Dying to Self

I was struck by today's Epistle in the TLM, Romans 6:3-11.  If you ever feel like your world is constantly crumbling around you, these are the readings for you.... because they are the readings for me!  There is a reason why we lose our joy or don't have true joy.  And it can be summarized in one sentence:  I have not yet truly died to myself.  

If you have the beautiful book every-Catholic-should-have-on-his-shelf, Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, today's commentary is #231 "The Compassion of Jesus".  In the words of Fr. Gabriel, "How does it happen that we are always falling? Why are we always so miserable?  A more attentive reading of the Epistle will reveal the reason:  because we are not yet wholly 'dead' with Christ, because the 'old man' in us has not yet been 'crucified' to the point of our no longer being 'slaves of sin'."  St. Louis de Montfort speaks eloquently regarding the very opposite of being 'slaves of sin' that is being 'slaves of love'.  However, we must first die to ourself in order to truly love.  "Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remains alone. But if it die, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life eternal." John 12:24-25

[It was at this point that I lost the entire rest of my post!  I hope that isn't a sign from Heaven...]

It is in the Gospel Mark 8: 1-9 that we find our answer, "I have compassion on the multitude".  He sees our weaknesses, He sees our weariness, He sees our helplessness, He sees our instabilities and He nourishes us.  In Biblical Times, He multiplied the loaves and fishes, but for us, greater yet, He nourishes us with His Body and Blood.  From Divine Intimacy we read, "How many times have we too seen miracles of grace and the wonders of Divine Providence! And yet, when we are placed in new, bewildering, or difficult circumstances, how often we remain hesitant; it seems as if we doubted God's almighty power.  Let us think, for example, of our spiritual life:  there are still things to be overcome or surmounted... we have tried so many times, and perhaps we no longer have the courage to begin again.  Oh! if our faith were only greater, if we would only cast ourselves upon God with more confidence! One good act of total abandonment might be all we need to win the victory!"

St. Theresa of Avila had the key, she would take the most menial tasks of the house and in those things find her joy through her death to self.  Methinks I'll start in the boys' bathroom... How about you?

"Have courage, and let your heart be strengthened, all you that hope in the Lord." (Ps 30)

St. Elizabeth of Portugal

Taken from the Butler's Lives of the Saints:
Elizabeth was born in 1271. She was daughter of Pedro III. of Arragon, being named after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. At twelve years of age she was given in marriage to Denis, King of Portugal, and from a holy child became a saintly wife. She heard Mass and recited the Divine Office daily, but her devotions were arranged with such prudence that they interfered with no duty of her state. She prepared for her frequent communions by severe austerities, fasting thrice a week, and by heroic works of charity.

She was several times called on to make peace between her husband and her son Alphonso, who had taken up arms against him. Her husband tried her much, both by his unfounded jealousy and by his infidelity to herself. A slander affecting Elizabeth and one of her pages made the king determine to slay the youth, and he told a lime-burner to cast into his kiln the first page who should arrive with a royal message. On the day fixed the page was sent; but the boy, who was in the habit of hearing Mass daily, stopped on his way to do so. The king, in suspense, sent a second page, the very originator of the calumny, who, coming first to the kiln, was at once cast into the furnace and burned. Shortly after, the first page arrived from the church, and took back to the king the lime-burner's reply that his orders had been fulfilled. Thus hearing Mass saved the page's life and proved the queen's innocence. Her patience, and the wonderful sweetness with which she even cherished the children of her rivals, completely won the king from his evil ways, and he became a devoted husband and a truly Christian king.

She built many charitable institutions and religious houses, among others a convent of Poor Clares. After her husband's death, she wished to enter their Order; but being dissuaded by her people, who could not do without her, she took the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, and spent the rest of her life in redoubled austerities and almsgiving.

She died at the age of sixty-five, while in the act of making peace between her children.

Happy Birthday Rosie

Happy 11th Birthday Rosie!

Rosary Rally

 Every Thursday evening until the election in November Catholics meet on the steps of our beautiful Capitol building to pray 15 decades of the Rosary.  This evening I was blessed to be able to go, usually I have my holy hour but due to the excessive heat and the fact that our church is built like a brick oven, Adoration was cancelled.

 Ok, I don't know but doesn't that strike you as awesome a priest in full habit, sunglasses and cellphone?  In downtown Madison.  Awesome.

 Galadriel, Frodo and Merry went with me.

Considering when we arrived at the Capitol at 6:35pm it was 104 degrees, there was a nice size crowd.  Thankfully there was a lovely breeze so it really wasn't uncomfortable. 

I ask you to pray for a couple of the protesters whose blasphemous posters were horrendous.    Hail Mary.....

Phew

Just because these temps are not normal for northern USA....  I can't help but laugh a little.  My "tiny" car has a broken AC so I've been driving the Suburban. I got in to head to town and it was 117 in it.  It took me 1/2 way to town to be able to put my hands on the steering wheel in a normal fashion, prior to that I was playing "hot potato" with it.  Just in case you were wondering.  Our house is hot, close to 90 degrees inside the main part and 84 in my room.  We are calling that "alot colder".      I never bought gatorade before this week.  One more day of this and then it will cool off to the lower 90's.  We have pretty much lived in the basement.  You know your kids are getting bored when they decide they'll start cleaning up the basement without being asked.

Happy Fourth-less of July

This is just plain local.  Dry everywhere. So obviously there are burning restrictions everywhere.  But just as proof.....

This is what our corn looks like.  Yes, that is corn not sugar cane.

We will have to skip fireworks this year as they are forbidden due to the very necessary burning restrictions but I noticed 2 fireworks places selling today.  You see it's ok to buy them just not light them.... *chuckle*  I did wonder though... would it be alright to do sparklers if you are sitting in your swimming pool?

On another note entirely separate from the needed burning restriction....  I wonder if this dry weather is a sign from Above to our country in general.  It's kind of like Independence-less Day without s'mores, bonfires and fireworks  but it seems to be where our country is going with the rights and freedoms written down by our Founding Fathers.  Now it's all about "freedom of choice" yet our choices are chosen for us.  Uncanny.  

 I usually get up and go to 6:30am Mass (I love mornings) but after being up playing musical beds most of the night trying to find a breath of air somewhere I just lay there watching the clock move past 6:30. Then I kicked myself as I love the TLM but I got up and went to Mass later and in the end it was a blessing. I ran into a friend of mine who told me that blueberries were in season nearby.  Strawberries and Blueberries thrill me.  And it was only 95 degrees at 9am so we followed her to the patch.

 Our goal was to fill up 4 pails (20 pounds) but by the time we filled up 2 we were dripping.

 Thanks Kay for letting us know about the blueberries ! :D  Can I take an order for some of that blueberry pie?

 Merry getting a lift while Pippin is driving.   Would you?!  It's enough to ride in a car with a 16 year old driver.... but riding with a 6 year old in a go cart is just too much.

 I was asked recently by a Grand Knight if we have a permit for the "Giant Pumpkin Patch Raceway"  *chuckle*  You just never know what you'll find at our place.... however I do have a restriction... no toilet flower pots please!

 Woops, did we forget your nap, Marigold?   Eowyn was the champion for falling asleep at doorways.  The first time that happened I nearly had a heart attack, I thought she was dead.  Merry on the other hand gets the prize for the oddest places to take a nap.

 I hope that is a bit off, but just the same, I'm sitting in a hot house with a hot laptop on my hot lap.  I think it is time to venture out to that pool.

 Oh my goodness, couldn't you just eat her up?

 The Bug's stickers arrived.

 I picked the number #490 (forgive 70x7times)

 Just proving that M&M's do melt in your mouth and in your hands.  Why was the baby eating an M&M? 

It rained just long enough for me to say "Get the camera it is raining!"and take the picture, then it stopped.  But it was rain.  Thankfully one of our great priests is offering a Mass on Saturday for Rain. 

God Bless America!

I'm Melting

Today 102 °F       Tomorrow  104

Just want credit where credit is due. 

I think God just wants to remind us we don't want to go to hell.

Reminder noted... not that I needed a reminder.... just sayin'.