Divine Mercy…

Mercy is something we all need, without it the world would be like the barren tree in the chapel in Cracow, Poland. The tree branches there are to remind us of the power of God’s mercy. Today is Divine Mercy Sunday always celebrated on the Sunday following Easter. One of my favorite prayers is the Divine Mercy Prayer in song. The children and I sang it this morning while coloring our pictures of Jesus and Sr. Faustina from both the Fenestrae Fidei and the Catholic Artworks collection.

The Divine Mercy Prayer is beautiful and is a gift for us all to pray for Christ to have “mercy on us and on the whole world.”

In the image you will see the blue and red rays shining fourth from Jesus.

“The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross … Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him” (299)

My children and I find much delight when we see God’s “Mercy Rays” shining forth from the sky teasing us from behind the clouds. We always are thinking of how great God is and how small we are. Sometimes these rays of “Son-light” shine as far across the Texas horizon just like the rays in this image of Jesus.

At Mass, Fr R. asked each one of us where we were in God’s Mercy.

Are we “thinking as we dress each day about all the clothes we could donate so that the poor could have something to wear, why not stopping our “schedule” and do it today? ”

Are we “thinking about the new neighbor we need to go visit someday, why not today?”

Are we “thinking (or not wanting to think) about the sin we do that is for our entertainment? If we stop the sin, the entertainment is gone.. then what do we do? ”

It could be that our sin is watching programs that are displeasing to God…well , I just want to see what happens..why not turn it off?

It could be spending money frivolously… internet time ( is what is coming through my screen pleasing to Almighty God?)

Am I escaping the worldly troubles with drugs or alcohol? How much am I drinking in a day? one drink? two three four? How about in a weeks time? Am I worried when my supply is low? (Alcohol can kill us, if not a physical death, but the death between us and others)

How about my supply of prayers I have offered today? Do they compare with the dollars I have spent on these entertainments I enjoy? ”

God’s mercy is present today. He wants us there with him today. His Mercy endures forever. Why do we wait? Why put off what we can do today? God wants us the share in His Mercy.

Moms and Dads, how many books have you read to your children today? Have you spent quality time with your children teaching them how to share, love, and care for each other within your own home?

Prayer for Mercy

O Jesus, font of Mercy, ever flowing from Your Scared Heart, Your Divine Mercy is Mercy itself. May I know the depth of Your merciful love, which has redeemed the world. Your mercy is my sanctity and salvation that gives you great glory. You, O Divine Jesus, are the delight and joy of my whole being. Have mercy on me, for I have sinned in Your sight. With the help of Your grace and the prayers of Blessed Sr Faustina, I will worship Your Divine Mercy, and patiently submit to Your Divine will, which is nourishment for my soul. Glory, praise and honor to The Divine Mercy of Jesus, now and forever, Amen.

Please pray for Dorothy and her family this week. Dorothy spent 15 years on this earth doing good for others and touching so many lives. She had many medical issues and I was told the church was filled at her service where her father spoke of her time  with them. We used to sit in front of this family and she would always hold her daddy’s hand. It was so beautiful. She sang in the church choir and is now surely singing with the choir of angels. Her family is full of God’s grace and mercy right now. She died right before Easter.

Alleluia is back!

My sister came for Easter while John was away with Army life. We attended the Easter Vigil and watched about 25 people be confirmed into the Catholic Church. Among them was a dear friend’s husband who had recently returned from Iraq. Although the Mass was long, the children were able to see the beauty of the Easter vigil Mass unfold.

Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil liturgy is the most beautiful liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church.  Although celebrated Holy Saturday evening, it is the dramatic Easter vigil liturgy that marks the beginning of Easter. We are awaiting our master’s return with our lamps full and burning, so that he will find us awake and seat us at his table (cf. Luke 12:35ff).

The vigil is divided into four parts: 1) service of light, 2) liturgy of the Word, 3) liturgy of Baptism, and 4) liturgy of the Eucharist.

1) Service of Light The atmosphere in the church is different: the holy water fonts are drained, all the lights are out, the tabernacle is empty. The service begins outside the church. A new fire is lit and blessed.e Eucharist.

2)Liturgy of the Word

During the Easter vigil, nine readings, seven Old Testament and two New Testament, are provided. Not all are required to be read due to time constraints, but at least three Old Testament readings must be read, including Exodus 14. These readings help us meditate on the wonderful works of God for his people since the beginning of time. The readings are 1) the story of creation, Gen 1:1-2; 2; 2) Abraham and Isaac, Gen 22:1-18; 3) Crossing of the Red Sea, Exodus 14:15–15:1; 4) Isaiah 54:5-14; 5) Isaiah 55:1-11; 6) Baruch 3:9-15.32–4:4; 7) Ezekiel 36:16-17.18-28; 8) Romans 6:3-11; and 9) Gospel reading Mark 16:1-7. The Gloria is sung before the reading of the Epistle of the Romans, and the Alleluia is sung before the Gospel.

3) Liturgy of Baptism

During this time the Easter water is blessed, new members are brought into the Church through baptism, and the faithful are blessed with water and renew their baptismal promises.

4)Liturgy of Eucharist

So resumes the Mass, with the special prayers inserted during the Eucharist Prayer. The whole church is called to join at the sacrificial table that Christ prepared for us through his death and resurrection. The Mass ends with the glorious

The church was filled with darkness, one by one, the candles were lit as we watched the church be filled with life! The children noticed the Alleluia had returned to the mass, as did the altar linens and flowers. It was a memorable evening.

On Easter morning our Children found their baskets filled with treasures!

Best of all the Alleluia was back! We found the letters we had put away for Lent and hung them in the window of our kitchen. The pictures of Jesus’ resurrection were all about the room. Here is Moonbeam sharing one now!

We also made resurrection rolls as a nice visual of what happened that morning when the tomb was found empty. We made these by using crescent rolls and rolling a large marshmallow inside sealing the edges. We then rolled it in sugar and cinnamon and then baked them. The marshmallow was “the body of Christ.” When they came out of the oven and opened up, the “body” was gone! It was completely hollow inside. (And absolutely delicious!) Thank you KC for the recipe!

Holy Week and Stations….

Holy week began with Palm Sunday and the blessing of the palms. Cookie asked me during the blessings why I didn’t have one as I was juggling a wiggly one year old. Ahem… Palm Sunday is one of the longest gospel readings as we read from the gospel according to Matthew. We begin with Mt 21:1-11

For the Mass readings we read from Is 50:4-7 until we come to the

Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
“You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

We continue with the liturgy of the Mass and continue with Matthew. This was read in a “play format” which has been done in other Catholic churches we have been to. It keeps the attention of the children as they listen for the words Jesus spoke. Usually the priest reads the words Jesus spoke while others read the passages such as Pilate or the narrator. The gospel according to Matthew;

Mt 26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54

The children and I read from The Story of the Cross by Mary Joslin from our Catholic Mosaic list. We found after each station a sweet gentle Child like prayer that really helped to put each station into everyday life. Each meditation following is inspired from this book.

FIRST STATION
Jesus is Condemned to Death
(John 3:16, Isaiah 53:7, John 18:33-John 19:1-16)

Jesus help me to love and to forgive

SECOND STATION
Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross
(Isaiah 53:4-6, Matthew 27:31, Luke 9:23)

When I am troubled, help me to know you are walking with me.

THIRD STATION
Jesus Falls for the First Time
(Isaiah 53:6)

When I fail or fall, Christ will remain with me.

FOURTH STATION
Jesus Meets His Mother
(John 19:25-27, John 16:22)

The agony a mother feels seeing her child suffer, the love of a mother is forever.

FIFTH STATION
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
(Matthew 27:30-32, Matthew 25:40, Galatians 6:2

When we are burdened with troubled times in our life, may we pick up the cross God has sent us and know that we are never alone, He is with us always.

SIXTH STATION
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
(Isaiah 52:14, John 14:9)

Thank you for our friends who bring us comfort in time of need.

SEVENTH STATION
Jesus Falls a Second Time
(Hebrews 4:15)

When I grow weary and discouraged, I need to put my trust in You.

EIGHTH STATION
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
(Luke 23:27-31, John 15:6)

Pray for our world today and for our future President, our Pope, and for our World Leaders. Help us always to pray for sinners.

NINTH STATION
Jesus Falls the Third Time
(Philippians 2:5-7, Luke 14:11)

God’s goodness and mercy is stronger than all the pain and suffering in this world.

TENTH STATION
Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
(John 19:23-25, Luke 14:33)

Help me to not worry about worldly possessions, You will provide for all that we need.

ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
(Psalm 22:17-18, Zechariah 12:10, Luke 23:33)

Your Mercy endures forever.

TWELFTH STATION
Jesus Dies on the Cross
(Luke 23:46, John 19:30, Philippians 2:8-9

)

THIRTEENTH STATION
Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
(Luke 23:50-53, John 19:31-37, Luke 24:26)

I find hope in You.

FOURTEENTH STATION
Jesus is Laid in His Tomb
(Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42, John 12:24-25, Romans 6:10-11)

You will never leave us. May we always trust in you.

As early as the 4th c., Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land would walk the route that Our Lord walked as He made His way to Golgotha for our salvation. When Muslims captured Jerusalem and it became too dangerous to make this pilgrimage, Christians replicated the sites back home in Europe, and there developed the “Stations of the Cross” devotion (also known as “Way of the Cross,” “Via Dolorosa,” or “Via Crucis”).

If you enter a Catholic Church and look along the walls of the nave (where the parishioners sit), you should see 14 representations on the walls which depict 14 events of Christ’s Passion that have been singled out for contemplation. It is at these blessed artistic representations, these “stations” — which can be painted, carved, engraved, of wood, metal, paint on canvas, etc., topped with a wooden Cross — that the Way of the Cross is made during public liturgy.

This coloring book is wonderful for small children.

Printable Stations are available from Ruth, thank you Ruth, so inspiring!

Also a new find for me, thanks to my friend Jen pointing the way, Catholic Artworks has some wonderful computer CD’s available with activities for young and old kids. They offer half price on the CDs. The Stations activities are on the Teacher Helper #3 and #16. These cost me $5 a CD with the HS discount and they are oh so worth it!

Holy Card print Courtesy of He Gently Calls Us.

Smart kid…either way you look at it.

Tonight after  the long Palm Sunday Mass, we decided to try out the new Take home and bake pizza place. We arrived home and popped it into the oven while everyone got on their jammies and got their beds ready. The pizza was huge!! It was a half and half family style so bigger than a large and was delicious!!  As we were slowing down, Opie noticed there were four pieces left. He asked for another and of course, the kid of moderation, I said yes. He took one slow bite and asked if he could save it for lunch tomorrow… he was full. No problem, sure, I’ll bag it up. And then it occurred to me.. was he wanting it for real and then was really full after one more bite or was he wanting it for tomorrow?

Moderation.. something we could all learn from him ( FYI.. He will stop if he is full with one bite remaining of anything.. Ice cream sandwich, a cookie… anything you or I would pop in our mouth just to “finish” it.)

OR

Making sure he got just one more piece before it was gone tomorrow?

God let me keep this special little boy probably to teach me along the way!

Birthday girls in smocked dresses…

My dear friend Jessica and I were pregnant at the same time and delivered our little girls three weeks apart. The two little girls both celebrated their first birthday party together recently. The dresses I smocked were for these two little girls.  Our homeschool group has had a good time seeing them grow over the last year.

stars of the party…

her very own cake…

So proud to be a walker…

on the way out of the driveway, two girls fell fast asleep…

The Lenten Hand Prayer

At Mass last night Father gave us an prayer reminder using our own hand. Every time we look down and see our hand ( maybe driving or cooking) we will be reminded to pray.

Thumb: Closest to us, pray for those close to us

Index: Pointer finger, Pray for the Teachers, Teachers of Our Faith, Priests

Middle : Tallest, pray for our leaders, our president, our military leaders, our government

Ring: Weakest finger, pray for the weak, the elderly, the sick, the dying, the lame

Pinky: Lastly, pray for yourself, after you’ve prayed for everyone else, pray for you.

Look what came in the mail!

Upon completing the dresses for the little girl’s first birthday, I realized I needed a special place to put my embroidery needles. I received this lovely hand embroidered needle book made from linen and wool from a dear friend, Cheryl Matis. Look at the lovely details!

Along with it and unsuspecting, I received this beautiful card tucked in the box too, little did she know it was my rose from heaven!

thank you St Therese!

Almost through Lent, it’s not too late to give up something for our Lord.

“Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps.” (Luke 9:23)

Reflection.
WHAT TO GIVE UP . . .

Give up complaining. . . . . . . .focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments . . .think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . . . . trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement. . . . .be full of hope.
Give up bitterness. . . . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . . .be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . .be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . . . .become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . . . . .enjoy the beauty that is all                                                      around you.
Give up jealousy. . . . . . . . . . . .pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . . . .control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . . . . hang in there!

Lenten Question
Q: Why are the forty days called Lent?
A: They are called Lent because that is the Old English word for spring, the season of the year during which they fall. This is something unique to English. In almost all other languages its name is a derivative of the Latin term, or “the forty days.”

Lenten Action.
Think of a person with whom you have a strained relationship and make some gesture toward improving that relationship.

Prayer
Direct our actions, Lord, by your holy inspiration and carry them forward by your gracious help, that all our works may begin in you and by you be happily ended.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
Amen.

 

Found from EWTN