Exploring the depth of our prayers
I have no Hispanic background, so I wasn’t that aware of this amazing Feast we are blessed with today.
We’re commemorating the 1531 appearance of Our Lady to a peasant named Juan Diego in Mexico. Juan was sent to a place where roses were blooming – in the middle of winter – to gather them up and show them to his bishop.
Here is more of the amazing story.
Continue reading “Our Lady of Guadalupe”
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception seems to throw off a lot of people. We understand that Jesus was conceived in a totally special and unique way, yet this isn’t about Jesus.
It’s about Mary!
Created as the Ark of the New Covenant, Mary was given this special blessing from the moment of HER conception.
Continue reading “Mary’s Immaculate Conception”
How long, O LORD? I cry for help
Hab 1:2
but you do not listen!
I have times of despair, sadness, depression.
This is when I call on the strength of God, His saints and angels to help me regain perspective. And hope.
Continue reading “Mourning and weeping”
Jesus warned us that the door to heaven is very narrow.
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
Luke 13:22-25
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.
I could despair of ever being able to get there!
Continue reading “Poor banished children”
Some celebrate today the Immaculate Heart of Mary. If you want to see a bit more about this, check out the Wikipedia article.
What I’m pondering is the purity of Our Lady’s devotion and dedication. I have plenty of things in my own life that I’ve stayed committed to for a long period of time, even decades.
But what about my purity of dedication? I’m not so sure.
I firmly believe that we’re here to help each other.
There are many times when it feels like I’m on a lonely journey, it’s about ME finding my holy path and getting to heaven. But Jesus made it clear that it’s not just about loving God, but loving each other.
Continue reading “Us”Love your enemies and do good to them,
Luke 27:37
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Blessed are those who ….
In today’s Gospel, we have the amazing Beatitudes. Some say that these are the most powerful and deep teachings of Christ, even more fundamental than miracles and forgiveness and love.
It’s hard for me to say.
Continue reading “Blessed”
Our mother Mary was, herself, born without sin. That’s why this feast day is about Mary’s conception, not that of Jesus.
One explanation that I’ve heard of this is that the Ark of the Covenant must be unblemished. And since Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, Jesus, it is appropriate that she also be unblemished.
So it’s about faith, not scientific proof. And I’m quite fine with that.
Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me — Mark 9:37
Our Blessed Mother Mary received her child, Jesus. And she is the one who helps us to know Him and join our will with His.
The way I originally read Hail Holy Queen is that we ask Mary to do this after our death, after our “exile.” But …
Our mother Mary is most amazing because of her purity of heart. The image I have is that, for her, saying “yes” to God was not really a hard decision at all.
Because her heart was focused on her Lord.
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38