On the Inside; On the Outside


 
Oct 03 2014
Love0

Prayer for the Work of Our Hands

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Blessed are you, Lord God,
Creator of all that is good,
for in your mercy you give us work
that we may be co-creators with you.

With hands to fashion and form,
minds to imagine what has yet to be,
hearts to care for what we have made,
and a spirit to impart to our own creations,
we rejoice in the labor you give us.

By imitating you, our God and Maker,
we continue to shape the world,
to name it and claim it
and be good stewards of your good gifts
through the life-giving Spirit that renews the earth.

Keep us mindful of the power you share with us
that we may create only that which leads to peace.
May the work of our hands and our visions and dreams
collaborate with your good will,
which continues to build for us your kingdom on earth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

~Diana Macalintal

Sep 22 2014
Love0

Status “Quo”te

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“In the external scheme of things, shining moments are as brief as the twinkling of an eye. Yet such twinklings is what eternity is made of. Moments when we human beings can say, “I love you. I’m proud of you. I forgive you. I’m grateful for you.” That’s what eternity is made of: invisible, imperishable good stuff! ~Fred Rogers

Sep 18 2014
Love0

Prayer of Spouses for Each Other

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Prayer of Spouses for Each Other

Lord Jesus, grant that my spouse and I may have a true and understanding love for each other. Grant that we may both be filled with faith and trust. Give us the grace to live with each other in peace and harmony.

May we always bear with one another’s weaknesses and grow from each others strengths. Help us to forgive one another’s failings and grant us patience, kindness, cheerfulness and the spirit of placing the well-being of one another ahead of one’s self.

May the love that brought us together grow and mature with each passing year. Bring us both ever closer to you through our love for each other. Let our love grown to perfection. Amen.

Sep 14 2014
Love0

God is with Us

Posted by | Everyday Life | No Comments

Hercules-Actors-Kevin-SorboBack in the 1990’s there was a TV show called, “Hercules: the Legendary Journeys!” It featured the dashing Hercules, who went from town to town protecting innocent villagers from monsters, thieves, or the whims of the gods. There was also a movie called “Hercules” that came out this past July. Now, don’t feel bad if you don’t remember the TV show or you didn’t see the movie, because my homily won’t hinge on any plot lines. You don’t need to remember Hercules and his bulging muscles and flowing hair or any of the cheesy monsters. You just need to remember this one thing: the Greek gods were portrayed as detached beings who cared very little about the men and women below. Read More

Sep 11 2014
Love0

Love Has to Hurt

Posted by | Everyday Life | No Comments
Pic : www.lsa.umich.edu

Pic : www.lsa.umich.edu

Today’s Gospel (Luke 6: 27-38) is difficult to hear – and even more difficult to carry out. There’s a bunch of things in there that will free us and allow us to live the way that Christ intended for us to live. Jesus is providing us with this message of love and how we need to treat others. Honestly, the road to truly loving one another is not easy, but it’s a road that we are asked to walk every day.

Mother Teresa once said:

“Love, to be true, has to hurt. I must be willing to give whatever it takes not to harm other people and, in fact, to do good to them. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is no love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me.” Read More

Sep 10 2014
Love0

Come and Rest in the Lord

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20140628_091342At the end of June, I went on a retreat – something that we as deacons are required to do. It is to take the opportunity to disconnect from our everyday lives and to reconnect with our God. So I spent five days and four nights in a private hermitage outside of Lacrosse, Wisconsin owned by the Franciscan Sisters. The hermitage was located on Solitary Ridge, and it was incredibly peaceful. It was a silent retreat for me, and I couldn’t wait to rediscover the calmness of being with the Lord. Read More

Sep 02 2014
Love0

Prayer of Blessing for Students and Teachers

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Lord our God,
in your wisdom and love
you surround us with the mysteries of the universe.

In times long past you sent us your prophets to teach your laws
and to bear witness to your undying love.
You sent us your Son to teach us by word and example
that true wisdom comes from you alone.

Send your Spirit upon all students and their teachers
and fill them with your wisdom and blessings.

Grant that during this academic year
they may devote themselves to their studies
and share what they have learned with others.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Aug 24 2014
Love0

Rolling Away the Stone

Posted by | Everyday Life, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

There I was, starting off my Friday morning by going to the fitness center for a good workout. Although, something just didn’t feel right with me…

As I was working up a sweat, I began feeling some intense pain radiating between my front, side, and back. I decided that it would be wise to stop exercising. I also thought that it was unwise to drive home with this shooting pain, but I did it anyway. Read More

Aug 20 2014
Love0

Simple Depression???

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Simple Depression???

Such overwhelming joy casts me into pure depression when it crosses my mind;depression-image
bitter indulgence lies beneath my sweat-soaked surface,
and there is nothing that can control the things that are to be spoken;
wails within dig deeper, leaving behind scars of broken communication;
rid me of this deviled instinct and clear before me the path of peace the mind
so that I may dwell in the smile of life.

(Originally written July 4, 1984 – and dedicated to all who are hurting.)

Aug 14 2014
Love0

When We Forgive, We Love

Posted by | Virtues | No Comments
Forgive

wikihow.com

Why is forgiving someone so difficult? How do you forgive someone when every fiber of your being resists? How do you look at them lovingly when you still have the memory of their unloving action? How can we, as Jesus tells us, forgive our brothers and sisters from our hearts? It’s certainly not an easy task.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe. He is the patron of journalists, families, prisoners, the pro-life movement and the chemically addicted. And forgiveness was at the core of his very being. Read More