Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Make it your goal to be someone that you would like to spend the rest
of your life with. Lord, help me approach my day interested in everything
that happens so that my life will truly be an adventure.


Scripture for the day:

"If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have
love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." ~1 Corinthians 13:1

Meditation for the day:

"If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have
love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." Love means to care
enough about other people to really want to do something for them. A
smile, a word of encouragement, a word of love, goes winged on its
way, simple though it may seem, while the mighty words of an orator
can fall on deaf ears. We can use up the odd moments of our day in
trying to do some little thing to cheer up another person. Boredom
can come from thinking too much about ourselves.

Prayer for the day:


I pray that my day may be brightened by some little act of charity. I
pray that I may try today to overcome the self-centeredness that can
bore me.

Peace of the Lord be with you all! Hope you all had a good day today - today was not an ordinary day - no, we now have our house up for sale, pictures were taken, and we are looking at housings now - have an appt. in the morning to see an apt. Maybe he'll make more appointments, if we can get in to see them. The internet doesn't do anything unless we see it. We just have to rely upon God that He will lead us to where He wants us to go. It's hard, but we have to put all our trust in Him. We were praying the Rosary together tonight, and were so distracted by this all! Our minds are running a mile a minute it seems. We need to slow down. Our house isn't sold yet.
My blessings today was that I didn't cry - it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. That's because of all the prayers. See? There's power in prayer.
Late again and so very tired - it's been a long day so I'll be soon in bed!

Homily of the Day


May 12, 2011

It´s An Offer You Can´t Refuse!
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Acts 8:26-40 / Jn 6:44-51

Trying to comprehend who and what God is is a project doomed in advance to failure, and the process of trying can make our heads hurt.

The idea of an infinite, utterly transcendent being is just too big to wrap our minds around. And at the other end of the spectrum, the idea of an immanent God who actually dwells within us feels almost too good to be true. But true it is, as Jesus told us. The Holy Spirit of God dwells within each one of us at all times. Even when we sin, the Spirit does not abandon us, but whispers to us and guides us back to Jesus’ way.

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us an instance of the indwelling Spirit’s active guidance of Philip the Apostle. What’s important to note is not just that the Spirit spoke into Philip’s need for guidance at a specific moment, but that Philip heard and acted upon the Spirit’s guidance. That’s the real marvel! And it’s also our challenge. Few things are more vital to our lives as followers of Jesus than developing the habit of listening to the Spirit and the skill of discerning whether it’s the Spirit speaking or just our own wishes and desires trying to make themselves heard.

The Spirit is offering us wisdom and insight — all for free. Listen carefully and watch your life gain a whole new dimension.

Guidance

The Blessed Virgin always points us in the direction of the Gospels.
She always points us, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
to Jesus her son who in turn reveals to us the Father’s love.

from The Miracle of Lourdes: A Message of Healing and Hope

Rosary Stories

Here are some "Rosary Stories" to inspire you with greater devotion to the Holy Rosary.

A Jeweler’s Treasure

A retired jeweler from New York had saved a few precious rings and a valuable watch. When showing these to a priest-friend he said, "but these are not my most precious treasure." Out of his vest pocket he took a mother-of-pearl rosary. "My most precious possession is this" he said, explaining that on the day of his marriage he gave it to his wife as a gift and she gave him a black rosary. Then and there they made a promise to recite the Rosary every night. When she died the jeweler placed his black beads in her hands. "And every night I say the Rosary using her beads."

Franz Joseph Haydn

The great composer Franz Haydn loved Our Lady and the Rosary. Once, when discussing mental fatigue, he shared his secret. "I always carry a rosary with me. After a few decades I am sure to feel refreshed, both in mind and body."

Joseph Haydn once set out to write a religious oratorio. In order to do so he became practically a hermit. For thirteen months the composer remained in seclusion praying, studying and working. Some days were filled with success, others with anguish. Often he went for days without an idea. "Then I would pick up my rosary," he later said, "and, as the beads slipped through my fingers, I would relax, gather new strength and collect my thoughts. I would return to my piano and once again hammer away!"

The Rosary Stories of Albino Luciani

The following are the stories from the writings of Albino Luciani.

Manzoni, the Italian writer, prayed the Rosary each day. Today, when one visits his house in Milan, his rosary can be seen.

Windthorst, A German statesman, was once invited by some friends to show them his rosary. They had already taken it out of his suitcoat pocket. When Windthorst did not find the rosary in his right pocket he simply took another one from his left!

Christopher Von Gluch, the great musician, used to withdraw for a few minutes during receptions to pray his Rosary.

Blessed Contardo Ferrini, a University professor in Italy, would invite his friends to pray the Rosary when he was a guest in their homes.

These are inspiring stories, but who is Albino Luciani? Pope John Paul I.

And my favorite "Rosary Story" of all—

An Old Man’s Rosary

In the last century there was much hope placed in science and much faith in material progress. During that time, in the compartment of a train in France, an old man was one day praying his Rosary.

At one stop a young intellectual entered the compartment and sat down. After a while, not able to stand it any more, this student of modern science said to the old man, "Why do you pray the Rosary? Why do you pray? There is no God. Only science. Yes, science is the answer."

The old man remained silent. The youth not wanting to hurt him said, "Well, my friend, you mean no harm. You must lack education. Give me your address. I’ll send you some books to enlighten you. Yes, they will teach you that science and not prayer is the answer."

Just at that moment it was the old man’s stop. Before leaving the compartment he reached into his coat pocket and took out his business card. He gave it to the intellectual who bid him, "Good day." When the train started again the young man looked at the card. It read:

Louis Pasteur

Institute of Scientific Research

Paris

With these stories as an inspiration let us be faithful to praying the Rosary daily to Mary Our Mother.

Prayer to Our Lady of Fatima

Dearest Mother, Queen of the Holy Rosary, who came to Fatima to reveal to all mankind the Divine plan for true Christian peace, of prayer, penance, and consecration, grant an abundance of grace, strength, and guidance to the members of Thy Fatima Crusade, here present and throughout the world. Inspire us to great zeal, oh great Mediatrix of All Graces, that we may be effective instruments in spreading devotion to Thy Rosary; that we may be faithful in wearing Thy scapular; that we may inspire our brothers in Christ to a life of sacrifice, penance, and modesty, and finally, that we may help to bring about that wonderful day when all men, through consecration to Thy Immaculate Heart, shall be one in Christ. Amen.

WALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER
By Gail Rodgers

Where your feet walk today be reminded of how God asks you to treat those around you.

"Greet one another." Romans 16:16

"Be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

"Be kind and compassionate to one another." Ephesians 4:32

"Accept one another." Romans 15:7

"Serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

"Encourage one another." 1 Thessalonians 4:18

"Build each other up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Don't slander one another." James 4:11

"Don't grumble against each other." James 5:9

"Forgive each other." Ephesians 4:32

"Confess your sins to each other." James 5:16

"Stop passing judgment on one another." Romans 14:13

"Be at peace with each other." Mark 9:50

"Be devoted to one another." Romans 12:10

"Carry each other's burdens." Galatians 6:2

"Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom." Colossians 3:16

"Pray for each other." James 5:16

"Spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

"Love one another." John 13:34

~ Father God,

You have said that the world will know we are Christians by our love. May it be so in our lives today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

The Optimistic Creed

Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to everyone you meet.

To make all your friends feel there is something special in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticise others.

To be too large for worry,

Too noble for anger,

Too strong for fear,

And too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Just Pedal

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or h ell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him.


But later on, when I met God,
it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was at the back, helping me pedal.


I don't know when it was that he suggested
that we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. But when he took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on!


Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer! and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.


He took me to people with gifts that I needed; gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey. And we were off again. He said, 'Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight.' So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.


I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with God as my
delightful constant companion.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says,

"Pedal!"

Author Unknown

Sincerity in LOVE...
It was a busy
morning, about 8:30, when an elderly
gentleman in his 80's arrived to have
stitches removed from his thumb.
He said he was in a hurry as he had an
appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital
signs and had him take a seat,
knowing it would be over an hour
before someone
would to able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch and
decided, since I
was not busy with another patient,
I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was
well healed, so I talked to one of the
doctors, got the needed supplies to
remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of
his wound, I asked him if he
had another doctor's appointment
this morning, as
he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he
needed to go to
the nursing home to eat breakfast
with his wife. I inquired as to her
health.

He told me that she had been there
for a while and that she
was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we
talked, I asked if she would be
upset if he was a bit late.

He
replied that she no longer knew
who he was, that she had not
recognized him in
five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him,
'And you still go every
morning, even though she
doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he
patted my hand and said,

'She doesn't
know me, but I still know who she is..'

I had to hold back
tears as he left, I had goose bumps
on my arm, and thought,

'That is
the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is
neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an
acceptance of all that is,
has been, will be, and will not
be.

With all the jokes
and fun that are in e-mails,
sometimes there is one that comes
along that has an
important message..
This one I thought I could share with you.

The
happiest people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make
the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you
care about. I just did..

’Life isn't about
how to survive the storm,
But how to dance
in the rain.’

Closing prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I offer up this prayer for all those who are sick and in great need of prayer, For Barb, for Mrs. T's daughters and baby Liam, Carmela, and all who are not feeling well and in need of your Healing Touch. I ask Your healing upon them all, Lord, and I also ask Mary, Our Blessed Mother, to intercede for us, in Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Sorry it got a bit long tonight but there was so much I wanted to share with you, and didn't want to leave anything out - hope it's okay.
Good night everyone - Sweet Dreams - may you always find your blessings!