Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

Thy Will Be Done

March 20, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: GFG, Miscarriage

It is with a sad but joyful heart (only His grace could make that possible) that I announce the following news. My beloved unborn baby, Maria Luisa has returned home.

I give thanks and praise to the good Lord for blessing my family with another saint in heaven. I pray that we will all be reunited with the five blessings that have gone before us. I have not shared this reality with the littles, yet I pray that they will find peace and joy knowing that their family is not bound to this earth.
I will continue to seek Holy Slavery and to joyfully conform to His holy will this Lenten season.

My beloved children and saints; Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Teresa Agnes, and Maria Luisa ~ orate pro nobis

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St. Louis De Montfort’s Prayer to Jesus

O most loving Jesus, deign to let me pour forth my gratitude before Thee, for the grace Thou hast bestowed upon me in giving me to Thy holy Mother through the devotion of Holy Bondage, that she may be my advocate in the presence of Thy majesty and my support in my extreme misery. Alas, O Lord! I am so wretched that without this dear Mother I should be certainly lost. Yes, Mary is necessary for me at Thy side and everywhere: that she may appease Thy just wrath, because I have so often offended Thee; that she may save me from the eternal punishment of Thy justice, which I deserve; that she may contemplate Thee, speak to Thee, pray to Thee, approach Thee and please Thee; that she may help me to save my soul and the souls of others; in short, Mary is necessary for me that I may always do Thy holy will and seek Thy greater glory in all things. Ah, would that I could proclaim throughout the whole world the mercy that Thou hast shown to me! Would that everyone might know I should be already damned, were it not for Mary! Would that I might offer worthy thanksgiving for so great a blessing! Mary is in me. Oh, what a treasure! Oh, what a consolation! And shall I not be entirely hers’? Oh, what ingratitude! My dear Saviour, send me death rather than such a calamity, for I would rather die than live without belonging entirely to Mary. With St. John the Evangelist at the foot of the Cross, I have taken her a thousand times for my own and as many times have given myself to her; but if I have not yet done it as Thou, dear Jesus, dost wish, I now renew this offering as Thou dost desire me to renew it. And if Thou seest in my soul or my body anything that does not belong to this august princess, I pray Thee to take it and cast it far from me, for whatever in me does not belong to Mary is unworthy of Thee. O Holy Spirit, grant me all these graces. Plant in my soul the Tree of true Life, which is Mary; cultivate it and tend it so that it may grow and blossom and bring forth the fruit of life in abundance. O Holy Spirit, give me great devotion to Mary, Thy faithful spouse; give me great confidence in her maternal heart and an abiding refuge in her mercy, so that by her Thou mayest truly form in me Jesus Christ, great and mighty, unto the fullness of His perfect age. Amen.

Moments of Grace – Suscipio

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Lenten Edition

March 15, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: {phfr}, Lent 5 Comments

{pretty}

My littles have become an assembly line for Empty Tomb Gardens every since they I introduced the craft for a Little Flowers meeting. They’ve been creating gardens as gifts for family and neighbors.

I managed to veer them away from wheat grass long enough to help me with a different type of Easter Garden. This garden was inspired by Ann @ A Holy Experience.

I love to turn off all the lights and let the candle light of this garden illuminate my living room.

It’s a beautiful reminder that through the suffering and crosses comes beauty – beauty that only He can provide.

{happy}

Dragonfly initiated his move from closet crib to big boy bed in brother’s room. He couldn’t be happier.

He has slept for the past 13 days in his big boy without a fuss – dad and I couldn’t be happier.

{funny}

I could classify this picture under all the categories but it gives me a chuckle every time I see it.

We’ve been praying a hour at the local clinic every Monday for 40 Days for Life. Papi hold’s a sign when he want’s to and prays from his ~~stroller~~ prime spot when he’s not walking the sidewalk in prayer.

He used to hold a sign that read “I vote PROLIFE first.” Papi refused to show the reverse of the sign that read, “I am the PROLIFE generation.”

Here’s from a prolife voter who is only 4 years old, your baby loves you!

{real}

There is no picture to reflect the reality of my soul. There is an emptiness that only His grace can fill.

I entered into Lent meditating on the following words of St. Chrysostom, "What folly to leave our goods where we cannot stay, instead of sending them before us where we are going — to heaven!” This meditation has taken on a whole new meaning for me this Lent as I face the possibility that I have one more treasure going to heaving. I pray that I accept His grace and truly surrender. I desire to see Him and all my treasures.

I pray…

Hail Mary…

As for my part here below, I wish for no other than that which was thine, to believe sincerely without spiritual pleasures, to suffer joyfully without human consolation, to die continually to myself without respite, and to work zealously and unselfishly for thee until death, as the humblest of thy servants.

The only grace I beg thee, for me, is that every moment of the day, and every moment of my life, I may say “Amen, so be it, to all that thou art doing in heaven. Amen, so be it, to all thou did do while on earth. Amen, so be it, to all thou art doing in my soul,” so that thou alone may fully glorify Jesus in me for time and eternity. Amen.

~ Excerpt from St. Louis De Montfort’s Prayer to Mary

~~~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Empty Tomb ~ Easter Garden

March 14, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Easter, Lent 11 Comments

Almighty and ever living God, whose Son Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in a garden and called her to be the first witness of his Resurrection: we beseech thee to bless this humble garden wherein we have a remembrance of the mighty acts by which we have been saved; grant that all those who see it may ponder and adore the glory of the Cross and the mystery of his Resurrection and may sing with joy the victory hymn; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen ~Station at an Easter Garden

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This a wonderful Lenten/Easter project for the entire family. All ages will enjoy it. I recently used this as a craft for my Little Flowers’ study on the virtue of fortitude.

The Empty Tomb Garden provides a visual reminder of what we are preparing for during Lent, Christ’s Resurrection.

An Easter garden has three essential features: a mound with at least one cross to represent Calvary; a stone or stone structure to suggest the empty tomb; and lots of live greenery/flowers.

The children will have an opportunity to tend and nurture their gardens during Lent and beyond. They can meditate on Christ’s passion and offer an ejaculation while tending to their garden.

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

The grass will grow within days. It is wheat grass and can be eaten. It symbolizes new life.

The children will remove the stone on Easter morning and rejoice.

~~~

I found my inspiration throughout the internet and Pinterest. House of Joyful Noise provided a great tutorial.

~~~

Supplies:

Garden

Seed Starting Jiffy Mix ($3.80/bag – 1 bag made 14 mini gardens)
Decorative rocks ($5.59/large bag of Mountain Granite from HomeDepot – 80+mini gardens. $1/small bag of decorative rocks from the Dollar Store – 2-3 mini gardens)
Gravel (this is used as a bottom layer, not much is needed. I took my rock from my home garden)
Wheat Berry ($.77/lb – 2lbs – 40 mini gardens. I found my wheat berries at Winco in the bulk bin foods.)
Dessert Plastic Plates or shallow pots ($9.89/100 plates. I used plastic plates because they were the most economical choice for a large group. I found my plates at Smart-n-Final)
Mini Terracotta Pots ($.24/ea at WalMart)

Crosses

Popsicle sticks ($1/150 sticks at the Dollar Store)
Brown Paint
Hot Glue Gun

Misc.

Water
Bucket
Spray Bottle
Hand Shovel

Directions:

Garden

mix the seed starter with water

position tomb/terracotta pot in desired location on plate/pot

lay down the gravel on the plate, securing the pot into place.slightly build up the gravel for your hill.

top the gravel with soil

cover the entire soil with the wheat berries. press the wheat berries into the soil.

add a layer of soil on top of the wheat berries. press down firmly. (this step is optional. it will slow the growth of the wheat grass.)

clean the plate. remove the wheat berries from areas that you do not want grass to grow.

create a path from the tomb with decorative rocks. this represents how the disciples ran to the tomb on Easter morning.

add decorative rocks as desired

insert the crosses

The grass grows faster with less top soil. The garden in the left of both pictures had a thick top soil packed tightly over the wheat berries.

Crosses

Paint the popsicle sticks your desired shade of brown or create crosses from sticks and twine.

I chose popsicle sticks since I had to make over 100 crosses. I did not hand paint each stick. Instead, I created a paint wash.

add water to brown paint in a plastic pin.

run popsicle sticks through the paint wash.

bake at 350 for 5-8 min for a quick set of paint

break off the tips of the popsicle sticks for the small cross section. break the stick in thirds.

break off the tip of the popsicle stick for the vertical piece. the round part will go into the soil

hot glue the cross together

~~~

We made larger Easter Gardens for the home.

inspired by Ann @ A Holy Experience

This garden sits on our front porch. It will serve as a reminder to all who enter that we are preparing for Christ’s resurrection.

~~~

Empty Tomb/Easter Gardens:

Lenten Link Up ~ Catholic Icing

An Invitation to Love

March 10, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Uncategorized

“As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus’ thirst…’Repent and believe’ Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to believe? Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor — He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.” ~Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

~~~

Click on the picture to view the I Thirst For You Prayer

Prayers have been answered and I have been brought closer to You. You have done so in the most direct way, a complete stripping of physical and spiritual joys. I ache from the pain that fills my entire being. I desire only to satiate Your thirst. I pray that my love is enough. I have nothing else to give. I beg You for Your grace and love as I try so desperately to remain steadfast at the foot of Your cross.

May the Blessed Mother dispose of me and this offering, all for Your glory.

~~~

Jesus, love me.

love me in my brokenness

love me in my disappointment

love me in my sorrow

love me in my weakness

love me in my pain

love me in my nothingness

love me in my misery

~~~

Love on Purpose Link-Up

St. Thomas Aquinas

March 7, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 01 January Saints, 03 March Saints, Doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas

"Regard yourself as more vile and miserable in the sight of God because of your faults than any sinner whatsoever, no matter what his sins." ~ St. Thomas Aquinas

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SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
Confessor and Doctor of the Church

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT ~ Feria in Lent

Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite ~ March 7

Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite ~ January 28

Commemoration of SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
Thomas Aquinas (1226-74), a child of noble lineage, was educated at the Abbey of Monte Cassino and as a youth entered the new Dominican Order at the University of Naples, to become one of the greatest philosophers and theologians of all times, and in his day one of Europe’s most popular preachers and teachers. To extraordinary gifts of mind he added a prodigious capacity for work, complete singleness of purpose, and a profoundly mystical holiness of life. His Summa Theologica and Summa contra Gentiles constitute the most reasonable and comprehensive defense of Christian doctrine ever produced, and his Eucharistic prayers and poetry are enshrined in the Church’s liturgy. He is the patron of Catholic education.

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"Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you." ~St. Thomas Aquinas