Bem-vindo Portugal !! Welcome Portugal !!

O que uma surpresa maravilhosa para chegar em casa e descobrir muitos de Portugal se juntaram a nós no meu site de blog. Não há coincidências com Deus. Eu tenho lido os relatos das Aparições de Fátima de Nossa Senhora e dos três filhos, Lúcia, a Beata Jacinta e o Beato Francisco apenas esta semana. O milagre do sol, as dificuldades que as crianças e suas famílias experimentaram, os primeiros 5 sábados, etc. estou revisando tudo ..... e tenho estado pedindo a ajuda e orações desses visionários junto com Jesus, Nossa Senhora de Deus. Fátima, São José ... Nossa Senhora das Dores ... e Nossa Senhora do
Monte Carmelo Que foram todos vistos em uma das aparições de Fátima.. Eu tive o privilégio terrível de fazer uma peregrinação a Fátima quando eu estava estudando meu último semestre de faculdade em Sevilha, Espanha. Meus amigos queriam ir a Lisboa, a capital para ir aos clubes. Viajei com eles, mas tomei o ônibus para Fátima para orar. Foi a vida mudando para mim. Tive a sorte de me encontrar e conversar com a irmã de Lucia e um homem mais velho que tinha experimentado o Milagre do Sol.

O Beato Francisco e a Beata Jacinta serão canonizados em maio pelo Papa Francisco. Eles serão nomeados santos da Santa Igreja Católica Romana. É o 100º aniversário desta aparição. Vamos todos refrescar-nos ou aprender pelas primeiras vezes esta linda história milagrosa. Este Santuário listado abaixo está em Washington NJ ... eles têm um monte de informações sobre toda esta história ... dê uma olhada ... eu espero e rezo mais de Portugal vai se juntar a nós ... continuar a passar isso para outros. Se uma alma é movida, tocada, curada ou cresce a partir de meus blogs, valeu a pena todo o esforço. Louvado seja Jesus Cristo!

Até a próxima vez

https://wafusa.org/the-story-of-fatima/

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What a wonderful surprise to come home and find out many from Portugal have joined us at my blog site.  There are no coincidences with God.  i have been reading the accounts on the Fatima Apparitions of Our Lady and the three children, Lucia, Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Francisco just this week.  The miracle of the sun, the difficulties the children and their families experienced, the First 5 Saturdays, etc.  i am reviewing it all.....and have been asking the help and prayers of these visionaries along with Jesus, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Joseph....Our Lady of Sorrows...and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Who were all seen in one of the Fatima Apparitions.  i had the awesome privilege of making a pilgrimage to Fatima when i was studying my last semester of College in Sevilla, Spain.  My friends wanted to go to Lisbon, the capital to go to the clubs.  i traveled with them, but took the bus to Fatima to pray.  It was life changing for me.  i was fortunate to meet and talk to Lucia's sister and an older man who had experienced the Miracle of the Sun.

Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta will be canonized in May by Pope Francis.  They will be named Saints of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.  It is the 100th Anniversary of this apparition.  Let's all refresh ourselves or learn for the first times this beautiful Miraculous story.  This Shrine listed below,  is in Washington NJ...they have alot of information on this whole story...take a look...i hope and pray more from Portugal will join us...continue to pass this on to others.  If one soul is moved, touched, healed or grows from my blogs, it was worth all the effort.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

Til next time....

https://wafusa.org/the-story-of-fatima/

Divine Mercy Sunday

Tomoro is Divine Mercy Sunday, also called the Second Sunday of Easter.  It is a most extraordinary day and brings with it many very special blessings.  i will give you a link to go to so you can better understand.  Look for Mercy Sunday events in your local Catholic Churches and try to participate in them.

https://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/feast.htm

http://www.thedivinemercy.org/mercysunday/faq.php

til next time....Blessed Easter to all!  And Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

Bienvenue aux habitants de la France! (welcome to people of France!)

Sensationnel!!! Je suis tellement content d'accueillir les gens de France sur mon blog. Je suis toujours émerveillé par le potentiel d'atteindre tellement sur cet ordinateur ... tant de ... C'est quelque chose que je crois que les premiers apôtres avaient rêvé de ... toucher le monde avec le message de Jésus et je n'ai pas De quitter ma maison pour le faire. La France a un grand héritage chez Dieu qui aime les gens ... Celui qui est un «mon ami», saint Jeanne d'Arc ... un de mes héros qui a donné sa vie pour le Christ et est un Martyr .... i Aime aussi saint Bernadette des miraculées apparitions de Lourdes! Elle a été trouvée incorrupt après 10 ans après sa mort et le reste depuis 130 ans. (Voir la vidéo ci-dessous) Comment j'aimerais pouvoir visiter ce sanctuaire où les miracles se produisent chaque jour. Merci pour votre visite. J'espère que vous visitez encore et invitez tous ceux que vous connaissez à visiter aussi. Permets-nous de nous garder mutuellement sur cette Très Sainte des Nuits lorsque nous entrons profondément dans la Résurrection de Jésus-Christ. Essayez d'aller à Mass ce soir ... c'est une expérience très céleste uniquement disponible sur la Vigile de Pâques chaque année. Loué soyez Jésus-Christ maintenant et pour toujours!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5711hI04mw


Wow!!! i am sooo happy to welcome the people of France to my blog.  i am always amazed at the potential of reaching so many on this computer....so so many....This is something i believe the early Apostles dreamed of ..touching the world with Jesus' Message and i don't have to leave my home to do it.  France has great legacy in God loving people....One who is a dear 'friend' of mine, St. Joan of Arc...one of my heros who gave her life for Christ and is a Martyr....  i also love St. Bernadette from the miraculous Lourdes apparitions!   She was found incorrupt after 10 years had passed from her death and remains so for the past 130 years. (see video below)  How i wish i could visit this shrine where miracles happen every day.  Thank you for visiting.  i hope you visit again and invite all those you know to visit as well.  Let us all keep each other in praye on this The Most Holiest of Nights as we enter deeply into the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Try to go to Mass tonight....it is a most Heavenly experience only available on the Easter Vigil each year.  Praised be Jesus Christ Now and Forever!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5711hI04mw

Tonight....Holy Thursday...Just Marvelous!

Every Catholic Church remains open tonight after Mass some til midnight and others overnight..with a side altar or different location in the church highly decorated with flowers which have not been part of our 40 days of Lent....the Blessed Bread,  which we believe becomes Jesus at Mass exactly as done at the Last Supper, is put in a special Tabernacle and we come and spend time with Jesus privately..in deep silence...loving and thanking Him for leaving us This Gift of Himself that fortifies us in ways we cannot even totally understand.  An old tradition was to go to 7 churches to visit Him late on Holy Thursday night...some still do this...taking in the various decor and reminders of Who and What this Mystery really is.  i love Holy Thursday...i love what happens after the Mass...i love the quiet encounter with the Living God....

If you can, try to stop in a Catholic Church...in many if you choose during this vigil that we stand watch with Him as we prepare to walk the steps of His Death and Resurrection.

The beauty and mysticism of our church is very conducive to deep prayer....tonight..."This is My Body...This is My Blood....He breathed on them....Do this in Remembrance.....be the servant of all"...candles, flowers, incense, side altar Tabernacle, deep silence, music, The Gloria sung by Angels at His Birth sung tonight after 40 days of not singing it, the Holy Oils (chrism) for Baptism, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick processed into each Catholic Church blessed during the Mass of Chrism which was held this week in the Archdiocese Cathedral with all the priests and bishops...

"O Come let us Adore HIM...Christ The Lord!"

Luke 22:14-20
The Last Supper.14When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles.15He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,16for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”17Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;18for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”19Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”20And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.

THE EUCHARIST, THE LAST SUPPER
http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap060500.htm

More information click below:

• To present the biblical basis for the origin and development of the Roman Catholic Church.
• To present the development of the canon of Scripture and evolution of biblical teaching in the Church.
• To understand the role of paradosis/tradition in the oral transmission of revelation.
• To study the Council of Jerusalem, described in the 15^th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles and its role in the development of doctrine in the conciliar movement in the Church.
• To understand the revelation, doctrinal development and practice of the sacramental life in the history of the Church.
• To study the role of the Holy Spirit as teaching authority in the Church.
• To study the revelation and development of hierarchical authority in the Church.
• To understand the hierarchy of truths in the Church as well as the role of private devotion and personal growth in holiness.

http://www.catholicapologetics.org/

til next time...Blessed and Fruitful Holy Thursday....praying always for you!

Holy Week and the Catholic Church...

This is the Catholic Christian's Highest Holy Season.  This is called Holy Week....If you have never been to Holy Week Celebrations, please consider joining in even if you are not Catholic.  Holy Thursday we remember the Last Supper....when Jesus celebrated the Passover Meal with his Disciples, family and friends.  It is on this day that we Catholics celebrate three things:  The Gift of the Eucharist...Holy Communion....Jesus said," This is my Body..."....2.  The priesthood is given, "Do this in memory of me", and the Service Commission when Jesus washes their feet giving us example to be the servant of all....all masses on Holy Thursday the priest washes feet of parishioners....Good Friday we remember His Death to pay for our sins..we venerate the Cross in Thanksgiving for Jesus dying on it for us so that Heaven's Doors could be opened..we pray prayers of intentions for all peoples and all religions.....and we read the entire Passion....Easter Vigil is the day we celebrate His Resurrection....at this Mass a fire is blessed and the Pasquale Candle is lit from it and then everyone's candle is lit from the Candle....signifying Christ as Our Light...so powerful to see a black church light up with candles....at this Mass readings of the entire creation/salvation stories....new converts to Catholicism all over the world enter and join our church thru Baptism (the priest blessed the Holy Water on the Vigil), First Holy Communion and Confirmation...all at the vigil...these are adults who have decided that the Catholic Faith was calling them.....thousands....thousands each year...Here are the numbers...

http://www.usccb.org/news/16-032.cfm

Many people think people only convert out of the Catholic Faith.  Often this happens when people who do not know Christ yet even though they come to church to go thru the motions...they  have an awakening experience elsewhere.  But those who return to the Roman Catholic Church research and make that decision in great knowledge and study.  Many are Pastors and Reverands from other denominations who finally are drawn to go deeper and find the answers in this Church which was the very first...filled with Mysticism, Truth, ties to Our Jewish Father Faith,....so close to the celebrations of the Early Church Fathers....no one just becomes Catholic....it is a journey ...takes years...it is a person who is being called back home...and these converts could defend the reason we Catholics do what we do better than us born into the faith young....because they learn it all and hunger for it in a way we who are born into it young take all of it for granted.  Two great books on this topic are, "Rome Sweet Home" by Scott Hahn...a Pastor and teacher of Seminary in the Baptist Faith who converted....and another gives many accounts of convert stories of people who joined us from all different backgrounds and religions..."Surprised by the Truth"I and II....

NO GREATER LOVE HATH ANY MAN THAN TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS....let us celebrate this week differently than all weeks...let us enter into holy events...celebrations...fast and pray..and give alms...let us watch things that draw us to God...this is Holy Week...Palm Sunday started the Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem...let us not stop there...let us walk with Him...every step of the way until His Resurrection.  Anyone could have died, but the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is the Proof that He truly is the Son of God...and all He taught and lived was Truth.

Here are sights to go to to learn more about this week...these days...Jesus Christ and who we are...why we do what we do and what we believe and why in the Roman Catholic Church...

WELCOME TO ALL ENTERING OUR CHURCH THIS YEAR....YOU ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND WE WERE NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU!

For all Catholics who are not practicing, please come home...we miss you...and we are not the same without the entire body....if you do not fully understand our faith, please research all your questions and get the answers before having any opinion that would keep you from being with us.  Too often people do not come, or leave because they do not know or understand yet.  If you are not active or deciding to leave, please at least get all the answers from our perspective before going.  Make an informed decision.  Here are some links to search...


http://www.usccb.org

http://dynamiccatholic.com/

https://www.catholic.com/

http://www.scotthahn.com/

http://thereasonforourhope.org/

To everyone, be assured of my continued prayers....and with Passover, Easter and the Orthodox Easter all falling in the same week...let us rejoice, celebrate and pray for each other and for peace in our world!  This is surely a sign to us because often our feasts are on different weeks....Sincere Love is the key to all success which is only derived from the True and Living God...

til next time...

ps:  Easter is so important the Catholic Church celebrates Easter for a week long.  Every day next week is Easter...This comes from the our Jewish Roots of long celebratios....any man could have died...but the Resurrection is what makes all the difference in the world....BLESSED AND FRUITFUL HOLY WEEK, EASTER SUNDAY...MONDAY, TUESDAY, WED, THURS, FRI, SAT AND SUNDAY!!!!

Sadly we have to rearrange our priorities....

Earlier this week 2 men were found  dead in the Hudson River.  One of them i knew. While watching the news the reporter interviewed two young 'preppy' people from Hoboken near where the bodies were found,  they asked them to speak....and they said things like...'we thought this was a good neighborhood....or we never had anything like this happen before.'.....i became so grieved and angry at these type of comments because 2 lives were gone way too soon in a tragic way.  No matter how they passed away or why, this was the saddest thing in the world and yet human beings who appear all together, young, beautiful, have young children, affluent have nothing better to say regarding the situation ...and nothing to do with the human life that has value beyond compare.  These were our brothers, our uncles, our spouses, our friends....they are ours and sadly they did not get to finish their important work on this earth and suffered a very sad death.

i desperately wished i could find a reporter and speak this Truth.  Few thought of their souls....i took the time, by inspiration from God Alone, to go down to where they were recovered and knelt in prayer saying a Divine Mercy Chaplet which we Catholics say often when someone is dying or has died...i did one for each ignoring the looks and attitudes of those passing by...ignoring the thoughts of many in my life who would label this showing off or too religious or weird...i was kneeling to plead with God in respect and grief  for these two beautiful men....With opinions like the ones on the news...and the lack of Love in our world...with the tragedy of how they passed....i felt their souls could be grieving and wanted to help bring the Breathe of God to lift the wings of their souls and help send them Home to Heaven to be with Their Maker.  i cried as if they were my sons...i have been grieving for days praying, crying and thinking of them and their families who will have to live with this the rest of their lives.  Oh the pain....and yet our world worries about a good neighborhood....soooo sad....This is the condition of our world...we are so selfish and self absorbed that we don't even see the person standing right in front of us....

Let's start to ask people we meet sincerely how they are...listen with Love...giving hope and kindness to all we meet....let's start looking at life differently...starting with a seed of a flower...to a bug...to a whale...to a lion...to a child in the womb...to all human life....to elderly and disabled....ALL LIFE IS VALUABLE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE MADE BY THE LIVING GOD!!!!

May God have mercy on our indifference...our arrogance...our pride...May He fill us with His Unconditional Love so we may pour It out on a world that is starving for Him!!!  STARVING!

'ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THEM O LORD AND MAY PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.  MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.  MAY THEIR SOULS AND ALL THE SOULS OF THE FAITHFULLY DEPARTED THROUGH THE DIVINE MERCY OF GOD, REST IN PEACE.  AMEN'

Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!  til next time....Read 2 Maccabees 12:38-46...This book is not in every Bible, ...it was removed in the 1500s by Luther and those from the reformation.  Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and the Church of the East all have Maccabees in their Bibles... because their Bibles were compiled long before the 1500s and they consider them inspired by God Himself!

Expiation for the Dead.
38Judas rallied his army and went to the city of Adullam. As the seventh day was approaching, they purified themselves according to custom and kept the sabbath there.39On the following day, since the task had now become urgent, Judas and his companions went to gather up the bodies of the fallen and bury them with their kindred in their ancestral tombs.40But under the tunic of each of the dead they found amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. So it was clear to all that this was why these men had fallen.41They all therefore praised the ways of the Lord, the just judge who brings to light the things that are hidden.42Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.43He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection in mind;44for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.45But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.46Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.

PIETY IS SANITY!!! Silence those other voices!

i have learned in my life that one can never know what God may use to touch us.  i have seen music, art, movies, books that i would never want any person/child to participate in and watch, yet saw God use it for their good....a spiritual message in spite of the dark content.  Ideally we wont need those things that promote much of the world's darker side, but still Our God "meets people where they are"...as we should also...a quote a young priest shared with me in Confession.

My son loves comic books.  One day he came to me quoting a line from a Batman Azrael comic book and i was pleasantly surprised.  The quote was Truth and Powerful.  Then the deep dialogue began.  This has happened many times before with comic books, movie quotes and themes, music etc. God used a comic book to reinforce something we often don't think of.  It said,

'People think the greatest achievement for satan is to trick humans into thinking he does not exist, but his real trick is making people think Piety is insanity'

Wow!  what a word!  The first part is still true.  Our world does not realize the forces we fight day in and day out.  The Scriptures are so clear on this Ephesians 6:12
12"For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens."

If we don't believe there is an enemy, we cannot fight him and therefore evil presides.

But the second part is what shot off the page for me.  This affects the lives of all believers who take seriously the Gospel.  Anyone who lives, eats and breathes for God is mocked by family and friends alike.  For me this started from childhood. Some abandon us because of our convictions.  Many run to us mostly in times of need for our prayer and encouraging help often never asking how we are, but behind our backs, the gossip and jokes they make cut deeply and sadly often derail a person from their calling.  St. Augustine has a famous quote,

"“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”   

This quote is so very true.  i often share a story of a children's music/Christian teaching program called "The Donut Repair Shop".  The man's name is The Donut Man....and they use a donut to easily explain to (children and adults alike) "life without Jesus is like a donut...there's a hole in the middle of your heart!"  These are the words of the cute song he uses for every show. This is the video from when he first started.  enjoy...it is cute and brings us to days past.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSN90GLg6ag

 Without God there is a void in our heart/soul nothing can fill.....only HIM!  We try to fill it with many worldly things...relationships, alcohol, noise, drugs, all types of sexual involvement that opposes God's Way which teaches sex in marriage between a man and woman and being open to children is His Way, all types of  things, ...the list is endless...Yet with all we search and buy and involve ourselves in, we never become fulfilled or happy or satisfied because all of the best life has to offer put together can NEVER fill what is meant for God!  

And so the evil one just has to have the majority of people in our lives mock us for our prayer time, our choices, our devotion, our being different and that will cause many to walk away from their true selves for at least a time and most of them sadly for good.  i remember the deep interior struggles i had thinking i was wrong, or off, or confused, when in reality those trying to pull me away from a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ are the one's who need Him the most!  It is very hard when we are different than most in our family circle.....when our families don't understand and cannot accept and nurture what they do not have themselves,  i just thank God He continues to knock at the door of our hearts....waiting and hoping we will open the door and let Him in!  Here is the traditional picture of Jesus knocking at the door of our hearts...and notice there is no doorknob for Him to open it...we must open it from the inside...it is our choice and free will to do so, or not.  Praise Him for His Grace supplied so we can, like a football player pushing thru the line, we can push thru all the unacceptance, ridicule and mockery from people.  Just because people are older than we are does not mean they are wiser.  

www.matthewfsheehan.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/j/o/john-brandi_art-work_A44_200-2402_34.jpg 

Let's start with ourselves....let's continue to chase God...and not change for any person...only for what God leads us to grow and evolve so we can become the saint we were created to be.  Let's be true to our consciences...and the Voice of the Living God.....Let's watch how we treat all people especially children when they have a calling in them...not to snuff it out...Let's stop ridiculing those who are aiming to be more and more like Jesus in all they do....unconditional Love sadly can only be given by those who experience it daily from the God Who made us,  so don't expect those far from God to support you and surely do NOT even entertain their thoughts and opinions .  We are God's and we have to talk to God  and discern things one on One with Him alone.  He then will show us if we will need someone to support our calling/ministry/life and will give us the one/ones meant to do that.  We can always consider someone's suggestion nomatter who they are, but it must be taken to God to see if it is Truth or the world's lie.

And let's forgive all those who have injured us....mocked us....those who continue to look down on us and treat us inappropriately because we are God Loving Obedient People willing to do all and give all for Our Savior Jesus Christ!  To Him Alone be the Glory and Honor and Praise for the Grace He has given us to always know deep down that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that our calling, conviction and fervor is Real and coincides with all those Saints who walked before us. :

13You formed my inmost being;

you knit me in my mother’s womb.

14I praise you, because I am wonderfully made;

wonderful are your works! PSALM 139:13-14...  

Let's remember, it takes a lifetime to grow into our best....a lifetime...and so we must have patience with others and others should also be patient with us and the same love and kindness and acceptance we should expect and desire from others, we should always give the same.  For our calling at this moment makes us no better than anyone else...it is just our time...and our prayer is that everyone will eventually experience all the Love and Mercy and Acceptance and Growth in God as we have and more.....

Praised be Jesus Christ Now and Forever!    til next time....

Thank you St. Joseph's of the Palisades!

Tonight was a privilege to give a night of Reflection to the congregation of St. Joseph's in West New York, NJ...Special thanks to Fr. Nelson who orchestrated everything.  It really was a beautiful night of healing and deep intimacy with God.  i pray everyone in attendance will become God Chasers..the saints we are all called to be.....and therefore encourage many more to do the same.  To God Alone be all the Glory and Power and Honor and Praise .....i will give all the Scripture Verses i used during the retreat in my next post....here is One for now....It was used to open my talk...and then again later on in the night....if you or your group or parish would like for me to come and speak/sing....you can scroll down on this page and leave me a comment with your contact info...name, phone,church and location of the church and i will get back to you.  All comments will only be read by me unless i decide to post them.  thanks....til next time...

Zephanaih3:17-18A

17The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a mighty savior,

Who will rejoice over you with gladness,

and renew you in his love,

Who will sing joyfully because of you,

18as on festival days.

Приветствую моих русских друзей! Welcome my Russian Friends!

Какая радость видеть 19 человек из России, читающих мой блог сегодня. Хвала Иисусу Христу! Спасибо, что присоединились к нам. Будьте уверены в моих молитвах за вас и всех тех, кого вы любите. Мир! angie

What a joy to see 19 people from Russia reading my blog today.  Praised be Jesus Christ!  Thank you for joining us.  Be assured of my prayers for you and all those you love.  Peace! angie

Join me March 31st in West New York, NJ

Unsure why the picture of the flyer is gone....so

Friday, March 31st...7-9....St Joseph's Upper Church 65th and Palisade Ave. West New York, NJ
Night of Reflection...Music and Talk by me.....hope you can attend...

Just Love on Him!

i have found God loves when we are like little children trusting Our Daddy to already know what we need and what we want.  i often just sit with Jesus and let Him do His Work on me.... allowing Him to Love me and i love Him back...trusting He is Perfect and wants and knows what is best for me and all those i love.  i am not in charge...God does not have to do things my way because His Way is always better.  This is a growing up in the spiritual life.  It is not a give me this ...give me that...relationship.  It must grow from that childish attitude of God being like Santa Clause... there just to give me anything i ask for, to a mature loving relationship....deep intimate..The old way is obsessive compulsive...thinking our repetition of requests will force Him to do as we want.  There is nothing wrong with asking God for specific needs, but that cannot be our only prayer life...and should never be the first...Loving Him...and Him loving us should always be first  This is the lesson in growth spiritually.  His Perfect Will and the courage to carry it out.  Let's just love on Him...and trust He will take Perfect Care of all the rest!  Peace

Praise Jesus!

til next time....

Discerning The Voice of God...

As a simple follow up to my last blog...remember...God plays no favorites...The saints had nothing over us...learning to discern Gods Input in our lives and have confirmations clarifying things for us are for everyone...not just a select few...God loves all of us equally........but He comes to those who chase Him and those who continue to want to spend time with Him, know Him and obey Him....He does not force Himself on anyone...He is a Gentleman ...the picture of Jesus standing at the door of our heart knocking has no handle for Jesus to open the door.  We have to open it from the inside...free will...our choice....

the funny thing is i have always spoken for many years the phrase ,"God play no favorites" privately when giving spiritual direction....publicly at retreats and choir practises...i use this phrase often....and only recently i heard this phrase read from the Holy Bible...What a confirmation for me...wow...God gives The Same Wisdom to His People...and they sound similar ....those from the year 100....1000....or 2017....The Same God continues to grow His People up teaching us His Ways....i had no idea this was a Scriptural Comment on favorites....i just felt led to always say this word that i knew in my heart was Truth....and God many years later confirmed that it was His Word...not mine...

Keep chasing God...."the more you chase Him the more you catch Him!" Maimonides

til next time....Deuteronomy 10:17

17"For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes,...."

How God works....Discernment

God is Wonderful and for those of us walking close to Him it becomes more and more evident of His Workings in our lives.  Two days ago i was inspired to write the last blog on His Mercy....With no agenda or notes, or reference materials, i prayed and then wrote what came to my heart to share.  Nothing magical, nothing greatly intellectual....just heart...and i quoted Is 1:18

18"Come now, let us set things right,

says the LORD:

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they may become white as snow;

Though they be red like crimson,

they may become white as wool."

Today, in this blizzard, i got up and knew the only thing i wanted to do today was go to Mass....to encounter Jesus in His Holy Word and receive Him in The Eucharist....to ask forgiveness of my sins...and pray for the world at large.....off i went.  The roads were silent and still...everyone still warm sleeping and i was the only parishioner that made it there.  Obviously it was an Ordained Moment by God Himself.  The priest asked for me to read the Scripture Reading and Psalm.  And then there was my wink from God....the weaving He does in the lives of His Children....The first reading was from the Book of Isaiah verse 10 and 16-20...

Reading 1   IS 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

When we doubt whether what we are doing is from Him....when we are not clear in how to discern things of God...He, in His Mercy, shows up with a sign....two days later, the same chapter and message  i wrote about  is right on the page before me to read at Mass.  Praise His Holy Name!   And so the message for all of us from God Himself is Is 1.....

Let us stay sincerely close to God...seeking Him...chasing Him...for then He, in His Great Love for us, will continue to inspire His Children with Dreams, Inspirations, Goals and will confirm them to help us know we are hearing from Him and that these thoughts and ideas are not our own.  This is Discernment...we don't have to literally hear from God although many of the great saints did, He will confirm things inch by inch...one situation at a time...to His simple humble people who really really Love Him!

til next time...be safe in the snow for those affected by it....and be assured of my continued prayers...ang

Sin..Acknowlegement..ask forgiveness, & then MERCY!!!

Second Sunday of Lent....

Sin....a topic no one likes to talk about.  We are all sinners and yet most people keep saying, i am a good person, i don't do anything wrong.  What scale are they using to measure?...Romans 3:23 says
23"all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God"

The very first step to improvement is recognizing our weakness and admitting them...confessing them and asking for forgiveness.  Jesus was very clear...when speaking about murder in the Ten Commandments, in Matthew 5:21-22  He said,
21“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna."(The Jews used Raqa as a word of contempt. It is derived from a root meaning "to spit.")


Jesus makes it clear that even the smallest letter of the law will be held in Mt 5:18-19

18"Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

So the above is clear and strong and strict and justice ....but with this comes another side of God that always shows Mercy to be One of His Greatest Attributes.  The criteria for forgiveness is evaluating the act, listening to our conscience, confessing and admitting we have done wrong and then asking for forgiveness.  If we do this, Mercy wins as stated in Is 1:18

18"Come now, let us set things right,

says the LORD:

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they may become white as snow;

Though they be red like crimson,

they may become white as wool."

Psalm 103:12

12"As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our sins from us."

God's Mercy is Endless when we are truly sorry.  At Mass on EWTN, The Catholic Television Network, a young priest spoke well this week when he said we do not just become deep in sin in one instant, but we slip one little mistake at a time...it is a slipping.......little by little we allow things and we slide and slide until we are very far from God and His Ways.  This priest quoted Emily Dickinson's poem, Crumbling is not an instant's Act. 

Crumbling is not an instant's Act

A fundamental pause

Dilapidation's processes (to cause or allow (our soul) to fall into a state of disrepair, as by misuse or neglect )

Are organized Decays —

'Tis first a Cobweb on the Soul

A Cuticle of Dust

A Borer in the Axis (something that makes a hole)

An Elemental Rust —

Ruin is formal — Devil's work

Consecutive and slow —

Fail in an instant, no man did

Slipping — is Crashe's law —(law of physics...what brings on a crash)

---------------

So it is time to reflect....can i easily admit i do make mistakes and do things that are wrong?...do i feel God deserves my best and in order to receive forgiveness, i must ask for it?...do i want to grow and improve day by day to become,  as Matthew Kelly the Catholic Author says,"The Best Version of Myself'?  

Then i must look at my life daily...examine my conscience each night to see if there are any cobwebs on my soul...any cuticle of dust so as to root it out before each slip leads to an emptiness and distance between me and my Creator.  Don't be afraid to read the entire chapter of the Scriptures i quoted above.  

Above everything else, pray...because only God has a way of gently giving True Understanding to these Truths in our minds, bodies and souls.  And then little by little we will evolve into the saint we were created to be.  All takes time and is a deep and slow process...be patient with yourself...and God will help us balance between shame and guilt when we do something that is wrong (which is gotten rid of upon confession and asking forgiveness)...and being shamed and guilty as a human being.....He will help balance being scrupulous (being too concerned with minute details with our sins in an unhealthy way)...and thinking we do nothing wrong....

He loves us....He loves you and me...What more do we need...Til next time...keep chasing Him!!!!

Lamentations 3....Our Greatest Hope!  Be encouraged!

20Remembering it (sin) over and over,

my soul is downcast.

21But this I will call to mind;

therefore I will hope:

22The LORD’s acts of mercy are not exhausted,

his compassion is not spent;

23They are renewed each morning—

great is your faithfulness!

orang menyambut Indonesia!

apa indah kejutan untuk memiliki pengunjung dari Indonesia. SELAMAT DATANG! Ini merupakan suatu kehormatan untuk memiliki Anda mengunjungi blog saya. saya berharap kata-kata di sini mendorong Anda untuk terus melakukan perjalanan untuk mencari Allah yang Hidup! Tuhan memberkati! angie

(Welcome to people from Indonesia) what a lovely surprise to have visitors from Indonesia.  Welcome!  It is a privilege to have you visiting my blog.  i hope the words here encourage you to continue journeying to finding the Living God!  God bless!  angie

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Spread the word!

If everyone who reads this blog and finds it a help passes it on to a few others we have the chance of touching many more lives.  This was the reason i started this blog.....Please consider doing this in your own circle of family and friends...1678 pageviews since Nov 15th....which means so far approximately 419 people are on the site every month.... people from  Poland, Australia, Germany ,Spain and the US are active. Let's continue to pray for each other and chase God together!  thanks, angie

angierotella-suarez.blogspot.com

Bienvenidos a la gente de España!

Estoy muy feliz de ver gente de España leyendo mi blog. Estudié mi último semestre de universidad en la Universidad de Sevilla. Que fue una experiencia maravillosa que nunca olvidaré. Espero y rezo este blog ayudará a todos los que visiten esta página a estar más cerca de Dios. Que Dios los bendiga y les agradezca por unirse a nosotros.

(a welcome to those from Spain who have joined us)

i am so happy to see people from Spain reading my blog. i studied my last semester of College in the University of Seville. That was a wonderful experience i will never forget. i hope and pray this blog will help all those who visit this page become closer to God. God bless you and thank you for joining us.

One week of Lent past...how did we do?

We have just completed one week during this most Holy Season of Lent.  Let's take time to review how we did in our spiritual journey this week.

1.  Prayer Life....the central most important part of our day....this is the fertilizer to the ground for all we look to accomplish.....it is our Prayer Life that plugs us in to God....it fills our cup....it soothes and heals as only Our Creator can......it clarifies what is important to do that day...it is joy giving....strengthening....correcting....teaching....loving....healing....life giving....the list is endless...so let's look at the first and most important part of any moment in our lives....prayer...including things like...spiritual reading...talking to God...Bible....Mass....silence....a good book on the life of a saint...the Divine Office...Confession....Worship music....the list goes on and on....take some time to look at this today, so the next week can get even better....

2.  Actions:  This is a direct result of number one.  We can make a list of things to do in a day...but if we pray first...that list might be very different....God's will for us differs from our own...He will surely include self care, reaching to those in need, motivation, and very creative things we might not have done or thought of on our own.  We are all here for a purpose...we may understand some of the purpose, but logically we cannot understand it all.  God, who made us...has something very important for us to do while here on this earth.  So let's really re-evaluate our Lenten Journey with Him...seeking His Counsel, His Guidance, His Wisdom, His Perfect Will, and have courage to follow that counsel and do life His Way!

These are the two....prayer life coincides with Jesus' Words, "Love the Lord Your God"...and Actions with "Love your neighbor as yourself"....

till next time....let's read this Scripture and apply it to our lives...Mark 12:28-34

a very fruitful and blessed Lent to all of us! (click on one post subject line....ck below, something new.....there is a comment box at the end of each blog if you are interested..i have to preview and approve any comments, before they are published... and if you scroll all the way down, you can subscribe to this blog on your email by putting your email address in the box at the bottom of the page...you will be notified every time i write...God bless!)

28  One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”

29Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!30You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’31The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”32The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’33And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Welcome Australia!

Just a note of welcome to all readers from Australia!  i have a special love for your country because my Father served in WWII in New Guinea.  Maybe someday i can visit in his memory!

God bless! ang