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Blessed Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady
Blessed Feast of the Assumption!
"Although the body was duly buried, it did not remain in the state of death, neither was it dissolved by decay. . . . You were transferred to your heavenly home, O Lady, Queen and Mother of God in truth." St. John Damascene
I love the Marian feast days. We even have an incense named after Our Lady. She is such a powerful intercessor for our needs to her son, Jesus. When our family says the rosary, I know she hears and is actively petitioning for our intentions. All of our children have been given over to Our Lady's care. It's not some obscure thought, but a very tangible real petition I made to Her.
Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Guide my day to do your Son's will. Let my will surrender to God's and help our children follow your example of how to love another.
This is particularly profound for me in these next 24 hours. Tomorrow, 5 of our younger children will begin their transition to a local Catholic School. We have homeschooled for 20 years, so you can imagine there is an mixture of happiness, and anxiety. Changes are never easy. However, I will say, Our Lady has given us peace that we are doing her Son's will.
During spiritual direction about a month ago my spiritual director told me something that has particularly helped while making this difficult decision. He told me,"God blesses the sincerity of choice." A decision entered into with prayer and genuine want to follow God's will, will be blessed.
As we go through this beautiful feast day of Our Lady, let us ask her often to guide our thoughts, words and actions to do God's will for our lives.
The beautiful Assumption picture below is drawn by our talented son, Jeffrey, and available for purchase in our online store. www.agnusdei.us
Spiritual Desolation
Recently a good friend suggested I read, "The Discernment of Spirits" by Timothy Gallagher. Though I do not have amble time to read; I carve time out most evenings or during nap time.
One particular chapter was very applicable; Spiritual Desolation: A Time for Resistance. My understanding of Spiritual Desolation is an intense feeling that lasts either momentarily or at length and makes us feel our efforts to get closer to Christ no longer seem to be worth it or needed. As though God isn't listening to us during our times of trial.
One week before I had gotten to this chapter, she called me in what proved to be a very powerful conversation. She felt strongly that our family was going through Spiritual Desolation. She mentioned to me that during times of Spiritual Desolation we should make NO LIFE CHANGES and pray out loud to admonish the evil spirits and invite the Holy Spirit to takes its place. During moments of Spiritual Desolation, it would be very possible for the master deceiver to work within us.
Then she told me something I had never heard before! THE DEVIL CANNOT HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. So, all those times that I pray a Hail Mary in my head to fight some temptation, he doesn't hear it. Of course, Our Lord does. I would much rather, as silly as it looks; say it out loud. Rather like in the awesome christian movie, "War Room," where the wife walks around the house demanding the devil leave her home; it's not his to rule.
It's outstanding.... I had never heard this. I hope I don't stand alone on this astonishing revelation.
I am now keenly aware of my feelings of desperation, sadness, depression, and hopelessness as a direct attack from the evil one. During these times, as difficult as it is, I acknowledge these feelings are not true and instead beg the Holy Spirit to relieve me of my desolation. It always minimizes the anxiety I am feeling.
Consequently, I am also aware of the moments of Spiritual Consolation. Those times when unexplained peace comes into me. When I feel a calm and presence; even in the midst of stress and uncertainty.
I have been given a huge gift; a grace that I wanted to share with all of you.
Erika
From St. Mother Teresa to Our Lady of Knots
St. Mother Teresa was canonized on Sunday. I was thinking of the spiritual dryness she had for so many decades. Really amazing the faith she continued to have and the good she achieved while feeling nothing from her Heavenly Father. How often do I feel like he isn’t hearing my prayers or answering them?
She gave a “business card” to Raymond Arroyo some time ago which said, “The Fruit of Silence is Prayer, The Fruit of Prayer is Love, The Fruit of Love is Service”
These words strike me as quite a remarkable thing. I love silence… or maybe I wish I did. Sometimes just sitting there bores me. Naturally I’m a pondering individual. I like to look at the world around me and wonder why? Quiet moments in an adoration chapel work for me, I frequently feel that my prayers need to be organized or that they aren’t “good enough”. Many times it takes real effort finding time for prayer. It generally involves me forcibly sitting myself down and waiting….seeing where the spirit leads me. My mode of prayer changes too depending on my mood; holy cards, rosary, Magnificat, journaling? I like all of them and yet none of them when I first sit. It’s a lack of practice. In my defense, being home with a large family doesn’t exactly get one used to silence. My mother would say that even as a child I didn’t like being quiet.
So at this exact moment as I am writing this ……In the midst of prayer time, come knocking and knocking at the bedroom door. One “emergency” after another.
1. I need a hug,
2. ( Exasperated voice) I have needed to be logged onto the computer for the last three weeks and now I need to wait another three weeks because mom isn’t available. ( cause the ipad was so important earlier… and you couldn’t have gotten on the computer then, right?) Why do children need to wait until you are otherwise incapacitated to ask for something. Because out of 15 hours that I see them during the day; there might be one hour that I am “unavailable”
3. Mom, the phone is for you
4. Mom, the phone is for you; its dad.
5. Mom, Brendan wants you
6. Mom, so and so called; can I babysit their kids tonight. ( Totally, cause there aren’t enough kids here to watch. What do you mean I don’t pay you to watch your little brothers?) Actually, they are really good about watching little brothers when we need them to!
OK, so focus now on prayer. My go to prayer… is to Our Lady of Knots. I feel somehow “connected” to her. I didn’t actually search for her, she just made herself known to me when our oldest lived out of state. She brought clarity and peace when I needed it. I can talk to her about anything; exactly like a mother-daughter relationship should be. She understands my issues. She loved, worried and was frustrated. She has Christ’s ear. She petitions for me.
( I’m going to ignore all the chair banging that I am hearing in the kitchen… and howling. And the fact that Elizabeth needed to put little brothers in time out for some reason)
Our Lady, while I am up here praying, could you just please babysit my children? Please make sure they don’t hurt each other or make “too” big of a mess. She knows how much I miss Jeff when he doesn’t get home till midnight or 1am. She knows how much I pray for her help to get Jeff out of the Paradise and grow Agnus Dei to support the family. She also reminds me that it is not in my time, but Our Lords. My job is to have faith in Him. She reminds me to be thankful for every blessing and sorrow of each day. To love the children unconditionally; to be gentle and kind to them in word and action. And to extend all that and more to Jeff; even when the days feel unbearable. Yeah!
Lord, I love you. My prayers always seem insufficient. But this is the life that you have blessed me with.
God has boundaries, just like us.
Praise Him! Always
"You brought me this farSo why would I question You now
You have provided
So why would I start to doubt
I've never been stranded, abandoned
Or left here to fight alone
So I'm giving You control"
These are the words of one of my favorite songs, "Lift my Life up"
Days can be rough; but they can bear sweet fruit if we try to remember in the midst of struggle that THIS day God made. Praise Him! Even if your van air conditioning breaks down, battery dies and transmission lines have a leak; JUST PRAISE HIM.
Even if ants come crawling out of the baseboards; JUST PRAISE HIM
EVEN if Donald Trump gets the nomination; JUST PRAISE HIM :)
Because at the end of the day our children are happy, healthy and our marriage is probably better than most. Thank you God for all the struggles because they bring me closer to you. Because I would rather struggle here than in purgatory.
Why did it take me this long to understand? He always protects us, watches over us and guides us. God is so good.
We know God leads our family well. He leads Agnus Dei Communion breads & incense well. We see all the fruits the work is bearing.
Pray for us.... you are in our prayers.
Jeff, Erika and children
It’s so peaceful when the kids are sleeping
Moms favorite time of day is when the kids are sleeping and………….. Yes, there is more.
When the kids are sleeping, I seek refuge in a quiet place with most typically a bible, Fulton Sheen book and a censer. It is a necessary part of my evening. Sometimes it doesn’t occur till 10 pm and only last 1/2 hour. But that’s ok.