"...in spite of all my tears, I felt a great peace deep down within me. Yet this inner peace did not prevent my feeling of immense sorrow. And Jesus was silent. He seemed to have left me and nothing revealed his presence to me."

-St. Therese, Story of a Soul (84)

I am convinced that if people knew themselves we would have many, many saints in our midst. St. Therese admits that she is sorrowful- admits everything that she feels and thinks- and resigns herself to the will of God. It's not getting caught up in your feelings- but admitting them. Being a Christian is crazy- it's like you always know what the right answer is and never have any reason to complain.

Oh Beauty!

"One Sunday when I was looking at a picture of Our Lord on the Cross, I saw the Blood coming from one of His hands and felt terribly sad to think that It was falling to the earth and that no one was rushing foreward to catch It. I determinded to stay continually at the foot of the Cross and recieve It. I knew that I should then have to spread It among other souls. The cry of Jesus on the Cross- "I am thirsty"- rang continually in my heart and sent me burning with a new, intense longing. I wanted to quench the thirst of my Well-Beloved and I myself was consumed with a thirst for souls. I was concerned not with the souls of priests but with those of great sinners which I wanted to snatch from the flames of hell."

-St. Therese, Story of a Soul (63)

Right on Therese- It's so hard for me to see people suffering in the hell they make for themselves when Jesus is pouring out His love for us- if we would only reach out and drink! Grace is ours for the taking- we have only to ask for it! No one can complain about the lack of grace that is offered us because we have infinite opportunities- it's not hard- though it seems so- to just act on the grace that we have inside of us. How often do the married call on the graces stored up from the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony to help them in their daily struggles? How often do the unconfirmed remember that they've been washed in the waters of Baptism and that the grace received in that sacrament lies waiting in their hearts to be stirred up in their souls? Oh if men would only see what they are capable of with God- with the grace he pours on us! Anything! Anything is possible- even wacky stuff like walking on water, weird! Why would God do that? But why not? Anything is possible. I think this is why I continue to enjoy activities such as roller skating and jump roping- why not? We're humans! Let us know 'how great is the joy to which we are called'! Oh beauty!

Small Delights

"Marie took me on her knees on the evening before these days and prepared me just as she had done for my first communion.  I recall how she once spoke to me about suffering.  She said she thought God would always carry me like a baby rather than make me tread the path of suffering.  After Holy Communion next day I remembered this and was seized with passionate longing to suffer.  I felt absolutely certain that Jesus had many, many crosses in store for me.  My soul was flooded with such consolation that I regard it as one of the greatest graces of my life.  I was drawn to suffering.  It had a charm which delighted me, though I didn't really understand much about this charm, for until then I had suffered without loving suffering.  But from that day I felt a deep, true love for it."

              -St. Therese, Story of a Soul

Rosary Making

A nice Sunday morning activity.  Joseph is quite a talented youth!

Responsorial psalm today...

"Let the Lord enter, He is the king of glory!"

Lovely Snowy Saturday

Home to stay!

"I know no better way of considering the greatness of God than to start from this inexpressible and simple fact that he is our father and we are his children"

-St. Josemaria Escriva

Home at last!  I've unpacked nearly everything and already paid a visit to my dear Providence.  On the way home from school my brother asked-

   "What did you put in these cinnamon rolls?"

     "Milk... an egg... flour, sugar...I don't know...?"

    "I think you put drugs in them- because they're addicting."

Why I found that so funny and clever I've no idea but it makes me smile whenever I think about it.  Maybe it was the dry, matter of fact way he said it.  I guess he didn't realize I also put wheat four in these cinnamon rolls... but don't tell, I want them to be gone by tomorrow.

Benjamin's Cockadoodle Christmas

I think you'll be able to tell which one is Benjamin.

John the Baptist

If I could be anybody in the Bible I think I would be John the Baptist. What a crazy guy- and he was the cousin of the Lord. He's such a good example of following the will of God- he just did what he was meant to do and that was that. I love him! I love how all the crazy John the Baptist stuff comes out during advent. What a great season. Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand!

Immaculate Conception

From Daytime Prayer, Mid-afternoon Reading: 

Christ loved the church.  He gave himself up for her to make her holy, to present to himself a glorious church, holy and immaculate, without stain or wrinkle or anything of that sort.

(Eph. 5:25, 26a, 27)

Your Immaculate Conception, Virgin Mother of God, fills the whole world with joy!

Praise Jesus!

Praise the Lord for he is good;

Sing praise to our God for he is gracious;

It is fitting to praise him. (Ps. 147:1)

So so fitting always and everywhere to praise God!  Sometimes I wish there were more exclamation points in the Bible.  He provides so much for us!  I had a crazy spin out last night on 35W.  It was quite smooth and peaceful.  It's so wonderful to feel peaceful and joyful in the midst of danger.  Guardian Angels are awesome.  Praise God!  

Tired

Anyone else feel like this?  I could use a nice cup of tea.  Too bad my favorite tea has caffeine.  What an odd word to spell.  Caff-e-i-n-e.  Definitely a curling up in a blanket kind of evening.  I'm so thankful school is almost over!  Finals are always a party time.  

I realized this week that I have so many nun hand-me-downs; especially after I got a whole bag of them from a friend who found them in the attic at St. Mark's convent.  I love wearing them and knowing that the women who gave them away became nuns- or at least wanted to.  There were a few crazy poofy 70's things- but the majority are beautiful, conservative, dream clothes that I love to remember are nun hand-me-downs.  Oh what a peaceful life I have!

Fairness Explored

Awhile back Maria's Music had a little post about fairness.  Today I started reading Story of a Soul and our dear sweet St. Therese has some insight on the subject.  

"I had wondered for a long time why God had preferences and why all souls did not receive an equal amount of grace.  I was astonished to see how he showered extraordinary favors on saints who had sinned against him, saints such as St. Paul and St. Augustine.  He forced them, as it were, to accept his graces.  I was just as astonished when I read the lives of the saints to see that our Lord cherished certain favored souls from the cradle to the grave and never allowed any kind of obstacle to check their flight toward him.  He bestowed such favors on them that they were unable to tarnish the spotless splendor of their baptismal robe.  I also wondered why such vast numbers of poor savages died before they had even heard the name of God.  

"Jesus saw it fit to enlighten me about this mystery.  He set the book of nature before me and I saw that all the flowers he has created are lovely.  The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent or the daisy of its simple charm.  I realized that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wildflowers to make the meadows gay.

"It is just the same in the world of souls- which is the garden of Jesus.  He has created the great saints who are like the lilies and the roses, but he has also created much lesser saints and they must be content to be the daisies or the violets which rejoice his eyes whenever he glances down.  Perfection consists in doing his will, in being that which he wants us to be.

"I also understood that God's love shows itself just as well in the simplest soul which puts up no resistance to his grace as it does in the loftiest soul.  Indeed, as it is love's nature to humble itself, if all souls were like those of the holy doctors who have illuminated the Church with the light of their doctrine, it seems that God would not have stooped low enough by entering their hearts.  But God has created the baby who knows nothing and can utter only feeble cries.  He has created the poor savage with no guide, but natural law, and it is to their hearts that he deigns to stoop.  They are his wild flowers who's homeliness delights him.  By stooping down to them, he manifests his infinite grandeur.  The sun shines equally both on cedars and on every tiny flower.  In just the same way God looks after every soul as if it had no equal.  All is planned for the good of every soul, exactly as the seasons are so arranged that the humblest daisy blossoms at the appointed time."

I think I'm going to enjoy this book.  

Cor Jesu THIS FRIDAY

Super Awesome opportunity! Like they said- adoration, confession, worship- 8 PM- St. Paul Seminary in the St. Mary's Chapel. All the cool kids are going. That's all you need to know.

First Week of Advent: Wednesday

The Lord is coming and will not delay; he will bring every hidden thing to light and reveal himself to every nation.

Isn't it nice that the Lord is always faithful even when we aren't?  I feel like a cold soggy fish for being unfaithful- but I can always repent!  God never shows up late for a date- and never forgets.  He's such a good beau. 

First Week of Advent: Monday

Nations, hear the message of the Lord, and make it known to the ends of the earth: Our Savior is coming.  Have no more fear!

A friend kept reminding me that through all this silly stuff in the world and our country that Jesus is Lord.  God will remain in heaven even if the world destroys itself.  Hope in him always!