Who knew?

And where does the money come from? And how is it worth this much?

My blog is worth $10,161.72.
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Jesus of Nazareth

Last night I finished Pope Benedict XVI's Jesus of Nazareth. I wrote "part one" of my "review" a few months ago!

And then, because I've got a little bit of ADD when it comes to reading books (I can't seem to focus on only ONE at a time!) I then put it down. Not because I didn't enjoy it but rather a few other topics came up that I wanted to read about.

And then when Pope Benedict came to America, I became fascinated reading his speeches and then picked up his book again. As I finished the last few chapters I felt like since I had seen the Pope on TV every day for a week, I knew him better. And that really brought a lot to my reading. I felt like I knew him better so I felt like I understood him better.

One of the parts that I read just after he had left the US last week was about Jesus the Good Shepherd. It reminded me of the fact that OUR Shepherd was just here. That we too have a shepherd leading us and guiding us towards Jesus Christ.

The Pope is talking about Jesus as the Shepherd and then about the first Pope, Saint Peter. And what the Pope wrote about Saint Peter can be said about every Pope. And especially our current Pope.

I could write pages about this book but I won't. Instead I'll leave with the Pope's words about Saint Peter and then go and pray for our Pope and all the priests who so devoutly lead their flocks to Jesus....because the flock that each pastor and bishop has been given is Jesus' flock, not his own.

"It is because he (Saint Peter) comes through the "door," Jesus, it is because he come to them united with Jesus in love, that the sheep listen to his voice, the voice of Jesus himself--they are following not Simor, but Jesus, from whom and through whom Simon comes to them, so that when he leads them it is Jesus himself who leads."

A new camera

I got a new camera on Tuesday. A Canon SD 870 IS. A very cute, small easy to use (sorta-kinda) camera that I've been having some fun playing around with.

Here are a few pictures that have been taken the past few days.

One of my mom's tulips taken with the "macro" feature.

An interesting cloud formation in the sky

A plane flying into the interesting cloud formation.

That's about it for right now. All the other's are just "practicing" ones.

Thank you Charles de Foucauld

"Charles de Foucauld offered a simple norm for lay frugality in a letter to his married sister: 'Yes, live simply, avoid any unnecessary expense; in your manner and way of life, withdraw ever further from everything that smacks of the world, vanity, and pride....There must be no economizing on good books (spiritual matters and lives of the saints)...no economizing on alms; no reductions here, but rather increases....Trust, trust! Be free from all anxiety....' "

I want to learn more about this wonderful man who says such wonderful things about books. One can never have too many spiritual books that could lead us to God. Just as long as one doesn't make books (or anything material for that matter) take the place of God.

Kimberly Hahn's Talk

Friday was the first time I had ever heard Kimberly Hahn speak. I've heard her husband speak before and read a few of his books as well. I found her just as fascinating as he. Her knowledge of Scripture was AMAZING. She made me want to pray more with the Word of God. So that I too can be a woman steeped in the power of His Word.

Kimberly's talk was entitled "The Strength of the Humble" and spoke very much to my heart. (Remember that this talk was geared towards women but many of her points are good for everyone no matter the gender or vocation.) The point that she kept repeating over and over throughout her talk was that in order for us as women to be strong we first have to recognize our weakness and realize that we can do nothing without the strength of God. Once we admit how weak and little we are then God is able to step in and uphold us with His strength.

She then went on to speak a little bit about the spiritual warfare that we all face. She said that we should read and pray with Ephesians 6. And then gave us two "Offensive Weapons" to help combat evil.

1) The Word of God. Memorize it; read it; pray it. Allow the Word of God to pierce your heart with the truth. She made a good point....Protestants aren't born with an extra gene that helps them memorize Scripture. We ALL can do that!

and 2) Prayer. "He that is within you is greater then the one that is in the world." Stay close to Jesus in prayer and He will stay close to you.

The rest of her talk focused on these two "offensive weapons". Sacramental Prayer: we don't go to Mass to be entertained we go to participate in Jesus' Sacrafice. And stay close to the Sacrament of Confession. When we sin we don't just affect our relationship with God. We affect our relationship with the whole Body of Christ.

We need to take time out for prayer every day. Even when things are going peaceful. It's just as important to pray then as when our lives seem to be in turmoil. "Don't become over worked and underprayed." In order to live by God's grace we need to admit how weak we are and how very much we need God's strength.

Even if we just stopped and first thing in the morning prayed an Act of Consecration: we've just given the whole day to God and made everything we do an act of prayer no matter how tiny the task we will be doing.

God will give us all the strength we need....as long as we admit that we need it and that we aren't the one in control of our lives or our days. And a good way to do that is to not put our focus on ourselves. And how very, very guilty I am of this. Focusing on my hurts and wants; on my feelings and pains; that doesn't bring me closer to God. By focusing on ourselves we are led to despair.

If we instead focus on the greatness and magnificance of God we will find joy in His strength. After all...prayer isn't meant to bring us deeper into ourselves. Rather it is meant to bring us outside ourselves to God and then take what He gives us to others.

books!!

I haven't bought a new book in quite some time now. So it was with joy that when we got to Boston College early enough on Friday there were literally thousands of books to be purused at all the exhiboters.

So I spent quite some time looking around. I had made a pact with myself that I would not be using a credit card only the cash that I had brought with me.

I ended up with with three books (four if you count one that I bought as a gift).

Here is a brief synoposis of each one. And they each have a bit of a story as well.

The first one Do I have to Go? was one that I'd never heard before. But as I have started having the Confirmation classes sign-in at Mass each weekend I thought this book sounded wonderful. Especially since I want to really bring them a love for the Eucharist. The book has 101 questions and answers about the Eucharist, the Mass and prayer. While it is geared towards teens EVERYONE could benefit from reading it.

The next one is Kimberly Hahn's Life Giving Love: Embracing God's Beautiful Design for Marriage. I didn't mean to buy this book. I honestly am not sure what I thought the book was but it wasn't that. I saw the cover, thought it was another book and didn't even really look at the title. But as I was glancing through it this weekend it looks REALLY GOOD and I think I may benefit from reading it.

The last one is A Mother's Rule of Life. I meant to buy this one. Last week while I was at Adoration a copy of this book was there and I picked it up. I read the introduction and the first chapter and I was hooked. Yes it's geared towards mothers but really anyone can benefit from it. All about how we need to have a "Rule" for our lives no matter our vocation and how we can set up a Rule for our lives just like the Religious Orders have. I plan on reading this one carefully and taking notes as I go.

But I won't be reading those last two books until I finish at least one or two of the five I'm already in the middle of. The first book I've started reading as I want to use some of it's content this Wednesday during Confirmation class.

Boston Women's Conference

I was blessed this Friday night to be able to attend this year's Boston Catholic Women's Conference.

It was a beautiful night and I was so happy to be able to be there and listen to the beautiful talks and experience the spiritual atmosphere. There were so many highlights from the night that I may have to write a few different posts so as not to make this post terribly long.

Martin Doman and his wife (I think it's Charlene) were there providing the music. They brought two of their daughters, one who is less then a year old. While their music as alwasy was beautiful I found myself watching Martin more when he wasn't playing.

I loved the way he watched his wife as she nursed the baby. And the way he interacted with his older daughter who is probably 10 or 12. And the way he cradled that baby. Talked to her, walked with her and then as she began to get tired and fussy the way he held and rocked her made me think that that is how God longs to hold each one of us.

There were three talks throughout the night by three beautiful women of God.

The first talk was by Stacey McGovern. She is a young mother who ten years ago as she was coming back from her honeymoon realized that her ears felt funny. Within six months or so she was deaf. She recounted the birth of her two children....that she agonized over not being able to hear the first cries of her babies. How one day her infant son who had just learned to crawl fell down the stairs because her older son opened the gate. She knew that she couldn't find the baby but couldn't hear his cries to learn where he was.

She eventually had an implant done in her ears that gave her her hearing back. Only a year after this beautiful gift from God another tragedy struck. She and her sons had taken the train into Boston. On the way home at as the train pulled into the station she lifted the stroller off the train and as she turned to lift her 3 year old off the train, it began to roll away. As the 18 month old in the stroller began to unbuckle his strap she ran screaming after the train. She somehow managed to leap back on the train and grab the 3 year old. But then she needed to get off the moving train to get back to the baby. She held on tight to her son and jumped. When she woke up she couldn't see anything but she heard the baby crying (who had managed to not jump out of his stroller) and her 3 year old screaming "Mommy get UP!"

She snapped her pelvis bone in half and spent many months in the hospital learning to walk again. The doctors told her and her husband that she would never again be able to carry a baby. Less then two years ago through the grace of God she delivered their daughter. Her first baby where she heard the precious sound of crying as she entered the world.

A beautiful testimony to the grace of God. Stacey prayed for five years to be able to hear. And God finally allowed her to hear again. But as she kept repeating everything is in HIS time. That our prayers do reach His ears and even when we can't see things changing through prayers, things are changing--it's just all in His time.

The next talk was by Kimberly Hahn but I'm going to devote a single post to that later today or tomorrow.

To close the night out Patti Mansfield talked about the Power of the Holy Spirit. Which as I look over my notes also deserves it's own post. So again....I'll post on that soon!

Habemus papam!! 2005

Three years ago we all waited while the Cardinals of the Catholic Church were in Conclave. Waiting for a new Holy Father. Needing a time of joy after the sad weeks of watching Pope John Paul II prepare to go Home.

I remember the morning of April 19, 2005 very well. It was spring break for the local schools and I was also on vacation. It was a gorgeous morning and I needed to go to Walmart which is about 25 minutes away.

The whole way there I prayed that nothing would happen while I was away from the TV. I got half-way through the store when my cell phone rang: "There's a Pope!!" my mom shouted. At that moment I stopped shopping ran to the check out with what I had managed to pick up and tried to rush the line with my thoughts. As I was standing there my phone ran again "they are going to announce it in about a half hour!"

Oh boy. I think I broke some speed limits on the way home but not too badly.

Five minutes after I walked in the door the proceedings began. When the cute little Cardinal (I don't remember his name) walked out and said those words "Habemus Papam" I felt chills. And I will never forget the way he exclaimed "Cardinal Ratzinger!" I went to my knees in thanksgiving.

Thank you most Holy Spirit for sending our Holy Father. And thank you for having him be in our country as he celebrates this anniversary! May Mary, our Mother continue to watch over him.

Busy weekend

It's a busy weekend this weekend!

This afternoon and evening I will be heading up to Boston to attend the Boston Women's Conference of which I am very excited about! The "line-up" of speakers is awesome and I'm looking forward to whatever graces the Holy Spirit wishes to send upon my soul.

Also this weekend my friend Sarah and a whole bunch of her friends will be taking the drive to New York to attend the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium. Another of my friends Susan will also be going down there.

Prayers for their safety would be appreciated as well as for my safe trip (I'm driving!) up to Boston this afternoon would be appreciated!

Certain perks

I am lucky. My job has quite a few "perks".

A really big one being that I work in Jesus' house. I can go visit Him at any time during the day. (I should do that more often now that I think about it.)

But another one is: When the "big boss" is in the country I can bring out the TV and plug in the cable and watch his words and movements.

The more I hear and read Pope Benedict the more I love him. I loved John Paul II but this one is different in some way that I can't seem to put into words.

Last night as I watched the Vesper Service at the Basillica I was struck very much by Benedict's demeaner. Yesterday morning at the White House as he arrived he seemed a bit "out of place". He seemed sure of himself but you could get the feeling that he wasn't very comfortable.

Watching him last night with his bishops in prayer, he was a changed man. THAT is where he belongs. That is where he feels most comfortable. In prayer; as a priest. This man is above all a PRIEST and a SHEPHERD. When he speaks I feel compelled to listened. And to PRAY. He makes me want to pray. In a different way. In a way I haven't prayed before. To widen my "prayer horizons". He is a teacher and it is evident. A teacher of the Gospel. And my soul can feel that he will lead all of us towards Christ our Hope.

America needs him. I am so thankful to the Holy Spirit for sending him to us this week. The message he has brought is one that we all need to read over and over and to pray with again and again.

Immaculate Heart of Mary's Hermitage Report has been posting the texts of the Pope's addresses. I plan to print them out and read them in full in the next few days as he gives them. And to pray with them. To take notes with them. To see what the Holy Spirit wants me to learn from Pope Benedict.

Watching the Pope these past few days also has made me want to pick up and finish reading his Jesus of Nazareth. I want to read his words. So hopefully in the next few weeks I'll finally open up some of the books of his I have that he wrote when he was Cardinal Ratzinger.

Sooooooooooooooooo good

These have been in the office for the past two days. They are ADDICTING!!! Melt in your mouth yummy! There has been two of us eating them (for the most part) and they are almost gone. You can't eat just one. It's gotta be three or four (or more) at a time. In a way I can't wait for them to be gone. I have no self control!

Welcome and Happy Birthday!!

Such a good day it is today.

Thankfully we have access to cable in the Church basement so we pulled out the TV and turned on EWTN. And there was our Shepherd.

How moving it was to see Pope Benedict as he stepped out of the limosine at the South Lawn of the White House.

I've seen footage of him at the Vatican and other countries but have never gotten a chill as I did this morning. He is HERE. In OUR country. Right now. In our timezone, on the same land as we walk (even though he's kind of far away).

I noticed that the Holy Father seemed a bit "timid"....shy is more like it I suppose....as he first began greeting all the dignitaries lined up to shake his hand (and kiss his ring in one instance!) I know he is an introvert rather then an extrovert and I can only imagine what he thinks of all this "pomp and circumstance."

It was awesome to listen to his words (in such good English!) that were directed to US as the American people. "Papa" is here! With us!! All Praise and Thanksgiving to our Holy Trinity!

Another new saint

Please keep Margaret, her husband and their family in your prayers. They are once again grieving the loss of their baby. Another new saint was born into Heaven to intercede for all of us.

Coincidence?

At Mass this morning I was reflecting on the Gospel from today, and yesterday (and then looked up tomorrow's).

I don't think it's any coincidence that Jesus is speaking about the shepherd and the sheep in the Gospel readings as we are preparing for the visit to the United States by OUR shepherd Pope Benedict XVI.

I believe it's been "set up" by Heaven that we are hearing these readings right now. Pope Benedict is the shepherd of the Catholic Church and we are his sheep. We need to turn to him and listen to what he is telling us. And follow to where he is leading us.

I've been reading his book Jesus of Nazareth (I haven't finished it yet though....I've gotten side-tracked with others). And I finished reading his newest encylical on Hope a few weeks ago. I really enjoy reading his books (and have a shelf full of books yet to be read which he wrote when he was Cardinal Ratzinger). I find him to be a deep thinking theologian but one who isn't hard to follow along with. He gives many insights into subjects that I wouldn't have thought about.

My prayer this week is that the Pope come to America in safety and give us all a message to ponder and pray upon. While I won't be able to get to see him I know a few people who will be at his various Masses. And I depend upon their prayers for me at those Masses.

Blessed Mother pray for our Shepherd Pope Benedict XVI!

Confirmation 2008

Last night 62 young men and women received Confirmation at St. Francis of Assisi Church last night. And my sister was one of them!

Dayle and I before heading to Church

Bishop Tobin and Dayle

Dad, Mom, Dayle and I

And Dayle and her sponsor.

It was such a beautiful night. The day was absolutly GORGEOUS. Bright and sunny and warm. And the evening was beautiful. Not too hot but not chilly at all. My favorite part of the night was just after the anointing. I was sitting right in the midst of the newly Confirmed and the sweet smell of the chrism oil was in the air.

And to top the night off after the ceremony and the reception we came back to our house. Father Tim brought his first class relic of Saint Maria Goretti and gave Dayle a special blessing with it since that is her new Patron Saint. Such a Spirit filled night it was!

I'm still alive

I have been extremely busy the past week and a half or so with work. But with Confirmation last night things will hopefully be a bit calmer and quieter. So now maybe my writing "juices" will start flowing again not that I have time to breath something other then Confirmation preperations.

I'll have pictures from last night up hopefully late this afternoon and a "real" post (maybe) this weekend.