I've neglected my blog for a while...obviously. I regret that. I often have things I'd like to say, but for whatever reason, go unsaid. Some around me have had losses and joys, awakenings and backsliding. Maybe I'm a bit of all those things right along with my friends. I know of many prayers requested, and I'm true to their needs, but often no one knows. I'm not good about saying I'm praying for you, but nevertheless, I am praying for you.

I have many Emmaus sisters, and I'm so grateful for their presence. But I haven't been to our weekly meetings in several weeks. I lift them up and I'm aware they lift me up. But, I will confess that I haven't found the fortitude to overcome my need to withdraw from the world for a while. This, too, shall pass.

My dad was fond of saying that. I miss him everyday of my life. We lost him to leukemia a few years ago and I thought he would live forever. I still can't believe it. I still think to myself, "I have to ask Daddy about that." Oh, that I could. He believed in me like no other person on earth.

My life is tremendously blessed, but I've experienced a number of traumas. However, gladly not every day, but often enough, I learn of people, families, friends, acquaintances, even strangers, who would happily trade my traumas for their nightmares. And I'm humbled. Because they're on point. I have not deserved the blessings I've been given and I thank God for my life. I've always had a very good Guardian Angel.

I'm an American. I'm employed with a retirement. I have a beautiful home and family, warts and all. I have good health and money enough to spend $4.00 for every item in my grocery cart and every gallon of gasoline in my car. At least for the foreseeable future. I'm free to go to Mass on Sunday and vote on every Tuesday I'm offered the chance. I can hope for nothing more for my children and grandchildren.

The Oldest Christian Religion

We are members of the oldest Christian religion in the world…The Catholic Church was founded in the year 33 by our Lord Jesus Christ. We have the real body and blood of Christ in our communion.

The next oldest Christian Church is the Lutherans and they have only been around for about 500 years. The Mormons have only been here since 1829.

In the year 33 there were no hospitals. Today, one out of five people in this country receive their medical care at a Catholic hospital.

In the year 33 there were no schools. Today, the Catholic Church teaches 3 million students a day, in its more than 250 Catholic Colleges and Universities, in its more than 1200 Catholic High Schools and its more than 5000 Catholic grade schools.

Every day, the Catholic Church feeds, clothes, shelters and educates more people than any other organization in the world. We should all be proud to be Catholic. 

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We have had guests for the holiday and they are very special to our family. I have to say this is the best and happiest Christmas I've had since I was a child and Santa brought the wished-for bride doll! I have to laugh when I say that, but it's true! Special people, special season, special memories. I hope yours have been great as well.

Gorgeous lepidolite and peacock pearls

My plans are to post some gemstone information and how-to posts in the coming weeks. I'm looking forward to pressing on into 2012. Happy New Year, everyone.

JPII's Momentos Untouched by Devastating Fire

Blessed John Paul II's bible and walking stick he gave to St. Malo's catholic retreat have been miraculously untouched in building destroyed by fire: http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/7177

Missing Your Calling

I think I've always known on some level I missed my calling to teach. I find the most pleasure when I truly have knowledge of some subject (longevity helps that!) that makes it possible to mentor someone new to my space. I don't mean this in any way to be self-promoting, so I apologize right away if there's any impression of that. I'm not one to invade personal space with self-appointed authority. I simply find teaching to be the most uplifting part of my day...if I'm able to do so.

It happened three times this week and it pulled me right out of the doldrums. Twice I had the opportunity in my workplace and once with someone who'd like to learn to make rosaries. I get so excited I have to make myself slow down to keep from all-talk and no-listen! It is heartening to know things, often gained from painful mistakes, which other people need to know to carry on excellently. I relish the hope of preventing missteps and slugging it out the hard way. I think that's why history is so fascinating to me. I'm capable of learning from it. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Conversely, I positively cannot relate to those who are stingy with knowledge, and indeed, it makes me angry. No, I don't make a good doormat either in case you're wondering about the occasional egocentric.

                                                                                                   

Don't miss your own calling. My workplace career is on the back end, so youthful exuberance for journeys has passed me by. I am one of those people who never had dreams, no, I'll rephrase that. I never identified dreams for whatever reason. I do think I'm odd that way, as many people seem to innately know what they want to do with their life. But, we all have this path we follow, and I don't look happenstance in the eye very often. That's part of my faithful core.

Although I'm looking back on my own years, by no means am I isolating my thoughts to the young. I'm not finished with the good race either. Identify your strengths, but most of all, identify with certainty that which gives you an unmistakable sense of dignity and...what makes you whistle a happy tune.

The 15 Promises of Mary - October is the Month of the Holy Rosary

History of the Rosary

Our Lady’s 15 Promises to Those who Recite Her Rosary

1. To all those who shall pray my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and great graces.

2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary will receive some special grace.

3. The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin and dispel heresy.

4. The Rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies. It will draw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish.

6. Whoever recites my Rosary devoutly reflecting on the mysteries shall never be overwhelmed by misfortune. He will not experience the anger of God nor will he perish by an unprovided death. The sinner will be converted; the just will persevere in grace and merit eternal life.

7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite my Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces and will share in the merits of the blessed.

9.  I will deliver promptly from purgatory souls devoted to my Rosary.

10. True children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in heaven.

11. What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain.

12. To those who propagate my Rosary I promise aid in all their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Rosary Confraternity shall have as their intercessors, in life and in death, the entire celestial court.

14. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of predestination.

Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan

Agreeing to Disagree

I'd like to quote a few lines from the Archbishop of Miami's letter to the faithful regarding October's Respect Life dedication. "...Jesus' promise of 'life to the full' is especially poignant today, when our culture and sometimes our government promote values inimical to the happiness and true good of individuals and society...Our culture today increasingly views life as a 'zero sum' game, in which advancing one's interests requires putting aside the needs of others. This leads to callous unconcern for anyone who is especially weak, defenseless, and in need of our help. The unborn child, the aging parent who some call a 'burden' on our medical system, the alledgedly 'excess' embryo in the fertility clinic, the person with a disability, the cognitively impaired accident victim who needs assistance in receiving food and water to live--each today is at risk of being dismissed as a 'life unworthy of life.'...Efforts by agencies of the U.S. government to define abortion and contraceptive services as 'health care' as if fertility were a disease also threaten the conscience rights and religious freedom of those who dissent..."

I'm not dismissing other serious issues raised, but I think what clearly struck me in Archbishop Wenski's letter is the recognition of the threat to the rights and freedoms of those who dissent. When tolerance is one-way, it's not tolerance at all. It's oppression, whether from an individual, a group, or a government. Granted, I empathize it's not always easy to define who may be a "one-way" party. Here's how I see it: You have the right to your beliefs and behaviors, and I have the right to call it like I see it...and vice versa. To be sure, there is a time and place for courageous, credible authorities to condemn. But by and large, it doesn't mean you have to behave in the way I believe is upright, but it does allow me to disagree with your behavior, yes, even if I say it outloud, or in the press, or privately. This present-day slandering of values is the quintessential intolerance. Our mutual responsiblity is to be mutually respectful while agreeing to disagree. I'll leave my views on good manners to another day.