Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Be inspired to try something new and much of what you dream can

become your life. Lord, thank you for giving me the freedom of choice,

and grant me the courage to experience my opportunities and create

new ones.

Scripture for the day:

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every

affair under the heavens." ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

Meditation for the day:

There is a time for everything. We can learn to wait patiently until

the right time comes. Easy does it. We can waste our energies in

trying to get things before we are ready to have them, before we have

earned the right to receive them. A great lesson we have to learn is

how to wait with patience. We can believe that all our life is a

preparation for something better to come when we have earned the right

to it. We can believe that God has a plan for our lives and that this

plan will work out in the

fullness of time.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may learn the lesson of waiting patiently. I pray that

I may not expect things until I have earned the right to have them.

Greetings my friends! Today is Ash Wednesday - I sent you some of Ash Wednesday inspirations in the last thread, hope you saw it. We went to Mass this morning at 7 and got ashes, and Father Joe gave a wonderful homily - he always does, as young as he is, about 30, he gives wonderful homilies - and he's only going to get better! He's coming over for breakfast on Friday so that will be fun to get to know him a bit better. We are very fortunate to have both him and Father Mark in our parish. We heard some disturbing news this morning from Ron, Linus' brother. At the Mayo Clinic through tests, they said that his tumor in his intestine cancer is about 80%!! Monday is his surgery there, and please let's pray it's not cancer. If it is, he'll be on chemo before leaving there. Ron is good spirits, scared, but he's a strong man. When Linus had to give the news to the rest of his siblings, they were really shook up, of course, so is Linus. He scheduled a colonoscopy for Tuesday, just a checkup. Ron did it too for just a checkup, and here he had a tumor. He never felt anything there. So we pray for God's healing upon Ron. God always gives us things to pray about, doesn't He? Pray and know that He is God and He is in charge. We also ask Mary for her intercession, too. Wishing you all a very blessed Lent and God bless you!! Praying for you all, thanks for your prayers for us.

St. Valentine's Story

Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.

Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!

Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favourite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.

One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.

I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.

One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!

- - -

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

Suffering with Christ

Quotations from Dom Marmion, OSB

NEWMAN PRESS, 1952

With Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, 1952

"Suffering is a world-wide fact. No man escapes it. It waits for every man to enter into the world and it walks him to the grave. It smites every man and grasps the whole of him: body and soul, heart and mind. It stalks him over the entire breadth of his being and of the multiple powers he bears within himself.

Like the Cross, its loftiest and most meaningful symbol, suffering is scandal for some, folly for others. For others still, it is the acid test of faithfulness, the golden key to perfection and union with Christ, the fertile seed of glory." [From the Preface of the Book]

1st Quotation

Our Lord is Master of His gifts and, without any merit on their part, He calls certain souls to more intimate union with Him, to share His sorrows and sufferings for the glory of His Father and the salvation of souls, Adimpleo in corpore meo quae desunt passionum Christi pro corpore ejus quod est Ecclesia: "I fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for His body, which is the Church." "We are the body of Christ and members of His; members." God could have saved men without them having to suffer or to merit, as He does in the case of little children who die after Baptism. But by a decree of His adorable wisdom, He had decided that the world's salvation should depend upon an expiation of which His Son Jesus should undergo the greater part but in which His members should be associated.

Many men neglect to supply their share of suffering accepted in union with Jesus Christ, and of prayers and good works.

That is why our Lord chooses certain souls to be asso- ciated with Him in the great work of the Redemption. These are elect souls, victims of expiation and praise. These are dear to Jesus beyond all one can imagine. [From Union with God, chapter 3, section 2]

Five Finger Prayer

1. Thumb

Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you.

They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty".

2. Pointing finger

The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.

They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. Tallest finger

The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators.

These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. Ring finger

The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.

They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. Little finger

And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others.

As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself.

By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Remember to give thanks in all things and ask forgiveness. And pray to do God's will always!

- Author Unknown

GIVE ME THE STRENGTH GOD

GOD, give me the faith to accept that bad things do

happen to good people.

GOD, give me the strength to make a good home for my

family, to be inspired to share your love with them so

they will also love you, each other and themselves.

GOD, give the strength to turn the other cheek when

people make fun of me or my loved ones, of our clothes,

our goods, let me remember that it is our faith and love

that matters.

GOD, give me the strength to bite my tongue and not

say, « I told you so » or « I knew that would happen »,

help me offer prayers of support.

GOD, give me the strength to remember to pray when I

feel that all hope is lost, let me share this hope with others.

GOD, give me the strength to make changes in this

world in Your name, to right the wrongs I see, to

give justice and love to all Your children.

GOD, help me protect my family---give the strength

to help them withstand the trials You give them.

GOD, help me remember You every day, in everything I

do, in all those I love---You are there.

GOD, give me the strength to have faith in You even

when I don't immediately understand a situation and

to accept that all that You do is for our good, even if

I don't see it.

GOD, show me the path to being a better Christian,

wife, husband, mother, friend.

GOD, give me the strength to speak a universal

language and not be misunderstood; teach me

this universal language of the heart.

GOD, show me how to lead my loved ones in the right

pathway to You, give them the strength to withstand

the barriers and return to the right path.

GOD, give me the strength to forgive other, to love

them as You love me.

GOD, give me the strength to pray when I least feel

like it.

GOD, give me a sign from time to time that You are

there and haven't forgotten us.

GOD, give me the strenght to help my family members in

new ventures and experiences, to help ease their way.

GOD, I ask these things of You , not out of selfishness,

but out of love and desire to serve You better and to do

a good Job at what you have sent me here to do.

To everyone, add your own « STRENGHTS » to this list.

Use it and share it with others. May you all gain the

strenght you need.

----Author Unknown

Forgive Me Lord

Forgive me Lord

For the wrongs I have done.

For anger I shouldn't have

Against anyone.

I know I'm weak Lord,

But I love You, I really do,

And in spite of my weakness,

I know You love me too.

Forgive me for not reading Your word,

And for the times that I stray.

Forgive me for just being too tired

When I don't take the time to pray.

Give me the strength, Lord

To do what I should each day.

Let Your love shine through me

So others will follow Your way.

Even though I've failed You Lord,

I know You'll forgive me,

And this I promise Lord,

A better Christian I will be.

For Your presence is in me

Filling my heart with Your love,

And I have Your reassurance

You're guiding from above.

I love You Lord, and thank You

For the blessings You bestow,

I will tell others about You

So Your goodness they too, will know.

~ Louise P. Heckman ~