tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42241642334504967482024-02-07T04:40:41.075-08:00At God's MercyA Secular Carmelite ExperienceDawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-53395712049106960622016-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:002016-02-13T21:46:13.475-08:00How Well Do You Know Jesus?That is a hard question. Jesus is so far beyond human knowledge that we couldn't possibly know him as well as we'd like. I think that I know only the tiniest amount and that there is so much more to learn.<br />
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A few years ago, I went on my first silent retreat. It was such a moving experience. In the middle of nowhere with no one to talk to and nothing to distract, I spent a lot of time getting to know Jesus. And he told me many things I didn't want to hear. Things I had been avoiding because I didn't want to acknowledge that I needed to change.<br />
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This year I am going to try to find the time to go on retreat again. I need that time away from everything to refocus and reconnect in a meaningful way. Time to talk to Jesus and discover what he wants me to do. Frankly, I'm pretty bad at directing my life. I choose the wrong things, make the wrong decisions. I have so much more peace when he's in charge.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-45188231198167684312016-02-10T19:21:00.001-08:002016-02-10T19:21:25.477-08:00A Time Of New BeginningsToday is the first day of Lent. It's a chance to make a fresh start. To wash away everything that has happened in the past and begin anew. Tonight at Mass, I distributed ashes and communion. It was the first time that I distributed ashes. I was moved by how beautiful it was. "From ashes you came and to ashes you shall return". It really sunk in when I was placing those ashes on the elderly who would, much sooner than myself, return to ashes.<br />
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For Lent, I am using Rediscovering Jesus as my guide. Today's theme is New Beginnings.<br />
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The question for today is: In what area of your life is God inviting you to experience a new beginning?<br />
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There are so many areas of my life that need new beginnings. My life in general has just slipped backwards. So, this Lent I am starting my life again from scratch. Not totally from scratch. I still have my same job, the same place to live, the same relationships and the same bad habits.<br />
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But, I will have a new attitude, a new sense of purpose and a chance to correct the things I've done.<br />
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I will put more focus on my prayer life and find the peace and clarity that I once had.<br />
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I will listen to God and practice patience with regards to my personal relationships.<br />
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I will give control over to God and accept that his plan for me is greater than any I could come up with myself.<br />
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Today, I put a renewed effort into saying my Morning and Evening prayers. To really take the words to hard and not rush through them just to get them over.<br />
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I put a renewed effort into offering everything I do for God's benefit. Being mindful to act in accordance with his wishes rather than my own.<br />
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I put in a renewed effort to draw closer to Jesus. To repair the relationship we once had.<br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-42133946602290395422016-02-06T19:38:00.001-08:002016-02-06T19:39:13.564-08:00Time For Some ChangesRecently, I was talking with a friend who gave me a wake-up call. I had let myself be led into temptation and reverted back to habits that I had thought were gone forever. The sad thing is, that in someways I knew that it was happening, but I chose to ignore the little voice in my head that was screaming at me. That little voice screamed until I no longer heard it.<br />
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With Lent only days away, it's time that I repaired my relationship with God. I'm not exactly sure how I could ever make up for the things I've done. I have always struggle with believing that I should be forgiven. I chose to do things that I knew were bad and I deserve to suffer the consequences. Even if that means spending eternity in Hell. I know that God can forgive anything, but I don't know if I want forgiven.<br />
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A few years ago, at a retreat, I talked with a priest who advised me that I was making my own hell. I was separating myself from God by not asking for Him for forgiveness. It made sense, but it didn't make it any easier. What I needed to learn was to forgive myself for my mistakes and that was very hard to do.<br />
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Unfortunatly, I fell back into that thought pattern and little by little, with each act of sin, I pulled farther and farther away from God. I no longer feel him so closely as I had before. He sits on the sidelines keeping an eye on me, but He's no longer the one I seek to spend time with.<br />
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Once I've done my penance, I will begin the work of cleaning out the bad things that have been building up in my life. Replacing the bad habits with ones of prayer. Relearning to hear that little voice that reminds me to do good and screams at me when I am not. I need to separate myself from those things and people that lead me into temptation and make me forget my commitment to God.<br />
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I need to spend less time on idle pastimes and more time at Eucharistic adoration and Mass and in prayer. I need to make things right.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-62514819876631253182014-11-24T19:17:00.003-08:002014-11-24T19:17:59.323-08:00Mary Did You Know?<div>
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Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-24016590045084650572014-09-18T11:02:00.000-07:002014-09-18T11:02:14.876-07:00Trust In GodI can't believe I haven't posted since February. Where has the year gone?<br />
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Formation has been advancing nicely. We're just finishing up Story of a Soul, which is one of my favorite books. I own the Audible version and 3 other versions. And the movie...Therese by Leonardo Defilippis. And a number of other books about or by St. Therese. It is facinating to read her letters. Everything was "little" then.<br />
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I hadn't heard of St. Therese until about 10 years ago when I finally got curious about who Mother Angelica was talking about. She mentioned "the little flower" quite often. I finally looked her up and fell in love with her little way. It was several years before I was introduced to the other Carmelite saints. All of which have their own appeal.<br />
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Her innocent look on life made me feel like that was something I could do. It didn't require any special knowledge or indepth understanding of theology. It just required one to trust in God. I could do that. Or so I thought.<br />
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Putting trust in God is much harder than it seems, but I've been working on it. There is a tendency to want to take control. How else will things get done if you don't do them yourself? Every time I take things into my own hands, they usually turn into disasters. For example, when I was looking for a job, I applied to everything that came along and every one of those potential jobs ended in failure. I couldn't understand it. I had the education and experience. Nothing panned out. I finally just threw my hands up and turned it over to God. I ended up with 2 jobs and several more job offers. One of those jobs is my current job at the place I was originally laid off from. God had a plan. I just needed to let him do his thing.<br />
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This job won't last forever, so I'm working on building my freelance writer business to support me. I am trying (keyword = trying) to leave it in God's hands to lead me where he wants to go. This might work better if I was a better listener and had some patience. But, I'm not and I don't, so it's a struggle. Lucky for me He is always there nudging me in the direction he wants me to go.<br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-39257314409923413312014-02-11T18:15:00.000-08:002014-02-11T18:15:25.680-08:00This Little Light of Mine I'm Gonna Let It ShineLast fall I took on teaching religious ed. My class is a rambunctious bunch of 1st graders who, much to my disappointment, are very smart. I thought that by teaching 1st grade I would have it easy. Well, I thought wrong.<br />
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They come up with some of the most difficult questions to answer. Like, "How does grass grow?" and "Why can't men have babies?" I'm just not intellectually equipped to know how grass grows and I'm not touching the men having babies thing. Not with 1st graders anyway. I have no desire to get stoned by parents.<br />
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My 1st graders are so much fun, though. They are filled with energy and that innocents that is gone in older kids. At around 7 years old, they still have an interest in church and God and praying and being good. They accept that there is a right and wrong, a good and bad. It's such a nice change from the many adult Catholics who don't care what the church teaches.<br />
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I hope that I am passing on more than just information about our faith. I hope that I am passing on my love and commitment to God as well. I pray that when they get older, that love of God will burn just as bright as it does now.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-64997241006947182642014-01-05T20:05:00.000-08:002014-01-05T20:05:06.825-08:00We Three Kings Are Buried In SymbolismThis Christmas season, I have learned so many new things. Such as, it's been six months since I last posted (oops). And that there is meaning tied to the three gifts of the wise men. Here all this time, I just thought they were just expensive gifts. Guess I should have sung more than just the first couple verses of "We Three Kings" all these years. <div>
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In formation, I'm reading "The Story of A Soul". I've read this book before (multiple translations), seen the movie, and listened to the audio version. Each time, something new pops out at me. Someday I hope to be able to live so at peace with giving over all control of my life to God as she did.</div>
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I was listening to the last part of the audiobook while I was researching Myrrh and something jumped out at me. Therese was describing the blood she was coughing up as a good thing. It wasn't a sad affair where she was afflicted by her illness. To her it was a blessing, a sign from God that he was calling her to him. If she lived today, her illness would be treated and she would have lived for many more years. I wonder how much we may have lost if she had not felt called to God's side.</div>
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In our modern world, we see illness as something horrible. Something that needs to be cured at all cost. We don't embrace death, but rather curse it and try everything possible to keep it at bay. How weak of faith we are to hold on so tight to things of this world. We should not forego finding cures for illnesses, but we should neither be afraid to leave this world, for what awaits us is so much better if we align ourselves with God.</div>
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If we had been there in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago, would we have accepted all of the gifts that the wise men brought? Or would we have pushed away the myrrh because it was a symbol of death? I'll admit I'd be a little freaked out if some magi predicted the death of my son, but I think I would accept it. We all die after all. I just don't think I would be quite so excited about death as Therese, though. But, then she is a saint and I am a long...long...long ways from where she was when she wrote "The Story of A Soul".</div>
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Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-32381922959713133372013-12-25T07:20:00.000-08:002013-12-25T07:20:16.050-08:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Sisters! I bring to you the Adored,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The Eternal God, so small, so weak;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">I plead for the Incarnate Word,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Because as yet He cannot speak.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">To Jesus, exiled from His home,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The cruel world no shelter grants;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">And so to Carmel's shade I come,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">To find the shelter that He wants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Ever your praise, your tenderness,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Your welcome sweet, your warm caress,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Be for this Child!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, burn with love, for He loves you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">This Child, who is your God and Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Pathetic mystery! He who begs, tonight, of you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Is the Eternal Word!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Come then, my Sisters! without fear,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Each in her turn, to Jesus' feet,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Offering your love to Him most dear,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">And you shall know His will so sweet,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I will tell you the desires</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Of Jesus born amid the snow;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">For you are pure as angels are,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">And you can suffer too, you know!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Ever your cares, your suffering,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">And all your joys so light of wing,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Be for this Child!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, burn with love, for He loves you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">This Babe, who is your God and Lord!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Pathetic mystery! He who begs, tonight, of you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Is the Eternal Word!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(From THE LITTLE DIVINE BEGGAR OF CHRISTMAS by St. Therese of Liseaux)</span></div>
Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-17823946658239135832013-06-19T19:18:00.001-07:002013-06-19T19:18:51.013-07:00Wish I Had Learned Latin When I Was Young<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of years ago, I discovered the Latin Mass (or EF). It was new and interesting, but completely weird. I didn't understand the language nor the order of the Mass. I just watched everyone else and stood when they stood, kneeled when they kneeled and sat when they sat. The church was so quiet while the priest performed Mass with little input from the congregation. There was no chatting or kids playing in the seats. Everyone was focused on the Mass and being reverent. It was weird and I wasn't sure I would attend that Mass again.<br />
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Fast forward to today. I still occasionally attend the Latin Mass and now even recognize a few words. There is no hope left that I will ever figure out the order of the mass, but I keep trying. There is a beauty to the Latin Mass that isn't present in the Norvus Ordo (NO) Mass. I am greatful that Pope Benedict XVI (now Pope Emeritus) brought back this beautiful tradition.<br />
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I come from the lost generation of Catholics. We are the ones who never learned Latin, never learned the specifics of our faith and basically got short changed. It took me years, but I am now beginning to learn all of the things that I should have learned when I was younger. Only it is much harder this time around. Thanks to the internet and thousands of Catholic resources doing so is much easier.<br />
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Youtube is one of my favorite resources for all things Latin. You can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/LiveMassChannel/videos" target="_blank">view EF Masse</a>s, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KS0ZFY5qv8" target="_blank">pray along with the rosary</a> in Latin, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hWE52zsOaA&list=PLD164774C24A3738C" target="_blank">learn a little Latin</a>, and so much more.<br />
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What are your favorite Latin resources?Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-90618916235878733162013-05-05T11:30:00.001-07:002013-05-05T11:30:09.891-07:00It's Official<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEaOnP0k3jiERjPSfdkXMcU4No0turOqKAHSTG0HxlRLtdfBJBdJh0UoYfvjYmcCSEGTSYXs43ZDMt7NsAw57fJMx9UQh-_bklPKsXsb2i6CuTWqBtN4GyTdog0ChE5U_v5RtRU7tnTU/s320/Dawn+&+Fr.+O'Kane.JPG" /><br />
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There's me with Father. I am now officially accepted into formation to pursue study towards my first promise. It still doesn't seem quite real yet. I can't get over the idea that I need to step it up a notch now that I'm official.<br />
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To celebrate, we had this beautiful cake that was almost too pretty to cut into. It was just as yummy as it looked.<br />
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The best surprise was my formation partner returned and we have a new Aspirant as well. Our little community is growing.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-8006984740517963052013-04-19T18:31:00.003-07:002013-04-19T18:31:43.410-07:00It's Almost TimeMy Aspirancy is almost over. Tomorrow morning I will be officially accepted into the OCDS to begin working towards making my first promise. It's exciting and scary all at once.<br />
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May will mark two years since my first contact with the OCDS. It doesn't feel like its been that long, but it has. And I've learned so much about the Order, about God and about myself. I have not always lived up to my calling as a secular. Sometimes I am my own worst obstacle when in comes to prayer times and religious observance. But, I try.<br />
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There is so much more that I still need to learn about the Church and God. How do you condense 2000 years worth of learning into a lifetime or in my case a 1/2 a lifetime? It's a little overwhelming.<br />
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Anyways - please pray for me as I make this next step.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-66663111570216192552013-04-02T07:58:00.002-07:002013-04-02T07:58:35.274-07:00Love In A New WayHoly week is my favorite time of year, especially the Triduum. It's the one time of year when there are tons of religious activities going on. Because I work I'm not able to make it to most of the activities, but I try to go to as many as I can. And at the end of it all is the Triduum, when mass is held in the evenings at a reasonable time, that I can go to.<br />
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This year I didn't go to any Triduum services because Thursday afternoon I became ill. I spent then entire weekend in bed, except for the hour on Easter morning when I drug myself to the entirely too early Latin Mass. I would have preferred to go to Mass later in the day, but with how packed the churches are on Easter Sunday, I decided that I would infect less people if I went to the sparcely attended Latin Mass.<br />
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I took a seat as far away from the other 50 or so people in the Cathedral and didn't go to communion. The Latin Mass was as foreign as ever, but since I have been practicing my Latin prayers there were a few recognizable words.<br />
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Before I knew it, Lent and Easter were over and I felt so cheated out of the wonder and beauty that is the Triduum. I should be joyous that even though I missed the suffering and misery, I was there to witness the resurrection. To have Jesus with us, once again, to spread the glorious news of God. Instead, I'm feeling like Thomas who focused on what was lost and couldn't see what was gained.<br />
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So throughout this Easter season I am going in search of the beauty of Christ's return; walk with him as he reveals himself to his followers; look at the world with new eyes; think wiht a new mind; and love in a new way.<br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-23183324714274706852013-03-22T18:09:00.001-07:002013-03-22T18:09:14.475-07:00Such A Long WeekI am completely worn out and really, I haven't done a lot. Between periods of actual work, I popped on the internet to catch up on the latest news. How revolting that was. I am so thoroughly sick of the hate and criticism that is passed off as news, not to mention the comments that accompany the articles.<br />
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<b>POPE FRANCIS</b><br />
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The poor Pope is barely installed as Pope and he has been accused of everything from getting two priests kidnapped to supporting gay civil unions. Everyone seems to know that he is going to change this or that teaching and of course sell off the Church's treasures. Pirahna would be jealous of the feeding frenzy that is the state of news today. They seem to have a motto of "If you have nothing to report...make it up!"<br />
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<b>GAY EVERYTHING AND TWINKIES</b><br />
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If you aren't on the gay parade...you are a bigot. That seems to be the concensus of all gay all the time news and its supporters. I think some of those people need to look in the mirror, because there seems to be far more hate and bigotry coming from the pro-ssm side than the anti-ssm side. <br />
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It's exhausting having to weed through article after article of the latest has-been Hollywood star who now professes to be "gay" (as if we didn't know this information already) or how some "claims-to-be" Catholic "nun" supports ssm and "gay rights" just trying to find a single article that is actually news worthy. Is it too much to ask for real news (things that are important and we don't already know)?<br />
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I did get to see a rainbow colored house that some activists bought and painted across the street from Westboro Baptist Church. While I like fun colored stuff and don't care too much for the Westboro Baptist Church, I would secretly repaint the house in the middle of the night something less obnoxious. (I'd probably also get caught and thrown in jail, but I'd use the Twinkie defense...as in I went mad because there aren't any Twinkies...I'd totally get acquitted. But, I had better hurry because they are coming back this summer.)<br />
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<b>GAVE UP</b><br />
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I finally gave up trying to find any news from the mainstream media. I don't really want to want to read divisive opinions that are passed of as news. I don't want to read about the groundhog being charged for making a "false" prediction. And I certainly don't want to read mean hateful comments attaching everything and everyone.<br />
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Someone please let me know when the news becomes news again.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-32048418677079342202013-03-13T19:33:00.002-07:002013-03-13T19:33:28.949-07:00Pope Francis<img height="236" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/555005_10151346036227285_1502347318_n.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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What a wonderful surprise! Such a humble and holy man. I look forward to seeing where this shepherd will lead.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-78912506808653972802013-03-06T14:52:00.003-08:002013-03-06T14:52:56.014-08:00E-book on Benedict XVIThe Vatican has put out an awesome e-book with pictures and everything on the <span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">pope emeritus, Bendict XVI. Check it out <a href="http://www.vatican.va/bxvi/omaggio/index_en.html" target="_blank">here.</a></span>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-42171779763678823742013-02-28T18:36:00.001-08:002013-02-28T18:36:10.345-08:00I Feel So PopelessIt didn't seem quite so real as today that Benedict is no longer the Pope. I really liked Benedict. He was so cute in his red hat and shoes.<br />
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Most of all I liked that he oozed humility and kindness. He was a true servant of God.<br />
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I pray that the next Pope will be as strong and orthodox as Benedict with his great humility and kindness. But, the next Pope needs to be strong in body as well. Someone who can lead the Church through the rough times that are ahead. Someone who people will follow. Someone who will make the Church stronger.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-75281258649415778402013-02-24T07:16:00.003-08:002013-02-24T07:16:41.265-08:00Busy BusyThis year Lent snuck up on me. I wasn't prepared when Ash Wednesday hit. Okay, I'm still not prepared, but I'm just going with it. This year, I'm leaving Lent up to God. And he's already decided what I'll be giving up for Lent...free time.<br />
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I'd prefer to give up something easy, like giving up Facebook or ice cream. But, giving up something easy that doesn't cause sacrifice isn't really giving it up. It's just postponing something that you aren't attached to.<br />
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Free time, for me is something that I am greatly attached to. I don't like being scheduled every minute of every day doing stuff for someone else. I like having time to be selfish and self-indulgent. I, of course, never saw it as selfish or self-indulgent behavior. But, this Lent, it's beginning to sink in what real sacrifice is.<br />
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<i>Blessed Theresa of Calcutta, pray for me so that I can do God's bidding and work tirelessly as you did for the poor. </i>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-70657790505923578092013-01-05T09:33:00.003-08:002013-01-05T09:33:42.114-08:00I Can't Believe ItSaint Anthony has come through. My thumb drive has been found. It just all of a sudden appeared a few minutes ago in the drawer where I normally put it. I swear it was not there previously, I completely emptied that draw several times looking for it. It was not there. Thank you, St. Anthony!<br />
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Now I'm going to back this baby up so that if it gets lost again I don't lose everything.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-81017179334417490432013-01-04T09:27:00.000-08:002013-01-04T09:27:35.262-08:00Ohhh No You Didn'tThere is a disturbing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0S2WlvNTU8" target="_blank">video</a> I saw yesterday put out by WOC. After seeing the video, WOC could very well stand for Women On Crack, because the video is that bad. But, no WOC stands for Women's Ordination Conference. Not much difference between the two, I know.<br />
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Normally, I just pray for these misguided souls. After all they are like rats running in place. Women will never be ordained as Deacons or Priests. If they want to wear themselves out fighting a losing battle and risk losing their soul, there is not much I can do to stop them.<br />
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What I take offense to is not their laughable "promo" video, which does more to make fun of their cause than to promote it, but to their blasphemy of Saint Therese to promote their cause. They claim that she wanted to be a priest and that if she were alive, would support their efforts. They apparently haven't been paying attention to St. Therese at all.<br />
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While Saint Therese did say in her biography, Story of A Soul, that she aspired to be a priest, she went further than that. She wanted to be a Priest, a Martyr, a Prophet, a Missionary, a Doctor of the Church, a Saint. She wanted to be all things for God because she loved Him above all things.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #787878; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">To be Thy Spouse, O my Jesus, to be a daughter of Carmel, and by my union with Thee to be the mother of souls, should not all this content me? And yet other vocations make themselves felt—I feel called to the Priesthood and to the Apostolate—I would be a Martyr, a Doctor of the Church. I should like to accomplish the most heroic deeds—the spirit of the Crusader burns within me, and I long to die on the field of battle in defence of Holy Church. ~ Story of A Soul, Chapter 11</span></blockquote>
She goes on to talk of how she would glorify each position if it was hers. And states that if she had been offered the priesthood, out of humility she would decline it as St. Francis of Assisi did.<br />
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She longed to do big things for God! But, she understood that God had not given her the means or the gifts to do such big things. He had given her the gifts to do little things for him. She was called to be obedient and humble of heart.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #787878; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">To such folly as this what answer wilt Thou make? Is there on the face of this earth a soul more feeble than mine? And yet, precisely because I am feeble, it has delighted Thee to accede to my least and most child-like desires, and to-day it is Thy good pleasure to realise those other desires, more vast than the Universe. These aspirations becoming a true martyrdom, I opened, one day, the Epistles of St. Paul to seek relief in my sufferings. My eyes fell on the 12th and 13th chapters of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. <b>I read that all cannot become Apostles, Prophets, and Doctors; that the Church is composed of different members; that the eye cannot also be the hand.</b> The answer was clear, but it did not fulfill my desires, or give to me the peace I sought. “Then descending into the depths of my nothingness, I was so lifted up that I reached my aim.” ~Story of a Soul, Chapter 11</span></blockquote>
Saint Therese understood that everyone has a different role to play in the Church. If God created you to be a Priest, or Martyr, or Doctor of the Church, he certainly would have given you the gifts to be such.<br />
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The WOC is conveniently choosing to ignore this incite by Saint Therese. They are ignoring her call to obedience to the Church and its leaders, even if they think they may be wrong. They are ignoring her call to humility and charity and her call to love God above all else.<br />
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They are using the name of a beautiful saint and taking what she said out of context to push their own selfish desires. Their love is only for themselves and not for God. For if it was, they would follow Therese's lead and abandon those silly ideas.<br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-6150746247985846382013-01-01T18:40:00.000-08:002013-01-01T18:40:01.111-08:00The Internet is a Wonderful ThingAs I posted previously, we are studying the section on the Holy Spirit from the Catechism as part of formation. There are sections that I've read over, looked at other sources and am still stuck on. And I'm not the type of person to let it go if I don't understand something. I will keep searching until I not only get an answer, but I also understand it.<br />
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Today I finally understand it, with the help of <a href="http://catholiccity.com/">CatholicCity.com</a> and their <a href="http://www.catholicity.com/catechism/" target="_blank">Catechism Simplified</a>. After finding that site, it dawned on me that in order to understand some of the sections you need to read the references in the footnotes, which I was not doing. Catechism Simplified uses those footnotes to help explain what the Catechism is saying.<br />
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Okay, I'm a little slow sometimes. I would be much farther along if I had just read the footnotes. But, I wouldn't have discovered a bunch of great blogs and websites if I had gone the easy route. Someday I will add a page to this site with all of my absolutely most favorite websites and blogs. <br />
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For anyone like me that has long lists of blogs that they check out, you need Google Reader. It compiles all of the new postings into one screen where you can weed through them. You can also set up folders and categorize your sites, star your favorite posts and mark posts for later reading. It is a huge time saver and I don't miss the posts from people who don't blog on a regular basis (like me).<br />
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Anyways...back to my Catechism reading.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-90370155475825683562012-12-27T19:44:00.002-08:002012-12-27T19:44:23.686-08:00Not Expecting ThatI haven't found my thumbdrive yet, but out of nowhere a backup of everything up through October appeared on my laptop. I'm pretty sure it wasn't there the first 60 thousand times I looked through my files hoping that I had saved at least some of the files from the thumbdrive.<br />
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Everything but my Nanowrimo novel and some work I've done on another book was there. Thank you St. Anthony! I'm still praying that my thumbdrive reappears because having to rewrite 7 chapters will be a pain, but I can live with having the huge majority of my documents back.<br />
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While looking up more about St. Anthony, I found out that besides finding lost stuff, he's also the patron saint for a ton of other things, like baron women, pregnant women, American Indians, elderly people, boatmen, fishermen, harvests, horses, mariners, sailors, swineherds, travel hostesses, travelers and watermen. And he also protects against shipwrecks and starvation.<br />
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He is one busy saint. I'm just thankful that he spared a few minutes for me.<br />
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<em><strong>Prayer of Thanksgiving Saint Anthony of Padua</strong> </em><br />
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<em>Most loving protector, St. Anthony, what gift can I give you in exchange to show my heartfelt gratitude? With your continued help I will show appreciation to you by being more faithful to God, more constant in prayer, and readier to do good to those nearest me. I praise you for the esteem in. which your name is held throughout the world, for the miracles and wonders with which you have filled the Church and the world, and for the many benefits men keep receiving through your gracious help. </em><br />
<br /><em>May these intentions convey my great thanks to the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to our blessed Lady, Queen of heaven and earth.</em> <br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Pray the Our Father<br /> Pray the Hail Mary<br /> Pray the Glory Be </em><br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-44847425179220167632012-12-26T21:18:00.003-08:002012-12-26T21:18:46.647-08:00Can You Find It?Did you know that there is a patron Saint of lost stuff? I didn't until this past week. Where has he been all my life? <br />
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Over the weekend I lost a thumbdrive that has a bunch of important files that have not been backed up. Months of work is down the drain, unless I can locate this thumbdrive.<br />
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So, I am going to put this into St. Anthony's hands, because God knows I can't seem to find it on my own. So please St. Anthony work miracle for me.<br />
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<h3>
Novena to Saint Anthony to Find a Lost Article</h3>
St. Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find the thumbdrive which has been lost. At least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss. To this favor, I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-13276780847015881162012-12-25T00:15:00.001-08:002012-12-25T00:15:25.379-08:00Midnight ClearTonight I went to midnight Mass at the monastery and I'm starting to think I might just be too old to be staying up this late. Atleast it only happens one night a year.<br />
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It was a beautiful Mass.<br />
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Before heading to bed I wanted to wish everyone a very merry and blessed Christmas. May you feel the magnitude of God's love for you in this one lowly birth.<br />
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<em>God remember all of your children </em><br />
<em>who are not around to celebrate Christmas this year </em><br />
<em>because of accidents, murder, illness and abortion. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>And remember all those</em><br />
<em>who will not be celebrating Christmas </em><br />
<em>because of homelessness, loneliness, or lack of faith.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Amen.</em><br />
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Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-32095744984225224372012-12-21T22:01:00.001-08:002012-12-21T22:01:13.014-08:00It Starting To Look Like...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...winter at Trinity Heights.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0qtB17XvrXPSW4i76XeTDkxBECZuUihp6kh5DYNDaHBhnF6lT1ICb3kmafoLCVGXqm7XWxz9mGcnhP5llbT_2aXjfTGdRjVHSJ68MKdy_dZ0burkM_38UBW-GulQJLNq_RbSIoM9mPY/s1600/1208121657a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0qtB17XvrXPSW4i76XeTDkxBECZuUihp6kh5DYNDaHBhnF6lT1ICb3kmafoLCVGXqm7XWxz9mGcnhP5llbT_2aXjfTGdRjVHSJ68MKdy_dZ0burkM_38UBW-GulQJLNq_RbSIoM9mPY/s320/1208121657a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrzgvmNWYxmzkvuJT4cL7bS09MKFg-eWYs3y0-3qg4AEn7WjtlK-ir8r0Jrd1N8YQPnNqisox7UReBPRT2_Zwlwfa1iA0kVkcbQaYe4bHKkQq0Lem8rldnvdKT8_IqaMxOprQC3RTGk/s1600/1208121702a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfrzgvmNWYxmzkvuJT4cL7bS09MKFg-eWYs3y0-3qg4AEn7WjtlK-ir8r0Jrd1N8YQPnNqisox7UReBPRT2_Zwlwfa1iA0kVkcbQaYe4bHKkQq0Lem8rldnvdKT8_IqaMxOprQC3RTGk/s320/1208121702a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the bridge by St. Francis of /Assissi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaAkD__Y_pQL8DuOEekfUJZLUrNjAGb07ZcGbSzmTUcTi-fOasJ2lZ5dX586WXsaOKv7M9oEGPCIw2vlHruRSh9cmU-Vo7R1PwR7-4vGr0PNh1fuKWld7lVGoHmcJDWH-i2irOvGNxTA/s1600/1208121703a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaAkD__Y_pQL8DuOEekfUJZLUrNjAGb07ZcGbSzmTUcTi-fOasJ2lZ5dX586WXsaOKv7M9oEGPCIw2vlHruRSh9cmU-Vo7R1PwR7-4vGr0PNh1fuKWld7lVGoHmcJDWH-i2irOvGNxTA/s320/1208121703a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lady of Mount Carmel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of where a deer was 2 seconds ago.</td></tr>
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Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224164233450496748.post-17049639806833355012012-12-14T18:32:00.002-08:002012-12-14T18:32:44.473-08:00Sandy Hook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWwRGpwAO4g6zNeIu99g7fedFOlBn2lCv766w-iDGaEkyH5QMkYzy7Ul9Coyh5LZ9wy2iH7k34dKCKnPOK3rHyzI7oH7DyaO5KqAjsr-s4mqzLu2P6x2f9Mjtk82E7dmylZy7YtNaHBc/s1600/prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWwRGpwAO4g6zNeIu99g7fedFOlBn2lCv766w-iDGaEkyH5QMkYzy7Ul9Coyh5LZ9wy2iH7k34dKCKnPOK3rHyzI7oH7DyaO5KqAjsr-s4mqzLu2P6x2f9Mjtk82E7dmylZy7YtNaHBc/s320/prayer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05688011266155055588noreply@blogger.com0