|
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: The Annunciation
For more beautiful cards All Cards
Cards for Lent Cards
Quote for the Day:
To go to Jesus, we must go to Mary; for she is our mediatrix of Intercession.
To go to God the Father, we must go to Jesus; for He is our mediator of Redemption.
Saint Louis de Montfort
|
Today is the Solemn feast of the Annunciation. May it be a day that brings you much Peace, Joy and Good.
Just to let you know we had a wonderful retreat/workshop. It was sort of both. Father Jim called it a workshop... because he was guiding us on how to do Centering Prayer. It is very good.. I am just starting with it.. so I can't really explain it enough I think for anyone to really get started with. Basically it is taking 20 minutes to be quiet and listen to God. You just sort of want to be open to God without words or agenda. So you take a minute or two to talk to God naturally about seeking him... then you quiet your mind as much as possible. Close your eyes and try not to let words, images or thoughts take over. You select a word that you can use to sort of focus yourself back to centering when you find yourself listening to the clock ticking or the sudden realization you need to buy something at the store or what are you going to cook for dinner.
Apparently.... this quiet time --- of being still before God --- is very calming and makes one open to God. I think I like it. But I think I need more time with it to really tell for sure.
101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer
I am getting very, very excited because Our Book is almost ready to go to the printer. I asked our bishop, Bishop William Skylstad if he would write the Introduction for it... and today I received his piece. It is so good. I just love it. Here is one line that I think you will like..
"The most important thing to remember is: To try to pray is to pray."
Isn't that beautiful? His whole article is like that. On April 2nd I am going to start sharing a story or piece from the book as I begin the book presales soon.... I will start by sharing the Bishop's Introduction.
I want to apologize to all those who sent in a story or sharing for the book. I have not told but a few people whether there story was included.. mainly because I did not know until the last moment who would make the final cut or not. Sadly there is a great number that I couldn't include because of space. The book was supposed to be 256 pages and it expanded to 304 I think.. and I can't go beyond that. So I have had to make the hard decisions about leaving many out.
I also found that I could not include the "five minute prayer meditations." A number of reasons for that.
1. I should have made up a form because I needed a legalistic written consent that I could use them.
2. I needed full contact information
3. I just not did have room for them....
So I apologize for everyone who shared - I pray God will bless you for your time and generosity.
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
Wonderfully Made
Psalm 139:13-14
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
Love by nature wants to give. By the mutual love of husband and wife, God creates within a mother a new life which will live for all eternity.
Even a momentary reflection will help us realize how wonderfully we are made and endowed with so many gifts, such as seeing, hearing, understanding, and speaking. Surely his works are wonderful.
We are truly his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in advance." (Eph 2:10)
|
|
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.
Protein needs (and how to meet them)
Protein is essential to maintain lean body mass and skin integrity. If intake of protein is inadequate, the body will break down internal stores and use this for making new protein. The human body contains protein in skin, vital organs and muscles. Protein is found in meat, fish, cheese, milk, yogurt, soy products, eggs, beans, and modest amounts in vegetables. As we age, our taste for many familiar protein foods begins to diminish. Persons with kidney disease often have even less interest in eating meats and whole protein foods.
Protein needs are based on body weight (the recommended daily intake for Americans is .8 grams per kilogram of body weight). Obese persons may need to base their protein requirements on ideal body weight:(http://www.manuelsweb.com/IBW.htm). Be aware that these ideal weights are 10-20% lower than would be considered appropriate for seniors as very low body weight may increase risk for skin problems. For normal weight individuals, you can estimate 40 grams for every 100 pounds (weight in pounds x .40). But even easier, you should get at least 50 grams per day up to about 75 grams per day (or 7-10 ounces).
More
|
A Smile from Home - Danielle Bean
Today's Thought
Visit Danielle's Blog to see pictures and links to go with this text.
Bedtime Prayers
Cute is a 4 year old who hastens to add, “And I want to pray for … Jesus!”
But cuter still is a 6 year old who raises an eyebrow at his sister’s prayer before telling her, “Don’t worry about him. I think Jesus is doing okay for himself.”
|
|
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…
Unlikely people
There was a time when, many years ago, I used to help my fellow students in giving hot soup and bread rolls at night to the down-and-outs clustered underneath a flyover in Coventry city centre. The soup was always ‘interesting’ and the creation of a gypsy (a genuine Romany) who, helping out as a cook in the Salvation Army hostel, tried to give the maximum nourishment and flavour with the minimum of effort. The soup was always ready and waiting for us to collect it from the hostel, provided in generous quantities and steaming hot.
More
|
Spiritual Blessings from Father Rory Pitstick
A Virtual Retreat
Reflections following the Daily Liturgical cycle
Visit Fr. Rory's Blog
|
Monday
Is 7: 10-14; 8: 10
Ps 39(40): 7-8a. 8b-9. 10. 11
Heb 10: 4-10
Lk 1: 26-38
Daily Readings
|
|
Mar 31 Mon: ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD S
From today's readings:
“The Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us!’... Here I am, Lord; I come to do Your will... Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.... Behold the handmaid of the Lord - let it be done unto me according to your word!”
The Incarnation
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt amongst us....” John 1:14 is one of the most jubilant verses in all of Sacred Scripture, the gospel, the “good news” of the Incarnation. Although those first verses which form the prologue of John’s Gospel are proclaimed on Christmas day, they also are equally appropriate for meditation on today’s solemnity of the Annunciation, recalling Mary’s fiat and the moment when the Eternal Word of the Father became flesh and was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Generally, the Annunciation is appropriately celebrated on March 25, nine months before the celebration of the Birth of Jesus. However, when that date falls during Holy Week or Easter Week (as was the case this year), the feast is transferred to the Monday after the Octave of Easter. This feast day continues to grow in importance and in people’s awareness, mostly because the link between Christ’s conception and His birth nine months later is being stressed to emphasize the sacredness of human life even before birth. Consequently, many parishes celebrate Holy Mass with a particular pro-life focus on this day.
Even by themselves, the Gospel texts of the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38) and the Visitation (Lk 1:39-56) prove the indisputable biblical basis for recognizing the sanctity of unborn human life. So, following the example of the Holy Father, one of the best pro-life strategies is simply to cultivate greater appreciation for these feasts in the life of the Lord, which each one of us can do simply by sharing with others the gospel, the good news of what is celebrated today - the Incarnation of the Word of God!
|
|
Copyright 2008 JoyNotes - all rights reserved
|
|
|
|
