RUN FOR VOCATIONS:

I am doing my first Run for Vocations 10k tomorrow morning...I ran a 10k about 24 years ago when I was young and dating my husband...I think I thought I was gonna die...well, now I am 43 and gave birth to 12 kids and for some reason I am gonna do it!!!

About 6 months ago someone asked me if I was gonna run it...I said, "No, I will hopefully be pregnant!" No luck...so I am running.

So nervous...this is not my safe little treadmill at the gym with controlled weather and my stuff right next to me...crazy weather...what to wear...what not to wear...Good Night...Pray for me!!!

UPDATE:
finished...very cold...59.38 min

THY WILL BE DONE!!!

Skydiving Priest:

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Imitation of Christ: Meditation of the day-

What a perfect meditation for the Year of the Priest that is ending soon.

The Fifth Chapter
The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood


The Voice of Christ

HAD you the purity of an angel and the sanctity of St. John the Baptist, you would not be worthy to receive or administer this Sacrament. It is not because of any human meriting that a man consecrates and administers the Sacrament of Christ, and receives the Bread of Angels for his food. Great is the Mystery and great the dignity of priests to whom is given that which has not been granted the angels. For priests alone, rightly ordained in the Church, have power to celebrate Mass and consecrate the Body of Christ.

The priest, indeed, is the minister of God, using the word of God according to His command and appointment. God, moreover, is there—the chief Author and invisible Worker to Whom all is subject as He wills, to Whom all are obedient as He commands.

In this most excellent Sacrament, therefore, you ought to believe in God rather than in your own senses or in any visible sign, and thus, with fear and reverence draw near to such a work as this. Look to yourself and see whose ministry has been given you through the imposition of the bishop’s hands.

Behold, you have been made a priest, consecrated to celebrate Mass! See to it now that you offer sacrifice to God faithfully and devoutly at proper times, and that you conduct yourself blamelessly. You have not made your burden lighter. Instead, you are now bound by stricter discipline and held to more perfect sanctity.

A priest ought to be adorned with all virtues and show the example of a good life to others. His way lies not among the vulgar and common habits of men but with the angels in heaven and the perfect men on earth. A priest clad in the sacred vestments acts in Christ’s place, that he may pray to God both for himself and for all people in a suppliant and humble manner. He has before and behind him the sign of the Lord’s cross that he may always remember the Passion of Christ. It is before him, on the chasuble, that he may look closely upon the footsteps of Christ and try to follow them fervently. It is behind him—he is signed with it—that he may gladly suffer for God any adversities inflicted by others.

He wears the cross before him that he may mourn his own sins, behind him, that in pity he may mourn the sins of others, and know that he is appointed to stand between God and the sinner, never to become weary of prayer and the holy offering until it is granted him to obtain grace and mercy.

When the priest celebrates Mass, he honors God, gladdens the angels, strengthens the Church, helps the living, brings rest to the departed, and wins for himself a share in all good things.

Dear Lord, Please bless and give an abundance of wisdom to our priest. Guide and direct them to minister to your flock.

***Prayer Request: Please pray for my son who is in the seminary.
That God will let him know what HIS WILL is
and he will be able to discern his future vocation.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Just in case you haven't seen these videos...

Until I figure how to turn off blog music turn the off button on the bottom+++



THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

FOSTERING A VOCATION IN YOUR HOME...

One of the first people who ever read my blog asks this question about our son in the seminary:

"What an honour as a parent! You and your husband were obviously instruments. Is there anything I should be doing?"

I consecrated all my children to Christ when I was pregnant. Letting them know the goal in life is to do God's will and to be open to the vocation He is calling them to. Marriage is a very important and difficult vocation. Making the priesthood/consecrated life an option and exposing them to lots of great priest and holy nun's and sister's is important. We have priest and other religious over for dinner and to hang out often.

We are very blessed to have holy vocations all around us.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Happy Feast of St John Vianney!!!

What a great site I found with neat ideas!!! Visit this new BLOG too.

The Pope has decreed a Plenary Indulgence.

The conditions are:
*go to Confession
*to attend Mass (and offer prayers to Jesus the Eternal Priest for all priests)
*receive Holy Communion
*and pray for the Pope's Intentions

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

YEAR FOR PRIEST:

CHECK OUT THIS BLOG DESIGNED FOR PRAYING FOR VOCATIONS!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

VOCATIONS FROM A MOMMA'S HEART...

I am going to touch on this post just a bit.

I can't really express what this past seven months have been like for my with my son away at the Seminary. Since he was little we have always been open to his future vocation, whatever it may be...I love to hear how happy he is and how he feels like he is right where God wants him right now.

I have been pleased that my other son has had two weekends with his brother and that my husband and the three little boys got to see him for a couple of days during Christmas break. And only a mother with a vocation can understand why I am counting down the 39 days till I will see him again...it is a mom thing I guess.

I do know that just having him give God the first shot at his future vocation is comforting. I will continue to pray for my children and my son for THY WILL BE DONE!!!

+JMJ+

"Divine Intimacy" on the priesthood...

"Divine Intimacy" - page 198
"Without the priesthood we would be deprived of the Holy Eucharist; we would never have the consolation of hearing the name of God, "Thy sins are forgiven thee," (Mt 9,2). If there were no priests, the churches would be deserted, schools would become secularized, there would be no nuptial blessings, the dying would be deprived of final consolation, children would be abandoned to evil; all men would become totally immersed in misery, with no one to raise them up and lead them to God, with no one to pray to Him in their name and for their welfare. But Jesus, the sole Mediator between God and man, willed to institute the priesthood to perpetuate among us, in a visible manner, His work of mediation, salvation, and sanctification. The priest accompanies us at every step of our life. Soon after our birth, he welcomes us at the baptismal font; he administers the Sacraments to us, He helps us to understand divine truths, he shows us how to lead a good life, blesses our efforts, sustains our footsteps, and strengthens us in our last agony. He often works unseen and unknown, misunderstood, never sufficiently appreciated; yet his apostolic work is priceless, indispensable. Every Christian ought to be grateful for the gift of the priesthood; in the first place, we should be grateful to Jesus who instituted it, and then to those who perform its sublime duties. We must express this gratitude, not only by showing reverent respect and filial docility to God's ministers, but also by assiduously offering our prayers and good works for priestly vocations. "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest." (ibid 9.38) "What prayer," comments Pius XI, " can be more pleasing to the Sacred Heart of the Redeemer?... Ask, and it shall be given to you: ask for good, holy priests, and the Lord will not refuse to send them to His Church" (ad Catholici Sacerdotii). To our prayers, we must add good works "to awaken, foster and help vocations to the priesthood" (ibid).

Blessed are the families that have had the honor of giving a priest to God; blessed are all those who by their prayers, sacrifices, and good works help in the formation of holy priests!

I am so grateful for being raised to never speak poorly of priest!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

To all parents who have a vocation in their family:

I leave you with this thought by my dear friend Rachel. I will post more on this later. It is an amazing gift and struggle all in the same breath!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

A new Bishop...

I wrote the following for my local paper:

It is with great joy and pride when I heard that on Nov 18th Pope Benedict XVI named Monsignor Barry Knestout, as an auxiliary bishop, for the 140 parishes in the Washington diocese, to be ordained a Bishop at St. Matthews Cathedral on Dec. 29th. This is the first Bishop ever from my town, as well as Prince Georges County. I can see Bishop John Carroll smile down from heaven as he sees the fruit from his call in June 1783, when a small group of priests met at the chapel, then called Whitemarsh, and now known as Sacred Heart Chapel right here up on the hill in Bowie, MD, were here to discuss how the Catholic Church in the new United States would be governed and its property managed. Carroll was then chosen to become the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States and was sent to England to be consecrated a bishop on August 15, 1790. Who would of thought that my town would be so blessed with so many vocations to the priesthood as well as becoming a bombing community of wonderful people.
Now anyone who grew up in the 70’s around here had to encounter this amazing family!!! The late Deacon Mr. Knestout served as a deacon at St Pius X Catholic Church and his wife Carolyn raised nine great children. To know that our very own streets had kids playing in them like Monsignor Barry who attended St. Pius X elementary school and Bowie Senior High School before receiving a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Maryland in December 1984. In 1985 he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD to study for the priesthood and was ordained a priest in June 1989. He received the title Monsignor in 1999 by Pope John Paul II. In my teens I hung out with his brother Mark, the eighth of the nine and another great guy! It was so exciting when Mark joined his brother and was ordained a priest on May 23, 1998. I know my older brothers and sisters went to school with the older Knestout kids too. There is a special pride when the phones are ringing to announce that one of our own has been given this great honor. I love how the Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl called our new bishop, “a native son of this archdiocese. He was born, formed in the faith and educated here”.
Bishop-elect Knestouts most recent role in the Washington Diocese was in planning Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Washington this April. He was perfect for the job with his great organization and his degree in architecture from Univ of MD, helped him to oversee a contest for architecture students from Catholic University to design the furnishings for the Papal Mass. Bishop-elect Knestout’s job in the diocese, as of now, is the moderator of the curia and vicar for administration. His role as a bishop will be to assist the archbishop in managing and helping to supervise the administrative work and care for the 580,000 members of the Washington Diocese.

Let us pray for this amazing new Bishop and for all the clergy that try to live a holy and and fruitful life to better serve us!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

IMITATION OF CHRIST: Meditation of the day...

The Ninth Chapter
All Things should be Referred to God as their Last End

The Voice of Christ (part two)

From Me the small and the great, the poor and the rich draw the water of life as from a living fountain, and they who serve Me willingly and freely shall receive grace upon grace. He who wishes to glory in things apart from Me, however, or to delight in some good as his own, shall not be grounded in true joy or gladdened in his heart, but shall be burdened and distressed in many ways. Hence you ought not to attribute any good to yourself or ascribe virtue to any man, but give all to God without Whom man has nothing.

I have given all things. I will that all be returned to Me again, and I exact most strictly a return of thanks. This is the truth by which vainglory is put to flight.

Where heavenly grace and true charity enter in, there neither envy nor narrowness of heart nor self-love will have place. Divine love conquers all and enlarges the powers of the soul.

If you are truly wise, you will rejoice only in Me, because no one is good except God alone, Who is to be praised above all things and above all to be blessed.

***Divine love conquers all and enlarges the powers of the soul. Oh yea...now I remember!!!

Jedi Knight!!!

My baby finally got his childhood wish to be a Jedi Knight!!!

Taking my daugter to college...

I have undergone large amounts of stress this year. I don't think I have ever cried as much as I have these past 12 months!!! Why couldn't tears be calories??? I would be a super model by now!!!


After giving birth to my 11Th baby, I found out my son wanted to spend a year in prayer to discern his future vocation. Then after he decided to join the Novitiate I had to trust that ALL the prayers I have been saying since before my son's conception were now being answered!!!


LAST WEEK we took my daughter to college. Now it is about a half hour away...she has nice roommates...her dorm was extremely nice and big and in a safe area...what more could I ask???I talked to her about three times last night, texted her about four times...and will see her tonight at the mass for new students!!! Why then was I in tears all night? It just felt so sad...I am not getting much sympathy from my friends who have watched most of their kids do the same...because I still have nine little guys at home!!

Some how this is all part of God's plan.


We give you thanks for all your gifts,almighty God, living and reigning now and forever...


THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Today's readings: A meditation from a priest friend of mine:

The Parental Vocation
August 16, 2008

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Father Steven Reilly, LC

Matthew 19: 13-15 Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Introductory Prayer: Father in heaven, I love you above all things. Help me to really treasure the graces you will give me in this mediation.

Petition: Lord, help me to be faithful in carrying out the commitments of my state of life.

1. Bringing the Children to Jesus
Being a parent is a lofty vocation. To be entrusted with the integral formation and eternal salvation of another human being is a task that is enough to make one dissolve into fear and trembling. Above all, parents have to show the good spiritual instincts of the people in today’s Gospel: They have to bring their children to Jesus. They need to teach them to pray, to go to Mass and above all, to learn that Jesus truly is their best friend with whom they can share everything. What a gift to give to children!

2. “Do Not Prevent Them”
There are many ways to hinder a child’s path to Christ. Our bad example is one of the main ones. Children pick up on the incoherence between our admonitions and our actual behavior. It’s particularly unnerving when a parent begins to see his own defects mirrored in his children. That can serve as a warning call that we need to be living the Christian life with more authenticity. Our example needs to be a catalyst towards the good.

3. The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These
A good Catholic parent has only one truly bottom-line aspiration for his kids: that they get to heaven! This is worth all the prayers, sacrifices and late nights. Precisely because the Kingdom is where they belong, parents should have immense confidence that the Lord will send them the graces they need to persevere and carry out their mission effectively. Christ is the parent’s biggest cheerleader! He wants nothing more than that happy reunion in heaven, where the parent will hear those wonderful words from his child, “Thanks for helping me to get here.”

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for my parents, and all they did to help me grow in the faith. I am sorry for the times I judged them harshly. Grant them your abundant blessing.

Resolution: I will say a special prayer for my parents (especially if deceased) and give them a call to thank them.

Vocations: from a mother's heart...

Why does this have to be so stinking hard!!!

I have been trying to keep busy and not think of my feelings on Monday when I dropped my oldest son off at the airport. Things went so fast-I didn't have time to really break down. The typical craziness of our family life, the car breaking down, trying to figure out how I was going to get the daily tasks done...all consumed my head.

So, it has been the last couple of days that I have begged God for an answer of why this has to be so hard? I know my son is happy...I have never seen him so content with a decision. (He hates to make decisions!!!).

I keep hearing in my head something a holy priest said (he thinks I hate him for this homely-although it has been a constant use of my morning meditations and holy hours) said, "LOVE BURNS!!! It explodes, it expands, it grows..." This is why grace comes from suffering!!! This is why I feel closer now to my son than I ever have before. This is why people, who would never understand a vocation at this age...after seeing him, finally understand, accept, and realize this isn't as crazy as it sounds.

But, my mother's heart is on fire with...love/sorrow. Our Lady of Sorrows has been one of my patrons for years...now I know why!!!

Then God sent me many consolations of people and friends who have suffered way more than me...my neighbor's son who left for war, thoughts of mothers throughout the ages whose children have been taken from them...through sickness, death, war, and other tragedies. Not to mention the hundreds of saint stories I have read to my children over the years of the young boys and girls who have given their lives for Christ. I also remember the look on the mother's face in the movie The Chronicles of Narnia when she left her children at the train station...for their good.

I know he is preparing for his future vocation. Whatever vocation that may be…just giving God his best…I can try to do the same. I can finally act on all those many years of offering my children to the Heavenly Father to HIS service…I can walk the walk.

So consolation as it may be…my prayers for him and all my children has been…Thy will be done Lord!!! This is such a small act of suffering on my part. Seeing the formation and blessings my son and our family has received from this small yes…so I continue to pray…Thy will be done…and continue to cry, like any mom would do.

We give you thanks for all your gifts, almighty God, living and reigning now and forever...

Thy will be done!!!+JMJ+

Priest Prayers for vesting for Mass:

A friend of mine (ok-I used to babysit him) just became a priest and he shared at mass last week about these optional traditional prayers that some priest say. I thought they were so beautiful I had to share them. I also found a really cool post here.

Of a Celebrant who is a Priest

The Celebrant first says, while washing his hands:
'Give virtue to my hands, O Lord, that being cleansed from all stain I might serve you with purity of mind and body.'

Then while putting on the amice, which he first puts on his head, and then over his shoulders:
'Place upon me, O Lord, the helmet of salvation, that I may overcome the assaults of the devil.'

At the alb:
'Purify me, Lord, and cleanse my heart so that, washed in the Blood of the Lamb, I may enjoy eternal bliss.'

At the cincture:
'Gird me, O Lord, with the girdle of purity, and extinguish in me all evil desires, that the virtue of chastity may abide in me.'

At the maniple: (The maniple is an ornamental vestment in the form of a band, a little over a yard long and from somewhat over two to almost four inches wide, which is placed on the left arm in such manner that it falls in equal length on both sides of the arm.) I have only known one priest who still wears this
'Grant, O Lord, that I may so bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow, that I may receive the reward for my labors with rejoicing.'

At the stole, which he crosses over his breast:
'Restore unto me, O Lord, the stole of immortality, which was lost through the guilt of our first parents: and, although I am unworthy to approach Your sacred Mysteries, nevertheless grant unto me eternal joy.'

At the chasuble:
'O Lord, Who said: My yoke is easy and My burden light: grant that I may bear it well and follow after You with thanksgiving. Amen.'

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC...

All morning I have been pondering something I thought of at daily mass. At my wonderful parish for years we have been (as well as in our family) praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In that prayer it says to send us vocations.

As I have struggled this year through the vocation choice of my 17 year old, (although I am very proud of him and believe he is doing God's will) I realized the mistakes that I have made all these years!!!

I just wasn't specific enough to God!!! When my son was in my womb and I prayed for Thy Will To Be Done with this precious life; I consecrated him to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, and then he was baptized as: priest, prophet, and king. Also, what was I thinking to give him examples like St. Dominic Savio, St. Therese of Liuseux, John Bosco, and many other holy saints as friends and examples!!!

In the prayer we say at mass and at home...I should of said, "send us vocations Lord...as long as they are comfortable to me"...It is so clear now that I should of been more specific...how about this: send us vocations to the priesthood...as long as they don't leave the country, have to be over: say...23 years of age...OK, I think that sounds less painful...

Or maybe this... "Lord, please have my children do your will and fulfill their vocation, as long as it means: being a diocesan priest who lives in my town, visits me often, and calls me daily. That sounds better.

How about I keep going Lord...and if they get married, please have them marry the spouse I pick out for them, buy the house next to me, give me many holy grandchildren, want to visit me often, and call me daily. (it is all about me anyway, right?)

Since I already have your attention Lord...how about a husband who never gets upset with me, cleans the house, does the laundry and dishes, makes the bed, never misunderstands me, walks around the house singing my praises. (I don't think it is possible for him to do more than he already does for me)

OK, just a little more since we are on the topic Lord...how about the rest of my kids...I would like holy, smart, healthy, obedient, happy children. Ones who pray always, beg to go to mass and say the rosary, are so smart we never need to do school (and just can play all day), never get sick, say "yes mother dear who I love and adore" always, and never argue or fight.

Then there is me Lord...can I have uninterrupted prayer time each morning, be about 20lbs lighter, not need any sleep, like to clean my house, never yell at my kids, always do what my husband wants, be a great mother to my teenagers, and keep my mouth shut!

Did I forget anything...if so Lord...I am sure you know, and I mean it when I say...Thy will be done...

OK, just kidding Lord...I remember now...It is called picking up our cross; and that is why we need faith!!!

Isn't it funny how we think we can tell God what to do?

I DO MEAN IT (NOT LIKE IT) WHEN I SAY THY WILL BE DONE!!!

Feast of Aloysius Gonzaga

A letter from St Aloysius Gonzaga to his mother
God's mercies shall be my song for ever
May the comfort and grace of the Holy Spirit be yours for ever, most honoured lady. Your letter found me lingering still in this region of the dead, but now I must rouse myself to make my way on to heaven at last and to praise God for ever in the land of the living; indeed I had hoped that before this time my journey there would have been over. If charity, as Saint Paul says, means to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who are glad, then, dearest mother, you shall rejoice exceedingly that God in his grace and his love for you is showing me the path to true happiness, and assuring me that I shall never lose him.The divine goodness, most honoured lady, is a fathomless and shoreless ocean, and I confess that when I plunge my mind into thought of this it is carried away by the immensity and feels quite lost and bewildered there. In return for my short and feeble labours, God is calling me to eternal rest; his voice from heaven invites me to the infinite bliss I have sought so languidly, and promises me this reward for the tears I have so seldom shed.Take care above all things, most honoured lady, not to insult God’s boundless loving kindness; you would certainly do this if you mourned as dead one living face to face with God, one whose prayers can bring you in your troubles more powerful aid than they ever could on earth. And our parting will not be for long; we shall see each other again in heaven; we shall be united with our Saviour; there we shall praise him with heart and soul, sing of his mercies for ever, and enjoy eternal happiness. When he takes away what he once lent us, his purpose is to store our treasure elsewhere more safely and bestow on us those very blessings that we ourselves would most choose to have.I write all this with the one desire that you and all my family may consider my departure a joy and favour and that you especially may speed with a mother’s blessing my passage across the waters till I reach the shore to which all hopes belong. I write the more willingly because I have no clearer way of expressing the love and respect I owe you as your son.

For those of us who have children considering a VOCATION this may give you comfort.