Sunday Snippets - May 1

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?

Here are my contributions for this week:
I Know I Am Catholic
Love
Jesus is Our Light

Sabbath Moments - Jesus is Our Light

Sabbath moments are the moments we rest in God, when we take time to just Be with God rather than Do. Sabbath moments are also those times when we live in the moment and find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share about it in a comment!
I am glad to be back to posting this meme after skipping last week because of Easter. Here are some of my sabbath moments this week:
1. Despite my disappointment at the turn out at a Mass for victims of child abuse, the Mass itself was beautiful. The readings were great. The gospel was the one from Matthew about not being afraid because "you are worth more than many sparrows." Also Jesus said - "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."
The music included Amazing Grace and Shelter Me, O God and I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say. In that song, the last verse begins - I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's light..." and ends with "I looked to Jesus and I found in him my star, my sun..."
Beautiful words. Healing words. Words of hope. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing light into this dark world.
2. Spent Easter Sunday with my stepchildren and children and many of our grandchildren. My youngest son could not be there - :( - but we plan to see him soon! My youngest grandbaby whose pictures grace this blog quite often was the hit of the day! It was a fun and joyful day filled with family.
3. The Triduum was quite moving as usual. My favorite 3 days of the year to be sure. The liturgies are always so moving and I was blessed to be able to lector on Holy Thursday. Throughout these days, I shed many tears of joy.
Hope you all had a blessed Easter!

Let Us Not Forget the Children

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Today we traveled to our diocesan cathedral for a Mass for all victims of child abuse. 

The Mass was beautiful. Our Bishop's homily was wonderful. The music was moving and the prayer said by all at the end was powerful. But....

The attendance was terrible. Maybe 40?

Is it apathy? I don't know. All I know is that I was terribly disappointed.

What really bothers me is that this is the reason why child sexual abuse is able to happen in the first place. So many people looking the other way.

I know that most people do not want child sexual abuse to happen. But that means we have to step out there and do what we can to stop it. Certainly attending a beautiful Mass celebrated by our Bishop is not too difficult?

There are still children being abused in all walks of life, in all areas of society. And they are wandering around like I did when I was a child. Alone. Scared. In pain. Confused. Hating themselves. And thinking it is all their fault.

Please. Pray for all victims of child abuse.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Thankful for Blessings - April 27

I love Wednesdays because it is the day I join my special friend, Judy, in this thankful meme at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. In this meme we give thanks for the five things we are most thankful for this past week and then link to Judy's blog. Be sure to also check out her website when you visit! Thank you, Judy, for helping me keep an attitude of gratitude!
1. I loved Holy Week and the time with my family on Easter Sunday. Such a beautiful and grace-filled time. Thank you, Jesus.
2. Books - I love books. Usually I read non-fiction, especially Catholic non-fiction, but sometimes I enjoy a light fun fiction that just entertains me. Anyone have any suggestions? Thank you Lord, for the gift of books and reading and writing!
3. My birthday is this week and my husband is planning a special dinner for me and he already took me shopping! What fun! He spoils me. Thank you, Lord, for bringing this wonderful man into my life. And thank you for all my birthdays!
4. I am grateful for my job. I love working at the church. And we got Easter Monday off! I got some much needed rest- we had a 4 day weekend! I really enjoyed that extra day.
5. Prayers - I love spending time with God in prayer, especially time before the Blessed Sacrament. I love the prayers that many of the saints have given us. And I also appreciate my family and friends praying for me.
How about you? What are you thankful for?

I Know I Am Catholic

I love Holy Week. I love all the liturgies. I especially love the Triduum, as we make the journey with Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross to the Resurrection.

And at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, as I watch the newly baptized and confirmed, I am reminded of my own entrance into the Catholic Church over 20 years ago.

This year I was able to go to the Chrism Mass, held in our diocese on Tuesday of Holy Week. I haven’t been to one in a few years and I forgot how beautiful and inspiring it is.

And in the middle of the Bishop’s homily, it suddenly hit me: I am Catholic.

Not just in name. Not just as a convert (although I am very proud of that). But I realized I am so totally Roman Catholic that I breathe and think and feel and practically bleed Catholic.

I thought back over that day, wondering what led me to these thoughts.

First, when I saw a group of protesters in front of the entrance to our diocesan Cathedral, I became so annoyed (without getting into a whole other subject, suffice it to say that it was Catholics protesting Church policy.) After all, I thought, it was Holy Week, and this was the Chrism Mass, and Jesus Christ should be the focus of our hearts and minds. To think they would detract from that really bothered me.

Later when I overheard someone criticize the pope, I could feel my blood pressure go up and I felt so sad at the same time.

Next, I got goosebumps as I watched the procession into the Cathedral - so many deacons (including my husband) and priests and then the bishop. I was so moved.

Still moved, I watched the bringing up of the oils to be blessed and I listened to the priests renew their commitment promises.

All of this got me to thinking about the reasons I know I am Catholic. (Some were a little tongue in cheek like - I know I am Catholic because most of the apps on my iphone are Catholic apps! Well, I don't want to take myself TOO seriously)

That being said, here are some more serious reasons:

I know I am Catholic because ...

I have grown in my love for Mary and the Saints.

I know I am Catholic because ...

I love incense and rosary beads and crucifixes.

I know I am Catholic because ...

I love going to confession and knowing I am forgiven.

I know I am Catholic because ...

I love the Mass.

I know I am Catholic because ...

When I receive the Eucharist, I sit in silence, knowing I have received Jesus, and I thank Him, often with tears rolling down my cheeks. Is there any better reason than that?

After our Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, I overheard a new convert proudly proclaim - I am Catholic!

I rejoice with her and I pray that someday we will all be one church.

Anyone wish to add to my list?

Love

I went to visit Jean, a blogging friend of mine, at her blog, Healthy Spirituality, and found this video on her blog. It is only a minute long and it brought me to tears. This gospel reading is one of my favorites and this is why.

Jesus Christ is Risen!

Wishing you all a blessed and happy Easter!

Still Too Cute!

I just need a few minutes and I will be back to play!

Sunday Snippets - Happy Easter!

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?

Here are my contributions for this week:
The Hope of Holy Week

Thankful for Blessings - Thank You, Jesus

This is a special week - Holy Week. What a great time to give thanks for our blessings! Let's join my special friend, Judy, in this thankful meme at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings today and every Wednesday!
Here are some of my blessings this week:
1. It is Holy Week! My favorite week of the year. It is such a special time to journey with Jesus and be reminded of his great love for us. Thank you, Jesus.
2. I went to the Chrism Mass Tuesday. At this Mass priests renew their commitment of service and the oils used all year in the church are blessed. It is very moving and I felt it was such a great beginning to Holy Week. Thank you, Jesus.
3. Penance Service - I went to a penance service and that is always such a blessing to confess and receive absolution, knowing I am forgiven. Thank you, Jesus.
4. My oldest son is digging into our family ancestry very seriously. He just started and I have already learned some new things. He is doing this for his son. What a blessing. Thank you, Jesus.
5. I am grateful for the Church and that I am Catholic. It has been 23 years now since my conversion. It changed my life forever. Thank you, Jesus.

The Hope of Holy Week

The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!" (Mt 27:54)

This is Holy Week. This is the week when we journey with Christ on His Way of the Cross. This is the week when we observe the suffering, the dying, and the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

The sexual abuse issues in the Church don't seem to want to go away. The news coming out about the Philadelphia diocese having to suspend over 20 priests really jump-started my feelings of grief this Lent. Is it ever going to be over?

And then along came Hope. With a capital H.

It came in the person of an archbishop from Ireland who gave the opening address at a 2 day conference at Marquette University (I knew nothing about this. Did you?). The conference was called "Harm, Hope and Healing: International Dialogue of the Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal."

I read the opening remarks by Archbishop Martin from Dublin. You really need to read them for yourself but he made it clear that the children need to come first. Here is one particularly moving section of his speech: 

"One victim constantly reminds me that the stern words of Jesus in Saint Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 18:6) about the “great millstone” to be fastened around the neck of anyone who becomes a stumbling block for the “little ones”, are quickly followed (Mt 18:12) by the teaching on the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one who has been lost.  

This victim reminds me that it is the lost child, the molested child who should be at the center of our attention. The Church should be actively seeking out victims to embrace them with the healing power of Jesus Christ. Victims rarely feel that they are been given priority over the ninety-nine."
Amen.

I had requested a Mass intention this week for survivors of child sexual abuse and I was able to attend that Mass. After I brought up the gifts, I was sitting in my pew, only half-listening, thinking about what it had meant to me to bring up those gifts.

I felt as if I was representing all survivors of sexual abuse. It was as if I had been offering myself and my pain and suffering to God in the hope of healing for all survivors.
Tears came to my eyes as I thought of Hope and its meaning. The hope that God is with us always and we will one day be with him and he will wipe away all our tears.
The Hope that is Jesus.
We all suffer but we never suffer alone.If we ever lose hope, we only need to travel with Jesus through Holy Week.
If we ever lose sight of what Jesus did for us, and does for us, then we need only travel with Him these holiest of days.
Dear Jesus, thank you for saving us and healing us and loving us. Thank you for suffering for us and with us. May we never lose sight of the hope you have given us. You are all we need.
Amen.

Sunday Snippets - April 17

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?

Here are my contributions for this week:
Why I Love Jesus
And Jesus Wept

Sabbath Moments - Peace and Play

Sabbath moments are the moments we rest in God, when we take time to just Be with God rather than Do. Sabbath moments are also those times when we live in the moment and find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share about it in a comment!
1. Another crazy week and I was so tired, I dragged myself to work and then dragged myself back again. I was due for my Remicade infusion (for my RA) so I am hoping that is what it was. The 2 hour infusion gave me time to slow down and look out the big windows at the trees and birds and butterflies. Have I told you how much I love butterflies?
2. Eucharistic Adoration. As usual, I have no words to describe my time with Jesus.
3. Spent last weekend with my son and his family. Had plenty of Sabbath moments just being with them, watching my grandson crawl like crazy all over the place and testing his limits for the very first time in his life. Playing with a baby is a really beautiful Sabbath moment.
4. I am home alone right now. I am sitting in my chair in my living room and I can hear the chimes ringing on my porch - beautiful music in the middle of the silence. Ahhhhhhh. Peace.
I wish you all a beautiful and blessed Holy Week. While I hope we all experience many Sabbath Moments, I will not be posting this meme next week because of the holy days. See you in 2 weeks. Hugs to all!

Thankful for Blessings -Buddy, Baby and Books

I love Wednesdays because it is the day I join my special friend, Judy, in this thankful meme at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. In this meme we give thanks for the five things we are most thankful for this past week and then link to Judy's blog. Be sure to also check out her website when you visit! Thank you, Judy, for helping me keep an attitude of gratitude!
1. Reading Thirty Days, a book by Paul Mariani, about his experience of a 30 day Ignatian retreat. Makes me feel like I am on retreat with him. I am so grateful for books like this!
2. God's mercy - what a gift! To know God loves us so much, that he forgives us with compassion and tender mercy.
3. My best friend - we have been friends for over 50 years! What a great gift. The Lord knew I needed a forever kind of friend. Thank you, Jesus.
4. Spring  - experiencing renewal in my spiritual life and renewal in the weather. And Holy Week is next week! Praise God!
5. My grandson  - we visited him last weekend. What a great time! My son and his wife and their baby boy reminded me of when my husband and I were a young married couple with a baby son. Of course, I have a picture here!

Why I Love Jesus

I have been tagged by Barb at Suffering with Joy and Karinann at Daughter of the King, for a meme called Why I love Jesus. 

The rules for this meme are:
- Those tagged will share 5 things they "love" about Jesus
- Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers
- Those tagged will provide a link in the comment section
   here with their names so that others can read them

As usual I am going to break the rules and I invite all who read this and visit my blog to join in this meme! 

I love this meme. It helps us to remember and voice the reasons why we love Jesus and perhaps turn these reasons into a prayer. What a blessing.

Five reasons I love Jesus:

1. Jesus loves me.

2. Jesus forgives me.

3. Jesus suffered and died for me.

4. Jesus revealed to us God the Father.

5. Jesus promises to be with us until the end of time.

Amen.

And Jesus Wept

When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping,
he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said,
“Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”
And Jesus wept. - John 11:33-35

Meister Eckhart said - "You may call God love, you may call goodness, but the best name for God is compassion."

I did not know this compassion until I met a priest who, through his compassion, revealed this Jesus to me. A Jesus I had never known. A Jesus with so much compassion, he weeps when we weep. He suffers when we suffer.

In my book about surviving child sexual abuse, I described a time when I did an imaging exercise where I pictured Jesus being in my room when I was being abused and I saw him crying.

I no longer needed to ask the question, "Where was God?"

The word compassion literally means - "to suffer with." I know in my heart that Jesus suffered with me when I was being abused and whenever I have suffered. 

In fact he more than suffers. He weeps.

Jesus, thank you for always being with me. Thank you for weeping for me, for suffering with me so I know I am never alone. Help me to bring your compassion to others as others have done for me. I love you. Amen.

Sunday Snippets - April 10

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?

Here are my contributions for this week:
I Do Believe
Thankful for Blessings
Storms, Sunrise and Chants

Sabbath Moments - Prayers, Friends and Rest

Sabbath moments are the moments we rest in God, when we take time to just Be with God rather than Do. Sabbath moments are also those times when we live in the moment and find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share about it in a comment!
1. More evenings this week spent in silent reflection and listening to Gregorian chant. This seems to be the way the Lord has called me to pray this Lent.
2. Took a day off and, feeling very tired, I just relaxed: watching TV, reading, resting, praying. No work. We all need days like this once in awhile.
3. Out to eat breakfast with friends after Mass, sitting on a pier near a marina and enjoying the warmth of the sun, feeling the gentle breeze, watching the birds. Laughing with our friends. A beautiful morning filled with God.
How was your week? Do you want to share some of your sabbath moments?

Thankful for Blessings - April 6

I love Wednesdays because it is the day I join my special friend, Judy, in this thankful meme at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. In this meme we give thanks for the five things we are most thankful for this past week and then link to Judy's blog. Be sure to also check out her website when you visit! Thank you, Judy, for helping me keep an attitude of gratitude!
Some of my blessings this week -
1. Lent - this time of renewal and prayer and devotions - why do I wait til Lent to do some of this stuff? I love Lent and the closeness I feel to Jesus.
2. The Seven Sacraments - I remember my youngest son once telling me that he wanted to be a deacon because he could receive all 7 sacraments! Sacraments are encounters with Jesus. To think that we encounter Jesus every time we receive the Eucharist and every time we go to confession. What gifts Jesus gives us through His Church.
3. Rain - we had some rain this week and we really needed it! Makes it really feel like spring.
4. My job and my co-workers. It is a privilege to work for the church and to work with others who feel the same way. I take it for granted sometimes and I need to remind myself what a blessing it is.
5. My husband - my best friend, who makes me laugh and fills my life with joy everyday. He is the sunshine of my life! Thank you, Jesus.

I Do Believe

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

He answered and said, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"

Jesus said to him, "You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he."

He said, "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him. - John 9:35-38

The man who had been born blind was thrown out by the Pharisees and Jesus went to find him. 

Why? To make sure the man believed?

Was there really any doubt when, after being interrogated by the Pharisees, the man continued to speak the truth? 

Each of us is important to Jesus. He loves us all all, even the Pharisees among us. But he knows we sometimes need to remind ourselves and others that we really do see. We really do have faith.

Sometimes we too need to have our eyes opened.

Sometimes we too need to make a profession of faith and say, Yes, I believe.

I love that Jesus went out after that man, because He went out after me, too. I have believed in Jesus my whole life. But I lived a lukewarm faith until the day my eyes were opened about the Eucharist and the Catholic Church.

Over 20 years ago, I made my Profession of Faith at the Easter Vigil and became Catholic. And my life has never been the same.

Jesus spoke to me and I said, "I do believe, Lord."

When others interrogate you or insult you about your faith or your beliefs, what will you say when Jesus asks you to make a profession of faith?

Jesus, help me to keep my eyes and my heart open to you always. Help me to say to others and to you, Yes, Lord, I believe.

image source

Sunday Snippets - April 3

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?

Here are my contributions for this week:
Come to the Water
God-Incidence
Some News to Report

Sabbath Moments - Storms, Sunrise and Chant

Sabbath moments are the moments we rest in God, when we take time to just Be with God rather than Do. Sabbath moments are also those times when we live in the moment and find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share about it in a comment!
1. God so often gives me Sabbath moments through nature. The other morning, as I got into my car to go to work, I saw this huge red ball in the sky ahead of me. It seemed close enough to the earth to light the trees on fire! In fact it almost seemed close enough for me to touch. Instead of hurrying off to work like I would normally do, I stopped and paused and watched the sun rise for a few minutes. And then I sang my praises to God on my drive into a new day.
2. One day we were getting warnings of a terrible storm headed our way. Having lived in Florida for over 32 years, I didn't get too excited. As we head into warmer weather, we will soon be getting thunderstorms almost every day. That is Florida. I am used to it. Rain finally came hours later than expected and nothing too frightening or noisy. But I enjoyed hearing the rain on the roof and I felt warm and dry and cozy inside my home.
3. Took some time this week after dinner to spend some alone time in the bedroom and listen to some Gregorian chant and pray. Really was a beautiful time for me and the Lord.
How was your week? Did you find some Sabbath moments?

He is Crawling!