Want MORE? JESUS in The Eucharist!

The message i got this week while at my morning at the monastery in prayer was "More!"...and i want to encourage all of us to look at this word and see where God wants "More" from us.  There are two women i encourage in their walk with God and they both are extremely deep, sincere, innocent and open to the Promptings of the Holy Spirit.  After spending time sharing with the both of them, i felt that same message should go out to you....

As Catholics we believe and know the Eucharist is the "Source and Summit of our faith".  St. John Paul II is the one who coined this phrase.   The Eucharist is the Holy Communion...when the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  Every Sunday (or Sat. night vigil) we go to Mass to honor God and the Sabbath and receive this Life Giving Food.  This Jesus, Disguised in Ordinary Form, gives us every possible good thing to be empowered to go forth and bring His Love and Virtue to everyone and every circumstance of the upcoming week.  This is a serious obligation for all Catholics to go to Mass every Sunday/Sat Vigil and receive Him, He Who can change and grow us up to become the saints we were created to be.  Only for serious reason can a Catholic miss Mass on Sunday.  Otherwise one needs to go to Confession to repent of missing and have the sincere intention of not making that same mistake again.  More than following a rule, we lose out when we miss....we are not in our empowered self when we miss....

And so....my suggestion to these lovely women is to pick a day midweek and go to Mass and receive Jesus a second time.  Mass during the week is shorter due to the fact that there is only one reading instead of two and there is no music, so the Mass is about 20-30 minutes.  The greatest thing people complain about in the spiritual journey is not being able to sustain the strong faith filled living they desire.  Want to sustain better?....Want more evident Presence of God in your daily life?....MORE....PRAY MORE, FAST MORE, GIVE ALMS MORE, DO MORE, SEEK MORE, AND ASK FOR MORE!  Many people ask me why i go to daily Mass.  i used to give a long winded answer most could not understand and now i just say,"If Jesus Christ was going to be on my porch tomorrow morning at 9 am, where would you be 9 am tomorrow?...MY PORCH OF COURSE!"  I go because Jesus is there...i go because i need Him to be the "Best Version of Myself".....i go because we are in a war fighting for many and need to be Empowered by The King to succeed....Everyone wants to have what the saints had, but most of us are unwilling to go to those lengths to get it.

i asked my two "sisters" how they felt after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion...The list they gave of positive responses was unbelievable!  Peaceful, Strong, Confident, able to Love and bring that Love to others, happy, centered, felt deeply Loved, able to hear many extraordinary inspirations from God to accomplish great works for Him....the list goes on and on and on...My reply,"Then why don't you get to Mass another day in the week and receive Him again to further all this Good in you?"

Pick 5 of the closest Catholic churches, monasteries, convents, and/or Catholic Retreat Centers surrounding your home or work.  Contact all of them and find out what their daily Mass Schedule is.  Make a list and you will have many options on all different days to be able to squeeze in Mass during the week according to your life and responsibilities.

If you cannot get to a Mass....stop in a church and just be present to Jesus in the Tabernacle (where the Consecrated (Blessed) Hosts  (JESUS) are kept and let Jesus  heal you and fill you even just for 5 minutes in the middle of the week.  Communion on Sunday is the requirement for the general population as a Catholic.....if you want an extraordinary prayer life....then we need to implement MORE...if MORE is truly what we are looking for.

Receiving Holy Communion more than once a week, being with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (What we call the Consecrated Host that is no longer ordinary bread but the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ).....has Extraordinary Fruits and Gifts that come ONLY from this SOURCE!  There are many beautiful things in the spiritual life that are beautiful, marvelous, empowering....but JESUS IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT brings to us what no other means can....HIMSELF....HIS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY....

May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen

til next time....watch these first two videos from YouTube...they are marvelous in presenting information on the Eucharist...Jesus Truly Present in the Form of Bread and Wine by Bishop Rick Barron, one of the best Catholic Teachers of our time.  The lower two listings you can go to see more videos of Bishop Barron and many other apologists who have done projects to help us grow our faith in the Truths of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!  always in my prayers!  ang 


Mystery of eating Jesus' Flesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDVLBUK5FGw

Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJjW3LXuHzo


Many videos from Bishop Barron on Eucharist...what Catholics believe
https://www.youtube.cosearch_query=bishop+Rick+Barron+on+jesus+in+the+eucharistm/results?

Various videos on Eucharist available on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=EUCHARIST

St Aloysius....'Dear Mom'

Two days ago was the Feast of St. Aloysius...i will include a link below to read about his short life.  The marvelous thing about the lives of saints is they include so many reminders....encouraging ideas and works....they are our role models...because they were sinners just like us, that made it to become the saints they were created to be!....They made Jesus Christ the Center of their lives and therefore succeeded in attaining Heaven.

A dear friend in Christ told me to read St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom which he wrote at the age of 23 when dying of the plague which he contracted while caring for those ill with the sickness.  This letter is a reminder of the place of respect and love and honor a Mother should have (remember a Father too deserves this also)....the interesting thing is his parents fought him and gave him great grief in seeking a religious life....and even then on his deathbed, he thinks of her....God does not specify to honor our parents if they are perfect....just to honor them......and forgiveness is not an option as a Christian or with our parents....  The Gospel yesterday at Mass clearly stated that:

"If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

This is a  great reminder in our need to evaluate if we honor our mothers and fathers..our grandfathers and grandmothers....great grandmothers and great grandfathers (if we are so blessed to have them still with us on earth)....not just by saying how great they are or bragging that we have them .........but by bringing dignity to their lives and spending quality time while they are alive...those blessed with long life are the most forgotten and lonely even with great care from someone......i know this first hand as a full time caregiver for my 93 yr old Mom (and my Dad before her) and as a spiritual director for many.  What sad stories i have heard!   i find some people, even in families, are afraid and bored by the elderly and totally oblivious to their needs...even ashamed sometimes and just fearful they will die (as we all will someday).   Many shy away from calling or visiting regularly....contact is minimal....for some only a few times a yr but "they will surely come when the funeral arrives",  and those are the words from the elders themselves.   What's the use of having grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends and other relatives etc. when you never get to see them or really know them even when they live close.....a very sad reality in many families today.  With cell phones there is absolutely no excuse for someone not receiving calls.... Often the elderly give out their money, that they usually don't have to give, to these family/friends when they do come visit.  They feel they have to buy the love of their visitors and everyone takes from them never thinking of the reality of their expenses and how money dwindles for elderly so quickly.  i remember a dear homemaker who cared for the elderly.  One day one of her patients gave her $100 after she had already been paid .  She brought the money to the caregiver and said, "Please put this back in her savings for her bills."  This homemaker understood how older people forget their present financial situation and their expenses and obviously this homemaker had experienced this with many others she cared for.  God bless her honesty and not taking advantage of her patients.

To love and care for anyone...children...the sick...the elderly demands great faith, commitment, love, patience and creativity to make these people priority in our lives purely for love with no underhanded motive.  We often go out and do alot of volunteering for multitudes, and forget those in our own family circles who would so benefit from more of our time and care. People...human beings... need to always come before things...events...sports....social status... The rewards of living with this proper order are too many to count and offer us a clear conscience that money can't buy...Let's all evaluate our lives after reading St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom and see where we can become more generous, creative, sincere and charitable with our elders....i remember clearly my parents example to us with my Father's Mother who was the only grandparent i knew....They always visited and called daily and were extremely generous financially with her every time they went over...That is the way it is suppose to be!  We take care of the old-timers who once took care of us!

St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom touched my Mom and i so deeply..we had a very beautiful and touching experience after reading this most glorious letter...how grateful i am for that....first how he addresses her, "Most honorable lady"....this is how every mother should be addressed....and how he ends the letter, "with respect and love you deserve from a son".....A reminder to mothers of their dignity, a reminder to children how to honor a mother...and then the content in the middle addresses the joy of death....preparing to cross over to Eternal Life.  So well put in this letter, one cannot grieve the same after reading it when thinking of those who have passed on in faith....or even look at death the same again.

When i was younger in high school i went to all different Christian churches to experience their worship.  When a young local school boy died i went to the funeral and was taken back....they all wore white and were playing guitars and singing at the wake...when i asked why, they said this is a joyful occasion...he has gone to Heaven to be with God....i will never forget that experience....coming from an Italian Catholic traditional background where we mourned and wore black..... it was my Baptist friends who taught me how to really deal with death..."Roll back the stone, he is not dead!!!!!!!!!!..."

Let us read and ask God to speak thru St. Aloysius' letter to us personally and see if there is something to apply and put into practice in our lives that is new.

so sorry i haven't written in a while....sickness in my immediate family demanded my full attention for a time...i will try to write more often...as many have requested....til next time....be assured of my continued prayers!

PS:  A friend of mine had her sister who never married and cared for both their mother and father.  i met this friend after her father had died and her sister continued caring for her Mom.  i reminded this friend to reach out and thank her sister for all she did.  To be more active in their lives and assist her sister asking how she could help.  To send cards...flowers...bring gifts...get her to go out for a massage etc....for this one child took on the job for all three children giving up everything.  If you have a caregiver in your family or friends who are sacrificing all to care for the elders in your circle...honor them...be good to them...thank them...shower them with kind acts of love and mercy for they are carrying the job many should be doing.  And ask how you can help them .

Another elder friend of my family is ill right now and i saw him in church with one of his daughters.  i honored her for caring for her Dad who needed her help at this time.  She said i am not doing this alone....we, my sisters and i , are rotating caring for him....that is beautiful!  Sharing equal weight in the care of a parent...something for us to meditate on....

There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials.

-- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

his bio...
     www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=15
     www.staloysiushickory.org/about/saint-aloysius-our-patron-saint

letter to his mother:  scroll down below picture to see it....
    www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/saint-aloysius-gonzaga-letter-to-his-mother/

Empowering children!

Parents, there is only one way to empower our children for what this life, especially life in 2017, will throw their way....GOD!!!!  It is absolutely pertinent to first be their prayer warriors....daily interceding for them, their lives, their salvation, their health, their future, their vocation in life...everything....bring everything to God in prayer!  Allocate a day of the week to cover them in a big way in prayer, fasting and alms giving and teach them these principles to apply themselves in an age appropriate way.  Pair off with other parents one day a week and support each other.   Children have the natural propensity to know God and be drawn to Him...make every opportunity available to them from very young to nurture this.  Scriptures say: "Raise up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it!"  We will answer in a big way as to how we nurtured our children's faith.

As Catholics, we have Sacraments that give Supernatural Empowerment and Protection to our children (and us)...Baptism, First Reconciliation (confession), First Holy Communion and Confirmation are the first 4 of 7 Sacraments.  Baptism is done once as is Confirmation.  Confession and Communion have a First Celebration and then are available over and over again throughout a person's life.  They should at least go to Mass every Sunday and receive Jesus, in Holy Communion to be empowered and strengthened and healed in a Way nothing else can achieve.  Nothing we can do in this world equals that.  Also, confession should be encouraged at least once a month so we can continue to receive the beautiful Graces this Sacrament gives...so that we can continue to work on our weaknesses with God aiming to be more and more like Jesus...so that we can purify our hearts to receive Jesus...to prepare the "red carpet" for our encounter with Him in Holy Communion....to obey Jesus command to confess our sins....

These Sacraments are pivotal.  Without them you disable your child from the Best life has to offer.  Practice them yourselves and bring your children to the same practice.  If there are family members and friends who are not practicing...whose children are not baptized....who do not celebrate the Sacraments....pray hard for them...offer Masses....fast....and speak the Truth when God's Opportunity comes ....There is a war going on ....a war to steal souls....a war to rob people ....a war against our marriages, our families, our children....and the weapons to use against these attacks are a deep relationship with the Living God and all the tools He has given us over the yrs to overcome.  Scripture Reading...Study and Memorization....Mass and Holy Communion...Confession....Baptism....Confirmation....Fasting....Alms giving...Prayer....Rosary...
Scapula....the list goes on and on....

Baptize your children....return to church.....prepare them for all the Sacraments....Return to Confession and receiving Jesus at Mass every Sunday.....i sadly find out more and more as i help people that there are so many children being spiritually neglected and therefore they are not afforded the protection and blessings they so deserve.

Let's wake up parents....these little souls have no time for us to delay and "find ourselves".  The time is now!!!

til next time...look up all you can on the Sacraments of the Catholic Church....on teaching children about God....helping develop a close relationship with Jesus for our children. (and ourselves)...here are two links....happy reading

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php
http://www.canonlaw.info/a_preparingchildren.htm

Wonder Women!

Women Warriors for God, the movie Wonder Woman came out today.  i am especially encouraging all women to see it an view in it qualities of what it is and means for women to be Warriors for God! Life is hard and many push women down.  Many of us have low self esteem, fear, insecurities, self doubt often because as a race we have been abused, questioned, mistreated, encouraged and taught to limit what we can do.  Scriptures say, "We can do all things thru Christ Who strengthens us!  i saw the movie today and we all can learn from it.  There are a few unnecessary things in it, but overall it is precious and has lots of powerful lines, innocence and if we, knowing it is fiction, take in the warrior concept and the fight a woman has, we can be reminded to continue on our mission fighting against all evil.  They did a very dignified portrayal of women.

This week St. Joan of Arc was celebrated in the Catholic church ...also in this theme of Woman Warrior.  Let's look her up... a real life Warrior for God

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=295
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jLk3vBZivFY/hqdefault.jpg (my favorite pic of  St. Joan...)


Let us rise up standing with our heads raised, shoulders back, and stand confidently into our Armor of God so we can stand strong with the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit...... and bring Christ to this broken world... .Sunday is Pentecost.  No compromises, no letting up in our prayers and spiritual warfare until all souls bow to God and Him Alone!  i suggest everyone make plans to see this film with other women and lets ask God to use this secular film to remind His Holy Women of our great calling and our beauty.  Thank you for all you do to make this world more beautiful!  Always in my prayers.  til next time....

Check out my favorite picture of Wonder Woman...and then read below what i would caption under it!

https://goo.gl/images/OzQGxF

NOT ON MY WATCH!!!!!  To the enemy we say...not my children...not my family...not my church....in Jesus' Name we will fight....no more fear...no more hate....no more discouragement...no more compromise.....NO MORE!!!  Our weapons...Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving...

PS:  i gave this movie a 10...my son who is 29 yrs. old gave it a 10 also, so there is no reason men can't watch it and enjoy it also..

The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth!

i love this day....Catholics celebrate The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth....the story from Scriptures..read about it below

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/visitation/

My favorite picture of this event is below captivating the joy of two women expecting Babies that will change the world.  Too often religious art is not real to life....this captures sooo much!  i hope you like it as much as i do.  til next time let's say one Hail Mary for all of us who visit this blog site...

HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE, THE LORD IS WITH THEE.  BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB, JESUS.  HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR US SINNERS NOW, AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH.  AMEN.

ласкаво просимо Україна!! Wecome Ukraine!

Який приємний сюрприз бачити Україну приєднатися до мого блогу. я вітаю вас і запрошую читати блог, нехай ваші друзі і сім'я і церква знають про цей сайт, не соромтеся залишити мені коментар, і розглянути питання про підписання на дні посту з вашої електронної поштою, щоб отримати повідомлення кожного разу, коли я пишу. я молю святість і святість для всіх нас! Дякую! Енджі

What a pleasant surprise to see the Ukraine join my blog.  i welcome you and invite you to read the blogs, let your friends and family and church  know about this site,  Feel free to leave me a comment, and consider signing up at the bottom of a post with your email to get an alert each time i write.  i pray holiness and sainthood for all of us!  Thank you!  angie

Prison Outreach..Corporal Work of Mercy...now is time!

i wrote a note to someone in prison.  So often we think of those in prison are so different than ourselves.  We forget that we make mistakes every single day.  The only difference is those in prison have been caught.  i thought i might share some of the article with you in the hope that all of us will start to reach out to those in prison, in trouble and lift that stigma that we, the "normal" population are in some way better than they are.  Jesus, in His Final Description of His Second Coming and Judgment uses very simple words to explain what matters in Matthew 25:31-36
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His Glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit upon His Glorious Throne,32 and all the nations will be assembled before Him. And He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, a stranger and you welcomed Me,36naked and you clothed Me, ill and you cared for Me, in prison and you visited Me.’"

And so i wrote:

i am so sorry to know of you sufferings and pain during this time in your life.  i wanted to write to you to just let you know you are loved.  i remember everything you did for my son and i every morning.  You are the kindest of men and we, although not in touch alot, have a deep love for your kindness and smile during those early years.  

i wanted to remind you regardless of what others have said, we all make mistakes....all of us...and sadly some get caught in their sin and suffer on top of offending God, making a wrong choice and hurting themselves, a type of public humiliation, but the fact remains....we all "fall short" on a daily basis.  This is Scriptural.  So don't let others drown you with their should have...comments.  My suggestion to all of us....get to a good confession and put it all behind you.  Every day is a new beginning....The Gospel says, "There are New Mercies every morning"...."As far as the east is from the west will I put your transgressions"...."Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them whiter than snow!"

i do not know if letters will help you or annoy you.  So i am sending one.  In the envelope is a self addressed stamped envelope with a paper inside in case you would like to write back.  If you want to receive letters from me, let me know and if not i will totally understand and respect your wishes.  Know that either way i will continue to pray for you and support you during this most difficult time.  If there is any way i can send you books or magazines or good food :) or help you in any way while away, please do not hesitate to ask me.  No one needs to know if and how i help you ....i will keep all this confidential...

i have a blog site since Nov.  and i thought i would send you, starting from the beginning, all my blogs if you were interested.   Again you can let me know....who knows maybe you also have computer access.  If you do, let me know your email and i can write to your email site, if not, we can use snail mail if you are comfortable with that.  Below is my first blog....(i then sent a copy of the first blog from November 2016)

Please be assured of my prayers for you and all your family and all those where you are.  Remember, as long as there is breath and life...there is opportunity for U-turns....Our God makes great Main Course Meals with us who are left-overs.  Stay strong....Stay hopeful....Stay very close to God!  All my love and hugs,  angie
----------------------------------------------------
The Corporal Works of Mercy in the Catholic Church are:

• To feed the hungry.
• To give water to the thirsty.
• To clothe the naked.
• To shelter the homeless.
• To visit the sick.
• To visit the imprisoned, or ransom the captive.
• To bury the dead.

Let's find ways to reach those in prison....and sometimes they are not in a physical penitentiary....people can be imprisoned in many ways...especially let's give our prayers....here are some sites to check out and learn more about these works that will help reflect the Love of Christ to our very lost world!  til next time....let's read all of Matthew 25....it is jam packed with great 'stuff'....THERE IS LOTS OF GOD'S WORK TO BE DONE....LET'S ALL START TO DO MORE...ang

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/jubilee-of-mercy/the-corporal-works-of-mercy.cfm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZXLaAZ23J4

Let's review and start over....

i have reviewed blog 9, 10, 11......let's take some time to review these and visit the sites and read the Scriptures listed again (or for the first time)....taking time to evaluate how we are doing...and find those areas of growth we need to work on again....

Conversion is an ongoing process....Become a God-Chaser!...Become the saint you were created to be....til next time....let's read Lamentations 3 in its entirety and remember:

22

The LORD’s acts of mercy are not exhausted,

his compassion is not spent;

23

They are renewed each morning—

Today is the beginning of the rest of your life.....let's all start over...

Prayer Beads...The Rosary, Fatima and our New Saints!

The two young seers of Fatima were declared saints by the Catholic Church on Sat.  The Pope has declared this the year of Fatima and we are celebrating 100 yrs since that miraculous event.  One of the main things that was requested during these apparitions was that all mankind pray the Rosary daily in reparation for offenses to God, for the conversion of sinners and peace in the world.  The rosary is not just a repetition of prayers... for the Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be are all repetitions of Holy Scripture.  But that is not the whole thing.  There are Mysteries based on the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ that are meditated on at different times during the rosary and different days of the week to keep us "pondering" like Mary and holding All These Things in our hearts.

"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart."  Luke 2:19

The prayer is Healing, Relaxing, Calming, Peace Giving and Powerful!  The Fruit from incorporating the Rosary in one's life is Quick and Obvious.  Sometimes it is harder than other times to do.  Even though it takes only 15-20 minutes it sometimes feels like forever but the effort to try and learn this form of prayer is worth every minute.  Then it becomes second nature and deeply enjoyable.  Here are some resources on the Rosary.  Many Non-Catholics pray this prayer with us so do not feel that you can't pray it if you are from another religion.  It is our version of a  Misbaha in Muslim faith, worry beads in the orthodox, Japa Mala is used by Buddhists and Hindus and many other beads to pray on in other religions and practices.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_beads

https://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/rosary/how_to.htm

http://www.catholicity.com/prayer/rosary.html

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/rosary.php

http://www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf

Research the above sites.  Learn for yourself, not from hearsay, what the Rosary is all about and who knows, you may try it and find this is a place of Home for you.  And look on Youtube for many beautiful videos on this too.  Every day on EWTN, the Eternal Word Television Network (Catholic TV) the Rosary is recited and often is accompanied by beautiful pictures to coincide with the mystery and prayer being said.  7:30 am....11:30 am and 6:30 pm are the usual times for the Rosary on this station.  i particularly like the Rosary that comes from the Holy Land.  Remember, different strokes for different folks.  If you do not like one video of the rosary, try another til you find one that fits for you.

til next time let's read Luke 1 in its entirety.....to better understand where the Hail Mary comes from and Who this Great Woman is and What is her role in The Salvation Story!

велцоме србија! welcome serbia!

What a lovely surprise to find visits from Serbia!  i serve in a parish that has a large Croation Community.  i believe that is close to you.  Their priest is very ill at this time.  Please pray for him.  i love new cultures and traditions and i suspect Serbia has a lovely culture.  Thank you for joining us and invite all your friends and family to come and experience my blog.  God bless, til next time...
1Peter5:14b

"PEACE TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE IN CHRIST!"

Какво дивно изненађење да пронађе посета из Србије! И служе у парохији која има велики Цроатион заједнице. Верујем да је у вашој близини. Њихов свештеник је веома болестан у овом тренутку. Молим те, моли за њега. И Лове Нев културе и традиције и претпостављам да Србија има дивну културу. Хвала вам што сте нам се придружили и позвати све своје пријатеље и породицу да дођу и доживе свој блог. Бог благословио, до следећег пута ...

1Петер5: 14б

"МИР свима који су у Христу!"

Our Lady of Fatima 100th Anniversary...Jubileee year...

It is 1 am on Sat. May 13th 2017.....i just returned from Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with special devotion to Our Lady of Fatima.  100 yrs. ago in 1917 the Blessed Mother appeared to 3 children the 13th of every month from May to Oct.  On the final month a miracle clearly written about in the newspapers and vivid to all present happened....The Miracle of the Sun....and many were healed and converted that day.  It has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church and Jacinta and Francesco, two of the seers will be made saints this month by Pope Francis.  There are many special blessings during this Jubilee Year...the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima.  One is a plenary indulgence.  i will include a few links below of articles regarding all this.  Feel free to read up on this miraculous event and see if there is a Catholic Church near you having special gatherings today to participate in and receive the indulgence.  There are 3 ways to receive them...1.  to go to Portugal...2. in a church here with devotions to Our Lady of Fatima...and 3.  home bound prayers for those unable to leave the house.

http://archphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Plenary-Indulgence-Fatima-w-catechesis.pdf

https://wafusa.org/

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/the-day-the-sun-danced-fatima-1917

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBIs8cuIwTo

Check out these sites...and research for yourself...even if you are not Catholic, it is edifying to see the facts behind this beautiful event.....it will be well worth your effort....and put on the Catholic TV Network...EWTN...Eternal Word Television Network.....they will be covering it all day.....

Many non catholics do not understand our devotion to Our Lady.  Here is a link below that addresses that issue well....and gives lots of Scriptures to defend why we do what we do regarding The Mother of God....it is always good to be informed so to make a choice in full knowledge as with this issue on the Blessed Mother....   til next time..read Luke 1 in its entirety:...i was praying for all of you at the vigil this evening....be blessed, angie

"For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;"

http://www.catholicbible101.com/themaryverses.htm

Welcome Switzerland and United Kingdom!

It is a great privilege to have people from Switzerland and United Kingdom join our blog.  It is extremely humbling what God is doing here.  We give Him all the Honor and Credit for growing this new family of believers across the world.  i hope to see many of you return and bring others.  Let us commit to pray for one another as we continue to be God Chasers in the hope of becoming the saints we were created to be!

til next time...let's read 1 Cor 16: 23-24

"THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS BE WITH YOU, MY LOVE TO ALL OF YOU IN CHRIST JESUS!"

Let's Review....

i have started to revisit all my published blogs.  i read the first 8 which started in Nov.  If you are new to this site or have been walking with me all along, i recommend starting to review from the beginning as a refresher.  Let's revisit the first 8 posts and see how we have applied some of the info to our lives and maybe we can make some new changes in our lives in light of what we read/reread.

i am also rereading to pray and see what directions the future blogs will take.  There may be areas i want to branch off from topics already covered.

Please remember you can subscribe by email if you would like at the bottom of any blog and any time i write a new post, you will receive an email.

Also, you can leave comments for me that i will personally receive and if i feel they will bless everyone, i will publish them on the site.

Feel free to pass this blog site on to anyone you know who may be interested and/or benefit from the content.

Always in my prayers....til next time...Psalm 117

1Praise the LORD, all you nations!

Extol him, all you peoples!

2His mercy for us is strong;

the faithfulness of the LORD is forever.

Hallelujah!

Welcome South Africa!!!!

Welcome to visitors from South Africa!  There are so many languages from there ...not sure which one applies to your area...so i write to you in English.  God is Miraculous and there is a song i love that expresses how marvelous it is to live in a time like now because we have incredible means of communication thru the computer and all electronics where we can speak and be in contact with others from around the world especially for the Gospel.  Enjoy Israel Houton's song "The Greatest Time in History" below that expresses that content.  Blessings to you and all those you love and care for.  i hope you continue to visit often and invite all you know to visit this blog too in the hope that we all become more and more like Jesus and closer to becoming the saint we were created to be.  til next time....let's read Acts 1:8

"But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn4RKBlswFk

Abortion ....how very very sad

Yesterday i supported a woman whose son of 15 was intimate with a young lady and she got pregnant.  This girl wanted her child and her parents were forcing her to abort.  Her family came to the parent of the father asking for money to pay for the abortion.  By the Grace of God she refused explaining that she would gladly take the child and raise him/her but would not participate in ending this life.  This Mother and her son even went to the clinic to try and save the child after much discussion prior......to try and speak with the young Mother and offer her the options that were available.  Even the holy people praying outside tried to guide and intervene.  In the end, this girl was forced to take the life of her own first child and the Father and his Mom were thrown out of the clinic.  And now there is a dead child, and a very troubled Mother and Father who will never....never be the same again.  i will ellaborate more at a later point because i know some of you are for abortion and i would like to share more deeply my opinion of it and the Church's stand.  But for now, here are St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta's words which explain my viewpoint better than i could....it is time to meditate....it is time to pray....it is time to grieve....and to lift up to God these people....my own grief, sorrow and righteous indignation limit my ability to put into words what i want to share...til next time....read Psalm 139:13-16

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!

My very self you know.

15My bones are not hidden from you,

When I was being made in secret,

fashioned in the depths of the earth.

16Your eyes saw me unformed;

in your book all are written down;

my days were shaped, before one came to be.

Mother Teresa's words:

"That special power of loving that belongs to a woman is seen most clearly when she becomes a mother. Motherhood is the gift of God to women. How grateful we must be to God for this wonderful gift that brings such joy to the whole world, women and men alike! Yet we can destroy this gift of motherhood, especially by the evil of abortion, but also by thinking that other things like jobs or positions are more important than loving, than giving oneself to others. No job, no plans, no possessions, no idea of "freedom" can take the place of love. So anything that destroys God's gift of motherhood destroys His most precious gift to women-- the ability to love as a woman."

~ Mother Theresa’s Letter to the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995 ~

"We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other."

~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta ~

"Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows very easily."

~ Bl. Mother Teresa ~

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."

~ Blessed Mother Teresa ~

"Abortion kills twice. It kills the body of the baby and it kills the conscience of the mother. Abortion is profoundly anti-women. Three quarters of its victims are women: Half the babies and all the mothers."

~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta ~

"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has shown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father’s role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts ~ a child ~ as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters. And in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign."

~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta , "Notable and Quotable", Wall Street Journal, 2/25/94 , p. A14 ~

The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion, which is war against the child. The mother doesn't learn to love, but kills to solve her own problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want."

"The way to plan the family is natural family planning, not contraception...This (use of contraceptives) turns the attention to self and so it destroys the gift of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other as happens in natural family planning, and not to self, as happens in contraception. Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows easily . . . And abortion, which often follows from contraception, brings a people to be spiritually poor, and that is the worst poverty and the most difficult to overcome."

Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion"

"Any country that accepts abortion is the poorest of the poor 

"Many people are concerned with children of India, with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is the greatest destroyer of peace today- abortion which brings people to such blindness."

" We must remember that life begins at home and we must also remember that the future of humanity passes through the family"

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you live as you wish"

"Be humble like Mary so that you can be holy like Jesus"

I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself."

"And if we can accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?"

"By abortion the Mother does not learn to love, but kills her own child to solve her problems. And, by abortion, that father is told that he does not have to take any responsibilty at all for the child he has brought into the world. The father is likely to put other women to the same trouble. So abortion leads to more abortion."

All these are quotations by Blessed Mother Teresa

Bienvenido, pueblo de Chile / Welcome people of Chile

Palabras especiales de bienvenida a mis nuevos amigos en Chile. Que Dios los bendiga y espero que continúen visitando nuestro blog. Deje que su familia y amigos sepan que son bienvenidos a visitar este sitio. ¡Dios te bendiga! Y Gracias por ser parte de nuestra familia. Hasta la próxima vez ... angie

Special words of welcome to my new friends in Chile.  May God bless you and i hope you continue to visit us on this blog.  Let your family and friends know they are most welcome to visit this site.  God bless you!  and Thanks for becoming a part of our family.  til next time...angie

Yoga and the Catholic Church

i received a note from a young lady i know regarding yoga and a discussion online....and how the Catholic Church stands on it.  This was my reply to her, and i thought it was something to share here on the blog....fyi...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reaching out to me regarding the topic of yoga and the Catholic Church.  Here are  three sites to review regarding this topic.   i think topics like this become possible places of anger and animosity among believers and there really is no reason for that.  We are all on journey with God and it takes a lifetime to evolve and grow into the saint we were created to be.   With that in mind we all must be kind and loving at all times in our discussions and sharing about topics of interest and our faith walks.  God has given free will to each of us and we must never try to take that from anyone....ever. The key in communicating as believers is we share Knowledge and Truth and discuss our own opinions always willing to listen to another and then take it all to prayer....this is the key....take everything to God in prayer...and then be open and pliable to do what He tells us!  If we sincerely are open to God's Perfect Will, Understanding, Way of Living, then He will not deny us that!  And so i suggest you share these sites with your friends and let them take this to God individually and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who loves us more than anyone else ever could, will come and clarify as only He can in the minds and hearts of all those who sincerely seek Truth.  i know your sharing was out of concern for others to understand some dangers you have learned about but i think it is always good for us to apologize and ask forgiveness if we get too pushy or unkind or even arrogant in our sharing and that often happens when we fight for what we believe in.  i know you well and i know your heart....but maybe it is time to share with your online community that you suffer Traumatic Brain Injury and maybe you could not express things in the most loving way or the way you wanted to because of a Mental Handicap.  i think we all have to become more able to give the benefit of the doubt when dealing with each other especially in the written word....we need to have patience because even people who consider themselves, 'normal', suffer from imbalances...good days, and bad days and many in between which all affect our interactions with each other.  i also think if you share about your disability, you free others who suffer from any similar limitations to be open about their sufferings and  in this sharing you love on others who do not have a disability and do not understand by helping them to learn how to be more compassionate and kinder in their dealings with others.   Please note i continue to pray for you daily and even more consciously now, all those who have been a part of this yoga dialogue.  May Jesus, the Only One Who never leaves or forsakes us, continue to mold us into His Image so everyone we meet or are in anyway in contact with will want to know the Cause of Our Joy....To HIM ALONE be all Glory and Honor and Power forever and ever!  AMEN!  

til next time....let's read  1Corinthians 13.....slow and self reflective...

http://www.catholic.org/news/health/story.php?id=59107

https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/yoga.htm

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-trouble-with-yoga

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/

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