Oh my goodness

As the day ends, I think of Saint Therese's "Little Way". She is one of my most favorite saints. She said, “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look toward heaven; it is a cry of recognition and love; embracing both trial and joy.” She is the patron saint of priests, florists, pilots and missionaries. https://instagr.am/p/CR81azLhJGF/

Keep safe and dry dear friends! https://instagr.am/p/CRsYLO_rJA3/

One night I saw a soldier on the moon https://ift.tt/3AN6FnK https://instagr.am/p/CRGsTR7LiUY/

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed ... God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved" - Psalm 46 https://ift.tt/2y6IzZz

We can be assured that God is in control and there is no need to fear or be anxious. Our times are in His hands and He is making a way for us to be close to Him during this season. The best gift we can give to God as we journey this Lent is the gift of faith, hope and trust that He will bring us through every challenge and that we can rejoice in the hope of eternity every single day despite the death and destruction that we experience and are surrounded by during this time. If we are experiencing hardship, inconvenience and even desolation, we can use this for good. We can offer it up as a sacrifice and a prayer for those who need it the most, the least, the lonely and the lost. In a way, we are experiencing how fragile our world is and how vulnerable and weak we really are. Despite our being in isolation, God has provided ways for us to be close to each other even if only to meet on the ether. This too will pass and we can be assured that God is doing something good for us who love Him and trust in His mercy! https://ift.tt/39cp3Hz

Little is known of Our Lady of Akita but those who hear her message never forget it. The 3 prophetic messages from the Blessed Mother may be seen in the glimpses in today's newspapers. Pat and I visited this remote convent in Northern Japan recently and were allowed to take photos of the miraculous statue that for a span of 6 years baffled scientists and the faithful alike. The statue was caught "weeping" on Japanese nationwide tv, bled from a stigmata on its right hand, and even moved on one occasion. Surely this heavenly sign is something we should find the time to read about. Mother Mary said, "do you love the Lord? If you love the Lord, listen to what I have to say to you." The 1973 miracles and apparitions of angels and the Blessed Mother were officially approved by the Catholic Church on April 22, 1984 by Bishop John Shojiro Ito, Diocese of Niigata. Read the important messages and more at
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Free font up for grabs! https://ift.tt/2HZXC8J https://ift.tt/2SWo8Go

Joy comes from giving. https://ift.tt/2vfbwkO

St. Philip Neri must have been a fun guy to hang out with 😃 https://ift.tt/37qbVig

What would you ask for? https://ift.tt/2tUoJyA

Being in community taught me to begin the year by having a day of prayer - to thank the Lord for the year that just passed and to pray for the year ahead. . To think of one whole year's blessings would take a whole day by itself. Just a single day holds too many to count. But it sure fills the heart to overflowing when with gratitude, like Mary, we "ponder these things in our heart". . Pat and I were listening to an episode of "Catholic Answers" (highly recommended podcast) where they talked about the "Easter Eggs" of the Christmas story. These are the precious things you find upon closer look at the story. . One instance is when St. Luke describes Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes in a cave. This foreshadows the time of Jesus' death when he was wrapped in linen cloth in the tomb. It is also worthwhile to note that the Jews at the time swaddled sacrificial lambs' legs further calling to mind Jesus as the "Lamb of God". . How about the Baby Jesus being laid in a manger? The word "manger" comes from the Latin "munducare" meaning "to eat". The manger was a feeding trough for the animals. Jesus was born in Bethlehem (which means "House of Bread") because He is the Bread of Life (John 6:32-35). . Who first knew of Jesus' coming? It was the shepherds and the 3 wise men. The shepherds were simple men and they knew that they did not know much. The wise men were learned but they knew that they did not know everything. Jesus also comes to the same kind of people - those who have humble hearts to seek Him. . The gifts of the Magi were gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold symbolizes Jesus' kingship. Frankincense, His priesthood and myrrh is for His death for the salvation of the world. . The Christmas season may end and the day of Jesus' birth passes but what we gain does not ever pass away. . Pope St. Leo the Great, known for being one of the Doctors of the Church and who persuaded Attila the Hun to turn back from invading Italy said, "because the day has not passed away in such a way that the power of the work, which was then revealed, has passed away with it" (Sermon on the Epiphany, 36, 1) . "All therefore that the Son of God did and taught fo https://ift.tt/2FhTsrJ

Blessed Christmas from the Burkes! https://ift.tt/34VB3eL

So I was thinking the other day about Poland. It is the only country in Europe to have escaped all of Europe's 2007 recession and economic downturn. In the past 20 years, their purchasing power has grown on average by 6% annually and their GDP has increased seven-fold since 1990. Wow, just wow. . They had a big gathering in 2015 where 60,000 people came together and declared that "Jesus Christ is King of the Country". The following year at the Church of Divine Mercy in Krakow, they had a ceremony and they said, "In our hearts, rule us, Christ! In our families, rule us, Christ! ... In our schools and universities, rule us, Christ! ... Through the Polish nation, rule us, Christ! ... We pledge to defend your holy worship and preach Thy royal glory, Christ our King, we promise!" they prayed." . If you look this up on the news, you'll read that this was a nazi, far-right event but it wasn't. It was simply, a love of God and love of country event. . At Fatima, the Blessed Mother said "Poland will never lose the faith". . In the Philippines, we can recall the name they gave us in 2012, as a "rising Asian Tiger". But why did we fall again? . Time and time again, as a nation, we say, we are "Maka-Diyos" (Godly) so we can identify as a nation that loves God. So we can compare ourselves with Israel. Every time Israel worshipped idols, their nation experienced a downturn. They lost wars, got enslaved by foreign powers, so on and so forth. . In 2012, the Philippines also moved away from God and chose an ungodly way. The Philippines passed a bill that disregarded God's laws. . Look at the USA, with a winning streak of 69 wars, they start losing wars in 1960 to these small countries (Laos, Cuba, North Vietnam)... why? . Because in 1960, the birth control pill was invented. . The RH Bill, birth control all go against God. Why? Because when God has an idea of creating a human being, there is no replacing that person. That person cannot be duplicated, each is unique. When we thwart God's plans for our own, there are consequences on a nationwide scale. . Whenever you introduce birth control pills, devices and unnatural means of stopping pregnancy rather than purity https://ift.tt/34JbaP4

I can never draw Mama Mary well. God is the best artist and Mama Mary is the most beautiful of all His creations. We celebrate Mama Mary's mother love in the feast of Guadalupe today. She appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 and 9 million were converted in a span of 8 years. The missionary priests could not baptize people fast enough. At the time, child sacrifice was common because the Aztecs believed their god would not send rain for their crops to grow. So, 1 in 5 children per family was known to give their children, offering them up to their idols. In fact 42 children were found in archeological digs. "In every case, the 42 children, mostly males aged around six, were suffering from serious cavities, abscesses or bone infections that would have been painful enough to make them cry continually. (The idol) required the tears of the young so their tears would wet the earth. As a result, if children did not cry, the priests would sometimes tear off the children's nails before the ritual sacrifice." https://ift.tt/2QAY6oh About 50,000 people were killed annually including adults. Today, 50 million babies are killed in the womb per year. Their skulls are crushed and their spinal chords ripped apart as they try to escape the instruments of torture. I cannot even wish this evil on a little kitten or dog but it is done every day to babies around the world. Despite what anyone will tell you, abortion is intrinsically evil. It is the effect of a culture desensitized to the true identity of the human person. We are made in the image and likeness of the living God. He hates abortion. We should too. Every fibre of our being should try to fight this modern day evil. Let's strengthen families, support pregnant women (who are victims as well of the lie that it is a "choice" and not a life), let us not stop until this horrible attack on our dignity is ended. Do you know the story of this painting that is hundreds of years old and has not disintegrated? It was painted by the hand of God! Watch a 7 minute video on the story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZThoOjFyyc https://ift.tt/2PAzeOG

Yes! Are you quick to say yes? At work with my family, when I need an answer quick, I go to one sister. When I need to get an answer that is thought of from many angles and I am not in a hurry, I go to another sister. God went to Mary for both a quick and I believe, a well thought of answer. Mary said “Yes” despite knowing it could mean death. You see, during those days, bearing a child without a father could mean death by stoning. At the tender age of 14, Mary chose to follow the Lord instead of self-preservation. With obedience comes blessing - not only for Mary who became the Queen of Heaven but it became our greatest blessing - so Mary through her “Yes” became the cause of our Joy. Her “yes” made it possible for Jesus to come into the world and pay the ultimate price in our behalf so we could be with Him (if we chose to). The whole Catholic Church rejoices in this YES today. Why is it called the feast of Immaculate Concepción? Because she was freed from original sin by God. In fact, all the Hollywood movies got it wrong when the portrayed Mary writhing in pain as she bore Jesus. She was spared the pain of giving birth because she was conceived without sin. Because God knew, in all of creation, this woman would usurp Eve’s “no”. He knew and because God can go forward or backward in time, He caught Mary before she fell in the pit of original sin. This thought came to me just the other day when I was at a shop browsing without any intention to buy. I saw this beautiful carabiner that matched my bag. Since I had a strong urge to buy it (which does not happen often), I did. Just as I left the shop, my bag strap broke due to such a heavy weight. I was soooo amazed that God in His kindness to me, let me buy what I needed to quickly to sling it through and continue walking my way. I thought of how God did that for Mary. Jesus saved Mary in advance - knowing she would say Yes! I know it all sounds so very confusing. Trust me when I say that evidence of this is from the Blessed Mother herself. The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima all compel us to get to know the amazing woman behind today’s feast. Thank you Mama Mary!!! Thank https://ift.tt/2s69X6O

Viva Kristo Rey! Happy Feast of Christ the King! Jesus is indeed Lord! "Christ has dominion over all creatures ...by essence and by nature." - Cyril of Alexandria (Church Father, Doctor of the Church) This feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1925. Today points us to the end of time where Jesus will come again, this time as King over all the universe, with power and glory to be ruler and judge over all. "We are already at "the last hour". Already the final age of the world is with us, and the renewal of the world is irrevocably under way ..." - Catechism of the Catholic Church 670 "From this it follows that to Christ angels and men are subject. Christ is also King by acquired, as well as by natural right, for he is our Redeemer. ...' We are no longer our own property, for Christ has purchased us "with a great price"; our very bodies are the "members of Christ." A third ground of sovereignty is that God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion. "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me." - Matthew 28:18 "Though already present in his Church, Christ's reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled "with power and great glory" by the King's return to earth. This reign is still under attack by the evil powers, even though they have been defeated definitively by Christ's Passover. Until everything is subject to him, "until there be realized new heavens and a new earth in which justice dwells, the pilgrim Church, in her sacraments and institutions, which belong to this present age, carries the mark of this world which will pass, and she herself takes her place among the creatures which groan and travail yet and await the revelation of the sons of God." That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ's return by saying to him: Maranatha! "Our Lord, come!" - Catechism of the Catholic Church 557 - 561 http://www.vatican.va/…/ccc_…/archive/catechism/p1s2c2a7.htm https://ift.tt/2Da7Gd1

We can give thanks, even in the deepest, darkest, loneliest, most confusing and painful times of our lives. He can give us joy in our most trying moments. Thank You Lord! ❤️🙏 #inspirationalquotes #calligraphyquote #typegang #typographyinspired #thankful #givethanks #godlovesyou https://ift.tt/2QnRyws