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
Word of the Year
“Almighty Father, I place the Precious Blood of Jesus before my lips before I pray, that my prayers may be purified before they ascend to Your divine altar.” ~St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
I desired to adopt a word for the year. It was a fruitful exercise for me last year and felt that I could use a simple reminder of His call for me.
I struggled with coming up with a word. Finally, I asked Dad to pick one for me. He told me to go to my saint for the year, St. Mary Magdalen Pazzi. Praise God for the headship of my family. It was the exact place that I needed to go. The word was immediately made known. It’s not original or flashy–the word is PRAY.
Everything starts with prayer. Prayer is where I hear His voice. Prayer in Adoration, in celebration of the Mass, in my work, in times of trials, in times of jubilation, in union with Dad, with my family, for others, united in sacrifice and penance, in the tears that I shed,….I must pray in all things at all times.
I desire to do all things for the greater glory of God and I trust that, through prayer, He will show me the way.
I’m not abandoning any of my previous words. In fact, through this practice, they have been imprinted on my heart. Perfection is not sought. My goal is only to move closer to Him and do His will.
“Our prayer must be humble, fervent, resigned, persevering, and deeply reverent, for we must reflect that we are in the presence of a God and speaking with a Lord before Whom the Angels tremble out of respect and fear.” ~ St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
~~~
2012 Motto
Be Charitable.
Be Useful.
Be Gentle.
Be Joyful.
Pray always.
Forget about yourself.
ALL FOR!
In His JOY,
Holy Family of Nazareth
The Journey to Bethlehem is a fairly new tradition for us, we started about three years ago. The journey helps to put all of our senses on the coming of the Messiah. There are feelings of apprehension, anxiety, anticipation, fear, inspiration, faith, sense of family, love, thankfulness, amazement, and JOY.
We all walk away feeling a little closer to the Holy Family and Christ, knowing that we’ve experienced a small part of what they may have experienced. We pray that we grow closer to the Holy Family throughout the entire Holy Season and year – where love, peace and joy reign.
~~~
Journey To Bethlehem is an interactive walking tour from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem. The journey recreates the events that happened on the evening of Christ’s birth. The journey begins as you become a part of a family (about 30 people) making a trip to Bethlehem to pay their taxes and be counted under the law of the land.
The trip, which takes about 45 minutes, and is one mile in length, will provide you with a glimpse of the events of the times. Your journey will start as you look at a map & speak with the mapmaker who will direct you on your journey. Along the way you will meet with other families who are journeying to their birthplace. You will talk with the shepherds who have a magnificent story to tell about a baby that has been born in Bethlehem, and meet the three wise men who also are seeking this child.
Your journey will be full of encounters with Roman Soldiers, both on horseback and in patrol teams. They will order you, "Jews" to comply with Roman Law.
The mysterious appearance of an angel who announces the birth of Christ, and a visit to the Bethlehem marketplace will quicken your spirit and fill your senses. The culmination of the trip finds you visiting the inn where there is no room for your family to sleep, and finally the stable where you will discover the Christ child, Mary and Joseph.
~~~
Mother Teresa’s Prayer for Families
Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth. Help us, O Loving Father,to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.
May it be deeply contemplative, intensely Eucharistic, revived with joy. Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer.
Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise.
May the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.
May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our sins.
Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us.
Amen.
~~~
{pretty, happy, funny, real}
~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
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
Keep your eyes on Him!
I’m saddened when I hear that someone thinks that I have it all together. I don’t! I post my family’s highlights on my blog. It’s easy to do since the pictures speak for themselves and require few words. It’s serves as my family scrapbook and a way to share my joy. These postings also help me to better appreciate the simple blessings that He has given me. I don’t have the gift for writing and I don’t have a camera on hand to snap me when I lose guard of my tongue, discipline out of frustration, neglect my household duties, or any other one of my many trials –the list of my failings is endless.
I am a miserable sinner, married to a miserable sinner. Together we are raising miserable sinners. We strive to become saints. I pray that we keep our eyes on Him!
~~~
"To me Jesus is the Life I want to live, the Light I want to reflect, the Way to the Father, the Love I want to express, the JOY I want to share, the Peace I want to sow around me. Jesus is my everything."
~Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
