Strength

My brother Robert Earl

This morning, Our Lord Jesus Christ called my older brother Bob home with Him after quite a  long battle with diabetes, and the complications that ensued with great suffering the last few months.  He bore these sufferings with what I would consider "heroic virtue"--the stuff that Saints are made of.  He had one visit to the hospital after the other, but never gave up hope or faith that it was God's will.  I will miss his emails and frequent phone calls, and especially his spiritual direction.  Rest in the peace of Christ, Bob!  (While you're at it, put a good word in for me and the rest of the family, OK?  And I'll continue to pray for/with you.)


I got the phone call from my sister-in-law Marilyn early this morning, before dawn.  I expressed my sorrow, and asked if Mom knew yet.  Marilyn said she didn't want Mom to find out over the phone.  I took that to mean I would be the messenger of the news.  I have to admit, I was extremely worried that when I told Mom that her first-born child had died, that any number of things would happen;  one, that she would be inconsolable; two--because of her age--she would be so distraught that she would have a heart attack herself; three, that she would simply faint, and I would have no idea how to revive her.  At first, I thought I would wait until she usually wakes up--around 9 am--to visit her and tell her.  But I finally made the decision I should just get ready and go right away; she HAD to know, and I had to tell her so I wouldn't continue to stress about it. 


Mom lives about 25 minutes away.  On the drive over to her apartment, I was trying to "psych" myself up and figure just the right words to soften the news and minimize the trauma for her (and me).  I was just getting off of the freeway when my phone rang.  I looked at the screen on the phone, and it said "Mom".  I thought, "Oh, my God, someone's already told her and she's going to need me NOW!"  Instead, in a calm voice, she asked me, "Have you heard about Bob?"  I said, "Yes, I'm just getting off the freeway now, and I'll be there in a couple of minutes".  She said, "I'm OK, Honey, God has given me time to prepare for this." The same two words I used to describe Bob's experience came to mind--"heroic virtue".   I asked her who called her, and she replied that my nephew (Bob's son Tim) had called and said he knew she was strong enough to handle the news.  Good call.  He must have remembered how well she handled Tom's death 10 years ago next month, not to mention Dad's passing 40 years ago. 


Mom's reaction today prompted me to reflect on another woman who, many years ago, watched in agonizing sorrow as her Son was reviled, scourged, nailed to a cross and unjustly crucified like a common criminal.  She bore it with the very model of heroic virture because she was "full" of grace--a grace that enabled her to bear that pain and heartache (and "unite" it with her Son's pain and suffering) with confidence and faith in an infinitely loving God. And she was rewarded as only the Mother of us all could be--her glorious Assumption into Heaven.

A plan for Advent

Sunday is Advent!  I can't believe how quickly this year passed!  I know I say that every year, but why I'm surprised this one passed so fast is because of all the heartache that accompanied it (and continues to accompany it, though to a lesser degree--"time heals", as they say).  I intend to make the most of this Advent season.  Advent is a time of repentence and reconciliaton--that means plenty of soul-searching and uncomfortable examinations of conscience.  Advent is always a time for me to ask, "What's my prayer life like?  Am I getting ready to greet our  newborn Savior with a heart full of love of God and neighbor?" 

As I said in my birthday post, I recieved a book from Sarah and her boyfriend written by Scott Hahn titled, "Signs of Life, 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots".  It has been very good for me to read this.  I have grown up around every one of these "customs" and have tended to take them for granted.  Mr. Hahn's book has made me look at myself a little more critically and shown me a couple of ways I can improve my prayer life with some simple tried-and-true practices that have been around since the founding of the Church. 

One way to improve my prayer life is to use simple "prayers of aspiration".  As Saint Francis de Sales writes:  "Aspire continually to God, by brief, ardent upliftings of the heart; praise his excellence, invoke his aid, cast yourself in spirit at the foot of his cross, adore his goodness, offer your whole soul a thousand times a day to him, fix your inward gaze upon him, stretch out your hands to be led by him, as a little child to its father, clasp him to your breast as a fragrant flower, raise him up in your soul as a standard." 

In short, even when I don't have time to pray, I have to find the time to pray.  Instead of cursing the rain that's making it difficult to drive, I should praise God for bringing the rain that washes away the filth on the roads and nourishes the crops.  Instead of yelling or cursing at a driver who cuts me off in traffic (he can't hear me anyway!), I need to pray that the errant driver arrives safely at the destination he is hurrying to.

The other method I'm going to try to employ to help my prayer life is to get to confession at least every 3 weeks.  Some people think that's excessive.  I don't think so.  How can trying to get all the graces I can to help me combat temptation be excessive? 

We'll see how it goes.  I've got confidence that Blessed Mother Mary will help me, so how can it go wrong?

Remember to give thanks on Thanksgiving

During the holiday get-togethers, everybody has a job, whether it's cooking, cleaning up, keeping the small children busy or just staying out of the way!  My self-appointed job is to lead the family in saying Grace, thanking God for our blessings, and giving gentle nudges to those who need to recognize those blessings for what they are and Who endows them.  Here is the mealtime prayer I have written for this year's Thanksgiving Day dinner.  It's not copywrited, so feel free to use it, if you like it.

Eternal God, Father of all, we give you thanks for allowing us to gather together for this occasion. We give thanks for life, for the freedom to enjoy it, and for the grace to recognize our freedom. We ask you to protect those who are not blessed with the freedoms we enjoy, even in our own country. Bless this feast we are about to eat and bless all of our family who are present here today. We ask you to heal those in our family who are suffering from illness and despair. Let them see your goodness and show them your compassion. We also ask you to watch over those who cannot be present to share in our feast today, either by poor choice or other commitments. Let your Holy Spirit come upon all of us, so we may see the light of your love, recognize and regret our faults, and find the peace and happiness that has been promised to all of us through your Son, Jesus Christ.



Amen.

Context, context, context

So here's the question of the day, for all of you out there (including some of you who I know personally) who believe everything you read in the secular press, as long as it conforms to your already formed opinions.

Why don't you read the WHOLE book excerpt, in context, as it appears in the Catholic World Report?

Give Thanks to the Father

The Church marks the very end of the Church year with the Feast of Christ the King. It's not about pomp and pageantry; it's about reality—the reality of a heavenly king who has issued a firm invitation to eternal joy if we but give Him our hearts. It's a reminder that earthly leaders and monarchs may fail us and cause our world to suffer. But we can take comfort in the fact that God is still in charge of this earth's final outcome.



One of the best statements of our faith, and most consoling supports for our hope, is found in Sunday’s second reading which urges us to "give thanks to the Father….for He has delivered us from the powers of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption (and) the forgiveness of sins - and, in Him, all things hold together." He tells us to keep our eyes fixed on the Kingdom that He has promised to those who cling to Him in faith and in obedience to His laws.


In the first reading, we see the origins of the Kingdom of David who was chosen by the northern tribes for his outstanding qualities of leadership and ability to unify the Israelites. He was the shepherd king, the caring and forgiving king, who prepared the way for the Messiah-King, Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God. His Kingdom is a kingdom of Peace and Love, a Kingdom of Justice and Truth.


The Gospel narrates in detail the horrible insults hurled at Jesus by His enemies as He hung, helpless on the Cross. They came from the Romans who saw Him as a threat to imperial power. They came from Jewish religious leaders who feared that He would replace their authority. Their taunts and jeers have been repeated endlessly down the centuries by all who have refused Him the obedience of their minds and hearts.


Sunday’s feast is a call for all Christians to renew the allegiance they owe their King. It is not a question of a one-time commitment. He demands our total attention and our whole energy - each day, each hour. We are called—by our faith, by our prayer, and by our good works—to bring the whole world under His loving power.

We will rise, if we keep His teachings

I took a couple of weeks off from my pastoral care duties of presenting Holy Communion to the patients in the hospital and to a couple in their home because I was just plain worn out and needed time for “regrouping”. I got word today that late last week, the man to whom I’ve been ministering Communion passed away. Joe was a good and faithful Catholic—not to mention a great husband, father and grandfather, as I was a witness to. Please pray for the repose of his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of Jesus Christ.

As we near the end of the calendar year and Church cycle, it is good to be reminded that we will rise from the dead and join our Lord in Heaven if we are faithful to His teaching, since we are otherwise tempted to think only of our time here on earth and not life after death.  

I don’t know about anyone else, but the book of Revelation is so hard to make sense of and it is tempting to just turn away in frustration; I did so many times this last week. My irritation with my inability to understand parts of it went away after I realized how hard it would be for me or any other human being to verbalize an experience of heaven. Along with the Gospel, Saturday’s reading is also talking about the faithful being called to rise from the dead. In Revelation, we saw all those who gloated over the two fallen witnesses were shocked to see them come back to life and stand before them. And they hear a loud voice from heaven call the two prophets home by saying, “Come up here.” The people didn’t like what the prophets were saying and were celebrating their demise.


People don’t change—Christians (especially Catholics) are still suffering martyrdom in our world today. The Bishop of Sudan was the celebrant of the Mass on EWTN this morning. In his homily, he said that there are many, many unknown martyrs for the faith in his diocese, and that it is not limited to the Sudan. He struck me as a very holy man—and for that he has suffered in his own country. While most of us don’t go around killing people today, we are critical of those who hold fast to their Faith. So, who are our prophets (witnesses of the faith) today? And how do we react to their message? Many times I have heard Pope John Paul II referred to as a prophet. I feel I have a bond with this good and faithful servant of our Lord simply because I saw him up close and personal when he visited Candlestick in 1987.
(Read about that experience, here, on my first blog entry)
He left an indelible impression on me that invigorated my faith and planted the seeds for my present fervor.

Joe, in a way, was a prophet.  He held fast to his Catholic beliefs even in the midst of pain and suffering.  He would tell me of the latest procedure that was done or the one that was to come during the week and do so with a smile on his face!  It gave me the impression he was not afraid, but merely waiting for Christ to appear and say, "Come up here."

My brother Bob is another example of "silent suffering" who has told me and others on several occasions that he's not afraid to die to this life--he knows his life in Christ will be beyond description.
These are the stuff of which prophets are made.


In Luke’s Gospel, which is a repeat of the Gospel from Sunday the 7th, Jesus tells the Sadducees that “those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage…they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. (Luke 20:35,36). And so we are reminded to think about the path we are taking and the true goal, heaven. We know there are a lot of false prophets out there and other distractions. Let us keep our focus and pray for guidance to be able to discern the voice of the true prophet, so that we too might be called Home to rise and be with the Lord. Amen

Pretty inspirational

My nephew sent this out on his Facebook page. When you watch it, be sure to have some tissues handy--even you "manly men".  We should all have courage like this guy!

Who's the turkey here?

At the convenience store this morning, the clerk behind the counter asked the customer in front of me (who she obviously knows), "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?--It's next week, you know--just around the corner!"


It was an innocent question, but the young woman behind me actually groaned and said in an overly dramatic voice (and as if it was news to her that we are in the 3rd week of November already), "Thanksgiving? OH, CRAP, thanks for what?!" It kind of made me wonder who is the real 'turkey' this Thanksgiving.


I don't think she gets it. Thanksgiving is not just a holiday. It's not about the turkey, and the football, and the family gatherings, or even the time off of work--those are blessings, to be sure. But again, it's not a holiday, it's a HOLY DAY, one that was intended to be a day of prayer and thanks to God for all of the blessings He has bestowed on us. Many of us take these blessings for granted. We may think we deserve them. We may even think we create our own blessings because we worked so hard or we were so smart or clever. The fact is blessings come to us from only one source--our Creator--and He's not thanked nearly enough.


I will use this Thanksgiving day to do just that--give thanks to God for my family, my country, my freedoms, and my neighbors--even those who don't know the real meaning for establishing this HOLY holiday.

Happy Birthday to me!

We celebrated my birthday today, which is actually tomorrow, because a weekend day is easier for those of us who work during the week to get time off.  I started the day as I do every Sunday, by going to Mass and thanking God for all he has given me.  After staying with Mom for an hour or two (she didn't feel well enough to come over to my house and help us celebrate), I went home and played with LilyBug until it was time to go to dinner at the Waterloo Inn.   Marilyn and the girls love the pesto.  I'm not a pesto lover, so I'll take their word for it that it's one of the best.  I appreciate the BBQ ribs and chicken, though--and the outstanding service we always get, of course!

Anyway, we invited Sarah's BF Tony to accompany us, as well as my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and her two daughters.  I had a great time, ate a great meal and got some pretty terrific cards and presents to boot!  I got 3 "real" books (remember when books had covers and words and pages and stuff?), 1 audio book, and a CD on the first days of Christianity.  I also got another pair of pants to wear to work from my ever-practical wife. 

Marilyn's card was especially funny.  On the front it says, "After all these years, you still make me laugh.  Then, on the inside it says, "Sometimes on purpose."
I'm glad my jokes don't always go to waste!

Alicia's was funny, too.  "Dad", it says, "I know I've given you a few gray hairs over the years...But I never meant for the others to fall out--Honest!"  Such a kidder--or IS she????

Sarah and Tony got me a book written by Scott Hahn titled "Signs of Life, 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots".  I have already read the introduction and I can't wait to get into this one!  They also got me a book titled "MENSA MIGHTY Mindbusters".  It has pretty complicated logic questions that the reader tries to answer.  I love this stuff...even though I know I'll have to cheat from time to time (alright, MOST of the time) to get the right answers.  But hey!  Learning is fun!

On a more serious note, though, and in keeping with the general theme of this blog, I did have a short while to meditate this evening after everybody had gone to their own homes or to bed.

What I thought about is how the last few Sundays of every year leading up to Advent remind us of the "end times".  In the Gospel this morning, Jesus describes some of the events leading up to the end of the world--and they sound an awful lot like what we're going through now!  But do I think the end is imminent?  Not particularly.  I do know that the end of this world is getting closer for me, personally, every year I celebrate another birthday! Or, for that matter, it could happen any time I get behind the wheel of a car!  The questions I have to ask myself constantly are "Am I ready to meet my Creator?"  "Have I set a good example for those who are entrusted to my care as Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandfather, friend?"  "Have I led them to Christ, or left them on their own to 'figure it out'?" "Will I be found wanting?" 

I'm getting older!  Wiser?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I'll let others judge that.

Lawn care

I read this joke this morning and it reminded me why I really hate yard work.  Ha ha.

An imaginary conversation between God and St. Francis of Assisi on the subject of lawn care:



GOD: Frank, since you are my chief advisor on nature and the earth and stuff, maybe you can tell me. What in the world is going on down there on that planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistles and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.


ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.


GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?


ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each Spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.


GOD: Well. The Spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.


ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it - sometimes twice a week.


GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?


ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.


GOD: They bag it? Oh, I see. It's a cash crop. Do they sell it to feed their families?


ST. FRANCIS: No Lord. Just the opposite. They pay to have it hauled away.


GOD: Wait. Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it and pay to have it hauled away?


ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Lord.


GOD: That doesn't make any sense. Then these Suburbanites must be relieved in the Summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the grass growth and saves them a lot of work.


ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to cut it and pay to get rid of it.


GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the Spring to provide beauty and shade in the Summer. In the Autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.


ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great big piles and pay to have them hauled away too.


GOD: That's ridiculous. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the Winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?


ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy this stuff they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.


GOD: And where do they get this... this... mulch?


ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up.

“Walking in the Truth”

I’d like to begin tonight’s entry with the first reading from Mass this morning:

2 Jn 4-9
[Chosen Lady:]
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth
just as we were commanded by the Father.
But now, Lady, I ask you,
not as though I were writing a new commandment
but the one we have had from the beginning:
let us love one another.
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;
this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning,
in which you should walk.
Many deceivers have gone out into the world,
those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh;
such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.
Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for
but may receive a full recompense.
Anyone who is so “progressive”
as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God;
whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.
=================================================================


It’s Friday! I have been anticipating a dinner of linguine in clam sauce all week. Unfortunately, the only Italian restaurant (and in this case the term is used lightly) in Bakersfield is Olive Garden—or so I thought. When I was looking for another store earlier in the week, I discovered an old-style Italian restaurant that looked interesting. I made a mental note to return on Friday to give their linguine a try.


While it was very, very good—good to the last drop, as they say—it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had. But the overall experience was enhanced by my witness of a couple who are obviously “walking in the Truth”, as the reading above alludes.

I barely noticed them as they sat across the aisle from me. I was busy solving my crossword puzzles as I ate, so I wasn’t aware they were watching me. As they left, they looked my way, and bid me goodbye. I thought that was, in itself, a little odd considering I had never seen them before (that I know of) and I probably wouldn’t see them again. But I returned their friendly goodbye and went back to my crosswords. I finished my meal and patiently waited for the waitress to bring me the check.


Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. After a half-hour, I said to the waitress, “I’m sorry. I must have eaten my check, because I’m sure you brought it out while I had my head buried in my book!”


She laughed and said, “The couple who were sitting across from you paid your check. You’re all done!” I asked her why they would do that—did I look homeless or indigent in some way? She again laughed and replied that they are frequent customers who pay for others’ meals quite regularly! I asked her if she knew their names—she didn’t. I told her to please thank them the next time she sees them and tell them that I will pray for them and ask God to bless them for their generosity. I was so flabbergasted!


After a very difficult and frustrating day at work, one in which I am sure I sinned by thinking ill of others who I perceived to be the source of my frustrations, this was a wake-up call. It was a reminder for me to be sure to go to confession tomorrow and to try to remember to “pay it forward” at my earliest convenience.

I wonder too if Jesus sent me this message to remind me to "lighten up" a bit in regards to my sometimes scrupulous attitudes when it comes to the Mass.  This morning, I was taken aback a bit when the priest intentionally went straight from the "message" of peace to the Agnus Dei without inviting us to share with one another the sign of peace.  The priests on EWTN do it regularly, and I know it is not a mandatory part of the Mass, but it surprises me when it happens.  Maybe this experience with the couple was a "make up" sign of peace given to me personally by my Lord.  I can hope, can't I?


In the meantime, I offer the following prayer for my unknown benefactors:


Heavenly Father, I often get so wrapped up in my own life that I forget the most basic of Your commandments—that is, to love You above all else and to love my neighbor as You love us. For this I am sorry. I thank You for showing me how much You love me by sending Your Spirit through the couple known only to Yourself.  I ask You to bless them, wherever they may be tonight, and grant them satisfaction in whatever intentions they have made known to You. Let me keep this experience close to my heart and remind me to pay the favor forward. I ask You this through Your Son, Jesus Christ Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Dumb Question of the Day: At the Doctor’s Office

Here's another one! This one had me in stitches! (Pun intended)



Dumb Question of the Day: At the Doctor’s Office

Navigating the Second Amendment in Washington, D.C.

I thought I could use some humor today. I hope you like this. I found it on Catholic Exchange.


Navigating the Second Amendment in Washington, D.C.

Men for All Seasons

I am the 4th of my mother’s 5 sons. Bob was first, then Dick, then Bill. Mom had a couple of miscarriages, then I arrived (with some help, due in great part to a novena to Saint Gerard Majella). Our sister Dorothy Anne was next. Tom was last.


This may get me in trouble with my brothers, but I have to admit I have my favorite, the one who sets the best example and gives me the best advice when I need it most. I think what may keep me out of trouble with them is to explain how each of my brothers is my favorite, but for different reasons:


When I’m having spiritual difficulties or doubts about my faith, I can turn to Bob for his help and guidance. His faith in Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church has been unwavering his entire life. I can count on him to put me back on the right path towards Jesus just when I need the redirection the most. His absolute love of the Eucharist is a shining example to all of us.  Very much like St. Peter, I think.


In practical matters of life, Dick has been there and done that. He has a no-nonsense approach to life and usually keeps a cool head in times of crisis. He has a knack for getting to the source of my practical difficulties and suggesting solutions. He is my go-to guy when I need to stay rational and sane.  He reminds me a lot of Sts. Paul and Nathaniel.  (Look it up!)


Then there’s Bill. His special gifts are his compassion and sensitivity for his fellow human beings, especially family, and his humility. Bill has a talent for listening. I mean really listening. He is the brother I seek out when I have an emotional issue to deal with. He also has a very practical outlook on life that I admire. I often think of Bill as a composite of the best traits in both Bob and Dick--A St. John, if you will.


Tom passed away almost 10(!) years ago. What I admired most about him was his joy in being alive. There was nothing he wouldn’t try, regardless of the consequences. His spontaneity in life and his loyalty to his friends are his legacy, as far as I’m concerned. We were the closest in age and the two youngest, so our bond was extra-strength in relation to our older brothers.  He was so much like his namesake--St. Thomas!


What’s truly been a blessing are the women that we each married. Without them, I have a feeling we’d all be lost. God bless all of you.


A very large reason why we are all so different, yet strong in our differences and loyalty to one another is that our Mom and Dad allowed us to be who we were meant to be, gently (and sometimes not so gently) nudging us in the direction we needed to go.


I wrote all of this today because Bob is in the hospital again with some very serious issues that should remind us all that we are all here by the Grace of God, and that He has a plan for all of us.  Please pray for him and for all of my family.

The Secret Plan for Salvation

Every company I’ve ever worked for has had a “secret” to success that is not really a “secret”, but simply a formula or tried-and-true process for success that is not followed by every member of the team—hence, it is called a “secret plan” because no one uses it!



I thought about this when listening to the reading at Mass today. Paul is writing to the Philippians and saying to them that there is a secret that leads to survival and, indeed, joy in every circumstance in life. The interesting thing about this secret is that it is no secret at all! The problem is that we too seldom avail ourselves of the power of it. The name of Jesus, the person of Jesus, the personal touch of the Savior, the closeness that is closer than our own skins - this is the "secret" Paul speaks of. It is one of the most widely known and poorly used secrets in the whole world.


Wherever you may be in life, look to Jesus. Go to Jesus, speak with Jesus. Whatever is happening, Jesus has the ability to help you cope. In good circumstances and bad, remember and reverence His Name. There is a famous spiritual classic (the title escapes me) that has one man who endeavors to say His name with every breath and with every step. Such would be a good practice for us as well. Whether we are in good times or bad, fast or feast, famine or abundance, Jesus is the one who helps us - He is our strength, our mainstay and our hope. He is the one who gives us the power to rejoice in chains and to conquer our enemies through love. And the only true conquest, the only lasting victory, is Love - Jesus Himself.

Blessed Mother Teresa--Do it anyway!

Do It Anyway

Click on caption!

Who's the real senior here, anyway?

I'm not a "true" senior citizen yet, unless you count a 10% discount from Denny's and an AARP card as proof of "seniorship".  But I still have my "senior moments".  All week long, I have anticipated having a terrific entry to celebrate my brother Bob's 66th birthday today, November 1st.

However......it wasn't until I was watching the All Saint's Day Mass on EWTN that I was reminded today is his big day! I really won't be surprised if I forget my own birthday in 2 weeks!




I'm sorry, Bob!  Better late than never, though!   Happy Birthday! And may God continue to bless you.