Dear Mom,
Keeping a pet spider in your guest room for two weeks is a little over the top. I found it quite hard to concentrate on the rosary with that fuzzy little fellow making his rounds. I finally just offered it up. I was glad to hear that you jarred it and let it outside. Personally, I just vaccuum them up; I figure they get a 50/50 chance that way. I just have one question though; why don't you feel the same way about ants?
Love, Mary
Friday, July 31, 2009
May God forgive me, for I have sinned
Shortly before my daughter started summer vacation, she came home from kindergarten one day and asked me what "blank" meant([it rhymes with ducks). May God forgive me, but I told her that it was an animal with a bushy tail that sort of looks like a dog.
Yes, America, there is a God
Yes, America, there is a God and we are always in His Divine Presence. You may not believe in Him but He believes in you. Many of us go through life utterly unaware of this Presence; some of us have run away from Him, some have hid their faces from HE WHO IS, others just don't want to be bothered by Him. There are others who are afraid of Him, "Perhaps, if I don't pay attention to HIM , He won't notice ME! "
I have done all of the above....none of them worked. The Lord called me by name, grasped me by the hand and pulled me from the pit I had dug for myself (with a little help from the ugly one). Yes, my conversion was miraculous, http://openingthefloodgatesofmercy.blogspot.com/2009/06/heart-of-jesus-infinite-in-mercy.html
but this grace was given in this manner so that I might tell others about it. It was a spiritual manifestation of the gift that is given to every single one of us. The gift of Divine Mercy.
I have done all of the above....none of them worked. The Lord called me by name, grasped me by the hand and pulled me from the pit I had dug for myself (with a little help from the ugly one). Yes, my conversion was miraculous, http://openingthefloodgatesofmercy.blogspot.com/2009/06/heart-of-jesus-infinite-in-mercy.html
but this grace was given in this manner so that I might tell others about it. It was a spiritual manifestation of the gift that is given to every single one of us. The gift of Divine Mercy.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Memere
This is another posting from my mom. It is about my grandmother's passing from this world to our heavenly home. I was blessed to be present while this was happening, she had a very peaceful death . I could feel Our Lady's presence. Here it is:
I was about to continue with the "sifting stage," but I sensed the Lord telling me to move on. ( We are sifted our whole life in one way or another.)
I did not know where to start; so Mary suggested our experience at the nursing home where Memere was staying.
One day while Mary and I were working together, I told her we had to go to the nursing home right away to pray for memere. My sister-in-law welcomed the prayer support. This was on a tuesday morning.
We prayed the rosary all day. At one point, my sister-in-law tearfully said - "When is she going to die?" I blurted out - "on Friday."
We continued praying every day from morning until evening. On Friday evening, my sister-in -law said to me, " You told me she was going to die on Friday." I said, " She is - at eight o' clock."
There were several people in the room at the time, and they heard me say the time. Even as Memere's legs changed color, her hands were still moving on the rosary beads that someone had placed in her hand. A tear rolled down her eye and Memere died exactly at 8pm on Friday. You can imagine the scene.....Everyone was crying. We said a prayer of thanksgiving to God for "His Mercy."
Now, I want to explain.... I have had many experiences of this kind. I am not a psychic or a prophet. This only happens after a whole lot of prayer and only in situations where there is a need to help another person who is suffering. I can only give what I am given.
Dorothea
I was about to continue with the "sifting stage," but I sensed the Lord telling me to move on. ( We are sifted our whole life in one way or another.)
I did not know where to start; so Mary suggested our experience at the nursing home where Memere was staying.
One day while Mary and I were working together, I told her we had to go to the nursing home right away to pray for memere. My sister-in-law welcomed the prayer support. This was on a tuesday morning.
We prayed the rosary all day. At one point, my sister-in-law tearfully said - "When is she going to die?" I blurted out - "on Friday."
We continued praying every day from morning until evening. On Friday evening, my sister-in -law said to me, " You told me she was going to die on Friday." I said, " She is - at eight o' clock."
There were several people in the room at the time, and they heard me say the time. Even as Memere's legs changed color, her hands were still moving on the rosary beads that someone had placed in her hand. A tear rolled down her eye and Memere died exactly at 8pm on Friday. You can imagine the scene.....Everyone was crying. We said a prayer of thanksgiving to God for "His Mercy."
Now, I want to explain.... I have had many experiences of this kind. I am not a psychic or a prophet. This only happens after a whole lot of prayer and only in situations where there is a need to help another person who is suffering. I can only give what I am given.
Dorothea
Monday, July 27, 2009
The bottom falls out
I see now, in hindsight that the Lord never abandoned my family. Though we suffered very much, he was always there. Here is my mother's next post:
At Mary's request, I will tell you about the events following my second word - " Satan has asked that you be sifted as wheat! " (The bottom fell out.)
Within months, our business failed. I became ill. My husband was depressed. The children were frantic. We had no money for food or fuel or anything else. I prayed - prayed -prayed ..... "Lord, have you abandoned us? " Within a few days, we suddenly discovered our furnace restarted. We miraculously had heat (which lasted for three weeks, even though the tank read "empty").
One morning, before anyone else was up, I found seventeen $10 bills in an envelope on my kitchen counter. Everyone was asleep - the doors were locked. No one knew anything about it. Where did the money come from?
My husband went grocery shopping. We were able to restock for 3 or 4 weeks. (This was in 1978.)
At this point, I have to tell you about a most tender miracle.... my children loved mashed potatoes; but we were trying to ration the potatoes so they would last.
I made and served the potatoes with the rest of the food; and I told my children they could each have one serving, but as they were eating, the bowl of mashed potatoes never emptied, the children had their fill; and I went into the next room and cried, because I had witnessed a most
tender miracle from my heavenly father. I was bowled over by the oil for the furnace and the seventeen $10 bills... but this last one touched my heart so deeply I could not hold back the tears.
More is coming, but this is enough for now.
Dorothea
At Mary's request, I will tell you about the events following my second word - " Satan has asked that you be sifted as wheat! " (The bottom fell out.)
Within months, our business failed. I became ill. My husband was depressed. The children were frantic. We had no money for food or fuel or anything else. I prayed - prayed -prayed ..... "Lord, have you abandoned us? " Within a few days, we suddenly discovered our furnace restarted. We miraculously had heat (which lasted for three weeks, even though the tank read "empty").
One morning, before anyone else was up, I found seventeen $10 bills in an envelope on my kitchen counter. Everyone was asleep - the doors were locked. No one knew anything about it. Where did the money come from?
My husband went grocery shopping. We were able to restock for 3 or 4 weeks. (This was in 1978.)
At this point, I have to tell you about a most tender miracle.... my children loved mashed potatoes; but we were trying to ration the potatoes so they would last.
I made and served the potatoes with the rest of the food; and I told my children they could each have one serving, but as they were eating, the bowl of mashed potatoes never emptied, the children had their fill; and I went into the next room and cried, because I had witnessed a most
tender miracle from my heavenly father. I was bowled over by the oil for the furnace and the seventeen $10 bills... but this last one touched my heart so deeply I could not hold back the tears.
More is coming, but this is enough for now.
Dorothea
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Gift from God
My mother's name means "Gift from God" and she is surely this! She has received many graces and spiritual gifts from the Lord so I asked her to write for this blog and my other blogs also. Today she gave me her first post and here it is:
At the request of my daughter, Mary, I am sharing certain spiritual events in my life that have led me to believe (to know) of God's love and caring for us in a very personal and individual way.
I had been an "on and off Catholic" for many years before these things happened. (I started out as Greek Orthodox - having been baptized, communed and confirmed in that church. My father was of the Greek Orthodox faith and my mother was Catholic.)
About thirty plus years ago, I was at the beach, sitting with friends, and I heard the words "in my head"---" Taste and see the sweetness of the Lord." These words resounded in my head all day long. For the next several months, I tasted this sweetness in my spiritual life....thinking about God almost all the time (and loving Him with such a tender love).
A few months later, I heard the words---" Satan has asked that you be sifted as wheat." As before, these words echoed in my mind all day. Well, the bottom fell out after this. (But this is another story for later)]
The following year, I heard (all day long) " Feed my sheep." I was very puzzled by this, as my family was struggling so much with health problems and lack of money (there were seven in our family". We were living out the second word given to me (more about that another time).
Later in the year, I heard the words ---" Little children, it pleases The Father to give you the kingdom."
As to the above, I did not write down actual dates---but I do remember the start of this to be 1976-1978.
When I thought about the words, they appeared to be stages (both spiritual and actual).
Dorothea
At the request of my daughter, Mary, I am sharing certain spiritual events in my life that have led me to believe (to know) of God's love and caring for us in a very personal and individual way.
I had been an "on and off Catholic" for many years before these things happened. (I started out as Greek Orthodox - having been baptized, communed and confirmed in that church. My father was of the Greek Orthodox faith and my mother was Catholic.)
About thirty plus years ago, I was at the beach, sitting with friends, and I heard the words "in my head"---" Taste and see the sweetness of the Lord." These words resounded in my head all day long. For the next several months, I tasted this sweetness in my spiritual life....thinking about God almost all the time (and loving Him with such a tender love).
A few months later, I heard the words---" Satan has asked that you be sifted as wheat." As before, these words echoed in my mind all day. Well, the bottom fell out after this. (But this is another story for later)]
The following year, I heard (all day long) " Feed my sheep." I was very puzzled by this, as my family was struggling so much with health problems and lack of money (there were seven in our family". We were living out the second word given to me (more about that another time).
Later in the year, I heard the words ---" Little children, it pleases The Father to give you the kingdom."
As to the above, I did not write down actual dates---but I do remember the start of this to be 1976-1978.
When I thought about the words, they appeared to be stages (both spiritual and actual).
Dorothea
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sea of grace
Each morning when I wake up I thank the Lord for the gift of today. I ask the Lord for the grace to open this gift reverently and with great love. Next, I take holy water and ask Him to seal my mind, my mouth, my heart, soul, body and emotions in Him. Then I make the sign of the cross over my eyes that I may see Jesus in everyone and over my ears that I may hear His Word and that it may be planted richly within me. After that I just make my daily offering and go about my day. Since I have started doing this I have noticed a HUGE difference in my life. The Lord has been flooding me with grace upon grace.....a never ending sea of grace.
My Lord, my Life, my Love.
My Lord, my Life, my Love.
Friday, July 24, 2009
The signs of the times
"Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and be converted and I heal them."
Matthew 13:15
Take a look around you. Can you see the signs of the times? The whole earth is groaning.
This is a word that was given to my mother. " The whole earth is groaning." She also got
"I live in the praises of my people." Should we not praise Him? At the very least we should praise Him for his mercy and patience! Our country and our world are in rough shape. There are signs everywhere....wars, road rage, desecration of churches, blasphemy in art, abortion, the list goes on and on. Even nature is crying out! Why are we so blind? Do we want this for our children? Mother Mary says "Pray! Pray! Pray! " We as christians need to stand in the gap through intercessory prayer. Our very lives should be a prayer. The Lord's mercy is very great indeed, but we must accept this mercy and show it to others.
Praise thee, Lord, for thy mercy is infinite!
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and be converted and I heal them."
Matthew 13:15
Take a look around you. Can you see the signs of the times? The whole earth is groaning.
This is a word that was given to my mother. " The whole earth is groaning." She also got
"I live in the praises of my people." Should we not praise Him? At the very least we should praise Him for his mercy and patience! Our country and our world are in rough shape. There are signs everywhere....wars, road rage, desecration of churches, blasphemy in art, abortion, the list goes on and on. Even nature is crying out! Why are we so blind? Do we want this for our children? Mother Mary says "Pray! Pray! Pray! " We as christians need to stand in the gap through intercessory prayer. Our very lives should be a prayer. The Lord's mercy is very great indeed, but we must accept this mercy and show it to others.
Praise thee, Lord, for thy mercy is infinite!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A great idea!
Check out this site! http://booksforcatholicinmates.blogspot.com/ Many people have Catholic books that could be given to those in prison. I'm definitely going to send shastadaisy a box as I have many classics just sitting on my bookshelves.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Suffering in the Garden
When I went to mass this morning the priest gave a homily that hit home with me. It was about keeping our eyes on the Lord. Everything looks different through the eyes of faith. Even suffering. On the days that I feel a lot of pain I have noticed that when I grumble and complain the pain is much harder to bear but if I unite it with His suffering and then peacefully accept it the burden is lighter. My illness (fibromyalgia , polymyalgia) has definitely brought me closer to the Lord and it has deepened my prayer life. I love meditating on the sorrowful mysteries and I sit in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus, lean my head against His and just suffer with Him.
Utterly Thine , my Lord and my God.
Utterly Thine , my Lord and my God.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Begone satan!
When I was first converted I came under tremendous attack by satan (he doesn't deserve an uppercase s). In my head I was always saying, "Begone satan!" I was begoning (snicker!) satan so much that I forgot to keep my heart on the Lord. Now, most of the time I just say "Jesus" as reverently as possible, for at the name of Jesus every knee must bend and I figure if they're busy kneeling and getting up they won't have time to bother me.
My Lord, my heart.
My Lord, my heart.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Fiat!
Everything matters. Every word spoken. Every word left unspoken. Every action and every failure to act. So often I hear the words, "Well, I'm not going to bother voting" or "Why bother speaking up about abortion? One person won't make a difference anyway." WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! One person does make a difference! Every word, every smile, every action DOES make a difference and one person CAN change the world.
Mother Mary simply said "May it be done to me according to your word" and changed the course of history forever.
Mother Mary simply said "May it be done to me according to your word" and changed the course of history forever.
Truth
I love praying the rosary and the chaplet of Divine Mercy but there are times when I cannot pray formally. Sometimes I am going through a dry period, at other times He just wants me to be in His presence (or perhaps I should say...to remember I am in His presence since that is where we all are). I know the dry periods happen to many people and I try to just wait on the Lord. What seems to help me through these periods is this:
I place myself in the light of His Truth and I speak heart to heart with Him about the great truths of life and then I meditate on them. One truth I like to think about is " I AM WHO AM." And He is. This never fails to inspire great awe in me. It also amazes me that we can call Him "Abba". I love calling Him "Abba"; it always touches my heart that fallen human beings like us may call Him this! I place myself before Him just as I am (covered in the blood of Christ) sins and all because there is no hiding from His Truth. He is so gentle with us that even when He shows me my sins I still know His immense love for me.
Thank You Abba for sending us your son, Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.
I place myself in the light of His Truth and I speak heart to heart with Him about the great truths of life and then I meditate on them. One truth I like to think about is " I AM WHO AM." And He is. This never fails to inspire great awe in me. It also amazes me that we can call Him "Abba". I love calling Him "Abba"; it always touches my heart that fallen human beings like us may call Him this! I place myself before Him just as I am (covered in the blood of Christ) sins and all because there is no hiding from His Truth. He is so gentle with us that even when He shows me my sins I still know His immense love for me.
Thank You Abba for sending us your son, Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
"God grins"
Our Lord has a great sense of humor, I call them "God grins" and they happen to me quite frequently, I smile at Him and He always smiles back. Click on this link for an example of this. I'd also love to hear from others who have these stories, they really give our hearts a lift! http://heavenlyhand.blogspot.com/2009/06/god-grins.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)