tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37858649675964704732024-03-13T10:57:13.891-04:00Hope-full SignsSister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.comBlogger479125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-62553623315552938452016-04-10T15:44:00.001-04:002016-04-10T15:44:55.490-04:00The Big Question<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xy_AU6y5KWo/VwqsNPkacsI/AAAAAAAAB6o/UNLichsV_PkIHywOz3KjA2irXNGXzeHPg/s1600/do-you-love-me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xy_AU6y5KWo/VwqsNPkacsI/AAAAAAAAB6o/UNLichsV_PkIHywOz3KjA2irXNGXzeHPg/s320/do-you-love-me.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Today in the Gospel reading we hear the story of Jesus
asking St. Peter three times if he loved him.
What an amazing story! As we
know, on the night before Christ’s crucifixion, Peter denied the Lord three
times, publicly and adamantly! Today, if
we thought about denying Jesus to others I think we would be horrified. But we often close our mind to Him when we
sin. Today we see how Jesus dealt
with Peter’s sin of denial which stemmed from his paralyzing fear. Never
would he have wanted to deny Jesus but he did – because he was afraid. We don’t ever want to deny Jesus either but we do –
because we are afraid, or angry or just plain weak. How did Jesus deal with Peter? Three times He asked Peter if he loved
him. Peter said a definitive yes – a firm,
strong yes! And Jesus forgave him and
made him the leader of His Church. Jesus
asks us today as well – "do you love Me?" "Do you love me?" " Do you love
me?" Let us confess our sin, tell Jesus
we are sorry, and tell Him – "Yes, Jesus I love you!" And let’s say that over and over again
throughout the day. It is amazing what
love can do! </span></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-59757827150220526412016-03-26T15:54:00.001-04:002016-03-26T15:54:13.432-04:00Happy Easter! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfxO3Z2xLmU/VvboH9-I7yI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/48StVtGF6DovJ6EK5E2txNuowOdJYTVSA/s1600/4935268968_de480c964d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfxO3Z2xLmU/VvboH9-I7yI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/48StVtGF6DovJ6EK5E2txNuowOdJYTVSA/s400/4935268968_de480c964d_b.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">He is risen! He is alive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Because of this we have hope!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">May your Easter Day be blessed with a deep certainty that God loves you! How do we know this? Because He sent His beloved Son to give His life for us - for you! </span></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-71316524504387444712016-03-15T14:26:00.000-04:002016-03-15T14:28:36.279-04:00Retreat this Saturday! <span style="font-size: large;">This coming Saturday, March 19 our community is holding its annual Lenten Retreat for Women. The retreat begins with the 8:30 a.m. Parish Mass at St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish in Flemington, NJ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Keynote speaker is Sarah Christmyer, co-developer and founding editor of the Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study Program. In addition there are workshops given by the Sisters. The retreat ends at 1:15 p.m. Suggested donation is $20. However, all women are welcome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sarah blogs at her web site: <a href="http://www.comeintotheword.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">www.ComeIntotheWord.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">. She can see her lovely picture and read about her there. </span></span><br />
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-71781627851725506602016-03-05T14:55:00.000-05:002016-03-05T14:55:02.541-05:00Which son are we? <span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow, the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday), the Gospel is the very familiar story of the Prodigal Son. We all know the story but Bishop Barron gives us a fresh slant as he comments on the the Father and the two Sons. You might want to have a look at it. Here is the link:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-prodigal-son-returns/5091/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-prodigal-son-returns/5091/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38FMsn4jkOU/Vts5QfoYwqI/AAAAAAAAB6I/HZ2vbANK4Gc/s1600/the-prodigal-son.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38FMsn4jkOU/Vts5QfoYwqI/AAAAAAAAB6I/HZ2vbANK4Gc/s320/the-prodigal-son.jpg" width="308" /></a></span></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-44290895386165702016-02-21T15:34:00.001-05:002016-02-21T15:35:50.715-05:00His words are spirit and life<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3U6AmC6tVTw/VsofSxPoi_I/AAAAAAAAB54/4MltKYcQjt8/s1600/monstran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3U6AmC6tVTw/VsofSxPoi_I/AAAAAAAAB54/4MltKYcQjt8/s200/monstran.jpg" width="183" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday mornings the Sisters pray together for an hour before Holy
Mass. We chant Morning Prayer from the
Liturgy of the Hours and then we meditate on the Readings for the Day, all in
front of the Blessed Sacrament which is exposed on the altar in our
chapel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This morning I was restless and somewhat
distracted. I couldn’t seem to “get my
act together” when it came to reflecting on the daily readings. I read some brief commentaries because, as I
tried to be silent and reflect, my thoughts were going here and there and I
needed help to focus. Finally, I closed
my eyes and tried to surrender myself to the Lord. The Gospel for today was the account of Jesus’
Transfiguration before Peter, James and John. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God was faithful to me. I opened my eyes, looked at the host in the
monstrance on the altar and the words from the Gospel immediately came to
mind: <i>“This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I
am well pleased.”</i> These were the words the Father spoke in the midst of the
cloud that enveloped Jesus and the Apostles. And they were God’s words for me
today. I was no longer restless and
distracted. I was looking at God’s
Beloved Son - right there in front of me.
And in an hour I was able to receive Him in Holy Communion at Mass. </span></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-54641396305045045032016-02-14T19:18:00.000-05:002016-02-14T19:38:01.228-05:00Let us begin<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrzCi1kIj5U/VsEYwhqUwuI/AAAAAAAAB5o/v610hji2vuQ/s1600/lent-prayer-fasting-giving-works-of-love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrzCi1kIj5U/VsEYwhqUwuI/AAAAAAAAB5o/v610hji2vuQ/s200/lent-prayer-fasting-giving-works-of-love.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Today we begin the first full week of Lent. You know, it is so easy to come to this point in the year and not be ready. We often just get into Lent with fits and starts. I must confess that this year I am ready! After seeking the Lord's will I know how I am going to fast and what acts of mercy the Lord wants me to perform during this season of grace. However, I realize that I need the Lord's grace to follow through! And at mid-Lent He might want me to change course! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I have read some wonderful articles in preparation. There are so many resources on the Internet that can help us live this Lenten Season well. I would like to share two with you - perhaps you already know about them. Check out </span><a href="http://www.bestlentever.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.BestLentEver.com</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> or</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lentreflections.com/">http://www.lentreflections.com/</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> You can sign up for brief daily Lenten reflections that jump-start your day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a Religious Sister I live in an environment and with other Sisters who support me in my spiritual life. Daily Mass and Holy Hour are part of our day. That is not true for everyone. However, daily Mass or perhaps Mass on some days during the week are very possible. So many parishes have Eucharistic Adoration and Friday Stations of the Cross. There are parish retreats or days of reflection. Traveling to work you can check your IPhone for other resources. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am asking the Lord to make this Lent MY best one ever. What about you? </span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-65601843094113966302016-02-08T16:16:00.003-05:002016-02-08T16:16:43.307-05:00A Prayer Pleasing to the Lord
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwEtGQYLyu4/VrkFeCu--vI/AAAAAAAAB5U/mh54DDi7jaU/s1600/Divine%2BMercy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwEtGQYLyu4/VrkFeCu--vI/AAAAAAAAB5U/mh54DDi7jaU/s1600/Divine%2BMercy.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A number of years ago I was kind of overwhelmed by the
number of people I wanted to pray for, so many friends, family members, needs
in the world that I decided to use my Rosary and on each Hail Mary Bead I would
pray:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For Mary and all of her needs, Lord have mercy</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so proud of myself and so relieved that
I could pray in that way, knowing that I could include everyone without having
to spend long minutes in prayer for each intention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then….along came the Chaplet of Divine Mercy –
God had the idea way before I did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
felt as if God was encouraging me in my way of praying – He confirmed it, some
might say!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now I do pray the Chaplet
with words that God Himself has given us through Saint Faustina!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a link on how to pray the Chaplet if you don’t
already know how to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on CD’s; the prayers can be recited as well as
chanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very simple and the
prayers are very profound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can take
only a few minutes; perhaps you can pray a decade at a time </span><a href="http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a link to a very good article about Pope Francis and
the Year of Mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://catholicpreaching.com/a-conversation-with-pope-francis-about-gods-mercy-the-anchor-february-5-2016/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://catholicpreaching.com/a-conversation-with-pope-francis-about-gods-mercy-the-anchor-february-5-2016/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well worth reading!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-91930684865556334172016-02-01T15:17:00.000-05:002016-02-01T15:17:05.280-05:00Missionaries of Mercy<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>During this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy our Holy Father will give a special homily one Saturday a month during the year. I read the homily for this past Saturday and said to myself, I want to do this - to be like this. So I am sharing it with you.</i></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Dear brothers and sisters,</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></em></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">We enter day
after day into living the Holy Year of Mercy. With his grace, the Lord guides
our steps as we pass through the Holy Door, and he comes to meet us to remain
with us always, despite our shortcomings and contradictions. Let us never tire
of feeling the need for his forgiveness, because when we are weak, his
closeness makes us strong and allows us to live our faith with greater joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Today I wish
to speak to you about the close relationship between mercy and mission. As St.
John Paul II reminded us: “The Church lives an authentic life when she
professes and proclaims mercy … and when she brings people close to the sources
of the Savior’s mercy (<a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_30111980_dives-in-misericordia.html" style="box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #c8a466; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dives in misericordia</span></em><span style="color: #c8a466; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">, 13</span></a>). As Christians, we
are responsible for being missionaries of the Gospel. When we receive the good
news, or when we experience a beautiful moment, it’s natural that we feel the
need to share it with others. We feel within ourselves that we cannot hold back
the joy that was given to us: we want to share it. The joy aroused in us is
such that it drives us to communicate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">And it
should be the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 15.6pt;"> same when we encounter the Lord: the joy of this encounter, of
his mercy, [should drive us ] to share the Lord’s mercy. Indeed, the concrete
sign that we have truly encountered Jesus is the joy we experience in sharing
it with others. And this is not to “proselytize,” this is to give a gift: I
give you what gives me joy. In reading the Gospel we see that this was the
experience of the first disciples: after their first encounter with Jesus,
Andrew went directly to tell his brother Peter ( cf. John 1:40-42), and Phillip
did the same thing with Nathaniel (cf. John 1:45-46). To encounter Jesus is to
experience his love. This love transforms us and makes us capable of sharing to
others the power that he gives us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 15.6pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Somehow we
could say that from the day of our baptism, a new name is given to each of us,
in addition to the one our mother and father give us, and this name is
“Christopher.” We are all “Christophers.” What does it mean? “Christ-bearers.”
And it is the name of our attitude, an attitude of being bearers of the joy of
Christ, of the mercy of Christ. Every Christian is a “Christopher” (i.e., a
bearer of Christ)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The mercy we
receive from the Father has not been given to us as a private consolation but
makes us instruments so that others may also receive the same gift. There is a
wonderful interplay between mercy and mission. To live mercy makes us
missionaries of mercy, and to be missionaries enables us to grow more and more
in the mercy of God. Therefore, let us take our Christian lives seriously, and
let us strive to live like believers, because this is the only way the Gospel
can touch the hearts of people and open them to receive the grace of love, to
receive the great mercy of God, that welcomes everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-65601850826343472672016-01-28T16:01:00.000-05:002016-01-28T16:05:42.096-05:00Thoughts about mercy<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">During this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy our Holy Father strongly encourages us to practice the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. If you don't remember them, here they are: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Corporal works of mercy</u></span></div>
<ul style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To feed the hungry;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To give drink to the thirsty;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To clothe the naked;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To harbour the harbourless (homeless)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To visit the sick;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To ransom the captive;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03071a.htm" style="color: darkblue; text-decoration: none;">bury</a> the dead.</span></li>
</ul>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">The spiritual works of mercy are:</span></u></div>
<ul style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To instruct the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07648a.htm" style="color: darkblue; text-decoration: none;">ignorant</a>;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To counsel the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05141a.htm" style="color: darkblue; text-decoration: none;">doubtful</a>;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04394a.htm" style="color: darkblue; text-decoration: none;">admonish sinners</a>;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To bear wrongs patiently;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To forgive offences willingly;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To comfort the afflicted;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12345b.htm" style="color: darkblue; text-decoration: none;">pray</a> for the living and the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04653a.htm" style="color: darkblue; text-decoration: none;">dead</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the Aletei news web site I found this wonderful article concerning the corporal work of mercy - to bury the dead. I thought you might like to see it. It really touched my heart. Here is the link:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://aleteia.org/2016/01/27/boston-hs-students-bury-the-dead-when-no-one-else-is-there-to/">http://aleteia.org/2016/01/27/boston-hs-students-bury-the-dead-when-no-one-else-is-there-to/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most of us are not able to carry out this work of mercy in this way but we can pray for those we know who have died, especially those who had no family. Maybe we could pray in a generic way: "<i>Lord for those who have recently died alone. You, Lord, know who they are. Have mercy on them. Grant them eternal rest." </i></span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-69320047157645986652016-01-13T15:59:00.002-05:002016-01-13T16:06:16.160-05:00It is a New Year<span style="font-size: large;">Now that the Christmas season is over, we are liturgically back in Ordinary Time. If we are good Christians we know that there is no ordinary time with the Lord. However we often need to remind ourselves that if our spiritual senses are working properly, we should be able to experience God every day in some way. That is very often not very easy. I am not much for making New Year's Resolutions but this year, with the guidance of my Superior, I am trying to take brief breaks during the day in order to savor the joy of being alive! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just finished some work time on the computer (database entries, FACEBOOK posts etc.) so I STOPPED. And I just now had a 15-minute break with Bishop Barron. His YouTube videos offer me an opportunity to pause, to catch my breath, to exhale and be quiet, to listen, to take in. Here is a link to the homily I just listened to today. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLTEDiAwWm8&feature=em-subs_digest"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLTEDiAwWm8&feature=em-subs_digest</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many of you probably have very busy schedules but it is spiritually healthy to take some spiritual breaks during the day, even for 5-10-15 minutes in the midst of the busyness. This video will give you some idea how to do that. Don't let life get away from you in this New Year. Take control even if you feel out of control. God loves you - loves me - very much. Give him a few minutes each day to love you. The good life grows on love. </span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-67546627977383262522016-01-03T14:10:00.000-05:002016-01-03T14:16:11.581-05:00Divine Power is love!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Here is Bishop Robert Barron's message for Christmas. I don't think he will mind if I share it with you today.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">In the Gospel of Luke, we discover the Annunciation to Mary. Here is what the angel Gabriel says to the Virgin: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33).</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZwWvZiBPXo/Volx0Hyo-lI/AAAAAAAAB40/tQJzTAkRHZc/s1600/Mary-and-Baby-Jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZwWvZiBPXo/Volx0Hyo-lI/AAAAAAAAB40/tQJzTAkRHZc/s200/Mary-and-Baby-Jesus.jpg" width="167" /></a><span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">No first-century Israelite would have missed the meaning here: this child shall be the fulfillment of the promise made to King David. He will be the king of the world, the one who would bring unity and peace to the nations.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">The angel confirms this to the shepherds in the fields: “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord: (Luke <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1968815513" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:11</span></span>). Saviour is <i>Soter</i> in Greek, which means “healer.” This was rendered in Latin as <i>Salvator</i>, Saviour in English. In old myths and legends, the true king would bring healing to his country, just as a wicked king would make the whole country sick.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">Further, this healer is “Christ and Lord.” <i>Christos</i> means anointed, and this has a clear Davidic overtone, for David had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel, and all of his successors had been anointed. This baby will be the point of ordering for the entire world; he'll be the ruler and governor, the one who sets the tone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">And this is further emphasized by calling him “Lord”—<i>Kyrios</i> in Greek,<i>Dominus</i> in Latin. He is the one who should dominate us, rule over every aspect of us. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">With the angel’s next words, everything is turned upside down: “And this shall be the sign to you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” The new David, Christ the Lord, the Dominus, the center and orderer of all things, the emperor of the universe…is a baby? And a baby wrapped up so it can’t move? And lying where? In the grubby place where the animals eat?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">Here is all of the poetry and all of the drama of Christmas. Indeed, the divine power is made manifest in weakness, for the divine power is nothing other than love, giving oneself away, being bound to the other, becoming food for those around you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">Finally, alongside the single angel there appeared an entire army of angels. We should not get sentimental about these angels. These aren't cute, chubby babies playing harps. They represent the army of heaven, which is more powerful than all of the armies of earth. The Prince of Peace has an army that is more powerful than anything that is in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">There are the glad tidings of Christmas. A new king has come, bringing with him an army of heavenly messengers, and he intends to bring peace and unity to the nations.</span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-73067395307127564402015-12-24T11:54:00.004-05:002015-12-24T11:56:38.994-05:00My Christmas prayer<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X8VCr3KRocU/VnwjADJd7EI/AAAAAAAAB4k/4B-jFRC7jWM/s1600/40b1e2c3ce5fac42682ba836ca3c355d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X8VCr3KRocU/VnwjADJd7EI/AAAAAAAAB4k/4B-jFRC7jWM/s400/40b1e2c3ce5fac42682ba836ca3c355d.jpg" width="282" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">A very blessed Christmas to you. May the beloved Christ Child reveal Himself to you during this holy Christmas season and touch your heart with the knowledge that He loves you very much!</span></i></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-6477071100292088392015-12-12T13:55:00.004-05:002015-12-12T13:55:57.661-05:00A Nurturing Mother<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWzUYukv_Ho/VmxtfW1zFZI/AAAAAAAAB4U/ZFZooyW3pZ0/s1600/Our-lady-of-Guadalupe-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWzUYukv_Ho/VmxtfW1zFZI/AAAAAAAAB4U/ZFZooyW3pZ0/s200/Our-lady-of-Guadalupe-.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Today is one of my favorite feast days - the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Her appearance to Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531 is a story of loving tenderness bestowed by our Heavenly Mother. Here is a story of the apparition told by a 16th century author. Each year when I read it my heart is deeply touched by Mary's motherly love.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From a report by Don
Antonio Valeriano, a Native American author of the sixteenth century</span></div>
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The Voice of the Turtledove has been heard in our land</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At daybreak one Saturday morning in 1531, on
the very first days of the month of December, an Indian named Juan Diego was
going from the village where he lived to Tlatelolco in order to take part in
divine worship and listen to God’s commandments. When he came near the hill
called Tepeyac, dawn had already come, and Juan Diego heard someone calling him
from the very top of the hill: “Juanito, Juan Dieguito.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He went up the hill and caught sight of a lady
of unearthly grandeur whose clothing was as radiant as the sun. She said to him
in words both gentle and courteous: “Juanito, the humblest of my children, know
and understand that I am the ever virgin Mary, Mother of the true God through
whom all things live. It is my ardent desire that a church be erected here so
that in it I can show and bestow my love, compassion, help, and protection to
all who inhabit this land and to those others who love me, that they might call
upon and confide in me. Go to the Bishop of Mexico to make known to him what I
greatly desire. Go and put all your efforts into this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Juan Diego arrived in the presence of the
Bishop, Fray Juan de Zumarraga, a Franciscan, the latter did not seem to
believe Juan Diego and answered: “Come another time, and I will listen at
leisure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Juan Diego returned to the hilltop where the
Heavenly Lady was waiting, and he said to her: “My Lady, my maiden, I presented
your message to the Bishop, but it seemed that he did not think it was the
truth. For this reason I beg you to entrust your message to someone more
illustrious who might convey it in order that they may believe it, for I am
only an insignificant man.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She answered him: “Humblest of my sons, I ask
that tomorrow you again go to see the Bishop and tell him that I, the ever
virgin holy Mary, Mother of God, am the one who personally sent you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But on the following day, Sunday, the Bishop
again did not believe Juan Diego and told him that some sign was necessary so
that he could believe that it was the Heavenly Lady herself who sent him. And
then he dismissed Juan Diego.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Monday Juan Diego did not return. His
uncle, Juan Bernardino, became very ill, and at night asked Juan to go to
Tlatelolco at daybreak to call a priest to hear his confession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Juan Diego set out on Tuesday, but he went
around the hill and passed on the other side, toward the east, so as to arrive
quickly in Mexico City and to avoid being detained by the Heavenly Lady. But
she came out to meet him on that side of the hill and said to him: “Listen and
understand, my humblest son. There is nothing to frighten and distress you. Do
not let your heart be troubled, and let nothing upset you. Is it not I, your
Mother, who is here? Are you not under my protection? Are you not, fortunately,
in my care? Do not let your uncle’s illness distress you. It is certain that he
has already been cured. Go up to the hilltop, my son, where you will find
flowers of various kinds. Cut them, and bring them into my presence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Juan Diego reached the peak, he was
astonished that so many Castilian roses had burst forth at a time when the
frost was severe. He carried the roses in the folds of his tilma (mantle) to
the Heavenly Lady. She said to him: “My son, this is the proof and the sign
which you will bring to the Bishop so that he will see my will in it. You are
my ambassador, very worthy of trust.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Juan Diego set out on his way, now content and
sure of succeeding. On arriving in the Bishop’s presence, he told him: “My
lord, I did what you asked. The Heavenly Lady complied with your request and
fulfilled it. She sent me to the hilltop to cut some Castilian roses and told
me to bring them to you in person. And this I am doing, so that you can see in
them the sign you seek in order to carry out her will. Here they are; receive
them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He immediately opened up his white mantle, and
as all the different Castilian roses scattered to the ground, there was drawn
on the cloak and suddenly appeared the precious image of the ever virgin Mary,
Mother of God, in the same manner as it is today and is kept in her shrine of Tepeyac.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The whole city was stirred and came to see and
admire her venerable image and to offer prayers to her; and following the
command which the same Heavenly Lady gave to Juan Bernardino when she restored
him to health, they called her by the name that she herself had used: “the ever
virgin holy Mary of Guadalupe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-68390743728998270562015-12-04T14:38:00.001-05:002015-12-04T14:38:28.798-05:00Merciful Like the Father<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h5uxu9nzXgM/VmHreekEXPI/AAAAAAAAB4E/u2ev7JC2XlE/s1600/jubilee-year-of-mercy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h5uxu9nzXgM/VmHreekEXPI/AAAAAAAAB4E/u2ev7JC2XlE/s200/jubilee-year-of-mercy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seeing the great need for mercy and healing in the
world,<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #101e33;"> </span></span><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #101e33; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Pope Francis </span></strong>called for the Year of Mercy—a
special period, also known as a Holy Year or Jubilee Year, for the Catholic
Church. It is a time for the Church across the world to take approximately a
year to focus on forgiveness and healing in a special way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Pope Francis has asked us as individuals and
as a Church <i>“to be a witness of mercy</i>”
by reflecting on and practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Beginning Tuesday, December 8, 2015, the Holy Year of Mercy will focus on studying and
reflecting on mercy, receiving mercy, and being merciful towards others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">To read more, visit the<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #101e33;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va/content/gdm/en.html" target="_blank">Vatican’s
official website for the Year of Mercy</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">How wonderful that the Year of Mercy begins at the start of the grace-filled season of Advent. In preparation for the Year of Mercy our summer retreat this year was based on the theme of God's mercy. Father took his reflections from our Holy Father's proclamation of the year: See (</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.thedivinemercy.org/mercysunday/ewtn/2015/story.php?NID=6275">http://www.thedivinemercy.org/mercysunday/ewtn/2015/story.php?NID=6275</a>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> Also the Sisters have begun a Scripture Study on the same theme. I have put together some excerpts from my notes and I hope to share them here throughout the year. If you are interested, you might check out a wonderful book to use during the year. See:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Have-Found-Mercy-Merciful/dp/1586174150/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449257316&sr=1-6&keywords=cardinal+christoph+schoenborn">http://www.amazon.com/We-Have-Found-Mercy-Merciful/dp/1586174150/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449257316&sr=1-6&keywords=cardinal+christoph+schoenborn</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">MAGNIFICAT has a marvelous companion booklet for the year. It contains one short daily reading for each day of the year. It also comes on Kindle. <a href="http://bookstore.magnificat.net/catalogsearch/result/?q=Year+of+Mercy+Companion">http://bookstore.magnificat.net/catalogsearch/result/?q=Year+of+Mercy+Companion</a></span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-18555772625006837092015-11-21T14:06:00.001-05:002015-11-21T14:06:14.079-05:00He reigns over all<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpI9tsEN2Sw/VlC_9GEkJdI/AAAAAAAAB30/b5qJ4l9QKwc/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpI9tsEN2Sw/VlC_9GEkJdI/AAAAAAAAB30/b5qJ4l9QKwc/s1600/download.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow, Sunday, is the solemn feast of Christ the King and it is the last Sunday in the Church's liturgical year. Bishop Robert Barron has a powerful homily about the feast. I encourage you to listen to it - it is only 15 minutes. I am still pondering his words and will listen to the homily often. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/what-does-it-mean-to-say-that-christ-is-king/4992/">http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/what-does-it-mean-to-say-that-christ-is-king/4992/</a></span><br />
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<br />Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-65430862166085087692015-11-15T14:14:00.001-05:002015-11-15T14:27:43.449-05:00What is your destination? <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31nF7jYP3lA/VkjYnkbMQ-I/AAAAAAAAB3k/ymb_SLXD--o/s1600/hand-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31nF7jYP3lA/VkjYnkbMQ-I/AAAAAAAAB3k/ymb_SLXD--o/s200/hand-3.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Today is the last Sunday in Ordinary time; next Sunday the Church
celebrates the solemn feast of Jesus Christ the King. The following is the First Sunday of
Advent. Does it seem like time is going
along too fast? That’s what the Church
wants us to think about today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Mass
readings urge us to be alert, to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. (Daniel 12:1-3, Mark 13:24-32) Perhaps we don’t want to think about that too
often. But we must. This morning I couldn’t help but think about
the people in Paris who were killed in the terrorist attacks. Were they prepared? We never know when the Lord is going to take
us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At Mass this morning Father said
this is the time in the year when the Church calls us very strongly to think of
our <u>destiny</u>. From the time we were
formed in the womb we were destined to live for all eternity with God. Perhaps I have mentioned this before but
philosopher Peter Kreeft says life on this earth is like staying in a motel on
our way home to Heaven. Our destiny is
not a place but a Person! Do we want to
live forever with this Person – this Person who created us and who loves us
more than we can imagine? I know I do
and I want to get ready. As we approach
the season of Advent, a time to prepare for the coming of the Lord, don’t put
off thinking and praying about your destiny.
It is a time, not so much to focus on death but what comes after death. It
is a time to ask the Lord to fill out hearts with all the graces we need to put
our lives and relationships in order, to turn away from our sin, to be
holy! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Listen: </span><a href="http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/daniel-and-the-new-kingdom/4983/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/daniel-and-the-new-kingdom/4983/</span></a><br />
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-12072357105775420592015-11-10T11:07:00.000-05:002015-11-10T11:07:10.957-05:00The needs of others<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of our Sisters is undergoing chemotherapy today. It is hard to know how to help when someone
is facing such a scary, challenging time.
It is obvious that we pray for them but the Lord has led me
recently to offer up my day for some special intention. When I prayed my Morning Offering this
morning I did that. “<i>Jesus, through the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all my prayers, works, joys and
sufferings of this day for Sister ____ and in atonement for my sins and for the sins of the whole word.”</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">We can do
that each day and insert the intention we want to pray for.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ex9M5f_OVvE/VkIV67S-gSI/AAAAAAAAB3U/m_c65tzyyD8/s1600/DivineMercyHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ex9M5f_OVvE/VkIV67S-gSI/AAAAAAAAB3U/m_c65tzyyD8/s200/DivineMercyHeader.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">During the day, from time to time when I
think of it, I repeat the intention using the Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayer:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Father, for the sake of His sorrowful
Passion, have mercy on ________ and on the whole world.”</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">My own younger sister was in the hospital
yesterday for a possible heart attack.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I
prayed like this for her as well.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Thank
God, it was a false alarm and she is home.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">God is good!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes we feel
helpless, not knowing what to do for our loved ones in need.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">But the Holy Spirit has given us ways to pray
that are very effective and easy to insert into our busy schedules.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Jesus, I place my trust in you for ___________.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-26954880249543471172015-11-01T14:22:00.001-05:002015-11-01T14:58:17.795-05:00My personal litany of the saints<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today is a solemn feast day. As
well as being Sunday it is also the Solemnity of All Saints. As Father said in his homily this morning –
we get two solemnities for the price of one!
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I was praying about the feast today I remembered that when our
Sisters taught kindergarten they would tell the children that a saint <i>“was
someone who made it to Heaven.</i>” You
know, we might focus on all the men and women who are famous saints but in the
reading from the Book of Revelation in the Mass today it says “…<i>I (John) had a
vision of a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, race,
people and tongue.</i>” That means that
there are so many saints in Heaven their number cannot be counted! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought of a picture I have in my family
album, that of my great grandparents and their 11 children. Theirs was a family of deep devotion and
faith and it was from these roots that my own Catholic faith was received. I want to share that picture with you today
because I believe it is a picture of my family saints. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Te78Ne_K6k/VjZkt1IJEzI/AAAAAAAAB3E/bhtCOkSouIE/s1600/famil%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Te78Ne_K6k/VjZkt1IJEzI/AAAAAAAAB3E/bhtCOkSouIE/s400/famil%2Bphoto.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great grandpa and grandma Smith with my great aunts and uncles<br />
Maggie, Annie, Leo, Cleophas, Veronica, Gregory, Rebecca, Fabian, Bertha, Linus and John</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You know, I pray to my deceased relatives, asking for their intercession for my many needs.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I met only three of them but I know the names
of the others and I feel very close to them.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">I am sure you have your own family saints who are among that great
number, standing before the throne of the Lamb.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s honor them today and throughout this month!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">What a great promise the Lord has given to us
that we too, someday, may be counted among their number.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I know, for me, I want “<i>to make it to Heaven.”</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-12751428158053265772015-09-30T15:54:00.002-04:002015-09-30T15:54:43.183-04:00Let's read and remember! <span style="font-size: large;">I am sure that if you watched all the media coverage of Pope Francis' visit to Cuba and the United States you are overwhelmed with all the wonderful images of his time with the people and with the messages he left with us. If you are like me, you need time to process, to absorb all that he had to say. Well, I discovered a wonderful web site with the texts of all of his talks and homilies so I am happy to share it with you (if you do not already have it.) It is offered by Aleteia, a wonderful web site for Catholic news. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the link: <a href="http://aleteia.org/2015/09/28/read-the-full-texts-of-all-of-pope-francis-addresses-during-his-visit-to-the-u-s/">http://aleteia.org/2015/09/28/read-the-full-texts-of-all-of-pope-francis-addresses-during-his-visit-to-the-u-s/</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The home page is <a href="http://aleteia.org/">http://aleteia.org/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have printed out a few of the homilies so far and am reading them slowly, underlining things I particularly want to remember and pray about. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In response to our Holy Father's plea, let us pray for him each day that God will guide and strengthen him. Let us pray especially for the Synod on the Family which opens on Sunday in Rome. </span>Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-61606926230952228482015-09-17T11:17:00.000-04:002015-09-17T11:17:09.094-04:00Simon and me<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-husLuor_8tc/VfrZIBxFndI/AAAAAAAAB2s/kL7vLBEPAH4/s1600/wjpas0582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-husLuor_8tc/VfrZIBxFndI/AAAAAAAAB2s/kL7vLBEPAH4/s200/wjpas0582.jpg" width="161" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Today’s Gospel (Lk
7:36-50) is about the woman who approached Jesus at a banquet and washed his
feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. It was an act of deep repentance and humility
and although she was a sinner, Jesus recognized her sincerity and her deep
sorrow for her sins. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many times when we
reflect on this story, we think about the woman and her generosity of spirit
and we pray to be like her in our own lives.
However, today I was taken by Simon, the Pharisee, who hosted the
banquet. He was very critical of the
woman and saw only her sin. Jesus,
however, saw into her heart. I am
sometimes like Simon; I have a tendency to be judgmental. Today I was convicted of my own sin, asking
the Lord for the grace to really “see” others as He sees them. </span></div>
Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-53974265313737304382015-09-15T16:12:00.001-04:002015-09-15T16:12:19.172-04:00A daily brief reflection<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gDkYpjUFlgU/Vfh62y5ELFI/AAAAAAAAB2U/-_RO24kx_4k/s1600/our-lady-of-sorrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gDkYpjUFlgU/Vfh62y5ELFI/AAAAAAAAB2U/-_RO24kx_4k/s200/our-lady-of-sorrows.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Lady of Sorrows - the Pieta</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Living close to the city of New York we are often in touch with what is happening there in the Archdiocese. The head of the Archdiocese, Cardinal Timothy Dolan is very well known, not only in New York but throughout our country as well. The former president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Dolan is very articulate and knowledgeable about many issues and most importantly, he is a holy man - a holy priest. I recently discovered that the Cardinal has a daily two-minute reflection on the readings and feasts of the day. His reflection today on the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows is very gripping. Cardinal Dolan has been using Pope Francis as an example to all of us as you will see in this daily reflection. Here is the link: </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://cardinaldolan.org/index.php/sept-15th-feast-day-of-our-lady-of-sorrows/">http://cardinaldolan.org/index.php/sept-15th-feast-day-of-our-lady-of-sorrows/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have bookmarked this site and when time permits, I check in to hear what Cardinal Dolan has for me to think about at the time.</span><br />
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<br />Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-961350751873053792015-09-11T15:05:00.000-04:002015-09-11T15:05:24.120-04:00An historic visit to our country<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JgBjY3ApJZg/VfMkm9CkS8I/AAAAAAAAB2A/thwd7jrmA5k/s1600/Pope-Francis-I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JgBjY3ApJZg/VfMkm9CkS8I/AAAAAAAAB2A/thwd7jrmA5k/s200/Pope-Francis-I.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">If you haven't already watched the much-talked-about ABC News video of our Holy Father, Pope Francis' televised meeting with Americans in three cities, here is a link to the program. It is wonderful! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/pope-francis-tells-americans-courageous-abc-news-virtual/story?id=33490392" target="_blank">http://abcnews.go.com/US/pope-francis-tells-americans-courageous-abc-news-virtual/story?id=33490392</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Excitement is building for the Holy Father's visit to Cuba, Washington, DC, New York City and Philadelphia. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a link to EWTN's page on the Papal visit. The station will be providing full coverage. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/papaltravels/america/?utm_source=ewtnhome&utm_medium=smallhpbanner&utm_campaign=inamerica">http://www.ewtn.com/papaltravels/america/?utm_source=ewtnhome&utm_medium=smallhpbanner&utm_campaign=inamerica</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Several of our Sisters will be going to Philadelphia each day for the World Meeting of Families. They will have an information and vocations display in one of the exhibition sites. If you see them please say hello! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pray for our Holy Father that the Lord will protect him and strengthen him for this historic but arduous visit. Pray that the people of the United States will have their hearts touched by seeing him and hearing what he has to say. </span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-33211413703597976962015-09-10T14:58:00.004-04:002015-09-10T14:58:58.405-04:00Have a look<span style="font-size: large;">Today I would like to invite you to look in on our community's FACEBOOK page. Here is the link:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sistersofjesusourhope">https://www.facebook.com/sistersofjesusourhope</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There you will find pictures of our Sisters as well as the Gospel for each day. Please share the link with others. We would like to spread the word about Jesus. He is our hope!</span>Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-41010981950054259202015-09-08T11:25:00.001-04:002015-09-08T11:25:33.888-04:00Her birthday<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGcRIyC11Ck/Ve79SmxyteI/AAAAAAAAB1g/ND1PxoV_eJU/s1600/42page2art1193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGcRIyC11Ck/Ve79SmxyteI/AAAAAAAAB1g/ND1PxoV_eJU/s200/42page2art1193.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Today the Church celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The opening antiphon for today's Office of Readings invites us to</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Come, let us celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary, let us worship her Son, Christ the Lord."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I was praying Morning Prayer I was taken with this antiphon. The best way to celebrate Mary's birth is to assure her of our love and honor her by worshiping her Son. Perhaps I have written about this in an earlier post but the antiphon reminds me of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. It is one of my favorite places to visit and to pray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When you walk through the majestic front door you are confronted by a giant mosaic behind the main altar - an image of Jesus, the Teacher. Signs of the Blessed Mother are no where in site! But as you slowly walk down the side aisles you come upon lovely chapels on your left or on your right, dedicated to the Blessed Mother under her various titles. She is hidden because she wants to draw your attention to her Son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a link to the Basilica's web site. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.4719297/k.BF65/Home.htm">http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.4719297/k.BF65/Home.htm</a> You can find pictures of the chapels under "tour". </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you ever get a chance to visit the Basilica (it is on the campus of Catholic University) I would encourage you to do so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, find ways to celebrate Mary's birth today. Here is the closing prayer for Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lor </span><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lord</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> God, the day of our salvation dawned when the Blessed
Virgin gave birth to your Son. A</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.5in;">s we celebrate her own nativity, grant us your grace and
your peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</span></i></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785864967596470473.post-5938442303220769852015-08-30T16:57:00.001-04:002015-08-30T16:57:28.746-04:00Best Buy! <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As
we have already heard our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared a <i>Year of Mercy</i> in the Church, a year set to begin on December
8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother. Dioceses are planning ways that their
parishes and people will be able to prayerfully enter into the Year. The World desperately needs to know and
understand the meaning of the Gift of God’s Mercy. One of the ways our local parish is preparing
is by asking the parishioners to consider buying a copy of a wonderful book, <u>The
Church of Mercy by Pope Francis – a Vision for the Church</u> published by
Loyola Press. The book will serve later
in the Year as material for small group discussions in the parish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a book for busy people! I
have been reading the book a little bit at a time and it is wonderful. There are 10 parts with 39 <u>short</u>
chapters containing talks and homilies given by Pope Francis since he became
our Holy Father in 2013. If you want to
get to know Pope Francis I would encourage you to buy the book, especially
before he comes to the United States at the end of September! (see Amazon.com or the website for Loyola
Press) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here
is a link to the first chapter in the book.
It is the Holy Father’s homily for the Mass for the Possession of the
Chair of the Bishop of Rome, April 7, 2013.
It is copied from the Vatican website.
<a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130407_omelia-possesso-cattedra-laterano.html">http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130407_omelia-possesso-cattedra-laterano.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">May your reading be blessed and fruitful. </span></div>
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Sister Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945869245426016619noreply@blogger.com0