Now begins

the holiest week of the year

With Jesus walk to the upper room
With Jesus walk to Calvary
With Jesus walk to heaven.

Blessings to you this week as you

recall the love and mercy of God.

Feast of St. Joseph

Patron Saint of Fathers
Pope Benedict XVI on St. Joseph, The Just Man “I would like today to turn my attention to the figure of St Joseph. In today’s gospel pages, St Luke presents the Virgin Mary as “engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David” (Lk 1:27). However it is the evangelist Matthew who gives the greatest prominence to the putative father of Jesus, pointing out that, through him, the Child was legally inserted in David’s line and thus he realized the Scriptures, in which the Messiah was prophesied as the “son of David”.

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“But Joseph’s role certainly cannot be reduced to this aspect. He is the model of the “just” man (Mt 1:19), who in perfect sympathy with his spouse, welcomes the Son of God made man and guards over his human growth. For this reason, the days leading up to Christmas are as good a time as ever to establish a sort of spiritual conversation with St Joseph, because he helps us to live to the full this great mystery of faith.

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“The beloved Pope John Paul II, who was very devoted to St Joseph, left us an awesome meditation dedicated to him in the Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, “Guardian of the Redeemer”. Among the many aspects it highlights, particular emphasis is placed on the silence of St Joseph. His is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. In other words, the silence of St Joseph was not the sign of an inner void, but on the contrary, of the fullness of faith he carried in his heart, and which guided each and every one of his thoughts and actions.

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A silence thanks to which Joseph, in unison with Mary, could be the guardian of the Word of God, known through the Sacred Scriptures, coming face to face with it continuously in the events of the life of Jesus; a silence interwoven with constant prayer, prayer of the blessing of the Lord, of adoration of his holy will and of unreserved trust in his providence. It is no exaggeration to say that it was from his ‘father’ Joseph that Jesus acquired – on the human level – that robust interiority which presupposes authentic justice, the “superior justice” which He would one day teach to his disciples (cfr Mt 5:20).

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Let us allow ourselves to be “infected” by the silence of St Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God.”

My Prayer Today

Father, our source of life,

you know my weakness.

May I reach out with joy

to grasp your hand

and walk more readily

in your ways.

.

Teach me to be loving not only in great

and exceptional moments, but above

all in the ordinary events of daily life

where I more often then not

fail miserably.

.

This I pray, amen.

The Prayer of

St. Patrick

I arise today through the strength of heaven;

Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea,

Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock.
I arise todayThrough God's strength to pilot me;

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's hosts to save me

Afar and anear,

Alone or in a mulitude.
Christ shield me today

Against wounding Christ with me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise todayThrough the mighty strength

Of the Lord of creation

May all my actions spring from love.

A Spiritual Wellness Program

A daily regimen of prayer and Scripture reading to give us the energy we need to stay focused on the Lord. Including exercise of our wills to let in all that is good and reject that which is bad. A steady diet of the body and blood of Christ to keep us filled with Jesus' life and connected with our brothers and sisters.

Pray: Lord Jesus,

you are the physician of my soul.

Renew me in your love so that

I may live life to the fullest.

entire text taken from five minutes with the Word, Lent 2010

Prayer

Prayer is the light of the spirit, true knowledge of God. Prayer stands before God as an honored ambassordor. It gives joy to the spirit, peace to the heart. Prayer, not words.

Pray from the heart, not confined to fixed times or periods but continuous throughout the day and night. Our spirit should be quick to reach out toward God, not only when it is engaged in meditation; at other times also, when it is carrying out its duties, caring for the needy, performing works of charity, giving generously in the service of others, our spirit should long for God and call him to mind, so that these works may be seasoned with the salt of God's love.

Paint your house with the colors of modesty and humility. Make it radiant with the light of justice. Decorate it with the finest gold leaf of good deeds. Adorn it with the walls and stones of faith and generosity. Crown it with the pinnacle of prayer. In this way you will make it a perfect dwelling place for the Lord.

taken from a homily by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop

February 18th

February 18, 1921, your birth date. Look at you here, just 17 years old. The picture is dated 1938, I wasn't even a thought at that time. Growing up I had never seen this picture, I found it a few months after your passing. Its one of my favorites, actually I guess it is my favorite. My boys, your grandsons, are now older then you were here in this picture, a lot older.

You were the light of my life, you still are.

My prayers and love are always with you.

Another journey about to begin.

Dear Lord,

As I make my Lenton journey with You,

send me Your Spirit, help me to give of myself,

help me to turn away from sin,

and help me to fast and pray,

so that I may know You and serve you better.

Let me be renewed through my journey

to share Your grace with the world.

Amen

Talk about love

there is no greater love.

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

I place all my trust in you.

Love

Love is patient,

love is kind.

It is not jealous,

it is not pompous,

It is not inflated,

it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,

it is not quick-tempered,

it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

Love never fails.

{Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8}

Grace me with these gifts,

for this I pray.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy; Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven; Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world; Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit; Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God; Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary; Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God; Pray for us.
Mother of Christ; Pray for us.
Mother of our Savior; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of Christians; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, source of love; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the poor; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the handicapped;; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of orphans; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all children; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all nations; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the Church; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, friend of the lonely; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of those who mourn; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, shelter of the homeless; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, guide of travelers; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, strength of the weak; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, refuge of sinners; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of the suffering; ; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of the dying; Pray for us.
Queen of heaven; ; Pray for us.
Queen of peace; Pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Spare us O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.
Let us pray:
Grant us, your servants, we pray you, Lord God, to enjoy perpetual health of mind and body. By the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrows, and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Little boy

Its your birthday ... both here and heaven. Twenty seven years ago and sometimes it still seems like now. You'll always be a part of me. Remember us to Jesus.

With love, mom