Angel Marks

Today is a day of visits of angels.

Francis of Assisi was visited 800 years ago, and was imprinted with the marks of the suffering Christ by the saraph.

His side, pierced by a sword, his hands and feet pierced by the nails of the cross, just as all of Francis' life, a witness to the depth of God's Love for us.

Some wounds do not heal.  Some wounds are as upraised hands giving witness to the greatness of our Father, God and King.

Today I commemorate the death of one of my great guides, mentor and friend, my grandmother Lottie Kravitz, 20 years ago today. I pray she is in the company of angels, reunited with her husband, brother and sisters.  When the angels took her they left a great millstone of grief tied to my heart.

She suffered her share of life's tragedies, having lost her husband almost 25 years before her own death by cancer. She was a custom made godsend to her siblings, spouse, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was my biggest support when I was working through life's problems, and was with me on much of my spiritual journey.  Granny is a witness to the depth of God's Love for us.

I miss you Granny.   Some wounds do not heal.  Some wounds are as upraised hands giving witness to the greatness of our Father, God and King.

And how great, loving, and forgiving He is!

A Psalm of Thomas Merton

Today, Father, this blue sky lauds you.

The delicate green and orange flowers of the tulip poplar tree praise you.

The distant blue hills praise you,

together with the sweet-smelling air that is full of brilliant light.

The bickering flycatchers praise you

with the lowing cattle and the quails that whistle over there.

I too, Father, praise you, with all these my brothers,

and they give voice to my own heart and to my own silence.

We are all one silence, and a diversity of voices.

You have made us together,

you have made us one and many,

you have placed me here in the midst

as witness, as awareness, and as joy.

Here I am.

In me the world is present,

and you are present.

I am a link in the chain of light and of presence.

You have made me a kind of center,

but a center that is nowhere.

And yet also I am "here."

-Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, pp. 131-132

Deep Thanks

I am thankful to almighty God who has been so amazing in my life.  The gifts and the challenges all come together knowing that they are governed by your love.

I am thankful to my family, friends, angels and all those who are hanging on for waiting on the Lord.  Sometimes the gifts look like they may be delayed but they are on the way, arriving at the right time when God's Love is most needed to arrive in our lives.

I am Thankful for my family, some of whom are near but we will not be seeing today.  I think about those who we lost this year, and I am just thankful for those who are still with us to share moments of love  (and trial) with us.  I am so appreciative for all those who are gone and thankful to almighty God that he touched my life with their Love. Their presence in my life is missed but also is indelibly etched and interwoven into who I am today.

I am thankful for my wife, who bears with me and a whole lot of things that just do not make sense.  Thank you for not giving up on life and love.I thank God for the individual gifts my three boys bring into my(and our family's)  life.  I urge each to give God a place in your heart and he will repay you endlessly.

So many beautiful, wonderful people have touched my life.  I am thankful for them, their companionship, faith, loyalty, time and love. And for those people who touched my life with less them love, I forgive them, and wish for them to realize that Gods love is present today and every day for them.  If I have hurt you, I am sorry, I am not perfect, I wish you love and you certainly deserve to be treated wit the love and dignity of God's special child.

I mourn for all the victims of violence, and that would be all of us.  Some are touched in a profound way at times, and I  ask and am thankful for God's healing touch. When God's love is fully realized, we can be even more thankful and filled with love and peace. Thankfulness is one of the doors that allow love to enter our lives.

Autumn Advent Dance

I haven't been left behind
I haven't been swept away in time
I am a witness to your work in this day
I proclaim that you have not gone away.

I see the sorrow, hurt and pain
Which I cannot make go away
My soul is eased when I call your name
My body shakes and my heart awaits

The sun goes down
I'm waiting here
You promised
you are drawing near.

The time of silence
Where love renews
a time when I give myself
up to you.

God's Answering-Machine-Encompassing Love

Gods love is all encompassing... and a mystery...

I was asked to be acolyte for my first funeral at St. James, my home parish.  I was there for a funeral a couple of months ago, for my wife's best friend Jean.  Our usual acolyte Barbara isn't usually able to help at funerals on Thursday, so I was called and I accepted.

The funeral was for a lovely lady named Marie, I looked up her obituary and prayed for her before the funeral, than set up for a most beautiful funeral Mass.  A family member got up and spoke about how well loved she was, and how she made everyone feel loved.   Our Pastor talked about God's love, and how the loss of her father at a young age was formative.  He assured us that her love was now within everyone who loved her, especially her family because her love was from God, So this love will not end, will not die, even though the person is physically gone.  I was aware of little problems I was having in preparing for the funeral, and with some of the logistics of the service. (After all the acolyte leads the procession with the cross, not following the priest and the urn, correct?)

Guess what, my little problems did not enhance, nor deter from Gods work at that service.  I only hope that my little problems never take away from Gods service.  I also hope that dispute my problems God's love can shine through, and as it does I will smile, not for myself, but for my ever-loving God who set up this whole thing.

So I went home, and my mom, who is in a retirement home, wanted me to try and fix her answering machine (answering machine... really?!?).  So I go with my sister for a long overdue visit to mom, she was about to sit down in the dining room for dinner, but she brought us up to the room to look at the little misbehaving beastie.

We stopped in the hallway to talk to mom's friend.  Now I sometimes do a communion service on Sunday for the residents, but I have not been there in a few months.  I miss the folks and apparently I am missed as well.  Mom's friend tells me to pray for her mother who passed away.  I questioned this, and in doing so, discovered that we had the funeral for Mom's friend's mother this morning.

I assured her that I was there, and praying for her, her mother and her family.
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So we get to mom's room and the little gadget gets power but none of the buttons work.  It is a model whch does not have tape or anything serviceable, so a little shaking, jiggling and otherwise manhandling the device made no difference.

Well, mom wants the thing to work, but it doesn't.  I tried to convince her that voice mail could be an easier option, but the concept was confusing.  I told her we will have to look for a new one.

Now I have to find me a time machine to go back to the time of answering machines.  And start going to visit mom on Sundays again.

A Prayer for a Gracious Lady

Dear Lord, a lovely lady left her earthly home tonight,
gaily taking the upper path that leads to you and light.
She will be a little lonely, and a little weary too,
and she might not know just how to turn when heaven comes into view.  
So it would be a kindly thing to send the Little Flower
to meet her on the pathway and lead her to her bower.
And may she have a garden, it matters not how small,
with larkspur for summer and asters for fall.
And would your Mother Mary drop in some day for tea,
and chat, in women fashion, each had a child You see.
And may it be Your gracious will, when she lies down to rest,
to send her dreams of homefolks, of those she loved the best.
If you could do these things, dear Lord, It would ease us in our plight,
for she was a gracious lady who went home to You this night.
- Anne Carpenter.

Thumbtack.com

I was just searching through the job boards and came across Thumbtack.com.  It looks like a great place to advertise your services as well as search for professional help you may need.  As I have been working on webistes lately this site is of interest to me.   Check it out here: Web Design!

The Jesus Prayer - A Meditation

Let us look closely at the familiar prayer: 

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.” 

Within these words are a rich meaning and a prayer for our own conversion

Lord—Why is Jesus Lord?  He is the master, He is the way to eternal life. His life death and resurrection show us that He is Savior and God.  We owe him no less then everything 

Jesus Christ—God, anointed as Christ, and Jesus the human together in one being.  We are aninted by virtue of the work of Jesus on earth, so we are also other Christs. But all    needs to go through Him to ake sense for us, who are other and holy as well.

Sinner—We separate ourselves from the Love of God every day.  Once we realize this, we can take on the nature of sinner.  We need to remember that being sinner means being able to accept the forgivenss and mercy of God.

Mercy—We do not get mercy ourselves without God.  Once we fill with Gods merdy and realize it, we will overflow with that mercy and become more an instrument of Gods love mercy and peace in our everyday lives.

By saying the words repeatedly, and meditating upon them, the prayer moves from head into heart and Jesus will welcome you to his true presence. "Peace be with you!".

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.”

A Hail Mary for Pope Francis

I believe this is timely, especially since  he has invited leaders to
the Vatican to  pray.

   POPE FRANCIS MAKES A REQUEST

Weep not for what you have lost, fight for what you have.
Weep not for what is dead, fight for what was born in you.
Weep not  for the one who abandoned you, fight for who is with you.
Weep not for those who hate you, fight for those who want you.
Weep not for your past, fight for your present struggle.
Weep not for your suffering, fight for your happiness.

With things that are happening to us, we begin to learn that nothing
is impossible to solve, just move forward.


THE HOLY FATHER MAKES A REQUEST FOR PRAYERS THAT GOD PROTECTS HIM AND GIVES HIM STREGNTH TO MEET  THIS DIFFICULT  TASK ... SO BE IT!!

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou

among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 

             Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,              now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

We pray for the Holy Father that the heavenly Mother intercedes for
him and protects him in his ministry.

Please pray for Pope Francis!

Prayer for a Happy Death

Meditiation: 
Praying for a happy death

We must die to self each day

Christ can then be birthed more in our lives

We should not miss the dead part of us

Except to learn from it, using it to cultivate and enrich life.

We  should welcome the newness God provides,

And when finally, the I has died,

Christ is born again, resurrected and free in the world.

Prayer:
A prayer for a happy death
Lord help me to die to myself today
Take these daily deaths
As an offering to you.
Scatter the ashes of these deaths
Over our lives
Come into my life anew
Be my life renewed
Roll the Stone away and call me forth.

Jesus says you are going to be o.k

A Note from our fraternity minister: 

Pray for Father Victor Martin, Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield.  Father Martin has recently been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and he shared this information with his Parishioners during Sunday Mass.  A friend who was there shared the following story with our Rosary group at St. Pius X Church in Fairfield last Friday.  After this Mass at St. Thomas Church, a little boy about 5 or 6 years old told his mother that he needed to talk to Father Martin.  When he saw Father Martin he told him the following:  "Father, when you held up the Host, I saw Jesus.  The little boy then threw his arms around Father Martin's legs and hugged him and said, "Jesus says you are going to be o.k.". 

I know this is unusual but I wanted to "Give God the Glory" by telling you about this story.  What a mighty God we have!  He loves us so much and He will go to great lengths to let His children know how much He loves each and every one of us--even speaking through a child!  We are so blessed to be God's children.  

Meditation: One in Love

I sat a while in this meditation from Richard Rohr.  I believe St. Francis often prayed within this oneness.


Rest: Object Meditation

Look around you and notice your surroundings at this moment. Let your eyes fall on some object—perhaps a candle, tree, rock, or creature. Simply observe the object, without judging or labeling. Give your full attention, senses, and presence to this object.

Gradually let your gaze soften and take in the more-than-matter-ness that is also here. Deepen your awareness of God’s presence within this thing and within you.

Rest in silence for several minutes (or continue with a longer time of contemplative prayer) and then turn your gaze to bless the rest of the room, landscape, and world in which you find yourself, one in Love.

A Prayer of Pope Francis

Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own 'yes'
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Filled with Christ's presence,
you brought joy to John the Baptist,
making him exult in the womb of his mother.
Brimming over with joy,
you sang of the great things done by God.

Standing at the foot of the cross,
with unyielding faith,
you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection,
and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit
so that the evangelizing Church might be born.

Obtain for us now a new ardor born of the resurrection,
that we may bring to all the Gospel of Life
which triumphs over death.
Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,
that the gift of unfading beauty may reach
every man and woman.

Virgin of listening and contemplation,
Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast,
pray for the Church,
whose pure icon you are,
that she may never be closed in on herself
or lose her passion for establishing God's kingdom.

Star of the new evangelization,
help us to bear radiant witness
to communion, service, ardent and generous faith,
justice and love of the poor,
that the joy of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earthy,
illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God's little ones, pray for us!
Amen! Alleluia!
(Source: Evangelii Gaudium, 288)

A prayer for the coming of Christ in My Life

Father God,

Thank you for the advent gifts of hope, peace, joy and love.
By accepting and opening thse gifts in my life, I realize that I need a savior.  Because I accept Jesus, your Son as my Savior my life is forever changed.

May I always be the face of forgiveness- just as Jesus forgave sins and so opened communications between God and man as well as each other. Give me courage to be forgivness in a society that expects revenge as payment for hurt.

May I always be the face of nonviolence, treating others as I myself would want to be treated. Give me the ability to see your presence in each heart so that I may treat others as I would treat God, for he truely exists in each created person.

May I always be the face of unconditional love, a love that is freely received and given. Give me the ability to walk a mile in the shoes of others, and to see that you walk with and love them as you surely do patiently with me.

In doing these things, not on my own power but yours, Father, may the fruit of your gifts and your work with in me be a world that knows your love, where justice and peace shall kiss.

I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Joy

The joy of children
Returned to absent parents
See heaven on earth.

The joy of parents
Returned to absent children
Live heaven on earth.

The joy of heaven
Returned to lifeless earth
Witness Peace and Love.

Prayer for Peace in Syria

GOD OF COMPASSION,

LISTEN TO THE CRIES
OF THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA.

Give comfort to those who suffer
because of the violence,
console those who mourn their dead,
and strength to neighboring countries
to welcome the refugees.

Convert the hearts of
those who resort to arms
and protect those who
work to promote peace.

GOD OF HOPE,

inspire leaders to choose
peace instead of violence
and to seek reconciliation with their enemies.
Inspire compassion in the universal Church
for the Syrian people and give us hope
for a future of peace based on justice for all.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Light of the world.

AMEN.

Prayer of My Mission

My God has gotten me through past job losses.
My God has been with me through family crises
My God has gotten me through cancer, depression and loneliness.
I am a man on a mission traversing this life
Spreading but one message:
My God is love
And he loves every person I meet, touch or even hear about today.
I accept that love, and true acceptance means that I need to love them too.
That's kind of scary, until I realize that the God who has seen me through this life
Is the only power I have that will let me achieve that love.
Lord be my power today and every day.
Let me be your face to one of your beloved today.

I remember you my friend

I remember you my friend.
I'm glad to know that you were mine
Shared Days we were close,
Some Days we were far away;
These Days blur into yesterday.

Now in God You are today
The laughing sun
The crying rain
Far above the time given pain.
For all todays even when memory fades.

My friend stands in my life
So filled by friends
Even such as these
Wih Bodies gone.

I would not lie, would not forget
The touch that makes a life.
Touch shared in time
I tucked away
Within the heart,
By the heart the touch
returned to life.

The Wrong Funeral

God is so powerful and He speaks to us in so many wonderful ways,  even through a story passed along in email.  God bless you the reader,  the writer of this piece, and my dear sister who sent this to me. - PK  AND WE THINK GOD DOESN'T TALK TO US? Consumed by my loss, I didn't notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend - my mother. She finally had lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense; I found it hard to breathe at times. Always supportive, Mother clapped loudest at my school plays, held a box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me at my father's death, encouraged me in college, and prayed for me my entire life. When mother's illness was diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently married his childhood sweetheart, so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle female child without entanglements, to take care of her. I counted it an honor. "What now, Lord?" I asked sitting in church. My life stretched out before me as an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face toward the cross while clutching his wife's hand. My sister sat slumped against her husband's shoulder, his arms around her as she cradled their child. All so deeply grieving, no one noticed I sat alone. My place had been with our mother, preparing her meals, helping her walk, taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication, reading the Bible together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished, and I was alone. I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. Quick footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor. An exasperated young man looked around briefly and then sat next to me. He folded his hands and placed them on his lap. His eyes were brimming with tears. He began to sniffle. "I'm late," he explained, though no explanation was necessary. After several eulogies, he leaned over and commented, "Why do they keep calling Mary by the name of 'Margaret?'" "Because, that was her name, Margaret. Never Mary, no one called her 'Mary,'" I whispered. I wondered why this person couldn't have sat on the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving with his tears and fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway? "No, that isn't correct," he insisted, as several people glanced over at us whispering, "her name is Mary, Mary Peters." "That isn't who this is." "Isn't this the Lutheran church?" No, the Lutheran church is across the street. "I believe you're at the wrong funeral, Sir." The solemnness of the occasion mixed with the realization of the man's mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter. I cupped my hands over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs. The creaking pew gave me away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made the situation seem more hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, misguided man seated beside me. He was laughing too, as he glanced around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful exit. I imagined Mother laughing. At the final "Amen," we darted out a door and into the parking lot. "I do believe we'll be the talk of the town," he smiled. He said his name was Rick and since he had missed his aunt's funeral, asked me out for a cup of coffee. That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me with this man who attended the wrong funeral, but was in the right place. A year after our meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right on time. In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter. In place of loneliness, God gave me love. This past June, we celebrated our twenty-second wedding anniversary.  Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells them, "Her mother and my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it's truly a match made in heaven." If you Love God for all the marvelous things he has done for you, send this on to others. REMEMBER, God doesn't make mistakes. He puts us where we are supposed to be.

Life begins...

You can choose to do it alone
with someone else
or with God...

Walk to the edge.
Listen hard. Laugh. Play with abandon.
Practice wellness.
Continue to learn.
Choose with no regret.
Appreciate your friends.
Lead or follow a leader.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.

-Mary Anne Radmacher

I have made my choice. I am alive in Christ.