...well, it was discussing Catholic men in particular and it's the view point from the other side of the confessional (I am always curious about that point of view! Curiosity killed the cat, I know...I know.). Not from the side of the man struggling with the addiction or embarrassed to confess it (perhaps it took forever to overcome his fears of confessing it or "how" to confess it and all that that Satan puts into every sinner's mind prior to confessing),but, yes, from the view point of the priest sitting there who is NOT shocked per se at "this" confession penitent speaking, but just 'how many' of this exact same thing he has heard in the short space of 1.5 hours! It's pretty prevalent. (So, if you always wanted to confess this sin, if this is a sin of yours, there's no time like today to get it off your chest finally...release the embarrassment and fears of sounding like the 'weirdo of the parish' LOL...unfortunately, you are not alone.)

This article then goes on to also speak (naturally) of healing (Confession obviously involves forgiveness, grace and healing). It gives suggestions for healing after confession. It gives encouragement to keep on keeping on...when you fall under your cross, don't get discouraged, get up, wipe off the mud, and get back to walking the Walk of the Crucifixion which is our battle life. Battle is tough. You get wounded. But, a real hero and fighter does not give up, not even if he sheds some blood...until victory is declared. I know we'll see a lot of "Purple Hearts" in Heaven! (Just look at our Commander and Chief!) ;)

Anyhow, coffee's getting cold and it's time for tuck-ins, prayers, & stories. But, if you want to read this article or share it, HERE IS THE LINK.

Another good idea is for all of us to keep each other's back: to always pray for the addicted (to whatever!) for their release, their victory! To help them obtain the grace to fight and not get discouraged in battle.

Just think: when we do cross that "finish line" it's a done deal. No more struggle. Just victory and the rewards of victory! Forever, too! That is a very refreshing thought.

Good Night!

Some thoughts over my Cappuccino...

See to it that you're not suddenly saddened by the adversities of this
world, for you don't know the good they bring, being ordained in the
judgments of God for the everlasting joy of the elect.

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591AD) on Afflictions

Mini-Bio: Spanish; Carmelite priest, provincial, reformer, mystical writer, Doctor of the Church

That's sure true. Or, as I read somewhere else: we only see the "messy" side of the tapestry that God is sewing ("sowing") with your life...with your day...with your present moment. We look and think, "Ug." or "What the HECK could He be doing?" "Hmm...wonder if He really knows how to sew." :P
BUT--in reality, every cross-stitcher knows that the back MAY look messy (even some knots showing!) but the front is planned and lovely.
So, the reading went on, always know that God knows how to "sew" (sow) and knows exactly what He is doing and does it perfectly well! Have patience! Trust! (That's the hard part)

So, when you have one of "those days" or weeks...or "times"...
pray, hope, TRUST, and don't worry....
God is excellent at His "tapestries" and is creating something quite beautiful one day.
You'll see it and get a big sheepish grin perhaps and say:
"Oooooh..hehehehe...well, I didn't know..." :D *blush*
And, He'll look at you with a Fatherly twinkle in His eye and smile in his voice and say:
"I know you didn't. That is why I asked you to trust me." :D
"Now, child, did I disappoint you?"
You'll have the blush and big sheepish grin again and say,
"No, Father!" and then that grin will turn into a truly big joyful smile!

Trust.

Seems like the simplest little word.

Who doesn't trust God? If you don't trust Him, who can you trust?
YET....
hahahahaha.

So, let's resolve this year to TRUST more.

Especially when we notice "the knots" and start to feel that sinking feeling! :P

Our pro-death culture....

Having coffee and came across this story from The Times:

Read this sad story:

"Medics caught on tape allegedly decided disabled man NOT WORTH SAVING."

The death culture our Pope speaks about.  Sad.

Bless You!

Wishing you lots of blessings this next year!

Bless You Movie

(just a pretty peaceful little movie ;) )

I am here! :)

Hi!

Sorry for the delay in having coffee!

It's been c-r-a-z-y lately and I just (instead of getting frustrated) chalk it up to God's Will. (We own a rental home...a wonderful home, but the garage door opener broke and the garage door fell hard and broke LOL Omgosh...less than 2 week before Christmas?? (And, we were buying netbooks for all the kids, plus)...then, like 7 days before Christmas or less, the tenant called to say the microwave heating element broke. LOL God's Will definately!! CLEAR!! LOL So, we could not leave a family without that....esp. for the holidays! I know how much my family uses a microwave. So, we had to take a pass on seeing Santa and family stuff like that and instead went to Lowe's to pick out the nice micro (wow, prices dropped since we last purchased one!) and then my husband had to spend 2 hours installing it (the easy thing always happen to take 2 hours, no?! haha). Anyhow, they were so grateful and that made us happy to know that they had it :) as they are very good people. Single divorced mom of three. She wants to purchase it perhaps in Jan...we will see. We want to sell....so pray that it works out...would be nice :)

My thoughts today and recently are on the poorest of the poor......I have a heavy burden on my heart thinking of them and how to help.....doing a few things and some in the works.....but, it is sick to see the "rich" (speaking of those living beyond lavish lifestyles of total vanity and greed here) and then the poorest of the poor....just such a vast separation that does not seem right whatsoever.

Oh...someone commented earlier that my blog was "political" and I just wish to tell you that it is NOT. I am anything but. I HATE politics. I HATE HATE HATE it....wish I did not feel that way. My girlfriend's father was the governor of the state I lived in (major) and she even didn'tdly about dear ol' fake dad. I WAS speaking about politics because here in the USA we had a MAJOR election (between life an death, really). You, obviously, as a Catholic would discuss this with friends over a coffee. So, anyhow, this blog is never about politics..FYI :)))

Must go. I hope you had a blessed Advent and Christmas and I wish you a blessed New Year full of love, peace, hope, health, & joy!!! I'll be back in the New Year!! :)))

Happy Thanksgiving!

( Off this week)

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving (Americans ;) )!

A day when we reflect on our Thanksgiving for blessings that we have.

I have been reflecting on that and it's a bit overwhelming to think of ALL your blessings in your life...as there are so many...you start feeling a little ungrateful for having all these blessings yet on a normal daily basis kind of "forgetting" them...and letting the "small stuff" upset you (like a spilled cup of cappuccino! ;)). "Don't sweat the small stuff"

So many blessings!

So much to be grateful for! :)))

Trying to offer the best Thanksgiving by starting my day (tomorrow) with the Holy Sacrifice of Mass :))