Honduras!

Urgent Prayer request:

Violence feared in Tegucigalpa today

Please pray and sacrifice with me for the people of Honduras today (Monday). Mass demonstrations are expected in the capital city and throughout the country, and Zelaya has been inciting his followers to riot.

(Check the blog for a more detailed update.)

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us!

http://witnessinghope.wordpress.com/

Zelaya has asked his supporters to take to the streets today (Monday) in what he says will be “peaceful” marches to commemorate the three-month anniversary of his removal from power. Since the zelayistas have proven themselves to be anything but peaceful, the Honduran government has issued a decree that temporarily limits certain civil liberties: unauthorized public gatherings have been outlawed, police have been given permission to make arrests without a warrant, and the pro-Zelaya television channel has been temporarily taken off the air.

Sounds to me like they’re doing what they can to keep the peace – but once again, the media have twisted the facts and focused all of their attention on the fact that Interim President Micheletti has issued a decree that infringes upon the essential civil rights of Honduran citizens.

Please pray with me… that God would spare the innocent people of Honduras and strengthen their faith, that He would give her leaders wisdom in these trying times, that He would convert the hearts of those who would resort to violence and forgive the sins of those who have turned away from Him.

“Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the poor! … O Lord, You will hear the desire of the meek; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline your ear to do justice…” (Psalm 10:12, 17-18)

discernment retreat

So i have signed up to a discernment retreat in November with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at their motherhouse in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I am quite excited to see where God is calling and leading me.

I know that He is doing great things in my life, and in the lives of those around me.

I am quite excited about being in Wisconsin in November, it will be COLDDDDD. There might possibly be snow which i am excited about.

I have concerns about telling the people in my life who are not religious about my discerning religious life. Any advice / suggestions would be appreciated!

answering the call.

God is calling me to serve Him. I MUSt answer His call without hesitation.
I am in the process of finding a spiritual director, and i'm excited about that.

God willing i will be going on a discernment retreat with Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in November. I loveeee this order and i have no even met any of the sisters yet. I know that i am called to Franciscan orders. I have a simple mind set and a simple way of serving God.

I just want to give glory back to God in whatever way possible.
I still have concerns about telling my family and those who will not understand about my discernment to religious life. Any advice on telling others?

Wedding Dress

Just a thought ... but Lindsey and I were talking about Sister Fatima and Sister Nina's perpetual profession of vows.

It was their own wedding to their lover, JESUS and the CHURCH! SO beautiful.

We decided that if God will's it, we will be wearing our wedding dress every day :)

Perpetual Profession

This morning was the Perpetual Profession of Sister Nina Vincent and Sister Fatima Aphiri, Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. This was one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen.

I am thankful for the Sisters and their Yes to God's call.
I felt a peace and joy during these 2 hours of the Mass and Celebration. I feel such peace knowing that this is EXACTLY where God is calling me to be.

I am very excited about my visit to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. I love their Charism, and order. Such beautiful, holy women. I have not even visited the order, but only from speaking with 1 of the sisters know that this is a beautiful and holy place.

I am at peace with my discernment, and am not so totally frieghtened or scared by it. I am thankful to the Holy Spirit and The Blessed Mother me for assisting me and guiding me on my journey.

Why we wear the veil.

Why Wear the Veil?

In ancient traditions dating back even thousands of years, the "veil" represented purity and modesty in many religions and cultures. A veil, or head covering, is both a symbol and a mystical sacrifice that invites the woman wearing it to ascend the ladder of sanctity.

When a woman covers her head in the Catholic Church it symbolises her dignity and humility before God, not men. It is no surprise women of today have so easily abandoned the tradition of the chapel veil (head covering) when the two greatest meanings of the veil are purity and humility.

The woman who covers her head in the presence of the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is reminding herself that she must be humble before God. As with all outward gestures, if it is practised enough it filters down into the heart and is translated into actions that speak volumes. The "veil" covers what the Lord calls, in Holy Scripture, "the glory of the woman", her hair. Covering her hair is a gesture the woman makes spiritually to "show" God she recognises her beauty is less than His and His Glory is far above hers.

In doing this she is reminded that virtues cannot grow in the soul without a great measure of humility. So she wears the veil to please God and remind herself to practice virtue more ardently.

There is no other piece of clothing a woman may wear to serve this function. The veil symbolically motivates the woman to "bow" her head in prayer, to lower her eyes before the great and mysterious beauty and power of God in the Blessed Sacrament. By the bowing of her head and lowering of her eyes, she is more able to worship God in the interior chapel of her heart and soul.

The veil or head covering a woman wears gives a beautiful sense of dignity to a woman. When she wears it, she identifies herself with God's greatest creation, the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God. There was none on earth that loved and loves the Lord Jesus more than the Blessed Virgin Mary. In her love, her humility breathed forth like sweet scented incense before God. The veil she wore symbolised her purity, modesty and of course her profound humility and submission before and to God Almighty.

Those women who love Jesus must come to realise the imitation of His Mother in wearing a chapel veil (head covering) and in other virtues is a small sacrifice to make in order to grow in spiritual understanding of purity, humility and love.

The covering of a woman's head in Church is a striking reminder of modesty, something old but lost in the society of today. Modesty and purity walk hand in hand.

When a woman veils her head she is shielding her heart to be wooed by the love of God in the Blessed Sacrament. This is a mystical 'country' that only the Eternal Father may enter. Her veil is like the lighted lamps of the virgins waiting for the Bridegroom, an indication that she is prepared to receive Him at a moment's notice; an aureole of her spiritual love for the Bridegroom. Wearing the veil is an act of love of God.

Why should a woman wear a head covering or veil in church? Not to be praised, not to go along, not for tradition's sake, not to stand out in the crowd, not because you say or I say or anybody says…But because she loves our Eucharistic Lord Jesus and it is another small sacrifice she may offer for her soul's sake and for the sake of many souls who have no one to offer for them. Amen.

(Sr Patricia Therese, OPB)

Very thought and prayer provoking!

at peace

So i went to Confession yesterday, such an amazing feeling of grace. I love that feeling.

I am so filled with joy and peace and grace. The glory and love of the Lord is amazing!

So i hungout with my good friends tim and sarah last night, who have been dating about a week. they're so cute. but normally in the past i get jealous of couples and get upset. but last night i was really okay, and not jealous. i am finally at peace with my decision to discern.

I am not sure what God has planned, but i know it will be great!

questionable.

So as i continue the discerning process. I have doubts about joining. I am confused with what i have always wanted, and what i think that God wants from me.

I have thought about how i will tell the people in my life, i.e. my family, that will not understand the idea of me discerning religious life. But i have decided that it doesn't matter what they think or what they want for my life. I know that following God's will is the best decision i can make. I know that i must do what God wants for me, and nothing else or nothing less.

People are often unreasonable,illogical,and self centered;forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish,ulterior motives;..be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,they may be jealous;..be HAPPY anyway.
The good you do today,people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough: give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;..it was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Theresa