Blessed Virgin Mary's Bower

Mary, watchful Mother

2009-11-13T06:40:00.001-08:00

(Image: Mary, gate of heaven.(C) GNETTES ART 2009)
Some years ago, I read the "The Secret of the Rosary" by Saint Louis de Montforte. In the book he recounts stories of those who had reached the judgement seat of God and been found wanting. It was then that the Blessed Virgin had intervened in the judgement of a soul and obtained a reprieve.
Sometimes the soul saw the number of rosaries they had prayed, weighed against their sins. The rosaries "won."
I wondered at the time how that might have been possible, until I read the account of the American priest who had experienced the same, and the British prostitute who had also had her life changed during a near -death experience through the intervention of Mary.
In both cases, Mary was someone that neither the priest, nor the prostitute had any devotion to.
As children, how often are we unaware of our own mother's presence. Yet she is there to keep a watchful eye over us, often intervening in situations without our knowledge, to bring us some good we are in need of.
(For story of Father steven scheier )

GLADYS AND MARY
I once mentioned "Mary" to my neighbour Gladys, and realised her understanding of Mary's role in salvation was different to mine.
We'd had many a chat over the garden fence, swapping plants and recipes for cakes.
When something needed mending, my husband would always be there.
On my fridge is a little magnet she gave to us as a way of saying " Thank you"
which says :

"Good neighbours are a blessing,
They give you peace of mind,
You never have to ask them
They always have the time
One such as you dear Friend,
Is very hard to find."

Well, today I prayed a farewell for my old neighbour, Gladys, along with Friends and family at the local Methodist church.
The service comprised in the main of eulogies on Gladys'life.
Her grandson, resplendent in navy uniform with a row of medals twinkling on his chest shared with us his memories. How she had loved her bible, and strived to form her children in the ways of God. At times she had rebuked them, at others pleaded for them when they were in need of mercy for some transgression.
She had watched over them and protected them as a good mother would.
And I wondered if Gladys had now met with Mary, though she had no devotion to her; and if at last she might have the joy of understanding Mary's role as advocate and mother of all.
I am sure that Mary has been watching over Gladys all her life, despite her being unaware of her presence.
And I shall remember my dear freind Gladys in my rosaries, to live up to that little verse she gave us in thanks: because:
"good neighbours never have to be asked... they always "find the time."

All - "Holy" Eve ...

2009-11-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

Hooray for the Vatican speaking out against the popularity of Halloween as a celebration of darkness.
Here is the article from the Daily Mail newspaper,Vatican slams halloween
Many see Halloween celebrations as just a bit of fun, and an excuse to dress up.
"Dressing up", or "Role play", is used as an effective tool in learning establishments - therefore it is wise to monitor what we allow our children to explore in games of "dressing up".
When my boys were three, we went to a local shopping centre, where we were approached by two scantily clad witches on stilts, who were carrying buckets of sweets.
We tried to avoid them by diving into the nearest shop doorway before the children saw them but it was too late. The girls pursued us, even though the children were visibly very frightened.
They leaned down to the children and hissed and growled at them - my husband was near to thrusting a size nine boot into their stilts at this point, but refrained because they were some one's daughters after all.
We encountered other shoppers equally disgruntled by their behaviour. No doubt they were just two (usually out - of - work) circus / drama students, getting all too carried away with their chance to do some "method acting".
We found the store manager ...after a very long search...)and made sure that he knew this was not something that was helping to draw in shoppers.
So, if a pair of cheap plastic fangs and a pointy hat can turn two young ladies into kiddie -bullies - what effect does dress -up have on a child?
It seems to me, that the evil one must be behind the pagan celebration of Halloween;
How else could people be co-ersed into parting with their hard -earned money for so much plastic tat and cheap meals advertised as "Halloween Specials".
As for my children, they seem to have learned from the experience that Pagan Halloween is a bad thing.
This year I had a party at my house, because my sister rang saying she needed some help with her 8 year old daughter who was feeling the pressure from her school peers to be a ghoul rather than a girl.
So my sister and I invited the children to dress up as heroes, saints and angels. I painted " happy Holy evening" on the mirror with some poster paint, just to help endorse the real meaning of "Hallowed". We made paper angel streamers to decorate the dining room to help things along.
We even made little heart biscuits. (Main photo- Jesus and Mary hearts.)
There was a low point though, when my daughters hamster who had been getting rather old, decidied to leave this world. Of course we had a funeral in the garden for her; and even this we managed to turn around as a special day when Holy hamsters go straight to heaven. (We can always explain the theology at a later date - as the boys insisted on putting her on my pious list!)
The children had a dance, some games and all went home happy, and didn't miss out on any fun ... (Which is, I think, what most parents feel guilty about if they do not comply.)
My other sister lives in the next county; she told me she gave out presents for trick or treat, which included miraculous medals. Now there's Catholic for You!

Blessed Virgin Mary's Bower - welcome message

2009-11-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Each year I like to re -post my welcome message to all new visitors; so here it is once again.
Jesus told us to "Honour thy father and thy Mother".
I am sure He would be pleased if we honour His most worthy mum! Each post here is a small spiritual flower ~ or something to ponder on - (Even a little laughter can be good for the soul!)
I welcome you to have a stroll through this scented garden and gather a whole bouquet!

PHOTO: miraculous image of the mother of God, heavenly, triumphant queen of Schonstatt ~ with a frame of added flowers!
(All artwork on this site is copyright to "Gnette's Art 2006" unless otherwise specified)
All bible quotes are taken from the "New Jerusalem Bible, ISBN:0-232-52077-1

Monster musings

2009-10-28T02:41:00.000-07:00

Having small children goes hand in hand with the obligatory school "Dinosaur project"
I have become quite "au fait" with many things pre-historic. Like my husband for example, insisting on breast pocket handkerchiefs...
With interest I read the following report today:

"Dinosaur experts in Dorset are examining the fossilised skull of a sea monster so large they say it could have eaten a Tyrannosaurus-rex for breakfast.

The fossil head is 2.4m (8ft) long, suggesting that the beast measured up to 16m (54ft) from the tip of its massive, crocodile-like snout to the end of its muscular tail, making it one of the largest specimens ever found.

The skull belongs to a pliosaur, one of a group of giant aquatic reptiles which roamed the warm seas over what is now southern Britain 150 million years ago."

(Quote; The Times.)
Of course it caused a lot of comments to ensue on the creation of the universe:
My favourite post was this one from someone who didn't believe in a creator - God:-

"The Earth formed from a cloud of dust in space...."

Well...o.k....but then who made the dust?

I've never bought into the "man evolved from apes" thing - The 'missing link' as an hypothesis has yet an actual "body" to be found to prove it.
My young daughter volunteered that "If we were all evolved from apes, then we would all be very hairy..." My husband could be suspect in that case; but I think the breast pocket handkerchief thing exonerates him.
That was the church's problem with Galileo; (not hirsuteness) having stated that the earth was round, provided no means of proving it.
Reminds me of the time I did jury service.
Those prosecuting had been disabled at the time of the infraction by drugs and drink. Such unreliable witnesses eventually led to the case being thrown out of court.
(Not to imply that Galileo was ever similarly incapacitated.)
I much prefer to think that although we may be genetically 95% similar to apes, (as that court case confirmed) an ape cannot compose a symphony or catch the bus to court.
To extrapolate;-
Cats will never evolve into hawks, even though both like to eat fish; (Surely a cat - sneaky as they are; would have done it long ago if it could...) Therefore the theory of natural selection doesn't hold any water, much less fish in it. (In my opinion.)
Evolution is not at odds with Catholic teaching, in fact, at some point in time God could have chosen to infuse a soul into the ape-being that was man.
This ape-like being or "human", would have been distinct from the ape species, just as dogs are a different species to giraffes.
A dog is a dog despite its innate ability for pedigrees to sire mongrels under the right conditions.They only ever produce a variety of different dogs.
Even though Hippos are apparently related to horses and Elephants to cows, they do not cross species.
Neither do Monkeys and humans cross species.
The "missing link" between apes and humans, is this: - the human soul.
That's why we can compose symphonies, study dinosaurs and choose to behave for good or evil at tea-parties.
Images; 1.A dinosaur looks for breakfast. 2. from "Cats in Hats" (with thanks.)

Kids Comments...

2009-10-21T03:32:00.000-07:00

On Evolution....
"Mum, In England there was some people sitting having a cup of tea when a Meteor - iter (Meteorite) landed and all the dinosaurs became stinked out, (extinct)but the people were o.k."
(Now you know why the English drink tea...)

On the "H" word...
The boys came home from school and brought with them a swear word.
" Don't follow what the others say" I told them, "It's better that they should be copying you and then they will know how to be good."
Later in the garden they were exchanging bits of twig with the kids next door, when Matthew ran in to tell me:
" Mum next door were saying those bad words - I told them they mustn't or they will go to hell - but they ran away crying to their mum that I had used the "H" word!"

Revised Liturgy...?
Since I made John an alb for his part as a shepherd in the Christmas play, he likes to "Say Mass."
We all took our places with hands joined - John made his Memorial acclamation:
"Let us complain the mystery of faith..."

Mass like it used to be...?
Then it was Matthew's turn to "Say Mass.";
I said "'Mum' will have to put the tea on soon - how long will you be?"
He lowered his head, looked me straight in the eye and said:- "Mum, this is going to be a loooooong Mass!"

(Image : Saint Joseph listening to the word of God. (c) Jlewis 2009)
One of my boys asked me to make this statue for him: St. Joseph's mallet is put to one side, on the ground as the boy Jesus leaps to greet him. Saint Joseph cradles the bunch of lily's (purity) to his chest, and his cloak is wrapped around Jesus to show his protective role in the family. He inclines his old, tired head to listen to Jesus after his hard day's work. Joseph was a man of few recorded words, but he was attentive to the Word of God.

Month of the Rosary - October

2009-10-16T04:48:00.000-07:00

(Image : Queen of the Holy Rosary (c) gnettesart 2009)
This being the month of the rosary, I am reminded that I have sorely neglected to add to my rosary blog; -Rosary primer
So Whilst I do that I leave you a photo of my latest finished processional figure of Mary, Queen of the rosary whose appearance echoes Our Lady of Fatima and the " Queen in gold of Ophir" of the old Testament.
For her face, I looked at the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe A depiction of Mary which God chose to reveal to us on the Tilma of a simple Mexican peasant, Juan Diego.
Mary is shown as small and dainty, unlike many of the willowy catwalk versions artists tend to offer.
In her hand is the lily of the Holy Trinity - as a reminder that she was a virgin before, during and after the birth of Christ. Chastity is a great gift from God; without it ones body seems to be easily driven by passing desires. If we obtain it; it purifies our intentions and drives. It is a virtue much needed in our present times.
As queen of priests, she wears a simple rope cincture; another symbol of purity. A cincture is traditionally worn by a priest around the waist of his alb (A long white robe)when celebrating Mass, to keep him mindful of his anointing as an alta Christus during the consecration.
"Hail Mary" the greeting the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary is on the base. "Hail" being reserved for greeting royalty.

Some years back, I felt strongly I had to make a figure of Mary. It seemed a crazy idea as I had no materials to do so and little experience.
It kept itching away at me - it was to be made of, well... plastic bags kept coming to mind, and a feeling of "lightness" as in weight - was important.
I thought, this isn't going to go away; so I duly began to find scraps that I might build an armature (Structure) for it. Before long the idea had taken shape.
My Deacon dad blessed it and she travelled from family rosary to family rosary, for a few years.
Image: (At the end of the service (c) R.H,way 2009)
Somehow being ferried around in the car didn't justify the inspiration for it to be so light. I thought "Yep" I was just being crazy after all, but my family have always tolerated my eccentricities, so it didn't cause a problem.
People who saw the little figure admired it - the face especially. And yet it is very simple - a bit like the Medieval French "Seat of Wisdom" statues of the Virgin and child. And so they encouraged me to develop this kind of work.
(I must thank here a spirit filled lady called Catherine who's message I kept for strength on days of discouragement. She said "I sense the urge to 'shout' interiorly for you to - Please Please Please - bring this into fruition;- as soon as you possibly can!!!!!" She might never know how much those words helped, as St. Francis said that "The worst temptaion for an artist is discouragement, .")

Then my sister moved up from London. She asked her new Parish priest if she could have a procession and evening of devotion to Mary. As he agreed, she took the unremarkable little statue to use that evening.
Because it was so light two small girls were able to process with the statue, and the priest duly consecrated it.
image : (the " lightweight" statue. (c) gnettesart 2009)
I was unwell and couldn't attend, but apparently there was a very good turnout.
Inspired by the enthusiasm, another parishioner organised a procession around an area of her town involving children from local schools. ( But she used another, heavier statue for the purpose.)
Now I have given the simple little statue to my sister for keeps and she takes it from school to school, bringing knowledge of Mary and the Rosary to the children.
Since making the statue I thought often of Noah and the ark, and how he must have felt a little crazy too. Seems God can do a bit with even a very small " yes" like mine and my sister's who had the courage to ask of her priest; to do something special to honour Mary!
Heres a big rosary event coming up you may want to take part....-a rosary day for the unborn

Food with a smile

2009-10-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

I hear that Sir Paul mcCartney is trying to persuade people to eat more vegetarian meals by launching his "Meat-Free - Mondays" campaign. Its in the cause of reducing cancer risks.
Sounds kind of familiar - I seem to remember that Catholics once had a Meat - free Fridays thing going for some time. That was also to do with health improvement of sorts; practicing self-denial was good for strengthening ones "will power" muscles so to speak.
I must admit that on Wednesdays ( traditionally the day that the Pharisees plotted against Jesus)and on Fridays I often enjoy the vegetarian option as much as a meat one, so I am not sure if that "counts".
Have to say though when I open the fridge for lunch on Fridays that bacon on the middle shelf always looks irresistable. I think there must be an imp assigned to shiver in my fridge on Wednesdays and Fridays, just waiting for me to see the bacon.
Doesn't effect me like that on other days; for the rest of the week I can happily ignore it.
My photo above is a little cake my son decorated, having been given free reign of the "cake making and sweeties cupboard." I am sure there's a message in it for us somewhere.....Don't think I'll be using the idea for partys though.

(Images: funny cakes and dentist cake (c) gnettesart 2009)

Out of the mouths...

2009-10-09T00:21:00.000-07:00

(Photo:St Therese statue before and after her 10 years younger makeover)

In recent months, a steady stream of Saint Mary's and other holy statues have passed through my garden shed to have their repairs and repaints done.
Because it is so cramped in there; a few find their way into the warmth of my dining room, where they stand on the windowsill and look out at the changing seasons until it is their turn.
Matthew is not always happy about that. " I can't eat my breakfast!" He'll complain "Why?" I ask.
"Because she is looking at me."
"Sit over there, with your back to her instead." I suggest.
It's really just an excuse not to have to finish his breakfast.
My 11 year old intrigued by all the restorations asked me if she could have a go, and so I bought her a Madonna and Child which was in a poorly state.
Having removed most of the old paint, it stood drying in the sunshine of my dining room window.
Matthew complained again.."Mum, I can't eat my breakfast!"
"Why I asked" thinking here we go again... "Its the Baby Jesus' his head is strange!" He said pointing dramatically at the little statue. I looked, and I have to admit he was right, (Photo:"Judge for yourself about the head - Sold as Seen...")
though I am not sure it was a good enough excuse to stop him from eating.
AS for Catherine, she has started high school - and is full of frustration at the new regime she's expected to juggle, and full of wonder at the challenge of her new found freedom.
(Using public transport instead of being ferried to and fro in a car.)
"Today" she told me, " We had to write about our hero - I couldn't think of anyone so I chose you mum...I tried to make it interesting, but it was difficult."
Ah well, there's one for my eulogy I guess...
Speaking of eulogies,and heroes - I recently attended my late uncle's funeral.
He had been in the navy during world war two and three of the submarines he had served in had suffered direct hits. He had been in open water on each occasion.
In his final weeks, cancer finally overtaking his strength - he told his daughters "Not to fuss"; "I've had a good life, I am 88, and I have seen young lads of seventeen die either side of me, I can't complain."
And throughout all his painful treatments - he seldom did. He died a holy death, blessed with the grace of receiving Holy Viaticum for his journey.
It was difficult having to get my black outfit together again just a year to the month of my dad's funeral.
I decided I would put on a different skirt this time - a flared one that one of my sisters had given me. It was a bit long, and reached down to my ankles.
I had a glittery black cardigan - one of those unwanted Christmas presents that test your charity - The "Oh yes it's lovely!" Type.
I thought I should wear my black mantilla as a mark of respect.
Matthew and John sat on the bottom stair in the hall as I stuck my last hair pin into place before leaving.
"You look lovely mum!" They exclaimed, eyes as bright as buttons...
"Oh thanks" I said, my mothers heart melting and slightly smug.
"Yes, mum you look great - just like Darth Vader!"
POP!!!
Yes that was the sound of my ego deflating. " They were right again! Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings" I thought. Perhaps I should re -consider the Mantilla thing, after all its the disposition of the heart that counts, not the externals.
They did make me laugh though, on an otherwise difficult day.
God Rest you in Peace, uncle Terry.
(Last Photo : from my late grandad's collection of Wills cigarettes series on " great escapes."

A little flower blooms in England

2009-10-01T02:29:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Kathy's "St. Therese".)
Once long long ago, in the far east, there was a tower which the people of Babel decided to build.
They thought that if they built it high enough, they could reach God.
He needn't come to them - they'd go right to the top under their own efforts.
The building of the tower would be an icon of man's power. Not an edifice built for the worship and praise of God, but as a monument to the glory of those who built it.
They cleared the land, made the preparations, and planned the date of its completion.

"Come' they said,let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top reaching heaven. Let us make a name for ourselves so we do not get scattered all over the world."(Genesis 11:4).

(New Jerusalem Bible)
God, seeing what the people were doing, came down and confused their languages so that they no -longer understood each other. Hence the people became scattered throughout the earth. Their tower was never finished.
God did this to quell their pride, so that they might come to understand that heaven can never be reached by our own efforts.

I was visiting the shrine of Ladywell at Fernyhalgh last month. In the room of martyr's relics, a sprightly old lady with her two companions admitted that "She didn't like relics". Some folks find them "creepy" others disdain their presence as a means of procuring superstition.

My kids looked at the papery hand of Saint Margaret Clitheroe displayed in the small perspex box. They had seen things like this before, but it didn't phase them.
Egyptian mummies at the museum did. My daughter, on a school field trip - refused to go anywhere near the displays. In their hearts they have an understanding about relics, just as the woman with the hemorrhage who touched the fringe of Jesus cloak did.
The Jewish people believed that the tassels on the priest's garments were holy, and contained the power to heal.
But the power of God was not in the cloak, it was transmitted through it in some way because it was in such intimate contact with Jesus.
As He stated: " I felt power go out FROM ME."

I knelt before the ancient altar used by Martyr priests, about to say a prayer for England; when one of the grey-haired companions quietly said in my ear
"I was healed by a relic of St. Therese of Liseux..."

She had lived seventy five years so far - but at the age of five, it could have all been over. Leaning too far from the sash -window of a third floor Victorian villa she had fallen over the ledge and dashed her head upon a large stone in the grounds below, thus fracturing her skull.

She was barely conscious, but recognised one of her aunts. The doctors told her parents that she was not expected to live through the night.
As the family gathered to pray the rosary around her, the priest was duly called to minister her final anointing. He arrived having made a visit first to the hidden Carmelite convent of West Derby and brought a relic of St. Therese of Liseux.
The relic was placed upon her chest and they all continued in prayer throughout the night....
and seventy years later she is able to tell me of her miracle granted through the intercession of Our Lady and Saint Therese.

I wasn't able to visit the relics of St. Therese as they visited the Cathedral of Christ the King ( Known affectionately as " Paddy's wig wam.")but many of my family did. It was reported that in Liverpool alone, in excess of seventeen thousand people came to venerate the relics.
And so, I read some of the News reports of the event on the net, and the accompanying comments; some good, but as always some filled with bile and ignorance, citing the usual objections to such Catholic practices - " Money - making, fairy stories, sickos..." and so on. Blah blah - we have heard it all so many times ad nauseum.

The re-curring question used by reporters was "Why so many visitors to the relics?"
I can only offer the following; it is because Therese teaches us that The towers we build to reach heaven by our own efforts will fall. We have to be like little children who entrust their salvation to God.
When pilgrims reach out to touch the reliquary, they are reaching out for the "robe" which once adorned a woman now in the presence of God. Just as His power went out from him, to heal the haemmoraging woman; He wills that it go out from the remains of the faithful, humble and trusting Therese.
Now an inert thing, her bodily remains are the garment she wore on earth, made sacred by His presence within her.
The reporters would do well to ask their question of that once dying little girl, who now, grey -haired, has known the truth of it for the past seventy years.
(image; moquettes for pilgrim statues (c)jlewis 2009)
While England looks for gods amongst the rubble of celebrity T.V. and the false gods of consumerism, public architechture, home and body makeovers - sex and drugs - the visit of St. Therese's relics remind the remnant of the faithful, that even now the little flower of faith in God has not been crushed, and can bloom once again in England.

Deceit, abuse, and redemption

2009-09-23T02:28:00.000-07:00

image: Descent from the cross - 15th century by the Master of Palaquinos.

Saint Faustina had a prayer which made a request to

"Mary, my Mother and my Lady"

to defend Faustina

" against all enemies, and especially against those who hide their malice behind a mask of virtue..."

By its very nature, evil will always aim to operate behind a mask of virtue - it seeks out institutions both secular and ecclesial in order to destroy souls.
The predator will don the mask which serves best to infultrate those places where the vulnerable are to be found.
Satan is called the "great deceiver", "father of lies" or "angel of light" with good reason.

When the face of evil is uncovered, that which hid the festering wound is ripped asunder and all involved have a great pain to bear.
So great that the groans of the agonised victims move many to experience feelings of hatred, revenge and despair.
The stamp of evil is chaos, panic and discord. It strips the victim of human dignity, to such a degree that it tempts the soul to forget its worth to God. It aims to tempt the indignant to fury - and thus unforgiveness, even to the point of murder.
Abuse of the innocent - is Satan's delight, because it is the vile means by which many souls - (in their righteous anger) might be made ripe for destruction.

When abuse is uncovered, it is brought "into the light". This allows these wounds an opportunity to heal, - and there is also a chance even for those who have sided with evil to "come clean" and make what reparation they can.

Suffering is a Divine mystery, and so from our human perspective, we struggle to make sense of it as having any worth.
My personal understanding is that by suffering we become conformed to Christ.
the victims who suffer abuse, share in the sufferings of Jesus, and in a mysterious way, He suffers with them at the hands of evil men:

"Next I beheld our saviour, and redeemer - his feet swollen and bleeding - his back bent as though he were to sink under the heavy weight of the cross, and his whole body covered with wounds and blood. He appeared half - fainting from exhaustion...weak from loss of blood and parched with thirst that produced fever and pain.
He supported the cross on his right shoulder with his right hand, the left hung almost powerless at his side, but he endeavoured now and then to hold up his garment to prevent his bleeding feet from getting tangled in it."

(Anne Catherine-Emmerich - the dolorous passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.)

How often must the innocent who are abused feel as though they are about to sink beneath the heavy weight placed upon them by their oppressors?
Half fainting from fear and emotional exhaustion; they too struggle to push aside the pain which "entangles their feet" in order to continue living, and not be conquered by the burden which evil has forced upon them.
When Jesus himself was tortured and put to death, it was at the hands of a group of men, instigated by some of the High priests of His temple.

Though sadly, abuse is widespread across all denominations (and statistics say that it is Government establishments who have the highest incidences.)The Catholic church will always be the one most pilloried when the abuse occurs amongst its members. As the one true Church the devil will always rail strongest and loudest against it, hoping to turn away as many as he can from it.

The suffering caused by abuse is immense, but I pray that all victims will recognise in their plight their unity in the suffering of Christ, and draw strength from His closeness to them. May they recognise too his promise of a share in his victory; possibly in this world, and in the next.

>

DIVINE MERCY PRAYER FOR THE ABUSED

" Divine Mercy, I beg of you to protect all those helpless children, and all the aged who are physically, emotionally, or sexually abused; especially by those whose duty it is to guide and protect them on earth.

Send down upon them your enveloping cloak of mercy and wrap it around these poor souls. Enfold them in your love and protection.

Send forth your rays of Blood and water to cleanse and renew the souls of those who perpetrate these vile acts of Satan.

Let there be a way for the image of your Divine Mercy to enter institutions, establishments and homes; that from it your grace may flow upon these sad families, and injured souls, that they may be renewed according to your promise.

O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You.
AMEN
(Divine Mercy Apostolate - Dublin)

Birthday of Mary

2009-09-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

Image: Processional model of Mary
Ancient tradition has named the parents of Mary as Joachim and Anne, although what little is known of them is historically unreliable.
We can be sure though, that the parents God chose for His mother, would have a high degree of sanctity. Their holiness was necessary for the formation of a child destined herself, for such singular holiness.
Mary is of Davidic lineage, through Joachim, and possibly through Anne as well.
Isaiah prophecies in chapter 11 verse 1 the bodily origin of Jesus:

" A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse, a new shoot will grow from his roots."

Joachim and Anne were childless, and prayed for a long time to be blessed with a child. God granted them a daughter whom they named Miriam, after the valiant sister of Moses.
We should thank God, for this of Mary's birth.
She was chosen from all eternity to give the world its saviour, and so aid in our redemption.
For the first time in milennia - since the creation of Eve - a human being free from every stain of sin (wrought by her immaculate conception at the beginning of her existence) is born.
This "most beautiful of creatures", has been given to us as our mother too. We should thank God for His gift of her to us - and the mercies He has shown to mankind
because of her prayer for us.
Our birthday gift to our Heavenly mother should be a wholehearted consecration of ourselves to her.

Adaptation of Louis De Montforte's

CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Mary Immaculate, living tabernacle of God,
Queen of heaven and earth, and tender mother of men.
This day before the whole court of heaven,
I choose you as my Mother and my Queen.
I consecrate to you myself, my brethren, my country, and the whole human race; and ask that we may share in the benefits of your Motherly blessing.
I consecrate to you my very being, and my whole life:
all that I have, all that I love, all that I am.
I desire that all my worldly and spiritual goods belong to you to dispense with as you choose, reserving nothing for myself.
May I have no heart but yours to love God as purely and ardently as you love Him. Reign over us and teach us how to make the Heart of Jesus reign and triumph in and round us, as it has reigned and triumphed in you.
Amen.

(Please note, many saints have written various forms of consecration to the heart of Mary.)

God is in the ironing

2009-09-01T04:07:00.000-07:00

I Have just returned from a week in the lake district. This fact, coupled with the imminent return of my rambunctious cherubs to school; has left me with my own small mountain of ironing to do.
So, clouds of steam bursting forth from my iron, I will dream of the misty clouds that God has crowned the pre-historic peaks above the lakes.

In the meantime, I offer you an image from my travels.

Looking at a picture is never the same as actually being there, though it might serve to remind us of the beauty of God's creation.
The sudden rush of awe, at the greatness of our God who formed such things... and, knowing that he created it for us to enjoy at this very time, are fleeting high points.
Moments of deep prayer can be a bit like that - when we become aware of His great love for us; and it makes us want to return to that spot once again.

"LORD, eternal lover of life, help me to savour and enjoy life at every period of my life. May I waste none of its moments and always see them as your gift to me.
Life is an adventure with its challenges and rewards when I live it to the full, as your Son Jesus Christ would have me do."
Father Michael Buckley.

Priesthood and the devil

2009-08-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

Image:" Christ Blessing" - Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

‘He cast out demons’by Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead

It could be said that the priesthood is not fully understandable except in contrast with the work of the devil. The mission of a priest is linked intrinsically to God’s forgiveness of sins through Christ, and to His mission of defeating the devil and ushering in the Kingdom of God. We see this, above all, in the life of Christ Himself, our eternal High Priest. Recall that Jesus cast out seven demons from Mary Magdalene (Cf. Lk 8:2), and expelled a whole legion of demons from a possessed man in the territory of the Gerasenes (Cf. Mk 5:1-20).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says of Him (#539),

“Christ reveals Himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil’s conqueror: He ‘binds the strong man’ to take back his plunder. Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of His filial love for the Father.”

Even before Jesus began His public ministry, the Father allowed Him to be tempted by the devil in the desert (Cf. Mt 4:1-11). He successfully resisted the temptations and made it possible for us to do the same when we are one with Him in faith. In His public ministry, Jesus cast out devils and vanquished the evil one as an integral part of His mission from the Father. He did this in the most humble of ways; as the Letter to the Hebrews says (4:15),

“For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect was tested as we are, yet without sinning.”

To read all of this article Click here

John Vianney on the gift of priesthood.

2009-08-20T00:23:00.001-07:00

Image : Elisabeth Frink- Radiant light ministries.
WHAT IS A PRIEST?
(Homily of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of Catholic priests.)

My children, we have come to the Sacrament of Orders. It is a Sacrament which seems to relate to no one among you, and which yet relates to everyone. This Sacrament raises man up to God.
What is a priest! A man who holds the place of God -- a man who is invested with all the powers of God. "Go, " said Our Lord to the priest; "as My Father sent Me, I send you. All power has been given Me in Heaven and on earth. Go then, teach all nations. . . . He who listens to you, listens to Me; he who despises you despises Me. "
When the priest remits sins, he does not say, "God pardons you"; he says, "I absolve you. " At the Consecration, he does not say, "This is the Body of Our Lord;" he says, "This is My Body. "
Saint Bernard tells us that everything has come to us through Mary; and we may also say that everything has come to us through the priest; yes, all happiness, all graces, all heavenly gifts. If we had not the Sacrament of Orders, we should not have Our Lord. Who placed Him there, in that tabernacle? It was the priest. Who was it that received your soul, on its entrance into life? The priest. Who nourishes it, to give it strength to make its pilgrimage? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, by washing that soul, for the last time, in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest -- always the priest. And if that soul comes to the point of death, who will raise it up, who will restore it to calmness and peace? Again the priest. You cannot recall one single blessing from God without finding, side by side with this recollection, the image of the priest.
Go to confession to the Blessed Virgin, or to an angel; will they absolve you? No. Will they give you the Body and Blood of Our Lord? No. The Holy Virgin cannot make her Divine Son descend into the Host. You might have two hundred angels there, but they could not absolve you. A priest, however simple he may be, can do it; he can say to you, "Go in peace; I pardon you. " Oh, how great is a priest!
The priest will not understand the greatness of his office till he is in Heaven. If he understood it on earth, he would die, not of fear, but of love. The other benefits of God would be of no avail to us without the priest.
Image: Saint Philip Neri on his deathbed, sees the Blessed Virgin.
What would be the use of a house full of gold, if you had nobody to open you the door! The priest has the key of the heavenly treasures; it is he who opens the door; he is the steward of the good God, the distributor of His wealth. Without the priest, the Death and Passion of Our Lord would be of no avail.
Look at the heathens: what has it availed them that Our Lord has died? Alas! they can have no share in the blessings of Redemption, while they have no priests to apply His Blood to their souls! The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you.
After God, the priest is everything. Leave a parish twenty years without priests; they will worship beasts.
If the missionary Father and I were to go away, you would say, "What can we do in this church? there is no Mass; Our Lord is no longer there: we may as well pray at home. "
When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion.
When the bell calls you to church, if you were asked, "Where are you going?" you might answer, "I am going to feed my soul. " If someone were to ask you, pointing to the tabernacle, "What is that golden door?" "That is our storehouse, where the true Food of our souls is kept. " "Who has the key? Who lays in the provisions? Who makes ready the feast, and who serves the table?" "The priest. " "And what is the Food?" "The precious Body and Blood of Our Lord. "
O God! O God! how Thou hast loved us!
See the power of the priest; out of a piece of bread the word of a priest makes a God. It is more than creating the world. . . .
Someone said, "Does St. Philomena, then, obey the Cure of Ars?" Indeed, she may well obey him, since God obeys him.
If I were to meet a priest and an angel, I should salute the priest before I saluted the angel. The latter is the friend of God; but the priest holds His place. St. Teresa kissed the ground where a priest had passed. When you see a priest, you should say, "There is he who made me a child of God, and opened Heaven to me by holy Baptism; he who purified me after I had sinned; who gives nourishment to my soul. "
At the sight of a church tower, you may say, "What is there in that place?" "The Body of Our Lord. " "Why is He there?" "Because a priest has been there, and has said holy Mass. "
Image: Jesus, High priest - artist unknown.
What joy did the Apostles feel after the Resurrection of Our Lord, at seeing the Master whom they had loved so much!
The priest must feel the same joy, at seeing Our Lord whom he holds in his hands. Great value is attached to objects which have been laid in the drinking cup of the Blessed Virgin and of the Child Jesus, at Loretto. But the fingers of the priest, that have touched the adorable Flesh of Jesus Christ, that have been plunged into the chalice which contained His Blood, into the pyx where His Body has lain, are they not still more precious?
The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. When you see the priest, think of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jean- Baptiste Marie Vianney

2009-08-12T00:36:00.000-07:00

Image " Dear little Saint" (C) Virtuso 2009
Jean- Baptiste Marie Vianney was born at Dardilly vilage not far from Lyons France in 1786.
His wish to be a priest was strewn with obstacles, To have such an ambition during the Revolution was a worrying prospect for his parents. Fearing for his life,
they discouraged him accordingly.
His lack of education and slowness of learning hindered the studies he made under the Abbe of Bally, Cure of Ecully.
He made a vow to travel on foot to the tomb of St Francis Regis, to ask his intercession on the matter. On completion of his pilgrimage to the tomb, his studies went forward at a pace which surprised the Abbe.
In 1809 he was drawn for conscription. On the day his colum was to leave, he became so engrossed in prayer at the Church, that he forgot the time. He presented himself late to the office who sent him to join his corps alone.
On his way he met a mysterious stranger who bade him to follow him. After a journey of a day, the stranger left him in the hospitality of a man and wife in a remote house.
The stranger disappeared, and Jean -Marie never heard of him again.
For some time he hid at Noes, where the people took him to their hearts, but in 1810, he was called once more for conscription. His younger brother offered to take his place and was accepted.
Jean - Marie was now able to resume his priestly studies. He still struggled with those subjects taught in Latin.
Word of his Holiness, and spiritual wisdom reached the ear of the Vicar -General, who overlooked the difficulties saying:"Very well, I will receive him: Divine grace will do the rest."

Jean-Marie Vianney was ordained priest in 1815, and was M. Balley's curate until the latter's death two years later.
This was the time that Jean Marie was appointed Cure of Ars, the little village in Trevoux.

His biographer, M. Monnin said of Jean Marie, that he was outwardly unattractive,

" short, awkward and shy; and of his language, "provincial to vulgarity; that is, his pronunciation was akin to that of the peasant class from which he sprang."
and that he was a frequent offender against "grammar and syntax, not to speak of literary taste of which he did not so much as possess the rudiments."

And yet his unsophisticated and simple ways which society found distasteful - were as nothing to his advanced holiness and incessant labours for the conversion of the people of Ars.

The miracles wrought by God through his servant Jean Marie Vianney attracted multitudes to Ars. Eventually a railway route was laid to accommodate those who travelled there for his counsel in the confessional.

In 1825he founded a home for destitute and orphaned girls called the "Providence."
In order to do this he sold all he possessed and used his slender stipend and small allowance which had been made to him by his brother.
Initially the house cared for only two or three orphans, but the number rapidly increased.
When the house needed enlarging, he cut and carried the stones, mixed the mortar
and laid the stones himself.
Catherine Lasagne, one of the superioresses said that what ever monies came John Vianney's way he would spend on the orphanage, the rest "came of itself." - He trusted to God for everything.

In John Vianney's works, the promise of our Lord that signs should follow them that believe was regularly fulfilled.
The following examples written around 1860 by M.Monnin, were sourced from eye-witnesses who were at that time still living:

Food for the hungry.
Once when there were eighty hungry mouths to feed at the Providence, Jeanne - Marie Chanay came to the Holy Cure to tell him that she hadn't enough flour to make two loaves for them. He told her to put her leaven into what she had and to go on baking as usual.

Jeanne - Marie Chanay:" I know not how it happened, but as I kneaded, the dough seemed to rise under my fingers. I could not put in the water quick enough; the more it swelled and thickened, so that I was able to make with a handful of flour ten large loaves of from twenty - to twenty two pounds each.- as much in fact as could have been made with a whole sack of flour."

Another day when the stocks of corn had run seriously low, the Cure hid the relics of St. John Francis Regis in the remaining corn. The next day saw the Mayor of Ars and many of the people run to the granary to marvel that it had become miraculously
full.

When the Cure of Ars was in much need of funds for the "Providence" or some improvement was needed on the church, he met bountiful mysterious strangers, or found in his drawer considerable sums of money for which he could not account.

Reader of Hearts:
Although miracles of physical healing through the Cure were recorded, the healing of souls and lasting conversion of sinners is what he is best known for.
(*The Cure would attribute all healings to the intercession of Saint Philomena - to whom he had great devotion.)
The Cure spent long hours in the confessional, and many of his penitents bore witness that he read in their hearts what he could not have known naturally. He used to spend from sixteen to eighteen hours in the confessional every day. People from all walks of life went to him for direction;Heads of the State, army officers, university professors, bishops and fellow priests.
Once when a priest asked him how he managed to combine consideration for the weakness of sinners with the exaction of a penance proportionate to that sin, he said:
"I give them a light penance and do the rest myself."

The Eucharist
The Cure lived on boiled potatoes, and reserved no luxuries for himself.
Toward the end of his life he would sigh for the times when he had the physical strength to live on the most frugal of meals.
His love for Jesus in the Eucharist would make it difficult for him to resist speaking of his beloved. Catherine Lassagne wrote of him in her memoirs:

"He spoke of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist with much unction and Joy that he was often too deeply moved to finish his words - his tears made up for them".

One day when the Cure seemed to be of low spirits, the matrons of the providence asked the reason for his sadness, and he replied" I have not seen our Lord for several days..."
"You see Him, then!", they said, But the Cure, changed the conversation.
Believing himself to be alone, he stood one day in the parlour of the Providence. Marie Chanay however, was near by and heard him lament with a long sigh; " I have not seen the good God since Sunday."
(Image : Jean-Vianney's room.)

Diabolical attacks.
As the Cure's holiness progressed, so did the efforts of the evil one to torment him.
When the diabolic attacks first manifested, the Cure would be quite terrified and quake in his bed.
The devil could not gain any interior power over the holy priest, and so he attacked him externally, trying to deprive him of what little sleep he allowed himself. Satan hoped to exhaust the Cure so that he might fail in his duties.
The neighbouring clergy made fun of the rumoured disturbances, suggesting that Jean Vianney was suffering from mental derangement caused by his excessive fasting and austere way of life.
One night however, he stayed at the presbytery at St. Trivier, in order to help with the jubilee celebrated the following day.
At midnight the other clergy, disturbed by the sounds of falling masonry, ran to tell him that the house was collapsing.
He reassured them with a smile that they had nothing to worry about, and the noises ceased. John Vianney had come to recognise these diabolical disturbances as a pre-cursor to some hardened sinner's return to the church, who would make his confession through him.
The Abbe of Chevalon present at St. Trivier at the time, promised to Our Lord he would never jest about the "alleged" disturbances again, and even admitted that he thought the Cure of Ars to be a Saint.
The Saint was told of strange happenings at the Providence also. By now John Vianney had become so used to these occurances that he gave the devil a nickname.

" It is the Grappin who does it", he said, "Just laugh at him." "

The Cure had to suffer all kinds of nocturnal disturbances, furious voices calling his name at night, extraordinary noises, and, on waking find that St. Philomena and the Blessed Virgin's statues had been covered with dirt.
He was also dragged around the room in his bed.
One night his bed was set on fire, the flames spread to other objects but were stopped short as if by a geometrically shaped barrier at the casket holding the relic of Saint Philomena...His " Dear little Saint."

On the 4th of August 1859, St. John Vianney went to his bed, exhausted from hearing confessions from early in the morning until late into the evening. Saying that he "Could do no more" , he received the last rites from a neighbouring priest,and fell into a peaceful sleep from which he did not awake.

He was canonized May 31, 1925. Pope Pius XI declared him the patron saint of all diocesan priests in 1929. His body remains
incorruptible.
SOURCE: Eucharistic Meditations of Saint John Vianney - Cure of Ars by Abbe H. Convert.

He raises the lowly

2009-07-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

IMAGE: Mary Praying.
If you've been studying your bible a while, there comes a point when you are faced with a dilemma.
This dilemma is brought about by the realisation that our salvation is rooted in doing the will of the Father.
Up to now, we have been doing mostly our will. And so the question arises " What is the will of God for me?"

The very importance of doing the Fathers will is revealed in Matthew 7 where Jesus says; "[21] "Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

But what is God's will for us? we ask, " How can we find it?".
As we try to figure it out, It's easy to get caught up dreaming of grand schemes and racing thoughts at this point, for example; winning the lottery and giving it all away to the poor!
Our desire to respond to this newly found revelation can be an impatient one. Impatience will trip us up, leading us to act in ways that are mostly of our own will. (Like being attached to the expectation of winning when we buy a lottery ticket!)

Getting it right takes time, mistakes will be made as we search.
I like to compare Elijah's experience on mount Horeb to that same rush of enthusiasm. He too expected God to reveal himself with some kind of fanfare -
1KINGS.19: 11-12
[11] And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
[12] and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

In trying to do God's will, the initial spontaneous response arises " I'm going to do A, B, and C, for you Lord!- We feel like a strong force that will shatter mountains.
Then with time it mellows to "What can I do for you, Lord?" - The rumblings of an earthquake, the fire of presumption.
And eventually, we can re-address that initial question to:
"O.K. Lord, I surrender - let me live according to your will, not mine."
here we identify with the words of John the Baptist "He must increase, and I decrease."
And with our minds and desires quieted, and our hearts ready to be molded - we are ready to hear that " Still small voice." As Elijah did.
(Though the voice is not always audible to the sense of hearing.)

Image: Madonna (c)G-nets art. 1989
In Mary's immaculate conception, we have the perfect model of a human who receives the word of God.
Her intention of life was pure, desiring to live it for God alone. To work for His glory, and not her own.

It seems that to "Hear" God, Elijah needed to listen for Him in the silence, when all the noise around him had ceased.
A pentecostal convert to Catholicism was once having real trouble with this concept of silence, of being still. She was young, and when we are young, these things don't always come easily.
She had experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit (as do many Catholics) through a charismatic approach to worship, and thought that was the one and only way.
Image : Martha and Mary (by Luberoff)
To sit before the Tabernacle in silence did not bode well with her; even though scripture describes the presence of God as covered by a Tent (tabernacled) in the Old Testament. Catholics are not inventing anything new in their awareness of God's presence within the Tabernacle.

The beauty of the Tabernacled presence of Jesus in Catholic churches is, that He is made present to us unconditionally, and for all time as He promised.
We can go sit in His presence today, and at any time of the day because Jesus is God, he is beyond the restrictions of time.
Because all of His actions while on earth had infinite value, He was able to reach forward in time at the last supper to minister to the Apostles his crucified, resurrected and Glorified body and blood.

During the mass, we have offered our own lives as a gift to God along with the bread and wine. When the priest calls down the Holy Spirit upon the bread and wine, to "Make it Holy" then we are praying in union with him for the Holy Spirit to make the gift of ourselves (which we have just offered)"Holy" also.
We are asking to be transformed as a people into the Body of Christ in a mysterious way, known to God alone.

Though we may never reach the Sanctity of Mary, we can pray for purity of intent.
This purity of intent will enable us to discover the work God made us for.
In surrendering our will to His, and accepting with trust that all things are
possible with God - we will discern that His will for us is to be Holy.

We need only trust in Him to help us in this; as "He will raise the lowly, and fill the hungry with good things", as Mary declared in her Magnificat.
When Elizabeth greeted Mary she said:(Luke 1 :45-46)"Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.
Blessed then are those who are lowly enough to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle. Body, blood, soul and Divinity.
After all, He promised to be with us for all time, is it not possible that here we might listen to the still small voice which calls us into a deeper understanding of His will.

O Brother, Come back, Sister!

2009-06-24T02:33:00.001-07:00

Image:(Snails have families too!)
Matthew and John were most upset at school yesterday. They had prayed an " Eternal rest" for a squashed bug in the playground and all their "classmates" had laughed at them.
"Then it began to wiggle and come alive again" said John.
"... So they all ran away and screamed but we didn't because Jesus can do that can't he mum? - give things life again?"
(They both put on a brave face, but later, in my arms they sobbed their little hearts out.)
My five year old boys attend a Catholic school...but not one as I used to know it!
Last year it introduced a council initiative into the curriculum. Entitled " Sex and relationships" a module for nine to 10 year olds.
Slipped into one of the boy's early reading book-bags; was a booklet produced by the local Council explaining the long-term benefits of this course, headed under the wholesome title

"Safe Parenting - a guide for parents and carers of 11-18 year olds."

Sounds good - Well, all parents want their children to be "Safe" don't they?

"Safe" in my day used to mean "Safe from bodily or moral danger" not "Safe from practicing moral values."
Page 33 of the booklet introduces the topic of "Sexual health" and makes the bold introductory statement:
"Children and young people want their parents to talk to them about sex..."
Really...?
Wasn't something I would have actually wanted to hear my parents talk about - as a child the word " sex" wasn't in my vocabulary. "Rounders, painting parties, hide and seek, games and pets were all there - but not "sex".
Ok, times have changed, but Catholic schools used to let children be children. Society might change, but gospel values do not. Jesus was the Divine Innoence and still is.
Even Parents used to let children be children, and take upon themselves the burden of disciplining them or the pain of having to say NO! even when they looked cute doing what they shouldn't!
- but now they are treated like minuscule adults. Parents are opting out on parental responsibilities big time, on the premise of giving them "self- confidence" they allow them to make too many choices for themselves.
Confidence is built in children when they feel secure in knowing who are the adults in the family, and who is the child. They need to be given limits and boundaries or they begin to feel uncared for.
And so, Children are being abandoned to their own devices, having no resources or expertise of their own to rely upon, they will find their information on morality and how to be adult from Government booklets like the one in John's bag.
Because of complacent parenting, the original Big Brother is having its way by means of stealth.

(Image: A Government official looks for the "sensible" parts of a teenagers brain using the new "Glockenspiel" method."
The booklet brings its mission message home like this:

"The law allows 16 year olds complete sexual freedom, and the right to contraception and abortion without telling their parents...as long as their doctor thinks they are sensible enough."

Their doctor...? How would they know what is best for our children better than we do?
Sensible at 16?...(I am yet to meet one of those) O.k. apologies to sixteen year olds - one can be sensible about lots of everyday stuff like getting your homework in on time - but sex is a very different matter.

The argument for giving this information to 16 year olds (and children as young as 11) is that a third of all under 16's are already active.
True as that may be, it also means that two - thirds are not.
It seems the world wants to lower moral standards of the majority to please the minority. Surely it should be the other way around if only by mere weight of numbers?

(Image: An inflatable church made in England. In their wisdom perhaps the council thought Church should be more fun?) Poor England - pray for us won't you?
Being bullied for my faith was never a problem when I was at school. Everyone knew how to pray. Even for deceased relatives. Catholic schools in England are becoming Catholic only in name. The meaning is lost like that of a road I know named "Lusitania" - a ship long forgotten.
If I could find a school which was run by a religious sister or brother I would swap poste - haste. But where have all the religious teaching orders disappeared to?
At least I could be sure that the children would be fed a diet of morning and lunch-time prayer, and programmes like the afore mentioned would not get a look -in.
Prayer is the fundamental building block of a relationship with the Divine. Parents will teach their kids how to get connected on the mobile phone network or internet, but they fail to teach their children how to pray,and so make a connection with the Divine.
How many of us separate our church life from our family life? We should aim for the two to be one.
There is a well-known account of Padre Pio chasing a woman out of the confessional shouting "Traitor!"
When she gathered the courage to return and ask him why he had done that - he replied that he had had a vision of her three children in hell.
She had not given them spiritual guidance, but left them to their own devices.
All authority is given by God, and both parents and heads of Catholic schools have a responsibility to those under their charge.
Has this demise happenned because compromise with the state is the only way they can survive?
Catholic schools need prayer to bring them back to life again, and Jesus can do it if we ask. He did it with the bug, remember?

Year of the Priest

2009-06-10T02:33:00.000-07:00

PHOTO: Saint John Vianney - the Cure of Ars of whom the devil said, " If there were but three priests like him, the world would be converted."(Plaster statue, Cathedral of Saint -marie, Bayonne, France.)
click here for the vatican website addressing the year of the priest.

Our Lady of America - hope for the world.

2009-06-03T02:35:00.000-07:00

At a time when the family unit as we used to know it is all but a distant memory, the resurgence of an apparition of Our lady in 1956 gives us a sign of new hope for the world.
I say the world, because it is from America that the rest of the world receives much of its cultural influence.

In his own words, Dan Lynch, who has written many books on spirituality says:
"The revelations of Our Lady of America are for the whole world since she said that the renewal will begin in America through its youth who will join with the youth of the world to lead the world to purity and peace and a renewal of the faith on earth."

If we pray for the American people to have the strength to say yes to Mary's requests, then in turn we too will be blessed.

"The elements of the devotion to Our Lady of America are the image, the statue, the medal, the prayers, purity, the Divine Indwelling and St. Joseph. We practice the devotion by reforming our lives; by displaying, honoring and venerating the image or statue; by wearing the medal with great devotion; by imitating the Holy Family and by praying the prayers and the Rosary, especially as a family; by studying and living the Divine Indwelling; by leading chaste lives; and by honoring St. Joseph, especially on First Wednesdays. If we practice the devotion to Our Lady of America, she promises us peace and protection."

Archbishop Burke, a world renowned canon lawyer, stated that the devotion to Our Lady of America was canonically approved. In a letter dated May 31, 2007, he reviewed the prior history and then state of the devotion as well as the earlier actions of Archbishop Leibold approving the devotion. Archbishop Burke wrote, “What can be concluded canonically is that the devotion was both approved by Archbishop Leibold and, what is more, was actively promoted by him. In addition, over the years, other Bishops have approved the devotion and have participated in public devotion to the Mother of God, under the title of Our Lady of America.”

Here is a link to Dan's site which explains more about the messages of Our Lady of America: click here

Saint of just desserts? -

2009-05-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

IMAGE: Saint Agatha, patron of bakers, bell-ringers and those with diseases of the chest.
Early depictions of Saint Agatha were misinterpreted. Her martyrdom involved the removal of that which she displays on a salver. In latter times this was misinterpreted as loaves of bread.
Life would be quite dull though without the odd mix-up.
Being a bit of a tom - boy in my youth, I wanted to choose a confirmation name that sounded like a boys name- or was a boys name, but not noticeably so. You know like the Polish Marion or Marian?
So I chose Hillary.
I can't remember reading much about him, but years later I learned that my patron had been a holy hermit. So far, so good...but I also found that he was smelly in the extreme - no doubt a trait he used to keep unwanted visitors away. (Something which would be considered uncharitable today.)
I know what my kids would call that kind of smell, because one day at the dinner table they had a kind of play off as to who could say the most horrid thing.
It started with one blowing a raspberry at the other, and culminated in one declaring to the other "And YOU have BODY OGRE!"
(I think my dear heavenly patron; Hillary, maybe had the sort of body odour which could be classed as body ogre because it scared people away, but then he had no access to deodorant adverts, or any relatives around him brave enough to point it out.)
"That's enough!" I bellowed, now tell me who wants meringue for dessert?"
Two of them nodded, the third disappeared from the dining room.
A little later my A.W.O.L. (absent without leave) child wandered back into the kitchen in a monstrous mood.
" I want my boomerang!" He demanded.
Presuming he had gone off earlier to search for one - I gently reminded him that I had not now or ever bought him any kind of Boomerang.
His vocal chords screwed up as tightly as his angry little tear-stained face as he continued to sob; "The others have one, where is mine?"
I suddenly felt an affinity with one who had the gift to interpret tongues, In a flash of enlightenment I realised that what he had wanted was not a "boo - merang" but a "Fruit - meringue."
Easy mistake I guess...?
By now I was indulging the thought of one small child wearing a raspberry and cream meringue for a halo.
Fortunately, my mum, had the forethought of giving me the middle name "Mary". A saint who so abounds in patience (Mary)she is able to share it out so to speak;- she was able at my request to slap me upside the head and enable me to calmly serve out the meringue.

Patron Saints are great helpers in life!

IMAGE: Holy family shrine St. Annes Ormskirk
When my daughter was about seven, she was asked to bring to school a picture and some information about her patron saint.
Her Friend was quite angry when he discovered that his Saint turned out to be an angel. Well, they wear dresses don't they?
To help him understand that Saint Michael was not in the least girly, I made an illustration of this Saint for him. I tried to give it some drama, as many depictions of Michael may seem a little dull to a seven year old.
It was around about this time that I made the decision to celebrate each year the patron saints of my children by making them each a special cake. It was efficacious for the twins, as they had something they could each celebrate separately - unlike their birthday. It also gave them cause to value their patron Saints. They began to ask many question about them, and ask if they would have the same qualities when they "grew up."
So their patron saints became role models of sorts.
So far, so good... well, except for this morning.
This morning, John had a particular reason for asking which saint was celebrated today, as it was his Friend Harry's birthday.
But at six a.m. one doesn't always remember these things, least of all what day it is.
His fresh faced enthusiasm and earnest look forced me from my cosy bed. I squinted like Miss Marple at the dates on the calendar.
(I could just about make sense of the shapes made by the tiny, tiny lettering.)
"It's the feast day of....Saint Augustine of Canterbury!" I beamed, quite relieved that I had triumphed without the aid of my reading glasses.
John jumped off the bed and ran down stairs to his dad yelling; "Dad!....Dad!... I know whose saints day it is today!"
I could hear my husband responding with the same enthusiasm:
"Wow! you do? Who is it John?"
And the reply:
"Today it is Saint Disgusting of Cranberry!
(Is he the saint of Just "desserts" I wonder?
I think I'll call on him if that "Boo - hoo" meringue ever comes back.)
IMAGE: - sorry, seems no one wanted to paint Augustine. If I find his image I'll pop it in at a later date.)
ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY (Source Wickipedia)
Augustine of Canterbury (c. first third of the 6th century – 26 May 604) was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 598. He is considered the "Apostle to the English" and a founder of the English Church.[3]

Augustine was the prior of a monastery in Rome when Pope Gregory the Great chose him in 595 to lead a mission, usually known as the Gregorian mission, to Britain to convert the pagan King Æthelberht of the Kingdom of Kent to Christianity.

King Æthelberht converted to Christianity and also allowed the missionaries to preach freely, giving them land to found a monastery outside the city walls.

Augustine died in 604 and was soon revered as a saint.

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy

2009-05-18T12:27:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Pieta by Giovanni Bellini)

(Photo:Saint Edmund Jennings, priest and Martyr)
Matt.26
[31]

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night; for it is written, `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Christianity has undergone persecutions throughout its history; As Jesus said no servant is greater than his master, we too must expect suffering and persecution, to some degree.

The greatest persecutors to our faith today are the false promises of an earthly utopia.
Access to leisure, pleasure, and its pursuits, attempt to anaesthetise us from this reality. These substitute comforters distract us from the consoler our soul yearns for. The Spirit of God.
We are deceived when the inevitability of middle age and our subsequent dotage are coated with a veneer of glamour by the media. The pursuit of eternal youth spawns a culture where leaving anything such as moral wisdom to the younger generation, or any kind of material or spiritual wealth are values that belong to a former age.
Consequently our youth have been served a great injustice. They are being betrayed by those who should nurture them.
As a recent example of this subversive trend, Here is a link to the eighty -year old priest who was arrested at Notre Dame for his peaceful protest to maintain Catholic values at the University for future generations: Under the benign guise of justice for all, the ideology of communist thought where all are equal, has besmirched the thinking of many regarding the roles of men and women within the church. Both sexes are undermined, and the beauty of true woman hood, and manhood have become distorted.
There is a subtle dissent which has confused truth and falsehood.
Today amongst the faithful Catholic congregations, there has arisen a kind of "Cold War" which serves to persecute the Clergy, and undermine the faith of the laity.
That's why we are in such need of good, holy shepherds who are not afraid to guide their flocks in spirit and in truth as Jesus did.
(PHOTO: Father Ralph Sherwin - Martyr and Saint.)
The darkness of night in which the followers of Jesus "fell away" was born of the jealousy and resentment toward Him because of His divine power to work miracles. Those who should have recognised him as a fellow high priest and clung to him, spread distrust and rumour.
Now, just as then, we have a situation where our Shepherds - our priests and ecclesiae, our religious are being attacked more viciously by the "night" - (the darkness where things take place unseen.)

What a prize for Satan is a priest who publicly falls from grace, (as some have in the most unthinkable ways) - the whole church suffers. Distrust and suspicion work away to create doubt and confusion.
The reputations of innocent and faithful priests become objects of derision.

In an age when "TRUST" has become a "five - letter" word, Jesus has manifested the message of DIVINE MERCY which exhorts us to "TRUST IN HIM".

(Photo: Saint Bernard tormented by the devil - book of hours of Etienne Chevalier.)
Now is the time for us to take ownership of our belief in God rather than man, and be fully confirmed in our faith.
Man is flawed and weak, but God is Truth.
Truth must prevail, for it is the measure of goodness and perfection.
We need to pray for our priests and all religious. If we have not played our part by praying for our clergy, then perhaps mediocre pastors (and worse) are all we deserve.
As baptised Christians, we have entered into a priesthood where praying for one another and forgiving one another are basics of our faith.

1Pet.2
[9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

(Photo: Pope Benedict 16th.)
Providentially, in these difficult times God has given to us our present Pope Benedict XVI, who is reaching out like the good shepherd in Ezekiel. 34:

" As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."

He is trying to jog our memories to lead us back to the right path.

We have to be aware that Satan wants for us to loose hope, he wants for us to lose faith in the promises Christ. He wants us to be caught up in our criticism of others in order to spread despondency, division and doubt.
He works to scandalise the priesthood, that he might discourage vocations. He wants less priests available to consecrate the Eucharist, and to administer the sacraments. Thereby preventing the strength we draw from them.

Our baptismal priesthood is a union with God, as intimate as a marriage: The attitude of the man in Sirach 23: 18 describes a foolish spouse who has become unfaithful and so lost awareness of his own sin, and of his accountability to God.
The passage is as poignant today as was then:

Sir.23
[18] A man who breaks his marriage vows
says to himself, "Who sees me?
Darkness surrounds me, and the walls hide me,
and no one sees me. Why should I fear?
The Most High will not take notice of my sins."

In these times when our Church and its pastors are being persecuted on all sides, we must not loose hope, we must remain faithful.
When a grain of wheat falls to the ground and is surrounded by darkness it undergoes a transformation. The chaff is left to wither, but the centre emerges with new roots and shoots, its form becomes transfigured. The Church too will be renewed in the same way. This darkness will not last indefinitely. Prayer will always overcome the darkness, just as the crucifixion was followed by resurrection.

Mic.7
[8] Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be a light to me.

Why May is Mary's month

2009-05-11T10:47:00.001-07:00

"The mood of springtime informs the church's interior;
nature's blossoming, the warm air of May evenings, human gladness in a world that is renewing itself -- all these things enter in.

Veneration of Mary has its place in this very particular atmosphere, for she, the Virgin, shows us faith under its youthful aspect, as God's new beginning in a world that has grown old.

In her we see the Christian life set forth as a youth-fulness of the heart, as beauty and a waiting readiness for what is to come."

SOURCE: Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, "Seek That Which is Above"
(This new film on the Apparitions at Fatima looks promising: the 13th day for the trailer.

And this week, God taught me...

2009-05-01T04:41:00.001-07:00

Today is the feast of Saint Joseph, Catholics honour him as the patron of workers, the patron of a holy death, patron of chastity, and the protector of the holy family of Nazareth.
A practice has grown up around Saint Joseph, of burying statues of him in the grounds of houses which are proving difficult to sell.
Sorry to say, but a hunk of plaster which looks like an old carpenter buried under the rockery has no truck with God. It might make the lime-loving aubretia thrive, and therefore make the property a bit prettier, but this practice is mere superstition.
It's not something Catholics would or anyone else should try because it has no power whatsoever.

Saint Joseph is not the patron of house conveyance or real estate, but because of his unique relationship with Jesus here on earth, he may be able to help if you ask him.
Two other qualities of Saint Joseph which are worth honoring are his silent contemplation of God, and his discretion. (He had some difficult choices to make early on in his early betrothal to Mary - and a few years later when Herod threatened their safety.)

(PHOTO: Problem house with a split personality)

.

Today my Friend called.
I hadn't seen her for a while - but she made up for that by telling me in great detail everything she had done in the last month. She condensed the whole thing into a two hour time slot, not allowing herself pause for breath Much of this chat time was spent on my front door step; and the darkening sky and chilly wind did not slow down her chin as it wagged, on - and - on and on.
(I was certainly feeling a draft from somewhere!)
Every now and then I would interject - "Come in and have a cup of tea...?" But she wouldn't as she was "Already late for Adoration."
Finally I gave her an umbrella as the clouds precipitated into drips of water.
"Just remember God loves you" she went on," and he will be glad with your work, and you must praise God for it...and...and..."
I returned a wave of greeting to my postman as he smiled on his way past my gate.
The small pause gave me a moment for inspiration - " Veronica!" I said, "My neighbours will think you are one of those aggressive doorstep evangelists with their foot jammed in my door!.. if I pay you will you please go away?"
Knowing there is often truth in a jest, she chuckled, gave me a hug and went on her merry way.
Jesus said to Saint Faustina that talkative souls tire him. Probably because a soul will not be able to hear Him speak to them, if they are not silent before Him.
I love my friend Veronica, but ear-ache can be an unwanted side affect of the relationship. Think I might try out the "silent prayer" thing for a while, asking Saint Joseph to help me be more discreet when a Friend stays a little too long!

Having realised that "mum" is able to make plaster figures, one of the boys asked me to make him one of Saint Joseph and Jesus - his reasoning was, because that would be just like him and his dad. (I wish!)
To which the other twin said " And I want the Sacred Heart mum, but he has to be this big..." (about four foot - over a meter high!)
"When we get a bigger house" I said.
Matthew, pondering recently on Jesus' agony in the garden asked "Was it the garden of Blackberries?" Well I suppose to an English child olives do look a bit like big black berries ...
Anyways, as he's the child of mine who loves Saint Joseph - here is his night-time tribute prayer to the dear foster father of our Saviour;

Dear Saint Joseph,
when I grow up,
help me to be a:
Big
Strong
Holy
man like you.
Amen.

Enough said!

Mary is the great mould of God

2009-04-15T01:25:00.000-07:00

Last year I put my clay study of the Magnificat away for the winter in my outdoor brick shed/ workshop. As you can see it is a tiny space, and the metal frame on the window is jammed open so I can't close it. There is a light bulb in there, but no other heat source! I share the space with my husband's DIY tools and his pushbike.

I wrapped the clay model of Mary in a single layer of bubblewrap - (it was all I had at the time, you can see this on the photo) and I prayed: "If the frosts come and it's ruined, Lord, I will take it that you don't want me to continue working on statues."
(On the bottom left of the photo is one of the small statues from the vestry of my church which I repaired indoors over the winter. " Our lady of grace.")
Well, we had the worst winter in years, but as you can see from my next photo, she came through it!
(The paintbrushes shown were used to keep the plastic covering off the face.)

Saint Louis de Montforte compared devotion to Mary, to a sculptor forming an image in a mould. He says we are "formed in the school of Mary", as perfectly as a copy of the original model is formed in a cast.
He means that by devotion to her, especially in the praying of the rosary - we are formed spiritually.
Here are his own words, from his book " The Secret of Mary":-

"A sculptor can make a statue or life - like model in two ways:
(1) By using his skill, strength, experience and good tools to produce a statue out of hard, shapeless matter.

(2) By making a cast of it in a mould.

The first (method)is open to all sorts of accidents; It needs only the faulty stroke of a hammer or chisel to ruin the work.
The second is Quick, easy straightforward ... but the mould must be perfect and true to life, and the (modelling) material must be easy to handle and offer no resistance."

"....Mary is the great mould of God, fashioned by the Holy Spirit to give human nature to a man who is God by the hypostatic union, and to fashion through grace men who are like to God.
No godly feature is missing from this mould.

Everyone who casts himself into it and allows himself to be moulded, will acquire every feature of Jesus Christ, true God with little pain or effort, as befits his human weak condition.
He will take on a faithful likeness to Jesus with no possibility of distortion, for the devil never has, and never will have any access to Mary, the holy and Immaculate Virgin, in whom there is no suspicion of sin."

I am not sure Saint Louis ever attempted the sculpting process himself, but he must have had some idea of how it was done.
For those who are lost when it comes to sculpting terminology - perhaps the following might help!
PHOTOS:
(1)my workspace
(2)the clay model which survived winter!
(3)Here is a mould - a jacket of plaster which covers the original clay model. After the clay model is removed from the centre, It is bound tightly with wire so that the plaster can be poured in to fill the void and make a cast of the original model.
(4) the plaster jacket has to be chipped away carefully to reveal the cast.
(5) The plaster cast ready for surface finishing - in this case a rendition of Our Lady of the well.
Copywrite Virtus 2009

Constantine Vs Charlemagne

2009-04-13T22:26:00.000-07:00

Did you ever get caught out with this one at school?
"Constantinople is a very long word - can you spell "It?"
Or been given a number over the phone only to find that what you heard as 9 - 4 - 9,
you wrote as 6 - 4 - 6 ?
Seems in my post " following the signs", I didn't heed my own signs of brain- tiredness.
I read "CONSTANTINE", I researched " CONSTANTINE" but somehow the signal from my brain had ran out of gas when it reached my hands and they typed "CHARLEMAGNE." instead.
Having now corrected the post, Constantine has come out on tops again.
So I offer my aplogies to anyone who now has an "F" in their Christian History homework!
A short break from blogging is in order I think, at least until after the Easter break is over. Until then I hope your bananas will be as happy as mine...(see photo courtesy of my kids!)