A Hidden Mutual Friend

Today one of our Sisters shared a few anecdotes of what people have revealed to her about their spiritual lives. One story impressed me, so I'd like to share it with you. A woman told Sister that she began to visit a Blessed Sacrament Chapel for adoration on a daily basis.

"I would pour out my heart and my complaints to Jesus. Every day I would visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and present the problems of the day. Then recently I 'heard' a word from Jesus. He said: 'Just adore.' Jesus already knows about my problems and needs. I've already told him many times. He was asking me to keep quiet and adore him." The woman noticed how the church sacristan took great care of the altar and the adoration chapel. One day she felt inspired to tell him how pleased Our Lady must be at the great care and attention he exerted. "I said: 'How she must appreciate all you do for her and her Son' The gentleman answered, 'No one has ever thanked me or told me about my work. Thank you!' We would exchange some pleasantries each day. Lately I've been asking for the gift of wisdom. The other day the sacristan said. 'Would you like a statue of the Blessed Mother? It's a bit old and nicked up but it's still good.' I was thrilled with the idea of getting a statue from a church. I answered, 'Certainly!' When I went into the sacristy to take the statue the inscription was Sedes Sapientiae, Seat of Wisdom!" Another Sister mentioned how her cousin, an entertainer in a tourist spot, makes a weekly hour of adoration on his day off. I added that when I boarded our plane to return to the USA from Ireland, the stewardess who greeted us mentioned how she frequents a Blessed Sacrament chapel in Belfast. I wasn't able to continue the conversation with the stewardess yet I was pleased to hear her greeting. All of us have this great Mutual Friend abiding in tabernacles around the world. When we go to him in adoration, we are united to him and to one another in mutual love for Jesus in the Eucharist. I hope that you too will be able to join our mutual Friend, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I guarantee you that he will give you his peace and answer your prayers. Blessings!

Fatima's Message

Catholics around the world celebrate today the 100th anniversary of Mary's apparition to three shepherd children at Fatima in Portugal. "The Miracle of the Sun" served to validate the truth of Mary's appearance and of her message. That day began with thousands of people, some believers, others sceptics, who gathered in the Cova da Iria in Portugal on October 13, 1917. All the people who gathered were soaked with a driving rain. As the children and others prayed the rosary, the sun seemed to fall from the sky spinning toward the earth. As the sun sped tpward the people it dried their clothing and the ground which held them. Soon the heavens returned to their steady normal light.

Mary left the crowd and the children with her message to "pray and do penance for sins; make reparation for the offenses given to Mary's Immaculate Heart and to Jesus her Son." Mary urged the children and all of us who listened to them to "pray the rosary!"

Today, I will take time to pray my rosary with attention and by placing many intentions as I pray. For instance, a family from Dublin Ireland asked for healing for a young husband named Ed who had quit his job to care for his wife Karen suffering from terminal cancer. Karen and Ed have two young children. Ed was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. One of Ed's brothers has taken in Ed's children. Rita, Ed's mother, is suffering from cancer which reappeared after being in remission. I will pray for all those fighting the California fires; those killed by the heat and flames; those left homeless;for the people of Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands left without electrical power and clean water. These are just some of the intentions I add to my rosary. If you are not accustomed to praying the rosary, try to pray at least one decade, an Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's and a Glory be celebrating at least one of the episodes in the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Recently I returned from a quick tour of Ireland, home of my ancestors. Our guide recounted for us the history of Ireland's centuries of living through fierce persecution and famine. Daniel O'Connell was the first Catholic Irishman to gain a seat in the British Parliament. Through a great deal of trial, amazing use of the law of the land, and a constant devotion to Our Lady's rosary, in 1829 O'Connell won the right to religious freedom for Catholics (and others) to freely practice their religion in the Emerald Isle. Let us ask Our Lady of Fatima to give us courage to practice our faith no matter the difficulties we face.

A Post Vacation Reflection

It's been less than a week since I returned from my annual vacation. This year most of my time was spent in in eastern Ohio where many members of my family live and work. For my birthday, besides the party held on the day, members of my family pitched in to send me and one of my sisters to enjoy a quick trip to Ireland. There are many tours to chose from to visit the emerald Isle. Our tour was the "Taste of Ireland." It began in the capitol city of Dublin. Who knew that Dublin is over 1,000 years old, and founded by Danish invaders? Since it is 55 years since I pronounced my first vows as a Daughter of St. Paul, the Lord provided me with an anniversary present--a trip to the Emerald Isle for the emerald anniversary. In Dublin we visited Dublin Castle which for centuries was the seat of power especially under British rule. When some North American tourists remarked that the portraits of former rulers from the British monarchy still adorned the walls of the splendid staircase, our guide assured us that "In Ireland, when it comes to history, we just turn the page." It was a matter-of-fact an hopeful comment. Our guide pointed out that the Irish president is just 38 years old, the son of an Indian father and an Irish mother. Ireland is an active member of the European Union. The euro is the currency in use That first evening we went to a pub outside of the city to enjoy an Irish supper and a show with Irish song, and ending with a performance by Irish Step dancers. Our bus had only 39 passengers. Yet the pub had several busloads of people who joined us for dinner. A few people were not in tour groups. One couple from New Jersey was there to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Their son had planned the trip and drove them around the country. A couple in our group was celebrating 15 years of marriage. We all enjoyed celebrating together. For two nights we were lodged in a hotel in Killarny. From there we visited the countryside which is very rural. Our driver pointed out that the country's previous population had been eight million. Due to the devastation of the Famine and persecutions, Ireland has about four million inhabitants. In the larger cities, much of the help in the hotels and restaurants was made up of immigrants from Easter Europe. We saw an abundance of sheep and cattle, both dairy and beef animals. Jim (Seamus) our driver pointed out the hills and mountains where people went to celebrate Mass when Catholicism and the priesthood were deemed illegal. "Priest rocks" were hiding places as well as places for Mass.