Provident God

The Wood of the Cross

2012-03-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

There is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for his own sacrifice of boundless charity. ~~Saint Ignatius of Loyola!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!!

Cathy

Freedom

2012-03-08T05:44:00.000-08:00

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. ~~Saint Therese of Lisieux~~

It occurred to me when I read this quote that those who have never felt the real presence cannot possess "the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. " They are sorely lacking in happiness and joy. I think sometimes that people think that freedom comes from legislators and earthly lawgivers. In fact the only laws that count are those given on high by our creator.

Instead of seeing their position as an awesome responsibility, they choose to be tied to an ego that suggests that they are greater than the whole. In fact, they are only earthly keepers of the trust established by the Father at creation. I am beginning to see that the story The Devil and Daniel Webster could be more truth than fiction. And if we continue to let government officials limit our religious freedoms in so many ways then they will have taken away our most essential freedom. The one the Founding Fathers chose to make NUMBER ONE! I'd say there is something in that. Wouldn't you?

So let us pray with Saint Therese that "[the] presence will settle into [their] bones"and the Holy Spirit will truly be present and the only Guide to aid in the legislation of the freedom of life.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Victory of the Cross

2012-03-06T04:45:00.001-08:00

Saint Meinrad Arch Abbey

No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to him in repentance. ~~ Saint Leo the Great

~~~^j^~~~

I take consolation in the love of God and His forgiveness.

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Christ Renews His Parish

2012-03-04T15:34:00.000-08:00

Christ Renews His Parish!! What an incredible adventure!!!!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

The Only Way to Heaven

2012-03-03T04:02:00.000-08:00

Let us take courage, my very dear Sisters; the Cross, it is true, awaits us at every turn, but it is the way to heaven.

~~Saint Mother Theodore Guerin~~

Tomorrow on CNN there will be a documentary about the canonization of Mother Theodore. Please watch. It promises to be most enlightening. It airs at 8:00 p.m.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Reflection of the Day

2012-03-01T04:55:00.004-08:00

Reflection of the Day

How precious the gift of the cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the cross there is not mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise: It is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste. The fruit of this tree is not death, not darkness, but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise but opens the way for our return. ~~Saint Theodore the Studite~~

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Holy Friday-the-Thirteeth

2012-01-13T03:47:00.000-08:00

Church of the Immaculate Conception
St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN

Wishing all a HOLY Friday-the-Thirteenth!
Our Lord and Savior is STILL in control!
~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Begin With Thanksgiving

2012-01-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

Southern Illinois, 12/30/2011

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ~~2Peter 3: 18~~

~~~~~

You can never say

Thank you to God too often

God is generous

All that I receive

Is generously given

I reply, thank you

~~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Note: This picture has not been enhanced, only cropped. This is the glory of God!

Still Anticipating at 65

2011-12-15T04:22:00.000-08:00

Advent is such a beautiful season. It is time for renewal, it is especially a time for forgiveness, because brings this forgiveness o us in the shape of his Son. ~~Catherine de Hueck Doherty

On this the occasion of my 65th birthday, I just want to say that Advent is a wonderful time to be born. My whole life has been one of anticipation. And no season says it better than Advent!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Thank You!!

2011-12-13T04:07:00.000-08:00

"Prayer is an uplifting of the heart, a cry of gratitude and love."~~Saint Therese of Lisieux

During this Advent Season I don't think I take enough time to to this. But it's not too late!!! Relax and say, "Thank you!"

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

A Word To The Wise

2011-11-09T03:36:00.000-08:00

Make Christ more visible than ourselves.

~Blessed Maria Karlowska~

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Savior Within

2011-11-03T04:22:00.000-07:00

He wants to be in you; he wants his breath to be your breath, his heart in your heart, and his soul in your soul.

~Saint John Eudes~~

This is my fervent desire. That I carry his Spirit with me always.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Words of Encouragement

2011-10-03T05:05:00.001-07:00

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a photo by Michele.oliveira82 on Flickr.

"When I am incapable of praying, I want to keep telling Jesus that I love him. It's not difficult, and it keeps the fire burning"
~~Saint Therese of Lisieux~~

On this the feast day of dear Saint Therese I find these words most encouraging!!!

~~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God!

Catherine Therese

Lesson Learned

2011-09-29T04:26:00.000-07:00

Try, my daughter, never to perform your actions with crooked intentions. What would it avail you to do better than someone else. If it is from the motive of being admired? ~~Saint Mother Theodore Guerin~~

Indeed what would it avail me. I need to remind myself that the only one I must please in this life is Almighty God and the praise and glory of others mean nothing in the end.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Words of Encouragement!

2011-09-22T04:55:00.000-07:00

Let your heart delight in the love your God has for you, personally, individually.

~Saint Katherine Drexel~

~~~^j^~~~

Personally and individually he LOVES me!

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Simple Justice

2011-09-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

It is necessary to be just, that is to say, to have no preference for [anyone], nor show disgust for any of them. ~Saint Mother Theodore Guerin~

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Keep Silence With God

2011-09-05T05:25:00.000-07:00

In order to hear the voice of God, one has to have silence in one's soul and to keep silence;not a gloomy silence, but an interior silence; that is to say, recollection in God. One can speak a great deal without breaking silence; and, on the contrary, one can speak little and be constantly breaking silence.

~Saint Faustina Kawalska~

~~~~~~~

A call to silence. Hmmm, this is something I have not been able to achieve. I think I love to hear the sound of my own voice. I have so much to say, and I have to admit, little of it is of value. I think I must be that gong that makes no music in the midst of the music made by the glorious voice of God. And perhaps I have this need to avoid silence because I fear God's voice. What will he ask me to do!?! And again, working to achieve silence requires effort. I am LAZY! I do need help and the assistance can only come from God in whom I MUST rely! I must rely on the Holy Spirit to achieve this and again I must practice it. It seems in this quote by Saint Faustina I have found another call to try again!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!
Cathy

Padre Pio

2011-09-03T06:20:00.001-07:00

No pilgrim soul can worthily love God. But when a Soul does everything possible and trust in divine mercy, why would Jesus reject such a spirit? Has he not commanded us to love God according to our strength? If you have given and consecrated everything to God, why be afraid? ~Saint Padre Pio~

Padre Pio, a photo by uCatholic on Flickr.

~~~^j^~~~

Knowing this and having it reaffirmed I say,

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

What Else Is Left But HOPE!

2011-08-09T04:25:00.000-07:00

There are times when the events of the world, though not directly impacting my life, seem to be overwhelming. There is the riot and looting in London, the death of 31 in the helicopter crash, an economy and nation in flux and teenagers on the lam from a shooting. Oh my goodness, it could cause one to despair! And then I read this:

But our hope is in the Providence of God, which has protected us until the present, and which will provide, somehow, for our future needs. ~Saint Mother Theodore Guerin~

Again Hope should reign in our hearts. For God will not desert us! I can attest to that for in my life he has rescued me innumerable time.

And too Pope John XXIII tell us:

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.

If I turn to my favorite Psalm I hear this:

LORD, you have probed me, you know me:

2you know when I sit and stand;

you understand my thoughts from afar.

3You sift through my travels and my rest;

with all my ways you are familiar.

4Even before a word is on my tongue,

LORD, you know it all.

5Behind and before you encircle me

and rest your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

far too lofty for me to reach.

7Where can I go from your spirit?

From your presence, where can I flee?

8If I ascend to the heavens, you are there;

if I lie down in Sheol, there you are.

9If I take the wings of dawn

and dwell beyond the sea,

10Even there your hand guides me,

your right hand holds me fast.

11If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me,

and night shall be my light”—

12Darkness is not dark for you,

and night shines as the day.

Darkness and light are but one.

~Psalm 139~

Finally, if I would just listen more intently to the teaching of our Savior, I would hear loudly and clearly, "BE NOT AFRAID!"

And so it is today, I will leave the house and venture into a world that seem so out of control and journey with the Master. For He is the one who is really in control!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

St. Thomas More

2011-08-05T04:50:00.001-07:00

St. Thomas More, a photo by Fr. Peter on Flickr.

A simple prayer offered today by St. Thomas More:

Give me, good Lord, such a love for you that I will love nothing in a way that displeases you, and I will love everything for your sake.

To that I say a sincere, "Amen."

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Sunrise Reflection

2011-08-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is no water to drink.
~~Numbers 20:5~~

^j^

Isn' it odd how sometimes the place we absolutely knew was the place for us--where God wants us to be--ends up being a little more complicated? We wonder, has God changed his mind, or does he want us to be miserable?

It's a difficult situation to be in, as the Israelites discovered in the desert. With patience and an open heart--to the needs of others, not just our own--God's will can become clear again.
Until the next time, at least.

^j^

Lord, when I begin to feel burned-out, help me seek your loving presence wherever I am.

A Catholic Woman's Book of Days
Amy Weborn
~~~~~

And so this is where I find myself today. It's been many months since I have visited Amy and her words in this treasure she has written. Lead by Providence I am sure, I returned here today found these words were speaking to me. Though certainly not miserable, I am facing decisions that are most uncertain. As I enter the stage of life when there are few who require my daily nurturing and instruction, I am faced with the reality that now I really do have to take care of myself.

I don't even know where to begin. So I will seek guidance from others so that decisions can be made with good judgement. I will trust that my wellbeing is in the hands of the Almighty. And again that I will continue this journey with my constant companion, Providence.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Catherine of Siena

2011-07-27T15:15:00.001-07:00

Catherine of Siena, a photo by saints_c on Flickr.

Jesus, every day you give u this food, showing us yourself in the sacrament of the altar...And what has done this? Your mercy. ~~ St. Catherine of Siena~~

I saw the living body of Christ last night as we gathered for the healing Mass. It was compassion, caring, generosity, courage and love at its best. The church was full. As we continue to pray for "H" and the healing of this tumor, it is good to know that there are those who see the value of the healing power of the Holy Spirit. As "H" allowed several hundred persons, family and friends, to lay on hands on him my own faith allowed me to believe that healing was moving in the midst of all of us.

My fervent prayer is that the Holy Spirit bless "H" abundantly and heal him completely. Will you join me in that prayer? Not just for "H" but for us all. Indeed, that the mercy of our Savior may be on all of us.

God is GOOD! All the time!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Miracles

2011-07-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

"ANY ONE who likes, therefore, may call my belief in God merely mystical; the phrase is not worth fighting about. But my belief that miracles have happened in human history is not a mystical belief at all; I believe in them upon human evidences as I do in the discovery of America. Upon this point there is a simple logical fact that only requires to be stated and cleared up. Somehow or other an extraordinary idea has arisen that the disbelievers in miracles consider them coldly and fairly, while believers in miracles accept them only in connection with some dogma. The fact is quite the other way. The believers in miracles accept them (rightly or wrongly) because they have evidence for them. The disbelievers in miracles deny them (rightly or wrongly) because they have a doctrine against them." ~GKC: 'Orthodoxy,' IX.

As I was considering this morning how I should proceed today I was guided to the words of G.K. Chesterton on Facebook. It's marvelous how the hand of God inserts into our lives just what we need when we need it.

For today I am praying for a miracle. There are hundreds today who will be praying for a specific miracle.

I believe in miracles!!! They happen everyday to everyone. Just a short 5 years ago Ron was to have surgery on his back for a herniated disc with nerve impingement. He suffered severe pain for nearly 18 months and though not looking forward to the surgery he was anticipating it with hope. The morning of the surgery, after Mass, Father anointed him while family and friends laid hands on him. Surgery was to be at 9:00 a.m. The Dr. came in to see Ron before surgery and do what Dr.s do. He looked at Ron and said, "I can't do the surgery today."

I said, "I that's not a funny joke."

He said, "It's not. I can't do the surgery, because I cannot illicit pain. If he no longer has the pain and I do the surgery I could cause even more injury and pain that he would have the rest of his life."

Yes, that's what he said. He told Ron that if he found that the condition returned he should call and he would make arrangements for the surgery. Since that day Ron has had no pain in his back. Yes, it was a miracle.

So now I'm hoping you will join us in the prayer.

H is a young man in our parish who will be going yet again to Memphis for treatment of brain cancer. He and his family have made the trips before and will again as long as they can. Chris has touched the lives of many. He is the son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, friend, student, former student, athlete, artist. He is "everyman."

A Mass for healing will be said in his honor tonight at 6:30 p.m. CDT at Saint John the Baptist Church here in Newburgh. If you cannot join us physically please stop and pray for the healing of this young man an all who suffer and need a miracle.

May God bless you all today with a miracle. Yes, a miracle!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Sir Thomas More

2011-06-15T05:24:00.001-07:00

Sir Thomas More, a photo by XhowidisappearX on Flickr.

Whatever our bodies may be doing, we should a the same time continually life up our minds to God which is the most acceptable form of prayer. For no matter which way we may turn our steps, as long as our minds are turned to God, we clearly are not turned away from him who is present everywhere. ~~Saint Thomas More~~

I find these words comforting today. I often find myself busy and don't have or take the time for quiet reflection. But reading these words of Saint Thomas More bring me consolation. If the purpose of my action is done in conjunction with the love of God it is a prayer. If anxiety or worry cause me discomfort, I can find consolation in the action of offering it to God in prayer. Oh my, what treasure this is!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Remember, Lord, the fallen
Who died in fields of war,
In flaming clouds, in screaming crowds,
On streets that are no more,
That we today might waken
And greet this day in peace
With grateful prayer for those who bear
The storms that never cease.

Remember friends and stranger,
And those forgotten now,
Who names are known to you alone,
Before whose love we bow
And ask that you surround them
With mercy's endless light
That they may live, and we forgive
The foe they went to fight

Remember, Lord, the living,
Who bear the pain of loss
A death she died who stood beside
Her Son upon the cross.

Remember all your children
The dead and those who weep,
And make us one beneath the sun
Where love will ever sleep.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!