Wednesday - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

To send this card: Assumption of Mary

More Cards of the Assumption

Quote for the Day: Personal prayer, it seems to me, is one of the simplest necessities of life, as basic to the individual as sunshine, food and water-- and at times, of course, more so. By prayer I mean an effort to get in touch with the Infinite. We know that our prayers are imperfect. Of course they are. We are imperfect human beings. A thousand experiences have convinced me beyond room of doubt that prayer multiplies the strength of the individual and brings within the scope of his capabilities almost any conceivable objective. . Dwight D. Eisenhower

Wednesday

Miracles of miracles. I think they happen when we turn ourselves completely over to God. The more we surrender the outcome of things to God - the more we will be amazed at what God does.

It is very funny. I love reading marketing books. Because they are mostly positive and give one all sorts of ideas to try new things. But lately I have found that one thing they advise doesn't work so well for me.

It's called planning. I love to plan. Its sort of a game... but most of my plans fizzle...YET... when I pray in the morning and let God have complete, overwhelming control of my day.... when I allow myself not to plan but to live in God's plan.

Then...

amazing, wonderful things happen.

Today, I had a journalist call about a story she is working on for confession. She found my web site and wanted to ask me some questions. She asked me about the Confession workbook and if I knew anyone who had used it and would be willing to talk to her about the results. Hmmm? Anyone interested? Send Me an Email.

Even if you don't want to talk to the journalist.. I would surely love to hear from anyone who likes the book or workbook on Reconciliation and would be willing to share their thoughts on my website. ..Please.. and Thank you and God Bless You and Oh.. now it's time for night prayer....How did it get to be this late?

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia

The Confession Connection The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Celebrating God's Forgiveness by Sandra DeGidio, O.S.M. Day One: Introduction The well-known parable of the prodigal son is perhaps the most strikingly powerful illustration of the human process of reconciliation, and of the theology inherent in the new rite of reconciliation. But many of us find it difficult to believe the story (see Luke 15:11-32). The father welcomes the son back instantly—doesn't even wait for him to get to the house. And he isn't at all interested in the young man's confession, only in celebrating. This is not the way we Catholics have viewed the sacrament of reconciliation. Even with the new rite, most of us tend to view this sacrament with the attitude of the older son in the story: Forgiveness comes only after you recite your list of sins, agree to suffer a bit for them, do something to make up for your offenses, give some guarantee you won't commit the same sins again, and prove yourself worthy to join the rest of us who haven't been so foolish! But God really is like the merciful parent in this parable: not out to catch us in our sin but intent on reaching out and hanging on to us in spite of our sin. Reconciliation (and the new rite is careful to point this out) is not just a matter of getting rid of sin. Nor is its dominant concern what we, the penitents, do. The important point is what God does in, with and through us. To be continued A selected article from "101 Inspirational Stories of the Sacrament of Reconciliation."

Miraculous Monday - A Confession of Hidden Sin

To send this card: Have a Nice Day

Quote for the Day: There is no sinner in the world, however much at enmity with God, who cannot recover God's grace by recourse to Mary, and by asking her assistance. St. Bridget of Sweden

Miraculous Monday

Today after dinner as we were doing the dishes we got to talking about what we would like to do or see in heaven. Of course we haven't a clue what heaven will be really like, but that didn't stop us from faithful imaginations. Anyway we were discussing how exciting it would be to view the life stories of different people... and since there are so many billions of them.. that ought to keep us occupied for a good long while.

Because each and every one of us has a beautiful faith journey. I know each one of us is a beautiful chapter in God's book of how salvation is played out so uniquely and beautifully. It occurred to me now, that it is probably only in heaven that we will see where the real miracles in our life occurred. What we take as a normal day - with quiet ordinary things happening.. and who knows what tragedies our angels might have diverted from us that we never knew about? Who knows what opportunities came to us by the way of prayers we prayed long ago or someone else prayed for us?

I remember reading some big events in history - where the fate of millions hung in the balance and except for a few key people in top positions who knew how perilous the situation was - the rest of mankind just went blithely on its way without a clue. Amazing huh?

I mean we don't even know how many huge comets were quietly redirected from collision that could have wiped us out yesterday.

Basically God does have the whole world in his hands - and the final showing of salvation will leave us speechless.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia

The Confession Connection O Happy Fault: A Confession of Hidden Sin by Vinny Flynn I have a confession to make. A real confession. Of real sin. I have a great sin that has lain hidden in me for a long time, unrecognized, unconfessed, unrepented. It's not your common, everyday brand of sin—not included in the usual list: pride, greed, jealousy, immorality, drunkenness, stealing, etc. These are easier to recognize, easier to fight against. This sin is different. It's like a traitor within me, lying in wait to jump out and trip me up, over and over again. It has become like a cancer, living and growing inside me, dragging me down, away from God, and dragging others with me. So I need to expose it, to confess it publicly to all who will listen. And I'm not afraid to confess it to you, because you have sinned in the same way. The sin is this: I have been unhappy! Repeatedly—at the slightest provocation—unhappy! (to be continued tomorrow) From one of twelve articles on confession found in the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Sacrament of Reconciliation."

Feast of Saint Joseph - Miracles of Saint Joseph

To send this card: St. Joseph

Quote for the Day: Saint Teresa said that she could not remember ever asking Saint Joseph for anything that she did not receive. St Teresa of Avila

Novena to St. Joseph - Ninth Day

O Glorious Saint Joseph
Whose power it is
to render possible
things which are impossible,
come to my aid
in this present
difficulty and distress.

Take this impossible
and difficult affair
which I reccommend to you
under your special care
and protection
that it may have
a happy issue.

O Glorious Saint Joseph,
let it not be said
that I have invoked you in vain.
Since you are so powerful
with Jesus and Mary
show that your goodness
equals your power.

Amen.

Lent Prayer for the Day

Father, creator
you give the world new life
by your sacraments.
May we, your Church,
grow in your life
and continue to receive
your help on earth.
Grant this through
our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.


Miracle Monday. Hmmm, so what miracle shall I share with you today? Think, think, think. Okay, this is a Saint Joseph miracle. Quite a few years ago when I was first learning to play the organ, we had an old, old organ without a full pedal board. I really wanted to have a full pedal organ but I didn't see anyway to get it except for prayer.

So I started praying the above prayer, every day, and all through the day. One day something was wrong with our organ and I needed to call in a repair person to fix it. While the technician was working on the organ we started talking and I shared how I really wanted a full pedal board organ. He said he had a used one that he was repairing and fixing up and offered to sell it to me at a very low and reasonable price.

Not only that but at the time MIDI was coming out (this is a special set up on musical instruments that allow you to attach extra sounds with any instrument and/or computer). This guy who by now was rapidly becoming a friend.. said he could put MIDI on it for very little extra and he even had a Sound box of hundreds of sounds that he would throw in the deal for free!

I was super excited and when I shared this information with the Sisters they said I could buy it!

I was so excited I could hardly sleep that night. The next morning when I woke up, still very excited I composed this little song to Saint Joseph. It's just a simple little song that I sang over and over for days and days while my new organ was being fixed up with MIDI.

I don't have music to it.. I just sang it very simply,.... over and over and over. I still do... I have lots of confidence in Saint Joseph and have received lots of other miracles from him as well.

Oh Boy! Oh Joy!
O Wonder of Wonders!
O Miracle of Miracles!
Saint Joseph has heard my plea for help
and come to rescue me.....

repeat fifty million times.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters

Do you have any miracle stories of answered prayer from Saint Joseph? Please share on the Blog.

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