Holy Family of Nazareth, give us strength of commitment and a heart of prayer – yes, loving to pray!
Love to Pray
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Blessed Mother Teresa, LMC, Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Prayer
Love to Pray
Preciousness of Silence
Preciousness of Silence
"Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips." Ps 141:3
"But Jesus was silent." Mt 26:63
The Silence is Meekness.
When you do not defend yourself against offenses;
When you do not claim your rights;
When you let God defend you;
The Silence is Meekness.
The Silence is Mercy.
When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to others;
When you readily forgive without inquiring into the past;
When you do not judge, but pray in your heart;
The Silence is Mercy.
The Silence is Patience.
When you accept suffering not with grumbling but joyfully;
When you do not look for human consolations;
When you do not become too anxious, but wait in patience for the seed to germinate;
The Silence is Patience.
The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than yourself;
When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature;
When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord;
When your actions may be misinterpreted;
When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise;
The Silence is Humility.
The Silence is Faith.
When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act;
When you renounce the voice of the world to remain in the presence of the Lord;
When you do not labour yourself to be understood;
because it is enough for you to know that the Lord understands you;
The Silence is Faith.
The Silence is Adoration.
When you embrace the cross without asking "Why?";
The Silence is Adoration.
"But Jesus was silent."
~MC & LMC Prayer Book
Just One Drop
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just one drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that one drop.” ~ Bl. Mother Teresa
~~~
Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a powerful intercessor for my family. The more our devotion grows to her and the MC way, the more we are drawn closer to Jesus Christ. It is not always easy to surrender on this journey that we are on but the Good Lord never fails to provide encouragement.
There is a quickening taking place in our hearts and home at this time. Praise God that He provided us with three (plus) back to back consolations within the same week.
The first consolation occurred on Thursday. It was followed, on Friday, by the second consolation, a glorious opportunity. Dad and I took the little’s for some service work when a priest (who knows of our devotion to Bl. Mother Teresa) eagerly pulled us aside. He invited us to take a moment to venerate a first class relic of Bl. Mother Teresa. We did not hesitate. (This was the second first class relic of a saint that was privately presented to me for veneration. The first occurred in early August. Rose and I were blessed with the opportunity to venerate a relic of Bl. Louis & Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse–Mother Teresa’s patron.) We prayed for the intercession of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta and for the graces from God to become a saint like Mother Teresa. We had a hard time leaving and desired to spend more time in the presence of Mother Teresa and Our Lord. We are still glowing from this experience.
The third consolation was the start of the finale. Dad and I used to take a monthly visit to the MC house in Pacifica. We would attend Adoration, recollection, receive spiritual direction and visit the Gift of Love (a home for the dying). On occasion we would take all the kids. Unfortunately, our visits have been limited due to our current situation. This weekend was really no different but we knew we had a choice to make. We were given the graces to say “yes” to a family visit and trust that He would take care of the details. We loaded up the car immediately when Dad arrived home from work and ventured off. We didn’t pre-pack or take the time to calculate for all of our potential needs. Yet, we were all at peace with our light load and early departure. We arrived to our destination after an event-free two hour car ride. (That, in itself, could have been a fourth consolation.) We entered for Adoration and Benediction. Sr. Joselia, M.C. visited with us prior to and post recollection. Her joy, encouragement, hospitality and love was another consolation that has helped sustain us to the present time. She radiated Christ just as Mother Teresa. We were filled spiritually.
We did not visit the Gift of Love since the baby was coming down with a cold and we didn’t want to put any of the residents at risk. We did, however, venture up the coast. Sr. Joselia, M.C. told us of a nice spot that is not heavily populated with surfers. She and the sisters have endearingly changed the name of the spot from Devil’s Slide to Angel’s Slide. It was indeed, the perfect spot for us. An angelic time was had by us all. It was a beautiful ending to a week of consolations.
We are indeed, only a drop in the ocean. We pray to become what He wills us to be
~~~
Burying bodies has become a beach tradition for us.
This was Dragonfly’s beach buddy.
Dragonfly was not fond of the sand or being too close the water. Dad found a solution, he brought the ocean to Dragonfly—Beach in a Bucket.
Someone wants to be just like dad!
Rose soaked in the fresh cool air.
As always, Dad created fun for us.
The little’s enjoyed dodging the waves while trying to fetch the kelp that dad would throw into the ocean.
Sparkles was the first to be caught by the waves.
Papi ran faster than lightning to avoid the waves. At one point he got caught by the wave. He was safe on the shore but fearful nonetheless. Upon realizing that he was safe, he professed to his big sis that he was swimming. This from the boy who won’t go in water deeper than 2 feet.
"Like Jesus we belong to the world living not for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength." ~ Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
~~~
~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
MC First Profession of Vows
“I have asked Our Lady to keep the Society hidden in the five wounds of Jesus.” ~Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Missionaries of Charity ~ First Profession of Vows
There are only two places in the world set up for them to do this within this order and San Francisco is one of them.
Main Celebrant: Fr.Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C. , Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers and Postulator of Bl. Mother Teresa’s Cause for Canonization
Tuesday, May 24
4pm*
St. Paul’s Church
29th & Church St & Valley St – San Francisco
Postulants:
Sr. Juantia Cruz
Sr. Fatima Rose
Sr. Chris Marie
Sr. Jacinta Clare
Sr. France Marie
*Mass will begin at 4:00pm and go until about 5:30pm. It is advised that you arrive for seating by 3:40pm.
The Just Person Falls Seven Times A Day
Charity Litany
by Father Sebastian Vazhakala M.C.
Charity is the queen of all virtues. “If you see Charity, you see the Trinity” says St. Augustine. Without it even if one speaks the language of angels it is like “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (Cf. 1 Cor 13: 1-13). It is a very delicate virtue which is like salt in the food. No wonder saints like St. Thérèse of Lisieux resolved to do ordinary things with extraordinary love and not the other way round. The following is a litany to ask forgiveness for the many daily failures in charity, as we know that even the just person falls seven times a day.
For all my uncharitable thoughts, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable looks, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable behaviors, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable attitudes, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable dealings, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable words, Lord have mercy on me
For all my uncharitable telephone conversations, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable judgements, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable criticisms, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable conversations, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable actions, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable reactions, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable works, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable charity, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable prayers, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable undertakings, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable works of mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable service to the poor, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable feelings, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable omissions, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable cares, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable preoccupations, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable anxieties, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable sharing, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitable encounters, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my uncharitableness, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my negligence, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my anger and bitterness, Lord have mercy on me.
For all my lack of forgiveness, Lord have mercy on me.
Let us pray:
“Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work too may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy”.
God bless you.
