Easter for 8 days! Celebrate!!

*During the Easter Octave revisit one of the readings of the Easter Vigil for each of the 8 days.

 

Pray:  That I would receive these things more fully and with gratitude...

 

DAY ONE - 1st Reading:  Gn 1:1—2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a -  Creation Story

…the gift that he has given us that we have no part of and no claim to. 

 

DAY TWO - 2nd Reading:  Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 – Abraham and Isaac

…Is there any place where I am not trusting you?  Strengthen me.  Is there anything I am clinging to?  Help me surrender.

 

DAY THREE - 3rd Reading:  Ex 14:15—15:1 – Parting of the Red Sea

…Is there any place in my life where I am held captive? Stuck? Need defense against my enemies? Are there any obstacles I need removed?

 

DAY FOUR - 4th Reading:  Is 54:5-14 – The Lord Calls you Back

…Lord, in what ways do I need to be reconciled to you?  Help me to be faithful.

 

DAY FIVE -  5th Reading:  Is 55:1-11 – All you who are thirsty, come to the water.

…Lord, show me where I am trying to earn your blessing.  Where do I need to be more secure?  Help me to give up trying to earn or manufacture your love.  Help me to trust in your love as it is given as an unearned, freely given gift. 

 

DAY SIX - 6th Reading:  Bar 3:9-15, 32C4:48 – Love Wisdom

…Lord, whose wisdom I am trying to follow? Help me to follow your plan for my life. Help me to set aside opinions of others and seek you out instead, welcoming you, following you. 

 

DAY SEVEN - 7th Reading:  Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28 – I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you.

…Lord, help me to receive a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Help me to be transformed by the renewal of my mind.  Make my heart like yours so that I may forever live in glory –under the loving gaze of the Father!

 

DAY EIGHT - 8th Reading:  Rom 6:3-11  - If, then, we have died with Christ… we shall also live with him. 

…that I may be glad and rejoice intensely because of your great joy and glory, my Risen Lord Jesus!  (from the 4th week of the Spiritual Exercises)

 

 *from notes taken by Jackie Logue at Easter Vigil – St. Patrick’s Church 4-23-2011.  Father Scott Traynor presiding.

Easter for 8 days! Celebrate!!

LENT 2011

Thought for the day ... G. Giaquinta

Let us meditate on what it means to risk, to dare, to let go and let God, to lay ourselves on the line and declare “Your will be done, use me as you will.”

LENT 2011

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

My Mother, My Confidence!

 

Dear Tom, Mike and James:

 

Today is your anniversary as Social Animators. Do you remember April 4, 2002? You committed yourselves to promote brotherhood within society and prayed,

“May the thirst of the Crucified Lord

and the gaze of Mary,

our mother and sister,

encourage me to be

light, leaven, and presence

of Christ in the world.”

Congratulations, dear brothers! Know that we are proud of you, pray for you, and wish you to actualize God’s plan of holiness and brotherhood for you and through you for society.

 

In Jesus’ peace and love,

The Apostolic Oblates, and the Pro Sanctity Movement

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Lenten Rosary #3

 

Meditated Rosary

Attending the School of the Cross

 

 “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself.” (Mt. 16:24)

 

First Mystery

Jesus is in agony in the garden of Gethsemane.

Let us ponder this mystery to learn what must change in our lives to conform ourselves to Jesus.

Second Mystery

Jesus is scourged.

In this mystery we enter into the physical suffering of Jesus. Unite your sufferings with His.

 

Third Mystery

Jesus is crowned with thorns.

As we ponder the humiliations that Jesus underwent in loving silence, let us look at the sin of pride in our lives and express our desire to enter His silence, united in love.

 

Fourth Mystery

Jesus carries the Cross to Calvary.

Jesus freely embraced the weight of the Cross. What cross is He inviting us to freely embrace that we resist?

 

Fifth Mystery

Jesus dies on the Cross

Death was the price that Jesus paid for our salvation. Pray for an expanded desire to participate in his redemptive work.

 

Lenten Rosary #3

Lenten Rosary #2

Lenten Rosary #2

“The LORD, your God, shall you fear; Him shall you serve, and by His name shall you swear.”       (Dt 6:1-13)

 

FIRST MYSTERY: JESUS ACCEPTS HIS CALL: “NOT MY WILL FATHER, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE.”

The words of Deuteronomy reach us clearly and strongly, calling us to faith. Nothing is the work of our hands, everything comes from God, we are custodians of a charism that we haven't built, but we have received so that it develops and gives fruit. For this to happen, we must believe: believe in God, in His plan of love, and in our vocation.

 

SECOND MYSTERY: JESUS EMBRACES THE CROSS

We must have faith that is not merely the agreement of reason to what is not explained or understood, but that is love. A total, burning, absolute love.  We are called to believe beyond possibility, through each divestment, in any situation, in the hour of trial, and when we walk in darkness.

 

THIRD MYSTERY: JESUS CARRIES THE CROSS ON THE WAY TO CALVARY

We are called to believe when it seems that every solution is taken from us, that everything we do is destined to perish. We are called to believe firmly that our steps are guided by God and that everything reveals His love, but above all, we are called to believe with love. We may, in fact, believe and not love, be obedient and not love.

 

FOURTH MYSTERY: JESUS STRETCHES OUT HIS ARMS ON THE CROSS

Faith that is based on love stretches naturally toward the will of the Beloved, adheres without delay to the desires of His heart, surrenders to His mysterious ways of redemption, acknowledges suffering as a call of election, rejoices in what is essential: belonging to the One Who is Love and Who makes the one who abandons herself to Him capable of Holiness.

 

FIFTH MYSTERY: JESUS PROCLAIMS FROM THE CROSS, “YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE”

This dimension of faith, as an exclusive relationship with God, is the prerogative of every human creature that acknowledges herself as a daughter of the Father and a sister of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. It does not belong only to those who are consecrated, but also makes the conjugal dimension fruitful. In the gift of Baptism we become “lovers” of the one God.

 

 

Taken from the Lenten Letter of Loredana Reitano, General Moderator

Lenten Rosary #2

Lenten Rosary 2011 - Loredano Reitano

Lenten Rosary

Yes, Love is not loved; Jesus is not loved!

 

First Mystery:

Above all – how terrible! -- is the feeling of the absence of God. The emptiness creates anxiety, panic, psychological fragility, sham tenderness, a human inability to form relationships, and, slowly, the prevalence of evil in all its most deceitful and cruel forms.

Love is not loved; Jesus is not loved!

 

Second Mystery:

Man can no longer view himself with serenity because he is no longer in a position to see himself clearly, but glimpses a deformed, despoiled, distorted image. We are reduced to caricatures of ourselves!

Love is not loved; Jesus is not loved!

 

Third Mystery:

When we look at the news, at so-called educational programs, cultural and political debates, or entertainment; when we read newspapers, magazines or surf the internet, getting lost in its murky regions, we notice that we are baffled and horrified: everything is more in line with sub-human behavior than with truly human events.

Love is not loved; Jesus is not loved!

 

Fourth Mystery:

St. Francis' tears, his cry of pain, the tears of so many saints, the cry of the Son of God on the cross: “Sitio,” “I thirst,” give us precious direction and fill the emptiness to the brim, giving it meaning.  The lives of the Saints are like morning dew spread over the desert of the world; their love, which is more potent in Heaven, is the rain that purifies humanity from evil; the love of Jesus on the cross is the blood that brings the life of the resurrection to every piece of our poor and injured history.

Love is not loved; Jesus is not loved!

 

Fifth Mystery:

In His face, disfigured by the sin of the world, we find beautiful and divine traits present even in our own faces, because He maternally continues to generate us in the womb of the Trinity and sets us like a seal on His most precious body.

Love is not loved; Jesus is not loved!

 

Lenten Rosary 2011 - Loredano Reitano

Great quote for the day!

"We become saints not by thinking about it, and not (certainly) by writing about it, but simply by doing it. There comes a time when the "how?" question stops and we just do it.

 

If the one we love were at our door knocking to come in, would we wonder how the door lock works, and how we could move our muscles to open it?"

 

Peter Kreeft

 

(Contribution from Cindy Jandrain)

 

Great quote for the day!

Pope Benedict Celebrates Our Lady of Trust!

God Calls Each One by Name, Says Pope

Reflects on Vocation With Roman Seminarians

 

ROME, MARCH 7, 2011 (Zenit.org).- A vocation is above a personal call from

God who knows "each each of us by name," says Benedict XVI.

 

 

The Pope made this reflection Friday afternoon during his visit to the

Major Roman Seminary. In keeping with an annual tradition, the Holy Father

visited on the feast of the seminary's patron, Our Lady of Trust. Presiding

at a celebration of lectio divina, the Pontiff offered a commentary on the

Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, during which he offered to the

seminarians four attitudes that characterize a Christian life: "humility,

meekness, magnanimity, and bearing with each other in love."

 

Humility, Benedict XVI pointed out, is the word that St. Paul used to

described Christ, "who was God and humbled himself, [...] and descended to

the point of making himself a creature, to the point of making himself man,

to the point of obedience on the cross."

 

"So, humility is not just any word, just any modesty, but a Christological

word," he added. "Imitating the God who comes down to me, who is so great

that he becomes my friend, suffers for me, and dies for me. This is a

humility to learn, the humility of God.

 

"It means that we must always see ourselves in the light of God; thus, at

the same time we can know the greatness of being a person loved by God, but

also our littleness, our poverty, and this is the right way to conduct

ourselves, not as masters, but as servants."

 

The Holy Father said that meekness is also a "Christological word," and

"again implies this imitation of Christ."

 

"Because in baptism we are conformed to Christ," he explained, "we must

therefore conform to Christ, find this spirit of being meek, without

violence, of convincing with love and with goodness."

 

Magnanimity, continued the Pope, "means generosity of heart, not to be

minimalists who give what is strictly necessary: Let us give everything we

posses, and we will also grow in magnanimity."

 

"Supporting one another in our own otherness is a daily task," the Holy

Father added, "and especially when we support each other with humility,

learning to truly love."

 

Baptismal vocation

 

Benedict XVI also reflected on "the vocation common to all Christians,

namely, the baptismal vocation: the call to be of Christ and to live in

him, in his body."

 

"The Christian life begins with a call and always remains a response, to

the very end," he explained. "And this is so in the spheres of both belief

and action: Christians respond to their vocation through both faith and

behavior."

 

"God, the Lord, has called each of us," the Pope continued. "He has called

each one by name. God is so great that he has time for each one of us, he

knows me, he knows each of us by name, personally."

 

"It is a personal call for each of us. I think that we must meditate on

this mystery often: God, the Lord, called me, calls me, knows me, awaits my

response as he awaited Mary's response, as he awaited the response of the

Apostles.

 

"God calls me: This fact should make us attentive to God's voice,

attentive to his words, to his call for me, to realize this part of

salvation history for which he has called me."

 

Pope Benedict Celebrates Our Lady of Trust!

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 9 March 5th 2011

Acts 1:12-14  A Lucan Summary and his last mention of Mary 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.


The final mention of Mary in the Acts of the Apostles finds her in the Cenacle, the upper room where Jesus had celebrated the Last Supper with his Apostles. She returns to the place of the institution of the Eucharist, where Christ gave himself completely in the form of bread and wine. When Jesus was growing up, he saw in Mary his mother, a example of complete self-giving. She was completely and totally given to following the will of the Father. Mary gave herself in humility and in love. Christ too gave himself completely, especially in the Eucharist.


Her example is a model for us. We can continue to grow in holiness by following her way of self-giving, giving ourselves in humility and love. By our nearness to the Eucharist, we grow in holiness and in self-sacrifice.

How have you experienced this growth in holiness through the Eucharist?

(Msgr. Andre Vaccari, Pro Sanctity Priest friend, NY)

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 9 March 5th 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 8 March 4th 2011

DAY EIGHT: John 19:25-28a: Mary and the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the Cross


25 Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was completed, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty."

It is hard to know exactly what to say in reference to this passage.  The parents that I know, including my own, feel sympathy for their child when he/she has  a cold or a stomach ache.  It is almost impossible to imagine the complete anguish that Mary must have felt seeing her Son's life slipping away in such a brutal manner.

And even in these last moments of his life Jesus was thinking of us, giving us His mother to take into our home to be a part of our lives.   Even in the depths of her agony I can't imagine Mary being completely without hope.  As I meditate on this scene I hear conversations they must have had in the weeks and months prior to this moment I can see Jesus taking His mothers hands and looking into her eyes and saying "these awful things will happen but it will not be the end, it will lead to a new beginning"

How often do we take Mary into our homes and see her trust and fidelity to the cross as an example for our daily lives?  And how often do we thirst for the souls of others more than for the good things of this earth?

Joan Kash
Pro Sanctity Member    Nebraska 

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 8 March 4th 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 7 March 3rd 2011

John 2:1-12  The Cana Account
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.


3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.


Each day I say a prayer to the Holy Spirit, which includes the petition: “help me in all needs and embarrassment.” As the spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mary was constantly attuned to the Spirit’s inspirations. Would she not then want to appeal to her Son to help the bride and groom in their “needs and embarrassment” when the wine ran out? Still following the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Mary instructed the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them.


True holiness is so simply and beautifully embodied in Mary’s actions at Cana. In conformance to the prompting of the Spirit of God, she expressed her deep love and concern for others – in this case the newly-married couple – and trusted completely in the response of God in the person of Jesus, her Son.

(Rosemary Darmstadt, Pro Sanctity Member-NY)

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 7 March 3rd 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 6, March 2, 2011

Luke 2:41-52    The Boy Jesus in The Temple

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."


49 He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. Luke 2:42 This has become on of my favorite verses in scripture. Jesus, twelve years old! I have spent a lifetime meditating on Jesus as a baby and as an adult. True, there is much to learn in this scripture and I have meditated on Jesus in the Temple many times during my life in a variety of ways. This past year, I was invited to meditate and contemplate on Jesus in the temple for a class I was taking and I couldn’t get over the fact that he was twelve. Twelve-year-old Jesus warmed my heart and brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart. I am blessed with two sons and I am blessed with all their friends. There are times in my life that I have been surrounded by twelve year old boys and I believe that the heart of a twelve year old boy today isn’t much different than twelve year old Jesus.

It has been my experience with twelve-year-old boys is that they really don’t walk; they jump, run and bounce into each other. Twelve-year-old boys are curious and they seem to be interested in sticks, (to write with, walk with and hit things with) and rocks (keep the interesting ones in your pocket and throw the others like a baseball) and they just don’t see things they find the need to investigate them (bugs, leaves, mud etc.) This is the way I imagine Jesus going to Jerusalem, playing with other boys his age, his relatives and friends, joyfully running, jumping, investigating, throwing and bouncing into each other.

Twelve-year-old boys do sometimes get lost. When looking for a twelve-year-old boy you will usually find him where his heart is. Places I have found my lost twelve-year-old boys are at skateboard parks, baseball fields, and football fields and at basketball hoops. I have found my twelve-year-old boys on mountain trails, on lakeshores and seashores. Twelve year olds have been found in hanging out in malls, music stores or at a friend’s house playing video games. Remember they go to where their heart leads them. So, when Mary and Joseph were looking for their twelve year old Jesus they found him where is heart was. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. Luke 2:46-47

When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety” Luke 2:48. I think all parents have said these words to their children at one time or another! We will soon see that Jesus meant no harm and Jesus answers them like a twelve year old. He said to them “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house? But they did not understand what he said to them. Luke 2:49-50 In the end Jesus goes home and this event becomes something that Mary treasures in her heart. Luke 2:51

Mary and Joseph did not control every move Jesus made. Mary and Joseph let Jesus be twelve; they let Jesus be himself, even if that meant that there were going to be some bumps on the way Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety. Luke 2:48. (I do realize that to look for someone for three days is more than a bump) I enjoy this family story. I imagine Mary and Joseph retelling this story as Jesus grows older. “ Remember when Jesus was twelve and we went to Jerusalem…”

My heart overflows with love for twelve-year-old Jesus. I treasure this glimpse of the life of the holy family.

(Judie Kosko, Cooperative, CA)

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 6, March 2, 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 5 March 1 2011

Luke 2:21-40  The Naming of Jesus and The Presentation In The Temple

21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,29 "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,


32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul too."36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, . . .” (Luke 2:31-31)

Like Simeon, I would like to think that I have witnessed the holiness of Mary and the salvation of Jesus in my life with the passing of my mother over nine months ago, and the passing of a dear friend almost a week ago. Through the final days of my mother’s life, my sister Jeanine lovingly cared for her and cradled her in her arms while awaiting the arrival of the ambulance that would carry my mother to the hospital for the last time. She prayed with her and remained steadfast in this devotion until mother was welcomed into the Heavenly Kingdom. Similarly, the holiness of Mary was modeled by a friend who stood at the side of a fellow Christian as he walked the road of the Cross during his final days on earth. In both circumstances, I was called to “come and see” the miracle of such holiness at the foot of the Cross of my beloved mother and friend and share in the sacred moments of what is to come when God beckons me home. Almighty Father, please fill my heart with your grace and help me to be a true model of holiness to all those I meet on my earthly journey. Like Mary, let me be a presence in the lives of my brothers and sisters as I run the race of endurance to my Eternal Home.

Reflection by Maria T. Rey-Hughes, Cooperative, NE

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 5 March 1 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 4 February 28th 2011

DAY FOUR: Matthew 2:13-18: The Flight into Egypt. The Massacre of the Innocents


13 After they had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him." 14 So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

I called my son out of Egypt!

16 Herod was furious when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old or under, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. 17 It was then that the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

sobbing and loudly lamenting:

it was Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted

because they were no more.

• Matthew 2:19-23: The Holy Family's Return to Nazareth

19After Herod's death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead."

21 So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. 22 But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. 23 There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled

He will be called a Nazarene

As I have been thinking about these passages over the last few days what has occurred to me is the variety of different emotions Mary must have been experiencing during these times.  On the one hand she must have felt enveloped by the safety and protection provided to her by her husband Joseph through the instruction of God the Father and his messengers.  She must have been aware that her every step was in the care of God. 

At the very same time however, she could not have been blind to the dangers and violence all around her.  She must have wept extensively as she pondered those grieving parents and children who were killed for political ends. 

Like Mary we can be grateful for the care of our heavenly Father but we also must not be blind to the violence of our present day realities of the pains of gun violence, poverty and abortion. 

Dear Lord

Help us to be grateful for your care for us but not blind to what we can do to alleviate the pain around us

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 4 February 28th 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 3 February 27th 2011

Luke 2:1-7  The Birth of Jesus

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judaea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for him in the inn.

When I read this first passage from Luke 2: 1-7 I see the parallel in my own life with that of Mary. From what we read many people did not believe Mary that she did not have relations with a man but by the gift of the Holy Spirit Mary is pregnant. There have been many times in our life with our daughter Mary and our son Jacob people had not agreed with us and have felt at liberty to tell us what they think. We have always sought wise counsel and felt this is what the Lord is calling us to do in our many decisions. They may not be what the crowd is doing or even family but we know true in our heart it is right with Jesus.

How I have experienced Mary’s inspiration and encouragement in my own life first came to me when our son Jacob was diagnosed with cancer at age two. Jacob was our first born and our first born son, so I did not really know what it was like to care for a child or children. The night the doctors told us to rush him to Children’s hospital because we think he has cancer, my heart just sank, I cried and I felt it was the same tears as Mary’s when she sat beneath the cross. Then we were up all night and the next day when the doctors told us that our little boy, our son, our first born, did in fact have cancer, it was at astage 4 (the worst stage you can be at), his right lung was completely collapsed, there was a big mass in between his lungs and it was moving over into his left lung. I was in utter disbelief, again I thought of Mary watching her son being nailed to the cross. The very first time they had to take Jacob from our arms to do a biopsy, he was crying out Mommy and this stranger took him away, these big wooden doors slide open, there they went, the big wooden doors closed shut and I could hear his cry fade as they walked into the room. This makes me think of Jesus when he was hanging on the cross crying out to his mother and crying out to God, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. There have been so many times my son has been in such pain and as his mother the only thing I could do was hold him. That feeling of true vulnerability and helplessness made my heart connect with Mary when they brought Jesus to her after they had taken him down from the cross with all of his scares and she just held him and wept. These are examples that if I did not have Mary’s inspiration and encouragement to keep me going, on the right path with faith and trust in God the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, I don’t know where I would be today.”


(Lori Eyth, Cooperative, NE)

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 3 February 27th 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 2 February 26th 2011

Luke 1:39-45  Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." 

"Blessed is she who believed..." One of the many things that I am drawn to in this account of the Visitation is Mary's faith. There are so many other questions that I want to ask: why did she go "in haste"? Why did she go to be with Elizabeth? What would it be like to be Mary or Elizabeth, filled with joy at God's work in me? By journeying to visit Elizabeth, probably on foot, is she trying to show all of us modern women that exercise during pregnancy is important? (Okay, that last one is a bit of a joke.) But amidst all these questions, my heart rests and reflects on Mary's faith in the "fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." That she would bear the Son of God. That the Lord would take care of her as she received His will and lived it out. And even more than these two, she believed His word of love to her. I'm not sure that Scripture says anywhere, "And then God said, 'Mary, I love you and am with you always.'" But that is what He says to all of us in our hearts, through the events of our lives, through the fact that we live and breathe, through the beauty of the natural world and the created individuals around us. So she must also have heard His word of love to her, and BELIEVED it. I hear His loving word to me so often, and I think it goes in one ear and out the other sometimes; I am so quick to forget that He loves me. I know this because I find myself basing my actions during the day on inner fear and insecurity, "I have to do this or someone will be mad." "I am going to take this for myself, because no one else is thinking of me or they would give it to me." How was Mary able to go visit her cousin Elizabeth in the first few, sometimes physically challenging months of pregnancy? Because her heart was strong and secure in the word of love that God had spoken to her. It reverberated in her heart, over and over again; I love you, I love you, I love you. I picture her looking up at the sky on the way to see Elizabeth, maybe noticing a bird that made her smile, or a shade of blue that delighted her heart, and remembering, "He loves me, He loves me, He loves me." Resting in this good truth gave her joy.


What is God's word of love to me today?

What good truth is He calling me to rest with inwardly as I go about doing the things He gives me to do today?

(By Heidi Emmanual, Pro Sanctity member, NE)

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 2 February 26th 2011

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 1. February 25th 2011

The Feast of Our Lady of Trust (Pro Sanctity’s Patroness) is on March 6th. Please join us in 9 days of prayer and reflection in preparation for this wonderful day. We must thank Apostolic Oblate Joan Patten who has provided our theme for this year’s novena, looking at the life of Mary in scripture

Day 1 The Annunciation Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who is said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.


"What has always amazed me most about the Annunciation is how very few questions Mary asks and how completely full of trust she really is. When I am faced with something unknown or unexpected my mind immediately fills with questions and fears and 'what if' scenarios—and they are over much tinier things than the enormity of what Mary was told. The insignificant questions my days are usually filled with are things like 'What if the weather is bad?' 'What if the door is locked?' 'What if I get a bad performance review on the job?' 'What if I move too slowly or am not smart enough?'  'What if I run out of time?'
Dear Lord,
Help us take a lesson from Mary knowing that You can be completely trusted and that all of our days and situations, both big and small rest in Your hands."
(Reflection by Joan Kash, Pro Sanctity Member, NE)

"Notice the particularity of God’s action- Gabriel is sent from God, to Galilee, to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin in that town who was betrothed, betrothed to a man named Joseph, Joseph of the House of David, and the virgin’s name is Mary- and it was a Tuesday, at 2:33pm and Mary was working in the garden.  So that last part is not in the Gospel, but the Annunciation did unfold on a specific day, at some specific time and Mary was doing something somewhere when it came to pass.   The Annunciation was not on Mary’s calendar. It was not an event she planned, yet it was the most significant and fruitful grace ever received in all of human history.  I am so grateful for Mary’s yes. I am so grateful that she was docile enough to notice and cooperate with the grace of the Incarnation at the particular moment God offered it.  Mary is attentive and receptive in the moment.  How about you?  God comes to you today.  He has a grace to give you.  I wonder what it might be… do you?  You may have many things on your calendar today, but the most significant part of your day will be the grace that is offered to you.  I will pray for you.  I will pray that you will be attentive and receptive to the Grace of God in the moment it comes, so that God’s grace will be fruitful for you, and for the whole world.  Will you pray the same for me?"
(Reflection by Fr. Scott Traynor, Pro Sanctity priest friend, SD)

Our Lady of Trust Novena Day 1. February 25th 2011

Annual Feast Day of Our Lady of Trust - March 6, 2011

Annual Feast Day of Our Lady of Trust - March 6, 2011

All are welcome to Pro Sanctity’s Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Trust on Sunday, March 6, at St. Thomas More School Social Hall, 3515 South 48th Ave. Omaha, NE 68106, from 1-4 PM. Come listen and pray with Msgr. Charles M. Mangan, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls and well-known speaker and author, reflect on “Mary, Model of Holiness”.

 A rosary and refreshments will follow.

A children’s program will be available also.

Cost: Free will donation, please bring snacks to share. For more information contact Joan: joanpatten@gmail.com, 402-553-4418 or Teresa: psm@prosanctity.org, 402-289-2670.

 

Annual Feast Day of Our Lady of Trust - March 6, 2011

Pampered Chef Party for Pro Sanctity continues!

We are grateful for the generosity of so many of our friends, old and new!


Kayla Downey would like to invite everyone to a Pampered Chef Catalog Show to benefit the new building project in Elkhorn, now through the end of February 2011.


For More Info Contact - Lisa Garrett: 659-0990 www.pamperedchef.biz/lisagarrett

Pampered Chef Party for Pro Sanctity continues!

Romano Tafani - brother of Palmira Tafani, Pro Sanctity Fullerton

Dearest all. The brother of Palmira (Romano Tafani) has returned to the House of the Father,  Let us pray the Lord of Life to welcome him into the beauty of  Heaven. Let us pray also for Palmira and  her family in this difficult moment. Let us ask for the gift of great faith and much consolation. Loredana

 

Carissime,

il fratello di Palmira è tornato ieri, 3 febbraio, alla casa del Padre. Preghiamo il Signore della Vita perchè lo accolga nella bellezza del Paradiso. Preghiamo anche per Palmira e la sua famiglia in questo momento non facile. Chiediamo sempre il dono di una fede grande e di tanta consolazione.

Loredana

Romano Tafani - brother of Palmira Tafani, Pro Sanctity Fullerton