This Is Deeply Personal

  

  The Feast of Pentecost marks the birth of the Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit guides the whole Church, but just as importantly, the Holy Spirit uniquely guides and inspires you. The Holy Spirit can be an incredible wind, but often is a soft whisper. The Spirit speaks every language and moves every heart in a deeply personal way.  Does the Holy Spirit need to send tongues of fire into your life? Usually not, because the Holy Spirit has been speaking to you since your baptism. You know His voice. You know His love.  The Holy Spirit doesn’t need to make grand gestures; He just needs us to be more attentive.  The power of God lives within us. Have you discovered how to say “yes” to the Holy Spirit?

 Mary’s “yes” to the Holy Spirit changed the world forever. We should imitate Mary by saying “yes" to the Holy Spirit every day.  Perhaps we could find simple ways to invite the Holy Spirit to work through us.  We could pray, "Holy Spirit, I give you permission to use my heart to love others. Use my ears to hear and respond to others' needs.  Use my mouth to speak words of comfort,  to encourage peace and justice, and to preach the gospel.  Open my mind, Holy Spirit, to God’s wisdom and make me more aware of all your movements within me."

 Holy Spirit, you know me better than I  know myself. I desire to know you this way as well. This desire is deeply personal. I am yours, Holy Spirit, and I am eternally grateful that you are all mine as well. Holy Spirit, go ahead and love me as much as you can, because I desire to love you this way, too!

-Susan

  

It's Definitely Possible

 

  I've been planning an upcoming summer vacation in the mountains. I always check out the local Catholic churches and their Masses ahead of time.  I was shocked to discover that the churches were not that close and that there was only one Mass time.  It made me realize how fortunate I am.  In my hometown, I have at least seven churches within fifteen minutes of me, each offering multiple Masses. The Church may be flourishing where I live, but there is still much work to be done.

  As we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, my thoughts turn to the apostles' faith. They were given a task that seemed almost impossible — to share the Gospel throughout the world. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, this task would have been impossible, but the gift of the Holy Spirit opens the heart to God in ways beyond our comprehension.  Everything is possible!

  Let's all continue spreading the Gospel. The Holy Spirit is as strong today as He was for the apostles. Let's spend the next week in prayer with Mary.  Let's pray that God opens our eyes to see who else needs to hear the Good News.  It's possible you may not even have to venture more than fifteen minutes from your home. You can do this! The Holy Spirit dwells in you.  Your faith can move mountains and people, too!

-Susan

Love You Mom!

 

  Today we celebrate Mother's Day! I have two mothers in heaven-my earthly mother and my heavenly mother. My heart goes out to both of them today, for they have significantly shaped me into the person I am. Today is a day to give our mothers cards, flowers, or special little gifts.  They, of course, will be thoughtful and appreciated, but I would like to suggest another incredible gift. Either begin or renew your devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

  This devotion spans the centuries, but was significantly highlighted at Fatima in 1917. It was initially one of the three secrets given to the children at Fatima.  During an apparition in 1925, Sister Lucia was permitted to reveal the secret.  Jesus desired a devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was Mary's heart that nourished Him in the womb, Mary's heart that raised Him on earth, and Mary's heart that suffered as He hung on the cross. And now it pleases Jesus to allow many souls to be saved and for peace to come to the world through loving the Immaculate Heart of His mother.

  This Mother's Day, let's make Jesus happy.  Let's give Mary our hearts.  Let our prayers through the Rosary join hers, for faithfulness to God and for peace in the world. If you are looking for the perfect thoughtful gift that could change the world and make heaven sing, this is it! I may never do anything significant in the eyes of men in my lifetime, but I hope that at the end of my life, there will be a tombstone with a rosary on it that reads, "She helped change the world by giving Jesus and Mary her heart."

-Susan

May is for Mary!

 

  Celebrating Mary in May makes me so happy!  You may be wondering, "Why do we honor Mary throughout the entire month of May?" My response is, "One month isn't long enough! Let's keep it going until the end of October!"  I don't know how I would get through life without Mary. She is the calm in my storms, the compass when I am lost, the hand that pulls me forward, and the mother who loves me more than I deserve. I have consecrated myself to Mary, and I strongly encourage everyone to do the same.

  Mary loves God and His Will perfectly. Mary's life on earth, and now in heaven, is devoted to serving God and loving the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Whatever love we give to Mary, she gives it to God.  She makes a constant gift of herself to God. Mary takes the love we offer to God, purifies it, and combines it with her own love, so that our gift of love to God is greater than we could offer on our own.

  "My soul does magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior." Mary helps us to recognize God's goodness in our lives.  She highlights His Mercy, His love, and His forgiveness.  We often underestimate God's love, and we are so fortunate to have Mary, who highlights God's generosity. Mary's clear focus on God helps us to become more faithful by placing God at the forefront of our lives and allowing distractions to fade away.

  Commit yourselves to Mary this month and all the days to follow. You will discover that the closer you grow to Mary, the closer you come to God! God certainly arranges everything perfectly, doesn't He? I am amazed by all the gifts He has given us, especially the gift of His own mother!

-Susan

The Good News

 

 “Good evening, I’m Sally Crocker with Channel 6 News.  Let’s go to our top story of the evening: The price of sin seems to be out of control. People these days are really feeling the pressure. Let’s turn now to our field reporter.  Jim, can you tell us if there is any relief in sight for people?  Hardworking families are having a tough time keeping it all together.”
 “Well, Sally, I’m down here at the corner of Cathedral and Saint streets at St. Mary’s Church.  I’m being told they have been fighting sin since the church was built almost 100 years ago. Back then, people were also feeling pressure from the inflation of sin.  So the people in the community came together to pray and ask for help from the parish priest and from God himself. And they had tremendous success!  It seems that the more people attended Mass and received the sacraments, the price of sin in their lives decreased dramatically.  
 Standing next to me now is Father Ron, the current priest of St. Mary’s.  Father Ron, do you think the success St. Mary’s had in the past could be duplicated today, and what exactly would that look like?”
 “Well, Jim, I definitely think we could wage a war on sin. In fact, the Church has never stopped doing so. We just need people to make God and the Church a priority again.”
 “Father Ron, are you suggesting we need to put God first in our lives?”
 “Yes!  When we put God first in our lives, we begin to live according to the Gospel.  We love and respect one another.  We help those in need. We listen to God’s Will rather than our own. We trade selfish lives for holy ones.”
 “Wow, that almost sounds too good to be true. But how difficult would this be for people? How would anyone even know when you are celebrating a Mass, and who exactly would be allowed to come?”
 “Jim, the Church welcomes everyone. It is our mission to share the Good News about Jesus with everyone!  Finding our Mass times is really quite easy. They are posted on the marquee in front of the church and listed in the church paper. We have a church website, a Facebook page, and an Instagram page. We also have a church office with a secretary who can answer any questions you may have, as well as a phone number. We do our best to make being a part of the parish as easy as possible.  I believe there is a direct correlation between the decline in parishioners and the toll sin is taking on people. Unfortunately, our numbers have been down lately, but we are confident that those returning to the church will continue to have great success in fighting the high cost of sin in their lives just as they did nearly a century ago.”
 “Well, there you have it, Sally.  Some old-fashioned praying and going to Mass could just be the answer we have been searching for.  Back to you, Sally."

-Susan

  

He Lights The Way

 

  While waiting for my turn for confession, I sat in a pew reflecting and talking with Jesus. It was my turn next, and as I looked down the aisle toward the confession room, I saw rays of light streaming through the stained-glass windows. I smiled as I noticed the beautiful colors of light that formed a pattern all the way to the confessional door. As I sat there, I couldn’t help but think how fitting it was. Of course, the path to reconciliation could be filled with light.  Of course, it would be beautiful.  

  There is nothing more beautiful than a sinner being reconciled with God.  All of heaven rejoices!  God’s light not only leads us to Reconciliation, but also fills us with His light.  We do not have to walk in darkness. Jesus said, “Walk while you have the light so that the darkness does not overcome you.”  

  Jesus is the Light of the world, and He is waiting for you.  If you are looking for a sign, just look up. He is giving you the green light to come in, talk, and be forgiven. It's your turn.

-Susan

The people who walked in darknesshave seen a great light;Upon those who lived in a land of gloom

a light has shone.

Divine Mercy Sunday

 

(image by Doxology Design Shop on Etsy)

  The message of Divine Mercy is so beautiful. God reaches out to us, drawing us so close to His heart so that His love and mercy save us from our sins and sufferings. Jesus desires to restore our brokenness with an ocean of healing graces. These abundant channels of grace are the means by which Jesus helps us to obtain heaven. Jesus is always generous with us, but He is especially generous with His graces on the Feast of Divine Mercy. This feast day is too good to miss!

  If you ever get the chance to read the Diary of  St. Faustina, I  highly recommend it.  God's love and mercy pour out of every page.  Jesus conveys to St Faustina the importance of trusting Him completely.  The more we trust Jesus, the more graces of mercy we will receive. This feast day is not only for those faithfully following Jesus, but also for all who have fallen away.  He doesn’t want anyone to miss out.  He wants to heal all of us.   He wants our hearts: broken, stained, selfish, or prideful. He can heal them.  His love is more powerful than sin or death. 

  So how do we receive these incredible graces on Divine Mercy Sunday? God makes it very easy for us. We only need to receive the Eucharist in a state of grace on Divine Mercy Sunday and trust God's mercy. From the Diary: "The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.  On that day all the Divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened." (699)  Then follow the ABCs of Divine Mercy. Ask for God’s mercy, be merciful to others, and trust completely in God’s mercy. It’s so simple, and the future you, living in eternity, will be forever grateful. Go ahead. Trust God. This is the deal of a lifetime!

-Susan