Friday, October 29, 2010

What Can I do for a Priest?

What Can I do for a Priest?

So what’s it like to be in a van with four priests at the same time? Interesting? Informative? Inspiring? They weren’t just any priests. Because of their appearances on EWTN and other apostolic work, they were nationally recognized. They represented a variety of orders and one was a diocesan priest.  They had all written books that were published or were going to be published soon. They were coming into town to give talks at a Mercy Conference. Their paths may or may not have crossed before and may or may not cross again. In addition to the priests, my husband and I were also transporting a layman, who was apostolically active in spreading Sr. Faustina’s message of Christ’s mercy.

It was a short drive to and from the evening program, so there was not much time for an in depth discussion. I don’t have one of those razor sharp memories, but then again, the conversation wasn’t particularly earth shattering. The atmosphere or mood, however, was memorable. In my whole life—I’m not revealing how many years—I rarely recall experiencing such peace of soul and joy. It seemed to emanate from these holy, yet very humble men.

They were tired. They had all had a long and busy day traveling. Some were experiencing physical pain, yet by their demeanor you would have never known.  There was a twinkle in their eyes, a tranquility of spirit, and a genuine concern for others. It was a little bit of heaven on earth, a foretaste of the life yet to come. It was a microcosm of joy challenging me to bring the same level of peace and joy into my own home.

It was also a visible reminder that we are all continuously called to pray for our priests if we want to be blessed by their holy presence. Speaking for myself here, I am reminded on a daily basis of the many needs for prayer: A friend has cancer, a relative no longer goes to church, and still another friend has lost a job.
In fulfilling my role as mother, too easily I am caught up in my own little world of preparing meals, going grocery shopping, washing laundry, shuttling children to lessons and activities, etc. While I am busy with my tasks and remembering the requests and needs of others, I need to also pray for our priests, all our priests, the ones who are less than perfect, the ones who thwart my wishes, and the holy priests, lifting them up in prayer, so that they may in turn lift others up in prayer, especially during the Eucharistic celebration.

In addition to praying for our priests, consider fasting for them. On October 23, 2010 is the fifth annual international fast for priests. While most people associate fasting with food, fasting can include many different forms: television, radio, idle talk, and other things.
http://eucharisticadorationforpriests.blogspot.com/2010/10/laity-asked-to-fast-for-priests-on.html [1]
Thank you Heavenly Father for your gifts of grace, to experience a bit of peace and joy here and now. May I in turn bring that peace and joy to others.

This article originally appeared on 
Catholic Exchange

How to Survive a Bad Case of Cabin Fever

Nothing like surfing the internet. I found an article I had written a "few" years ago. You have to live up "North" to really appreciate it. It is especially pertinent January through March.

God Bless,

How to Survive a Bad Case of Cabin Fever

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Praying is more Important than Eating

Prayer for Beginners"Why Praying Is More Important than Eating"

This statement opens Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft.

"Eating keeps your body alive, and prayer keeps your soul alive. Praying is more important than eating because your soul is more important than your body. Your soul is more important than your body because your soul is you, your personality, your self. You will get a new body after death, in the resurrection at the end of the world. But you will not get a new soul; you will only purify and sanctify your old one, because you are your soul. The "you" that will get a new body is your soul."

Peter Kreeft,

Friday, October 1, 2010

Miracles, Healing, and the Rosary

Praying the Rosary for Inner HealingPraying the Rosary for Inner Healing by Fr. Dwight Longenecker, OSV, 2008, hc, 159 pp.

The book is set up around the mysteries of the rosary. Each mystery begins with a scriptural reference to the mystery and then a meditation on the scriptural reference. This is followed by "Think it Through," applying this mystery to our own lives. The section I found most helpful was the "Healing Example." This is a true life story of someone who was healed. The next section is "Pray for Healing." This section walks the reader through a meditation that seeks healing for something related to this stage of life. For example, The Birth of Christ, ask for healing of memories related to your infancy and childhood. Each section closes with a prayer. I also found the closing prayers heartfelt and moving, unlike some canned prayers. Maybe it is where I am in life, but I tend to read or meditate on the sections that are most helpful and skip or scan the other sections.


101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary
101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary by Sister patricia Proctor, OSC, Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare, 2003, pbk, 215 pp. plus appendices.

Stories of people who have received answers to prayer through the rosary. Quotes from saints about the rosary are interspersed throughout. The appendices include Rosarium Virginis Mariae, history of the rosary, directions for praying the rosary, meditations of the rosary, instructions on how to make a rosary, rosary resources, and more. Very inspirational! The stories give hope when so often prayers "seem" to go unanswered.