|
Joy from the Monastery |
Thoughts from Sister Patricia
Visit Sr. Patricia's blog
to leave a comment and share with others about this topic.
To send today's card: Faith
For more beautiful cards All Cards
Quote for the Day:
God is even kinder than you think.
St Theresa
|
Happy First Day of April!
I took my mom to the doctor today. She is still not getting on top of her UTI infection. Sigh. But anyway she was glad for an excuse to go for a drive. We had a fun time because she was very talkative and making all sorts of comments on things as we went along. The funniest was as we were leaving the doctor's office she noticed people standing to the side, probably a nurse or something and she said to me, "What do you think they are doing? Probably watching us to make sure we don't go out with one of their spoons in our pocket!"
The other day when I took her to the doctor, (this is becoming a sort of regular thing) it was snowing. She stared at it for awhile as we drove along and then she said to me and to the weather. "I thought we were done with snow. I think this is totally unnecessary." And then as we drove some more, "I really think this is uncalled for." Sort of summed up my feelings exactly only I didn't express it so clearly.
Yesterday I promised to share with you Bishop Skylstad's introduction to my book - Today is the first of three parts.
--------
THE POWER OF PRAYER
By Bishop William S. Skylstad
Prayer means so many things, to so many people. I have been a priest now for nearly 50 years. Some of those years were spent in parish ministry; other years, educating and forming seminarians as they discerned their call to priesthood. As a spiritual director, I have walked with some remarkable individuals, humbled by the opportunity to share their quest for greater unity with God. In several parts of the country, I have had the honor of leading retreats, especially for groups of priests.
When all is said and done, in all of these circumstances, a fundamental question is asked and seeks a definitive answer: What is prayer? Closely following that is a second question, just as important: How do I pray?
In one sense, the answers are intensely simple. In another sense, the answers are as varied as the rich diversity of God's creation that is manifested in humanity itself.
What is prayer?
Prayer is a relationship. It is the relationship between an individual and God, and it is the relationship between a group of individuals with one another as they seek a relationship, together, with God, in community.
We know that God wants this relationship with us. When people asked him how to pray, Jesus didn't dismiss the question. He gave them and gave us a model of prayer that evokes familiarity and respect, that acknowledges our dependence on God while it gives us an opportunity to express our joy in speaking candidly with the One we call Father.
--------
We've decided to wait on the presales until the book is actually on its way to the printer. So stay tuned. That should be April 7th! We hope... we hope... we hope!
Blessings of Peace,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters
|
Click to View
Today's Peace Card
Subscribe to
Joy Notes
Your information will not be
used in any way except for
subscribing to JoyNotes.
|
Book on Reconciliation
Send Video Card
Sr. Patricia and Oprah
Saint of the day
Reverend Fun
Motivational
Meditation
from Greatday.com
|
Rejoice in Me
by Msgr. David E. Rosage
Everything God Created is Good
Fragile Sojourn
Psalm 89:48
Remember how short my life is;
how frail you created all the children of men!
The psalmist reminds us how short is our earthly sojourn and how fraile is our natural life. Our next heartbeat, like the last one, is a gift from God.
Our benevolent Father gives each one of us sufficient time to come to know him in this land of exile, to discover his way of life and our special mission here on earth. All this is a preparation for a life of perfect bliss which is eternal.
St. Paul's counsel is right to the point: "May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesust Christ! ...All that matters is that one is created anew. Peace and mercy on all who follow this rule of life." (Gal 6:14-16)
|
|
Healthy Eating from Barbara George
Elder Care Diet Tips
Your resource for hints on nutrition and health;
a place to learn and a place to share!
Visit Barb's Blog to leave comments and find more great tips.
Oats for heart health and diabetes
I have certainly been remiss in keeping up with my nutrition information. Very exciting time for me waiting for my first grandchild and (hypothetically) working on a quilt for this new little member of our family. I seem to do best at finding other things to do and fretting that I am not getting anything done. Anyone have a cure for this? It seems to be rampant in my family for some odd reason. I am thinking it is genetic and if it is the worst disease we get then I am happy.
I found this interesting link today on oats written by a dietetic intern. She did a great job and I thought I would share it. Be sure to read all the way through, some interesting comments for diabetics. And information on the use of those prepackaged convenience forms that may interest you.
More
http://bgdiet.com/?p=51
|
A Smile from Home - Danielle Bean
Today's Thought
Visit Danielle's Blog to see pictures and links to go with this text.
Yes, we are insane. Thank you for noticing.
We did a crazy thing today. We got up at 5:00 am, packed up the entire lot of us, along with enough food and gizmos to feed and entertain a small nation, and hit the open road.
It was a mere 6 hours to the town in upstate New York where we could pick up the used truck my husband recently purchased (found, thanks to the miracle of the internet, a mere 300 miles from our home). And then it was a mere 6 hours back.
Along the way, we had our share of potty stops. The most memorable was at a doughnut shop where Dan took the boys in first, then returned and took over van duty while I headed in with the girls. I had not even set foot in the shop yet when one of the three young women behind the counter shouted in my direction, “Are you guys a church group?”
I was distracted with keeping Gabby from touching or licking any public surfaces, so I answered quickly, “No.”
And then the three of them burst out laughing.
More
http://daniellebean.com/?p=4099
|
|
Greetings from London with Sister Janet Fearns, FMDM
Pause for Prayer
Visit Janet's Blog to see pictures to go with this text.
On a personal note…
Courage
The silence was more frightening than the sounds of the street and the air raid sirens calling the ‘all clear’. One or two buildings had been badly damaged or destroyed. A battered pram remained exactly where a mother had placed it. Was the baby in the air raid shelter or not? Who knows? It was eerie even though I knew that the street scene was merely an exhibit in the Imperial War Museum and that the silence was the result of a failure in the sound system. However, because I knew what I should have been hearing, the silence was all the more poignant.
My mind flitted back to that street scene of the Blitz whilst listening to some songs sung by the incomparable Vera Lynn. At a time when Britain stood alone against Hitler, when people were spending their nights sleeping in air raid shelters and railway tunnels, people sang. It was amazing. Knowing that Hitler was poised to invade and that the Resistance (still a very well-kept secret) had been informed that they had a maximum life-expectancy of two weeks, still, people sang.
More
|
Spiritual Blessings from Father Rory Pitstick
A Virtual Retreat
Reflections following the Daily Liturgical cycle
Visit Fr. Rory's Blog
|
Tuesday
Acts 4: 32-37
Ps 92(93): 1ab. 1cd-2. 5
Jn 3: 7b-15
Daily Readings
|
Apr 1 Tue: Easter Weekday
From today's readings:
“The community of believers was of one heart and mind.... The Lord is king; He is robed in majesty.... You must be born from above....”
Benchmark of Community Life
The Christian faith is founded upon personal relationships of love with the Lord Jesus Christ, but one’s relationship with Christ develops, not in isolation, but in the context of the network of all relationships with Christ, which is the Church. So, don’t skim over the weighty verses of the first reading, since they outline healthy characteristics to look for which give witness to a healthy community life in the Church.
First, “the community of believers was of one heart and mind,” that is, unity of faith, since one’s faith is dependent on the cooperation of heart and mind. Second, “no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common,” that is, commitment to sharing all blessings, in recognition that they all come from God, and are given for the common good. Third, “with great power, the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,” that is, zealous focus on Christ’s Resurrection, which is the Holy Spirit’s mainspring of Christian evangelization. Finally, “great grace was accorded them all,” that is, visible, outward signs of Christ’s presence sanctified their lives.
Now, we can use these characteristics as criteria for guiding our efforts to build up the Church. All our ideas and programs and work, to be considered Christian, must truly contribute to unity of faith, must foster commitment to sharing all blessings, must highlight the zealous focus on Christ’s Resurrection, and must incorporate sacramental sanctification.
|
|
Copyright 2008 JoyNotes - all rights reserved
|
|
|
|
