My Resolutions, My Gifts

Last Year, 2016, I had an Epiphany to use the New Year to resolve to do better, and make a change for the better.  The Epiphany is when the Magi set out to find the Christ Child...Following the path to Christ.  That's what resolutions ultimately are...

So as I set out this New 2017 Year, I resolve to do my best to search out Christ in everything and everyone and follow Him in every way, bringing Him my gifts.

Welcome 2016!

My Word

My Prayer

"Hail Mary, poor and humble Woman, Blessed by the Most High! Virgin of hope, dawn of a new era, We join in your song of praise, to celebrate the Lord’s mercy, to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom and the full liberation of humanity.

Hail Mary, lowly handmaid of the Lord, Glorious Mother of Christ! Faithful Virgin, holy dwelling-place of the Word, Teach us to persevere in listening to the Word, and to be docile to the voice of the Spirit, attentive to his promptings in the depths of our conscience and to his manifestations in the events of history.

Hail Mary, Woman of sorrows, Mother of the living! Virgin spouse beneath the Cross, the new Eve, Be our guide along the paths of the world. Teach us to experience and to spread the love of Christ, to stand with you before the innumerable crosses on which your Son is still crucified.

Hail Mary, woman of faith, First of the disciples! Virgin Mother of the Church, help us always to account for the hope that is in us, with trust in human goodness and the Father’s love. Teach us to build up the world beginning from within: in the depths of silence and prayer, in the joy of fraternal love, in the unique fruitfulness of the Cross.

Holy Mary, Mother of believers, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us."

Amen.  

~ Pope John Paul II's prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes (2004)

Credit

My Resolutions...

still need more prayer & thought.

Here are past thoughts:

Resolutions for 2015

Resolutions for 2014

Resolutions for 2013

Resolutions for 2012

From my journey to Lourdes, France, May 2015

~ Our Lady of Lourdes ~

I love this day...it is very special to me. 

This morning we attended the Holy Mass at our parish and I was recalling how (just) last year we had celebrated the day at our Cathedral...

Holding the Bishops Miter - Our Lady of Lourdes 2012

Conductor was serving as Episcopal Server that day.  (My how he has grown in a year - he looks so little in this picture!)

...This is a picture of one of my First Communion students from last years May Crowning...crowning Our Lady of Lourdes.

I decorate the side altar and the children bring bouquets of flowers...so sweet.

Prayer card found here.

~ A Blessed Thanksgiving ~

Thanksgiving  Prayer...

 

Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks.

Thank you for all the graces and blessings, You have bestowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our and religious heritage. Our food and shelter, our health, the loves we have for one another, our family and friends.

Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessings throughout the coming year.

This we ask this in the Name of Jesus, your Son and our Brother.  Amen.

 

WISHING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A BLESSED DAY!!

God's grace to your days...

~ Valerie

 

Thanksgiving Prayer found here.

~ Priesthood Sunday ~

Yesterday was Priesthood Sunday. 

We organized a Priest Appreciation Potluck Dinner...in praising God for their courage and their generosity; it began with a Holy Mass to pray for our priests.

 

 

The numerous reasons for this celebration and acknowledgment should be obvious.  Simply put, without Priests - there are no sacraments. 

Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts
which we are about to recieve
from thy bounty
through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

 

Also, their presence and service are significant factors in the fostering of vocations.

And, without a priest, no parish is able to be a Eucharistic community.

It is important to reaffirm the importance of the priesthood of Jesus Christ and its central place in the life of our Church.  

Hand-Made with love...for our priests.

 

Let's show some appreciation...pray for our priests, everyday!

 

 

 

O Jesus, eternal Priest,

keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,

where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,

which daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips,

daily purpled with your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,

sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and

shield them from the world’s contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and

may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation

here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.

 

~ St. Therese of Lisieux

~ Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~

Today was (and is) a day of celebration!

First, and foremost, it is our Mother Mary's Birthday!
Like the amazingly unselfish mother that she is, she has shared her Son with us, yet again, on her day.

For the past two years, I have been working on a film about Adoration.  Today was the "official premiere" of that film. 
Our Bishop/Archbishop-designate Salvatore Cordileone celebrated the Holy Mass, which was followed by a talk on Adoration from Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P., from Catholic Answers - The Chaplain is In...
Then, the presentation of the film "Christ Among Us ~ His True Presence in the Diocese of Oakland"

I am so very thankful for this opportunity to serve Our Lord in this way.  His way. 

It is true that "I can do all things in He who strengthens me"  Philippians 4:13.

It is true that He uses the lowly.

It is true that He shows His greatness through the least:
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves"  2 Corinthians 4:7

I am so very thankful for my husband.  I am thankful for my children.  I am thankful for my pastor.  I am thankful for my bishop.  I am thankful for You, Christ, for this gift of Yourself to us.

Christ, is indeed, Among us!

~ For the greater glory of God ~

Dusting off this  very old post from the vaults...

to join the O Most Sacred Heart: 

 

 

      June 15th, was the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

One of the works that gives me great joy and happiness (besides spending time with my children and family & working in my garden) is arranging flowers for the sanctuary at my parish. 

Flowers hand-made with love for Him!

Flowers on the High Altar

It's another labor of love -

It takes time and patience...

...Some creativity and vision...and a lot of prayers.  Prayers to St. Anne for her intercession and help, and prayers to the Holy Spirit for guidance and inspiration.  +AMDG+

On the High Altar, for Him

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam = For the greater glory of God






There is a group of terrific ladies that have been arranging flowers for the church for years...they are very talented and inspirational.

They create beautiful bouquets and arrangements, working quietly and diligently...

all for the greater glory of God.

At the foot of the cross altar

This week I arranged the flowers...using RED for the SACRED HEART, PURPLE for HIS MERCY on our sins and WHITE for his GOODNESS, GLORY and TRIUMPH.

+AMDG+

Lord, Make me an Instrument...

First Days of School...

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life. 
                                                                                                                         ~ St. Frances of Assisi

Conductor opens his Schultutes

A "Schultüte" or School Cone:  Parents in Germany & Austria present these decorated "cones" to help make the first day of school a little sweeter.  It's traditionally filled with toys, chocolate, candies, school supplies,...

Butterfly displays her school "supplies"



Memorial Day 2011

~ Remembering those who gave their All! ~

Arlington National Cemetery

Eternal Rest, Catholic Prayer:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

"Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
                                                          ~ John 15:13

~ The Royal Wedding ~

 Special Wedding Prayer composed by Royal Pair: 

 

"God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage.

"In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.

"Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen."

The Royal Couple ~ Kate & William (aka Duchess & Duke of Cambridge)

Beautiful. Dignified. Refreshing. Joyful. Honor. Fruitful. Lovely.

I just love Weddings! 

I wish them all the best!