St. Francis Shelter

On January 7th a Children's Rosary was held at St. Francis Shelter in Vietnam.  This is home to 80 children and 40 adults. Most of those living at the Shelter are severely disabled and cannot speak.  There are a few children who are not confined to their beds and are able to speak and even sing.


Tran (age 16) was able to bring a Statue of Our Lady of Fatima for the visit to St. Francis Shelter. The Children's Rosary began in a general meeting room with several kneeling before Our Lady.  Candles were lit.  A decade of the Rosary was prayed and then a rose was placed before Our Lady. In between decades Ave Maria was sung. Our Lady was then lifted  and in a most reverent way carried to the rooms where the children and adults live. 

Our Lady was again set down and all those able to kneel took their place. Candles were placed before her and the Rosary continued.  Those confined to beds could pray from where they lay. At the end of the decade each person could place a rose before Our Lady and the statue of Our Lady was brought close enough to each in their beds that they could kiss her.  

May I humbly share that through Tran's phone I was able to have a window into the meeting and hear the children praying, singing and also see them.  What I witnessed was incredibly moving.  As Our Lady was brought to some they tenderly kissed her, pausing in some cases to say a quiet prayer and simply be with their Heavenly Mother. I remember the man in the yellow shown in the picture to the left. He took some extra moments when it came to his turn and he kissed Our Lady.

As Tran passed from room to room each time praying a decade of the Rosary, we began to see more of the rooms were filled with younger and younger children. Several of the children who were healthy moved with Our Lady accompanying her and kneeling in prayer at each room.  One of the little girls in pink was a tremendous help. She was able to carry a little baby close to Our Lady as others knelt praying.  

For the children that were small and mostly unresponsive, Our Lady was brought to them as well.  They could hear the praying and singing.  I was able to see several times when a head was touched in such a gentle way by another child and with such compassion and love.  

These children and adults have a life of incredible suffering.  Yet they are shown great love. The person who runs this shelter calls himself the Servant of the Miserable.  He speaks of each person as his treasure.  Although they have little, the Director had one request of the Children's Rosary: please pray for us.  This was his request of us. 

I include the sign for the shelter above.  One can see on the sign, a heart and within the heart is a wheelchair.  Our Lord's words come to mind, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me."(Matthew 25:40)

There are efforts now to begin a monthly Children's Rosary group at St. Francis Shelter. We humbly ask you to please keep this in your prayers. Thank you. 

Please know that the children prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary at the meeting on 1.7.017.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Confession is the Soul's Bath
Lion and the Lamb

12th Day of Christmas!

May I share a little Christmas story.  Several of the Children's Rosary groups in West Hartford, Connecticut USA heard that there was a Children's Rosary group meeting in a Church in Pakistan without walls or ceiling. The children were very cold during their meetings and most did not even have socks or shoes.  
They hoped to receive something to keep them warm.  Their little Christmas wish was heard.  Two Children's Rosary groups came together to help them.  Hats, socks and gloves were sent along with a few sweaters.  Two of the three boxes arrived in time for Christmas.(Another one is still on its way...please say a prayer it gets there soon). 

On Christmas eve pictures came of the children receiving the warm clothes. A few are included here.

The top picture is of one of the boys in the Children's Rosary group receiving socks.  The second picture is of a mother with her baby receiving a warm hat for her baby.  

The story does not end there.  A few days after receiving these pictures more came.  Babu Chand shared that after receiving the gifts from the children in Connecticut he was impressed and felt moved to do what he could to help even more of those in need within the Children's Rosary in his area.  

He was able to purchase shawls for a number of the mothers in the Children's Rosary groups that have been widowed. He went door to door to give the gifts. Some of the pictures below show them receiving the beautiful shawls. 

 

A special thank you to all the children and members of the Children's Rosary who have been so generous.  These acts of love send a ripple into the world.  It is a ripple of kindness that once started is hard to stop as is seen here. 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Come on a Journey with us
Hear from the Children

Relics of the Passion

Last Tuesday evening we were blessed to have the Relics of the Passion visit a Church near us.  I was grateful to be able to attend.  Among the relics present was a piece of the True Cross as well as many other beautiful relics from Our Lords Passion.  In a special way I prayed for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary.  

Several other members of the Children's Rosary were also present that evening.  One was a young girl and her mother.  They were present at the very first meeting of the Children's Rosary on April 10th 2011 and continue to be a very important part of the Children's Rosary.  For privacy reasons I would like to refer to this young girl as Little Flower as in many ways she is a sweet innocent flower whose mission it would seem is to to bear a heavy burden of suffering and yet always praise Our Lord.  Her ways of praising Our Lord come from the Heart as she is nonverbal.  She is completely dependent on the care of Our Lord which comes many times through the selfless hands of her mother.  The gentle and loving way her mother cares for her is a witness to us all of the bounty of Love Our Lord has for each of us especially those that are the most fragile and weak.

Last Tuesday as the veneration of the relics began, Little Flower was brought by wheelchair to each relic.  The Knights of Columbus stood with reverence holding each piece.  Tenderly she was allowed to approach the relics.  When she came to the relic of St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Jesus, she passionately took the case before her and kissed it with so much love.  All present were amazed.  The fact that a photograph was taken at just that moment was also providential.  

In thinking about the Little Flower and her mother this week,  I began to appreciate the mystery of Our Blessed Mother and her Son.  This little girl was called to the very first Children's Rosary.  With the help of her mother she has placed roses at the foot of Our Lady when a decade is prayed during our meetings.  Through the Rosary Our Lady leads her children to her Son.  In a special way I could see this innocent child clinging to the bone that released so much mercy upon the world as a little hand opening a door once again to a bounty of love not just for herself but for all of us.  How precious must be the prayers of these little children.  

In a special way I hope the Little Flower is a quiet witness of simple love and an invitation to all children especially those who many might think are not capable to pray or honor Our Lord to come to the Children's Rosary.  All children big and small have a home in the Children's Rosary.

Thank you all and please know you are all held in the prayers of the children.

Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's  Rosary
No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord
Give and it will be given to you

Little Sacrifices with Love

This past Friday the Children's Rosary led the Stations of the Cross at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford, Connecticut USA.  Seven children led those gathered.  We had two candle bearers, a boy carrying the cross and four other children reading at each station.  We were also graced with music by a member of the music ministry.

One family whose children helped with the Stations had grandparents visiting from France.  This lovely family is originally from Paris.  All three children speak both French and English. As we had a brief lull in the snow which seems to be almost continuous here in the Northeast there was a last minute hope that they might show their family Cape Cod before their departure.  Yet the family chose to forgo this little trip to stay home and help with leading the Stations.  A true sacrifice for the family.  Yet this was done with so much joy.  It was so beautiful to see their little daughter carrying a candle, their son the Cross and their older son reading.  As we moved from Station to station there was a beautiful reverence of the children.  As I looked to the side I noticed one women crying.  

As the evening came to a close, it was clear that many seemed in a special way touched that night.  I began to think of this little family who had sacrificed in such a beautiful way to help in honoring Our Lord's Passion.  How dear must such a gift be, given with love from a family to Our Lord.  This gift which allowed such pure little souls to come and carry His cross and hold vigil with a candle at the foot of the cross.  Indeed it was a special evening.



 

Loving Our Lady

On this beautiful Solemnity of the Assumption there is a feeling of love.  Our Mother is so good to us.  She loves her children.  Recently, one of the mom's sent me this picture from our monthly Children's Rosary group meeting.  After finishing the Rosary one of the precious little girls picked up the statue of Our Lady and hugged her. At first I thought maybe she was putting the statue of Our Lady away but on further reflection I could see she actually was just holding. Seeing the smile on this little girls face one can see there is a love and a joy in what she is doing. During such time spent in prayer a love develops, indeed such love from a child must be such a gift to Our Most Loving of Mothers.

Yesterday another wonderful moment.  Sitting on the city bus on the way home from work an older Polish women got on.  I recognized her from daily Mass.  She had just gone to the grocery store and had a bunch of flowers in her arms.  A little boy asked her about the flowers but she responded that she doesn't speak English. Yet no words were needed, there was a feeling in the heart that these flowers were for Our Lady as a gift on her Feast today.  Such acts of love are not new for this older women who often leaves Church by first stopping to touch Our Lady's foot or kiss her on the head. 

To see such love for Our Lady brings joy to the heart.  

"I Will Love Them Freely"

This was a portion of the first reading today at Mass.  It is from Hosea in which God speaks of His love for Israel despite periods of faithlessness.

Such words took beautiful meaning today during an interesting series of events.  Our local Parish some time ago had to cease holding Friday Masses due to a shortage of priests.  Thus in order to attend Mass on Friday I must travel a further distance to another parish.  Reaching places not within a close distance of my house is a bit more challenging as I do not drive due to a genetic joint disability. However, my husband is so kind as to drive me each Friday around 7AM on his way to work.  After Mass I walk usually walk about a mile and then catch a city bus which takes me to the town center from which I can walk home.  On occasion I have missed the bus and had to walk all the way home.  With my disability such a walk is hard but with frequent breaks on park benches I can make it home slowly.  There has been a feeling, if the Lord gives me the grace to be able to walk then such a journey is a blessed one.

Today something interesting happened.  I decided to stay after Mass and go to Confession.  A decision I realized that might mean I could miss the bus.  Yet I had the time today and so I thought if such a thing happens it will be okay.  After Confession I was very glad to have stayed and the priest's parting words were to thank those around me and Our Lord frequently.  Off I went on a rather brisk pace in hopes of reaching the bus stop in time.  As I approached the intersection I saw the bus coming.  The bus stop was far in the distance.  I could see it would be impossible for me to make it to the stop in time.  The bus turned in front of me.  I caught a glimpse of the bus driver.  It was not someone I knew.  A quick thought entered my mind to try and wave him down but just as fast I remembered how the bus drivers really don't like stopping at unofficial stops.  Not that they are unkind but this is part of the bus company policy.  As the bus went by me my heart took a sigh.  Oh, I had a long walk ahead of me but all was still okay.  Then something unexpected.  The bus put on its blinker and pulled over not at a bus stop.  It seemed to be waiting for me.  I almost could not believe my eyes.  As I came to the door it opened.  Stepping on I asked, "How did you know?"  He said, "I didn't, she told me".  And then I looked behind him and their was a young women sitting right behind him.  She smiled at me.  She was the only person on this long articulating bus (this basically means it is a bus the length of two normal buses with a connector in the middle).  I knew the women, her name is Lourdes, and she occasionally is on the bus and sometimes goes to our church.  I immediately thanked them both.  She asked me if I had just come from Mass and I answered, yes.

As I sat down so much love welled up in my heart.  I could not help but feel this intervention had been at the hand of Our Lord.  As I mulled it over something struck me.  If I had missed the bus I would have struggled home but by the grace of God I would have made it.  I was in no obvious danger merely some small bit of suffering possibly.  Yet I felt the Love of Our Lord saying, today I wanted to show you that I love you and although you could have walked I wanted to give you some rest just because I love you.  While I heard no vocal words to this effect this was the sentiment that came in my heart.  It was love given freely.  It was not a prayer that I should catch the bus.  I had not thought to pray for such a thing.  It was Our Lord's idea.  A gesture to remind us that He is always there,  always watching, always caring for us.  Even when there is no absolute need, He may intervene just because He wants to show us how much love He has for us.  These things as we are reminded in Scripture come not because we have warranted such acts of kindness and love for so often I truly feel I disappoint Our Lord.  But in spite of all this there is an abundance of love and kindness showered down upon us.

“Lord to Whom Shall We Go”

These are the words Simon Peter spoke to Jesus in the Gospel reading from Mass today.

These words invoke a deep interior reflection for this would be a phrase that has come to give me much consolation.  May I share that as an individual who has spent a great deal of my life in the study of the sciences in particular dentistry and the specialty of Endodontics,  my mind has been trained to work in testing hypothesizes and working with facts.  This training fosters a mind keen to details and solidly pragmatic.  Such was the way I responded to an illness that took me by surprise.  It would turn out to be a genetic condition that brings with it a deterioration of ones collagen prematurely due to a genetic defect.  Such deterioration brings with it joint dislocations, pain, weakness and a host of other manifestations.  As a trained clinician my mind began sifting through the details of the case.  What were the factors that seemed to trigger such a rapid decline in function.  How could these be slowed, mitigated and even reversed.  There must be a dogmatic answer or a doctor to right that which was clearly dysfunctional.  Such was the path I set out on.  To talk and speak to anyone who was doing research in this area and to study the condition myself through review of scientific literature. Yet this journey in the world of details seemed to lead no where.  No one had the magic bullet to slow the rapid deterioration in health I was experiencing.  

As a practicing Catholic attending Sunday Mass only, I vividly recall picking up a prayer card with prayers honoring Our Lady’s seven sorrows.  It lay for a long time right by the back door.  One day on the way out the door I picked it up.  I looked at it and interiorly said, I am not bad enough.  It reminds me of a hair dresser I once talked to who complained of back pain but was wearing designer shoes.  I suggested she wear a pair of orthopedic shoes like mine.  She looked at my shoes and said, my back would have to get much worse before I would ever consider wearing those.  I laugh at such a statement because this is what I thought deep in my heart.  Things would have to get much worse to change my pursuit of a scientific solution to my problems and look elsewhere for help.  Yet such would be my fate.  All the things I held on so tightly to: my fierce independence and self reliance would be stripped away layer by layer.  Slowly, I would have to ask for help with everything.  Luxuries such as driving would be lost and even the strength to open the refrigerator.  Yes I would find that place where I would finally give up my pursuit of the details and begin to look elsewhere.  

The gate that opened began with a confession which was long overdue. A pamphlet on Divine Mercy was the wind that blew the door wide open.  Indeed all the despair which seemed to be swallowing me up was washed away by an enveloping feeling of hope.  This began a road in a different direction.  One that ended with a the phrase spoken today, "Lord to whom shall we go"(John 6:68) or the way I find myself saying it in prayer, Lord where else would I go.  Yes this is such a comforting phrase to me. For it is a truth that has been tested in the fire of intense suffering and has shown never to fail.  After exhausting all earthly directions only one place remained...to live and rest in the heart of Our Lord. To not only seek out His love but to be consumed by His love.

When a soul finds this truth it is such a consolation and strength.  Many souls I suspect find out this fact with far less resistance but such was my path.

Little Furnaces of Love

May we be like my cat, Baby,
warm and content by the heat

Today most of the United States is under a deep freeze. Reports of Atlanta, Georgia being colder than Moscow today.  Areas of the country dipping into the minus 40 degrees F range.  For our little area in Connecticut we are hovering in the single digits but will probably be well below zero with the wind chill factor.  A day of heavy rain yesterday brought large puddles that now are like mini ice rinks.  A light snow last night covers everything. My way home from work which involved a city bus ride and some walking was a bitter one and I was thankful to reach the house which was warm inside.  After such an arctic adventure home, I grabbed my Rosaries and headed to the basement where we have a pellet stove.  The flame is visible and seated squarely in front of it I could feel the wonderful warmth and watch the flames flickering.  My old cat, Baby, couldn't resist and came to sit in my lap.  Such is how I spent the last bit of the afternoon into the evening.  The kids came down also interested in saying prayers near the fire.  For in such times like this it is hard to stay far from the fire.  There is a homing beacon if you will, drawing you to the warmth.  Sitting looking at the stove I was reminded of a little prayer I like to say walking to Church.  Often as the wind blows in the winter, I offer up all the times of being cold, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to be unified to the times Jesus was cold during the Passion.  We know it was cold that last night as we are told Peter came to the fire to warm himself.  I ask the Lord for the times I am cold let my heart and all the members of the Children's Rosary be consumed by the love of Jesus, may we be like little furnaces giving off love in this world.

Tonight sitting in front of the fire looking at the little stove all warm. I was reminded of that prayer.  For it is a wonderful way to view these little Children's Rosary groups as furnaces of love.  Those of us cold are drawn to be near them.  We find rest and comfort in the radiance of their heat.

Please consider joining the Children's Rosary which will meet Wednesday Jan 8th at 4PM Pacific time at St. Patrick's Church in Angels Camp, California.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Monthly Mass to be Offered for Seminarians Tomorrow

As part of our new prayer initiative to pray for seminarians there will be a Mass offered tomorrow for all seminarians that they may grow in holiness and lead us in love.  

Since April all Children's Rosary groups have been praying for the seminarians attending St. John's Seminary in Boston.  We are planning to expand this prayer initiative to include more seminaries.  The most recent addition is Holy Apostle Seminary in CT.  Members of the Children's Rosary are also being given the opportunity to choose a seminarian to pray for in their home.  So far we have more children then seminarians participating and hope to continue to grow this initiative.  Recently some of the seminarians we have been praying for in Boston were ordained.  I've inlcuded some pictures that were taken during some of the ordinations.  

Photos by George Martell, Pilot Media Group.

You may also like the following posts:
New Prayer Inititiative: Praying for Our Seminarians

How to Start a Children's Rosary

Pope Francis Changes Holy Thursday Mass Location to a Local Prison

Pope Francis in 2006 chose to hold Holy Thursday Mass
 in a Children's Hospital in Buenos Aires

Pope Francis who was scheduled to hold Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Holy Thursday has chosen a new location for a celebration of the Lord's Last Supper.  He will be holding Mass and washing the feet of prisoners in a juvenile detention center in Rome. A beautiful example for us all of love and humility. 

May Our Holy Father continue to lead us in Peace and Love. Amen

If We Want To Love Then We Should Pray For Our Brothers and Sisters.

"Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability". (Matthew 25:14)

Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is quoted as saying "God doesn’t give us more than we can handle".  Likewise, Our Lord not only does not give us too many burdens he also gives us  enough blessings and talents for our mission in life.  However, small we feel our gifts are they are sufficient for us.  We may never fully comprehend in this world how plentiful and great the gifts we have been given.  Our talents and gifts were hand picked by Our Lord, "each in proportion to his own ability".  Might we not spend more time focussing on the things Our Lord has given us and not on those He has not.  

Might we “focus on the things we can do instead of the things we cannot”.  Our Pastor spoke those words over a year ago and they have echoed over and over in my heart.  As a person who used to be healthy for my childhood and only in the past 5 years has lost most of the use of my hands this was an important message for me.  Due to a genetic condition that begins to cause physical deterioration in ones 20’s and 30’s, I have suffered many joint dislocations and have had to give up a practice in dentistry, the ability to drive and even to open a door myself.  Others help me with everything.  This has been a humbling experience and initially an experience that felt defeating.  With the support of Our Lord He has shown me that even when your body seemingly begins to fall apart Our Lord still has given us enough strength to not only go on but have a meaningful life.  A simple prayer I try and say daily has helped, 

Lord help me to discern what you want me to do, 

give me the strength of body and spirit to do it,

and the courage to follow it through. Amen

One of the many things Our Lord has given me is a deep Faith.  With the help of Our Lady I have come to see that our purpose in life is not just to join her and her Son in Heaven but to enter the Kingdom with as many people as we can. I once was told that the role of a spouse is to get their mate into Heaven.  I feel this is also true of parents.  A soul who seeks perfection will bring many souls with it to heaven.

Jesus tells Saint Faustina, 

Know this, My daughter: if you strive for perfection you will sanctify many souls; and if you do not strive for sanctity, by the same token, many souls will remain imperfect. Know that their perfection will depend on your perfection, and the greater part of the responsibility for these souls will fall on you. (diary 1165)

When we stand before our Lord what will He say.  Might He say that He gave us a great many talents and blessings.  If we have prayed only for ourselves and shared none of our blessings what will be His response?  Might it be the same as the man who buried his one talent.

But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’(Matthew 25: 26-30)

However if we choose to pray for others and give of our blessings will our Lord not bless us more.  Indeed He says in the gospel today:

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”(Matther 25:21)

The Lord in His generosity has been showing me the beauty of this gospel.  The children’s rosary is dedicating this year to renewal of family prayer.  We are saying novenas to different saints asking them to chose a family, individual or priest to lead in their spiritual journey.  The saints are then put on the inside of a read aloud children’s Bible and given to children and families.  We also initially made some handmade bookmarks too with a saint on each.  One of the members of our children’s rosary who is pursuing a vocation consecrated to Our Lord prayed a novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross many months ago.  Recently a mission priest, Fr. Tucker,  came to our Parish and gave me copies of a book he had written called the “Prayer of Christ Crucified”.  I sent one of these copies to my friend.  She wrote back that she was using this prayer daily and it was extremely helpful.  She also asked me if Fr. Tucker could advise her on possible orders she might consider exploring.  As a thank you to Fr. Tucker I sent him one of the handmade bookmarks with a saint on it.  The bookmark which was randomly chosen had St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross on it.  It was the Saint that my friend who had received so many blessings from Fr. Tucker had prayed to in a nine day novena. The kindness had come full circle.  A prayer said for another person had brought blessings and direction back in far greater measure than was initially given. Our Lord does truly give you 100 fold of what we give in His name.

We are truly living in a blessed time.  May we all hold onto the hope that we may all join our Lord and His mother in Heaven.  

If we want to love then we should pray for our brothers and sisters.....

Do you love Me?

Today in the Gospel there is a wonderful exchange between Jesus and Peter.

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.(John 21:15-19)

I love this Gospel and for a time last year I found myself repeating it as I approached the priest to receive Communion.  I would repeat Jesus’ question “Do you love me” and then just before taking communion I would say internally Yes, Lord I love you.  

I have read that Jesus never tires of hearing that we love him. Could it be that God gave us the ability to be parents so that we might know how He feels for us.  Just as I never tire of telling my littlest child I love you, I have found that as he gets older he has less and less interest in giving hugs and saying I love you to my husband and I.  He is now 5 and I can remember just a few short years ago when he would be so happy when I called him over for a hug.  I can see why Jesus loves the smallest children.  They relish in the love shown to them.  The longer they are in the world the more independent they become.  To hear your baby growing up still tell you without asking that they love you brings a smile to your heart.  How Jesus must wait for us to remember to tell Him the same thing.  

May this Gospel remind us how much Jesus needs to hear that we love him.  Even if we think he knows our hearts to vocalize it aloud or even internally must console His wounded heart.