St. Francis of Assisi October 4th

Happy Feast Day beloved St. Francis of Assisi!
"We adore you and we bless you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all the churches which are in the whole world, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world" (St. Francis)

AMEN

Our Lady Of Medjugorje message September 25 2012

“Dear children! When in nature you look at the richness of the colors which the Most High gives to you, open your heart and pray with gratitude for all the good that you have and say: ‘I am here created for eternity’ – and yearn for heavenly things because God loves you with immeasurable love. This is why He also gave me to you to tell you: ‘Only in God is your peace and hope, dear children’. Thank you for having responded to my call."

St. Padre Pio Saint Day September 23

September 23rd St. Padre Pio Saint Day

St. Padre Pio (Francesco Forgione) was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy. Even as a child, Francesco had already shown signs of extraordinary gifts of grace. At the age of five, he dedicated his life to God. From his early childhood he showed a kind of recollection of spirit and a love for the religious life. His mother described him as a quiet child who, from his earliest years loved to go to church and to pray. Because he was able to see and communicate with, not only his guardian angel but also with Jesus and the Virgin Mary, as a young boy, Francesco assumed everyone had the same experiences. Once a woman who noticed his spiritual demeanor asked him, "When did you consecrate your life to God? Was it at your first holy communion?" and he answered, "Always, daughter, always." I read this and think to myself... can we all communicate with our Guardian Angel, with Christ Jesus and with Our Blessed Mother??? The answer is undoubtably YES... do we allow our hearts to be that open and vulnerable... I am not sure about that. With childlike innocence we trust, we love, and we seek God... it is natural to do all three together. As we grow in this world of ours, things of this world hold us captive and slowly the voice of God becomes something we seek only in times of need, trouble, illness or extreme joy. What about everyday moments?? If God is your co-pilot...move over. Blessings to you and Thank you Heavenly Family for sending us a perfect example in Padre Pio.

Blessings for Friends

Yesterday was a special day... actually this entire week is special. It began on Monday, Labor Day and St. Gregory the Great AND Christine's Birthday!!! Happy Birthday my dear friend! Then came Tuesday... a day to celebrate Traci as she walks the journey of Cancer. We all gathered in Prayer to support her with Love, Friendship and Companionship. Traci, thank you for gathering us all together... all... many different Faith's yet we all came together under One LOVE to shower you with blessings. Although it was truly your day... we all walked away with a deeper love for one another and for life. Thank you Kathi for our walk through the heart shaped Labrynth... what a metaphore for life, sometimes the road is clear and smooth, other times a little rocky and other times a complete bend, and shift of directions... we take one step at a time knowing that we might walk in alone yet we come out together. Enjoy today... Enjoy eachother and Enjoy Friendship! God Bless Us all!!!

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Today is the day that we celebrate St. Bernard of Clairvaux (valley of Light). Thank you Saint Bernard for your inspiration, and extraordinary love for our Catholic Faith. His life was characterized by deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. His sermons and books about Mary are still the standard of Marian theology... in his words... "In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have othing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal" (St. Bernard)

Assumption of Mary

Take time August 15th to connect with our blessed Mother. Her grace, mercy and sweetness awaits you. We will post Her message from Medjugorje. God Bless us all

Saint Bridget of Sweden

As I am driving 8 hours to Northern Ca I have extra time to say my daily prayers. I pick up St. Bridget's prayers and meditation on the passion of Christ.  Wow... What a powerful prayer ! Together we walk through the 7 sorrows of Christ, remember and reflect on His passion and than ask for the mercy and grace to use His sufferings as atonement for our own sins and for our children and grandchildren!
If you have not prayed or meditated upon the Seven Sorrows of Our Lord, I encourage you to start today!
May God Bless us all! And God Bless America

Our Lady

This morning I had the beautiful opportunity to say the Rosary with a few friends. With prayerful intent we get together every Friday to pray together and meditate on the life of Christ through the mysteries of the Rosary. Today was a powerful one. While meditating on the sorrowful mysteries, I felt the presence of Our Lady, she was reaching out to each one in gratitude for our devotional prayer. In guidance and in hope she was there reminding us that everything in life is perfect in the silence of prayer and in the trust in God. It is through the sacred silence that God speaks, consoles and comforts as well as guides us through our daily path. The human existence is at times heavy, however in great contrast to God's immense light... in perfect union harmony exists. Feel for a moment the beauty of all there is as we commit to spending time each day in sacred silence. May prayer inspire your heart and may the love of Our Lady embody your entire soul and bring peace. In the Love of Jesus and Mary!

Saint Benedict

Today is the feast day of Saint Benedict! Imagine the celebration in Heaven as they surround St. Benedict with songs of praise and joy. Together with all the angels in heaven let us join in that celebration as we give gratitude for the heroic example of life set forth in Saint Benedict! Saint Benedict please continue to guide and protect us all as we march forth with our hearts on fire for God, feeling His Love, Mercy and perfect order... AMEN

ciao from Ischia Italy

Ciao... in Ischia and we just celebrated St. Peter and St. Paul... wow a true festival especially if your name is Peter or Paul!  Saint days are celebrated greater than birthdays in this country!!!
Ischia is a little island off of Naples about the size of Capri with close to 100% of the population being Catholic.  The Eucharist is adored daily, celebrated with parades and flower processions.  Every day is a Sunday here and life is about celebrating our faith.  It is a beautiful community to belong to.  No matter where in the world we travel... we walk into a Catholic church and we belong!  I take a knee in humble gratitude for the foundation and the continuation of our beautiful faith and to the Son that founded it!  May Today be filled with Peace!  Ciao...

Father Leo - Grace before Meals

Thank you St. Anthony of Padua for a beautiful day yesterday!  It was your saint day, and on that special day as we pray in remembrance of you our prayers are celebrated with all the angels in heaven.
 I had the opportunity to receive the Eucharist from Father Leo as we celebrated St. Anthony.  One of the key points to his sermon, was the fact that St. Anthony helps us find our way, find our path back to our heart, back to God, and forward to Heaven.  St. Anthony pray for us all to find our path to God.

Father Leo is the TV Chef with a show every sunday on EWTN called Grace before Meals!  Feeding our souls with faith, while feeding our bodies with loving good food.  Bringing God to every table as we sit together as a family in communion with Christ.  I wish every new family could hear Father Leo and commit to one another to make meal time a sacred family time EVERY NIGHT.  Thank God my husband is Italian and he loves to cook, because that is what created our family tradition of meals together around the table every night.  My kids are now in high school...so far so good... however it is not because what I have done but rather the traditions that have been established in our home.  Thanks to their daddy, going to church together every sunday is a must and having dinner at home is a gift and yummy!

Enjoy today, Enjoy summer, and have fun making meals together and gathering around your table.

May we celebrate God today!

St. Boniface June 5th

Incredible blessings are sent from Heaven to Earth as we connect with the Saint that is celebrating their day... imagine the energy around a celebration...that is the energy in heaven around a Saint's day...as we tap into that we are like a magnet attracting that celebratory energy from heaven unto earth...  As you read about St. Boniface you are instantaneously connecting to that mystical and wonderful strength.

From a letter by Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr
(Ep. 78: MGH, Epistolae, 3, 352-354)

The careful shepherd watches over Christ’s flock

In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course.

The ancient fathers showed us how we should carry out this duty: Clement, Cornelius and many others in the city of Rome, Cyprian at Carthage, Athanasius at Alexandria. They all lived under emperors who were pagans; they all steered Christ’s ship—or rather his most dear spouse, the Church. This they did by teaching and defending her, by their labors and sufferings, even to the shedding of blood.

I am terrified when I think of all this. Fear and trembling came upon me and the darkness of my sins almost covered me. I would gladly give up the task of guiding the Church which I have accepted if I could find such an action warranted by the example of the fathers or by holy Scripture.

Since this is the case, and since the truth can be assaulted but never defeated or falsified, with our tired mind let us turn to the words of Solomon: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own prudence. Think on him in all your ways, and he will guide your steps. In another place he says: The name of the Lord is an impregnable tower. The just man seeks refuge in it and he will be saved.

Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him: O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.

Let us trust in him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ. For he is all-powerful and he tells us: My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Let us continue the fight on the day of the Lord. The days of anguish and of tribulation have overtaken us; if God so wills, let us die for the holy laws of our fathers, so that we may deserve to obtain an eternal inheritance with them.

Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead let us be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock. Let us preach the whole of God’s plan to the powerful and to the humble, to rich and to poor, to men of every rank and age, as far as God gives us the strength, in season and out of season, as Saint Gregory writes in his book of Pastoral Instruction.

Eat Pray Love

Just when you are skating through life with a healthy and safe numbness to the tragedies of the world, the floor drops out from under you - what do we do now... It happens to all of us at different times in our lives... It is God and His divine interruptions that change us the most.

Lisa Carter shared her story yesterday at EPL about her journey as she watched her 15 year old son go from a cancer diagnosis, palliative care, hospice, and miraculously a full recovery.  The two year journey was intense, tragedy beyond understanding, truly changed their family forever and by the grace of God, her son was called to stay on this earth a little longer. 

In the deepest darkest moments of fear, when all they could do was plead with God for another day... Lisa had an epiphany.  She felt God's presence and she felt Him say to her...this is not about life and death this is about life and life!  Life here on earth and life with me in the Heavenly realm.  Lisa found comfort and peace in a new way... she was relieved by God's grace. She surrendered her will to God's will and from that moment forward she stopped begging for him to live, rather began to give thanks for God's healing power. When she walked into the ICU that day she felt God direct her to her bible 2 Chronicles 20... IT IS A ROAD MAP for all of us... read it! Lisa shared it verse by verse and truly it is a tool for all of us.  Clearly outlining how to get through a tragedy, win the battle and glorify God.

May we all turn to His word and find peace in our hearts... and when it is too difficult to find the peace, may it fall upon us by the grace of God.

Be Loved Today and Always!
My Saint My Hero

epl

You are invited to join My Saint My Hero at our next Eat Pray Love, Thursday May 31st from 9-11am.  Incredible speaker Lisa Carter  will share her triumphant story of faith...she prayed for strength while her son prayed to save his life!  call us at 424