Friday, October 11, 2024

Our Heavenly Father’s Heart Full of Love

 In the musical Les Misérables, Cosette, Marius And Eponine sing, “A Heart Full of Love.” That is a precise definition of Our Heavenly Father. He is a heart is so overflowing with love, it cannot contain itself and it bursts forth with love. At the same time, the son’s love is so great in return to the Father that out of the love for each other “the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This is the great mystery of God’s Trinitarian love.

In our finite smallness, we cannot begin to imagine such an ocean of love. As St. John says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). The overflowing love of the Father is not restricted to just Jesus. He loves each of us as well. He loves us so much that he sent his only son to die for us. “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).

In the same way that the Father has demonstrated his infinite love for us, he asks us to share our love with others. As Jesus said, “‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends'”(John 15:12). St. Maximilian Kolbe is an heroic example of this.

God knows, however, that is easier to love some than others. Jesus said, “‘But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven'” (Matt. 5: 44-45).

If we let ourselves become trapped in our own bitterness and pain, we will struggle to forgive others, We need to let go. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Sometimes the emotional and physical pain are so great that the only way to forgive the other person is through grace, letting Christ forgive through me. “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Cor. 12: 9). I forgive the unforgivable and love the unlovable, “For the sake of Christ” (2 Cor. 12:10).

In Les Misérables, Eponine despairs that Marius will never love her the way he loves Cosette, “Not to me, not to me, not to me. His heart full of love. He will never feel this way.” However, our Heavenly Father’s love is quite the opposite. He loves every one of us, even the ones who feel the least loveable. “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 6:26). As St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

Our Father manifests his tender love for each one of us by continually sending us messengers and messages of love. Our loving Father in heaven has said, “You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you” (Isaiah, 43:4). He sent his son, who was not merely a messenger of love, but redeemed us, “‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29).

Christ, in turn, gave us his beloved mother. He said to John, representing all of us, “Behold your Mother” (John 19:27). What does she always say, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1: 46-47). She humbly points to Jesus, saying, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5).

Before he left, Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). He encourages us, “‘I will not leave you desolate'” (John 14:18). The Holy Spirit “will teach you all things” (John 14:26).

God continues to reach out to us, expressing his loving-kindness and goodness by sending us his angels and saints to guide us. The Sacred Heart of Jesus and Merciful Heart of Jesus, “Jesus, I Trust in you,” are other examples of Jesus reaching out, touching our souls. St. Therese of Lisieux said, “Let us love, since that is what our hearts were made for.”

The Father’s love is so great that he wants us to spend it with him in eternity. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The Holy Bible is a love story, a divine romance. In the song, “In My Life,” from Les Misérables, Cosette wishes for love, “In my life there are times when I catch in the silence the sigh of a faraway song. And it sings of a world that I long to see, out of reach, just a whisper away, waiting for me.” She asks, “Does he know I’m alive? Do I know if he’s real?”

Yes, our Heavenly Father knows you are alive. He says, “You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you” (Isaiah, 43:4). Our Heavenly Father says again and again, “‘I have loved you, ‘” (Malachi 1:2). “I have loved you with an everlasting love;” (Jeremiah 31:3).

Yes, our Heavenly Father is real. Cosette goes on to sing, “In my life I’m no longer alone. Now the love of my life is so near. Find me now. Find me here.” Our loving Father in heaven has found you, but each of us has a free will to accept or reject his invitation of love.

While Cosette may pine for a human love, our Heavenly Father’s love is there waiting for each one of us. Christ has told us, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you” (John 15:9). Our heavenly Father’s heart is brimming with love. Marius and Cosette sing, “A heart full of light. A night bright as day. A heart full of you. And you must never go away. . . . A heart full of love. A heart full of you. . . . From today every day, for it isn’t a dream, not a dream after all.”

God’s love for each of us is not a dream. We are captivated by the romance of pure love. Our Heavenly Father’s love is far greater without limit. When I hear the song, “A Heart Full of Love,” I think of Christ’s love, so great for us that he offered his life. As St. Padre Pio exclaimed, “My Jesus, my sweetness, how can I live without You? Come always, my Jesus, come; You alone take possession of my heart,” (Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, Have a Good Day, 113).

Our Heavenly Fathers Heart Full of Love

June 9, 2020

Thursday, January 25, 2024

 Prayer: Vitamins for Your Soul

https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/prayer-vitamins-for-your-soul

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I could make it through the day without my vitamins. I’ll be honest: sometimes I forget to take them in the confusion or hecticness of a particularly busy or stressful morning. Later in the morning or in the early afternoon I will feel like I just don’t have the energy to complete a simple task or a brain fog will set in, making easy decisions more complicated than they need to be. Then it dawns on me that I forgot to take my morning vitamins. 



It is the same way with my soul. If I forget to have my morning prayer time with my Heavenly Father, I am more likely to fall into negative feelings of worry or anxiety or just plain not being as patient as I should be. After all, when it comes to children, children will be children, so it is up to me to choose how I am going to respond to the challenges, difficulties and problems they present. Unfortunately, children do not come with instructions and sometimes, since they are fully human, they become more complicated when they become teenagers. At those moments when meeting challenges that flummox me the most, I am fully aware of having forgotten to take my vitamins, not only for my body but also for my soul. 

To be honest, if I miss my prayer time, it usually isn’t because I “forgot” but the schedule changed for some reason: I had an early appointment, or an unexpected emergency came up, or a myriad of other reasons. I find at that point when I recognize I need to refocus my attention or recharge my batteries, I need to immediately hit the reset button. I need to take a deep breath and find some time to converse with my Heavenly Father, even if it is only for a few moments.  

I need to make a phone call to my Papa. “Sorry, Dad, I missed my appointment with you. I want to thank you for that spectacular sunset last night. By the way, you sure work in mysterious ways. If I didn’t go to the store on Tuesday, I would not have bumped into someone who reminded me about the special Mass celebration on Saturday that I missed in the bulletin. Thank you! It was a beautiful time in more ways than one. And if you have any suggestions or tips on how to deal with one sassy little boy, I’m open to any ideas. I love you and I miss you immensely. Thank you for all that you have done for me.” 

 

Click to tweet:
I need to remind myself to take my vitamins, not only for my body but also for my soul.
 #CatholicMom

 

Vitamins work great! But they don’t work unless I take them. I need to remind myself to take my vitamins, not only for my body but also for my soul. In his Letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul reminds us,

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7)

Monday, January 1, 2024

More Children's Book Publishers!

 


I was looking for a complete list of Landmark books published by Random House from the 1950s through the 1970s and I found this site that lists favorite children's book publishers.

Biblio Guides


Here is there info about the Landmark series published by Random House (They were also published by Hale).

Biblio Guides Landmark Books

Monday, December 11, 2023

Books about Our Lady of Guadalupe


Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Graphic Novel

The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Out of Print.

Our Lady of Guadalupe by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Out of Print). KINDLE EDITION LINKED.

Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie dePaola, Out of Print

Our Lady of Guadalupe and her dear Juanito

Miracle in Mexico: The Story of Juan Diego, Out of Print

Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Conquest of Darkness, Out of Print

Our Lady of Guadalupe: Our Lady of the Americas

Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Encounter the Saints)


Monday, November 27, 2023

What We're Reading


These are just a few of the books we are reading right now. Some are mentioned on another post. 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.



The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Sophia Gholz is based on the true story of a young boy in India who is saddened that the floodwaters destroy more and more of an island and surrounding land near his home. He plants trees in an effort to save the wildlife and carefully tends his trees and with time they grow and spread. Eventually, he grows into a man and continues to tend his trees which now cover a large area. Lovely illustrations. A story of hope and perseverance.

Goodby Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak is about a brother and sister who walk through the nature and then into town and talk about the changes in the seasons, saying hello and greeting them and then saying goodbye to other changes. Even though the text is simple for young readers, the beautiful illustrations are fascinating for all ages. The book encourages children to be more aware of the little changes that contribute to the changing of the seasons. The sister and brother relationship is also very sweet.

Blizzard by John Rocco is based on a true experience in the author's life of when he was a young boy and his journey to the grocery story after a blizzard. Great fun!

The Fishermen, the Horse, and the Sea by Barbara Joose, illus. by Renee Graef. Based on the true story, when two men are thrown from their rowboat during a fierce storm at night, a small group of fishermen and a horse gather to rescue them. Historical information is in the back.



One Boy Watching by Grant Snider. This vibrantly colored picture book follows a young boy as he waits for his school bus, climbs aboard, and notices the tractors, farms, and other details of the countryside out the bus window on his way to school and back home again.  

Little Red Sleigh by Erin Guendelsberger. A little red sled wishes to be Santa's sleigh. Of course, "everyone in the shop" told her she was "too small, too slow, and much too young." She sets out to prove them wrong and journeys north to Santa meeting a train and a truck and along the way is picked up by a little girl. Enchanting illustrations with a clever ending.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard. What is fry bread? Engaging all the senses with imaginative illustrations, the author explains what fry bread is in simple language. There is an appendix which offers more information about the historical aspects. This is for very young children, but written in a way to appeal to all ages.

The Christmas Pine by Julia Donaldson. Not just a cute story. The story is based on an actual event but written in a fun and engaging way in rhyme form for very young children. The child follows a pine tree growing up in Norway and being taken to England. The reader is not actually aware of the geography and history involved until after the story is over and the adult reads the end page. The lively text, charming illustrations and positive message about children make it a wonderful story. The book will appeal to younger children because of the very simple text.  


God's Great Love for You by Rick Warren. In very simple text for the very young reader, the author assures the child of God's great love for each one of us in various ways. The illustrations are very imaginative and sweet without being saccharine. Although the audience is for toddlers, it is a message we all need to be reminded of.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening  by Robert Frost, illus. by P. J. Lynch. From the perspective of a young woman and her horse, we follow Frost's famous poem. Captivating illustrations.

Palace of Books by Patricia Polacco. When Polacco was a young child, she had to leave the comfort of her home for a new home and school. There she discovers a palace of books. One of my favorite authors, who is a master at storytelling.

Bravest Man in the World by Patricia Polacco. Based on a true story, the length of the text and the trauma involved in the tragedy make it more appropriate for older children who have a deeper understanding of the meaning and beauty of self-sacrifice. 



Sticks and Stones by Patricia Polacco. How often to children have to deal with bullies in their school or neighborhood? Through kindness, encouragement and perseverance, three brave, resilient children battle against the bullies. This would be a great launching point for discussion on bullies and the many questions about handling them. The author's note on the end page is very inspiring to know that the kids who were bullied went on to achieve their dreams. 

Out of the Woods: An Unforgettable Event by Rebecca Bond is based on the true story of a young boy who lived in a hotel near a logging camp in Ontario, Canada. He has many fascinating memories of this happy time but the most memorable is when a fire raged in the forest and all the forest animals peaceably came out into the lake water where people from the surround area had gathered in safety. Fascinating story with lovely illustrations.

Dasher Can't Wait for Christmas by Matt Tavares. Another story about Dasher from the author Matt Tavares. Impatient for Christmas to come, Dasher wanders away from home in search of Christmas Carols and lights. After it starts to snow, she realizes she needs to get back home but gets lost along the way.

 Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall. Based on the stories of a family of 12 children who grew up in a farmhouse. Written in poem form, the lively text and charming, colorful illustrations bring to life the memories of another time. 


Sunday, November 19, 2023

3 Podcasts Worth Listening to: Fr. Ripperber, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Sr. Miriam James Heidland

 Three Catholic Podcasts Worth Listening to on YouTube: Fr. Ripperber, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Sr. Miriam James Heidland

These may be available on other platforms. 

Bishop Strickland, How Should the Faithful Respond?

U. S. Grace Force

What Nobody Knows about Fr. Mike Schmitz, Rebellious Missionary, Almost...

This is a second part of an interview.

Chris Stefanick

The Identity of a Woman Video Series

16 videos (They cover the four identities of a woman: mother, daughter, sister, bride). Sister Miriam James Heidland, Heather Khym, and Michelle Benzinger. 

Abiding Together Podcast

Saturday, November 18, 2023