Mornings with Mary: Kissing the Face of God

Imagine such an awesome kiss,

being pressed on the face of our Savior!

What was Mary thinking as she

kissed and cuddled this Babe in her arms?

Would fear have entered into her mind,

or was there only the sheer delight

in holding her Divine Child?

We know that she pondered

all that the angel Gabriel announced to her

because the Bible tells us that.

But, in this moment,

did she just give thanks that

Jesus had arrived intact

with no harm done on their long journey

to Bethlehem?

I hope that she was only giving thanks,

unaware of all the trials 

she would suffer as the Mother of God.

Go here for how Weistling was inspired

to paint this exquisite art.

then join me in visiting

Rebecca's 

Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: The Virgin Mother

 Beloved Mother,

we come to you with our prayers, 

help us be strengthened

to follow your Son 

in the way that you modeled,

with true deference.

linking to  

Mornings with Mary

hosted by the gracious

Rebecca 

Mornings with Mary: St. Mary Aglow

St. Mary aglow,

the sun accents her glory

with fall's comeliness

recently, a friend asked me,

"don't you think St. Mary (the edifice, 

not the parish members)  is cold?"

note: St. Mary's stone interior
 has very dark wood on the upper walls,

and its ceilings are HIGH,

up in the nose bleed height.

I pondered only for a short while

and replied that when I first

came to this parish, I did think of the church

in that way, especially compared

to my former parish of St. Lawrence.

St. Lawrence 

but as I grew to know and love 

the members, 

the church's stone and dark wood
took on warmth.
I would say that one will
feel warmth in any group
if one becomes involved.

linking to
the luminous Rebecca
at
Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: My Journey

our angels dressed for their baptism:
Derek Hunter, Alison Blair, Charles Herbert II (aka Chip)

A reader commented on this post
about a possibility of a story.
So here it is.  I hope the reader
is not disappointed.

My searching for somewhere to worship God
began when I was in grade school.
I went to church with various friends.
I did not find my place till I was in junior high school.  
The name of the house of worship
was Avondale Methodist Church.
Sunday mornings I went to Sunday School,
then church, and come evening time, 
I attended MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship).
I was also active in the church choir.
Later, as an adult my momma reminded me that 
I had considered converting to Catholicism.  
But I had told her that it sounded too hard.
Oddly, I have no memory of this,
but there is no reason for her to tell me that
and it not be true.
This Methodist church continued
to be my home base
up through the time I was married.
Then my husband and I switched to the 
Methodist church that was close to our home, 
also it was his sister and brother-in-law's church.
We stayed there till our babies were born.
Still at age 2, our oldest and his siblings
were not baptized.  
Neither of us
wanted them to become
members of the Methodist church
because both of us
had become disappointed in the
lack of spiritual nourishment we needed.
In the meantime, we had become good friends
with a Catholic couple. I loved how
they interacted as a family-
prayer time, kindness, 
a general openness to loving others.
So I asked about taking instructions
in the Catholic faith. 
I was introduced to Father Grady, 
the assistant pastor of St. Mary Church.
Father Grady continued my instructions 
until he received a transfer to another parish.  
So that I could continue, 
he notified Father Schultz 
at St. Lawrence to instruct me.
So, even before I was baptized,
I started going to Mass.
(Instruction then was different.) 
The first time I went to Mass,
I felt as if I were home!
Even with not knowing Latin,
I was warmed by the essence
of what was taking place.
About a year later,
 Father Schultz baptized me.  
The following afternoon 
the assistant pastor baptized our three children.  
Their Godparents were our Catholic friends 
who started me on this road.  
My husband agreed that our children 
would be brought up Catholic.
So this church became our home parish 
until I started teaching at St. Mary in 1986.  
My conversion to the Catholic Faith 
began at St. Mary, 
continued at St. Lawrence
 and at this time, 
I have gone full-circle 
whereas St. Mary is my place of worship.  
And I am glad.

Our fourth child, born in 1970,
was baptized on Chip's birthday.

Pictured here is a pen and ink drawing

of St. Mary Church and other buildings

including our school campus.

done by an architect Mr. Tony Costello.

When the prints came out,

my student-teacher gifted me with it.

lovingly linked

to 

Rebecca's

Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: The Annunciation- Stained Glass Window

"Hail, Mary,"
Gabriel greets her.
She responds.

Her fearless reply,
founded in faith, piety
renders our Savior.

page, "Herod's Lament,"
meditation for Thursday,
cheered with a rainbow

linked with love

to Rebecca's 

Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: Questioning

anguish festers internally

about answers to some of the questions

in the book (Wrapped Up: God's Ten Gifts for Women) 

we’re currently using in Bible Study,

making me hesitate to address them,

let alone share the answers with others.

Although it’s understood,  

(much like in programs as AA) 

what is spoken in our meetings 

goes no where outside the room 

in which we meet.

I know why and from whence

these reservations stem.

years ago I experienced

a betrayal by a friend,

who happened to be 

the mother of a student.

in addition,

in my childhood was

an unspoken but implied rule,

that prevented me 

from sharing about my family

and its inward secrets.

but if I choose not to ponder my failures,

how else will I ever move 

beyond this inability 

to feel loved and forgiven?

I now ask the Mother of our Lord

who encompasses all that is holy

to intercede for me

and bless me

with the knowledge of acceptance

that indeed I am loved,

therefore I am forgiven.

linking with love
to Rebecca's
Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: Her Titles

Our Heavenly Mother is known

 by innumerable names, just as there are untold

images of Mary.

However one chooses to address her,

or however one imagines her appearance,

she listens.

I know that I think of my own mother

when I seek guidance or assurance.

How much more fitting

to appeal to the Virgin Mary

when seeking comfort, solace

or answers to questions.

She awaits each of us

to intercede for us

to her Blessed Son.

Titles of Mary

Immaculate Mary

Star of the Sea

Holy Virgin Mary

Queen of Heaven

Queen of the Earth

Queen of the Esplanade

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Grace

Our Lady of Czestochowa

Our Lady of Walsingham

Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Queen of the most holy Rosary

Queen of Peace

Healer of the Sick

Comforter of the Afflicted

Mother of Christ

Mother of God

Mother of Mercy

Mother of the Eternal Word

Mother of Sorrows

Mother of Divine Clemency

Flower of Mt. Carmel

Fruitful Vine

Splendor of Heaven

Our Lady of the Esplanade

Yes, I have used images of Mary
from previous posts,
but I felt that with this one,
I needed them
to illustrate my point.
                                                                                 
                                  

lovingly linked
to Rebecca's exquisite Mornings with Mary

                                     

Mornings with Mary: Water Lily

exquisite lily
offered in homage, Mary,
heavenly Mother

lovingly linked
to Rebecca's
Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: My Ramblings

What do I want for myself for the new year?

entrust God

feel his presence

be inspired

host a writing group

be energized to…

pray 

exercise

write

these goals were written 

January 1, 2013

did I get them out even once

since that day?

am emphatic NO

is my reply

there is  a proverb

"He who fails to plan,

plans to fail."

well

that goes for following through

as well as planning

I do pray each morning

and evening

but what happened 

to... exercising

writing

hosting a writing group?

little progress there

when I am brutally 

honest 

about myself

I see that I

have few close friends

who live in my town

who enjoy 

reading

writing

walking

so

I 

spiral

downwards

into

the familiar 

lonely state 

I ask not

for sympathy,

just that you

pray,

dear devotees

of our Mother Mary,

for me to

envision the positives

in my life

to help 

 lift my spirits 

enough

to turn this 

spiraling downward

into an upward

path

thank you

for listening with kind ears

 

lovingly linked

to Rebecca's

Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: Prayer by Pope John XXIII

marigolds
diminutive flow'rs
for Mary

Prayer of Pope John XXIII 

Love of Mary

Holy Immaculate Mary, help all who are in trouble.  

Give courage to the faint-hearted,

console the sad, heal the infirm, 

pray for the people, intercede for the clergy, 

have a special care for nuns;

may all feel, all enjoy your kind and powerful assistance,

all who now and always render you honor,

 and will offer you their petitions.

Hear all our prayers, O Mother, and grant them all.  

We are all your children; 
grant the prayers of your children.

Amen forever.

lovingly linked to Rebecca's 
Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: Neighbors

 

The image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is from

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Perpetual_Help

Our Lady of Perpetual Help,
lending hope to orphans
through the faith and work
of Father Andre
and countless others.

On Sunday afternoon at St. Mary's parish hall
was a reception for Father Andre.  Many
parishioners attended it to listen
to a presentation by Father and
Tony Costello, a local parishioner
and architect/professor at Ball State University.
The person who organized the whole thing
is  a lady who gives her all
to her family,parish, community
and our neighbors in Haiti.
Becky has organized
many different fund raisers
for Father Andre's orphanage in Haiti.
Her latest fund raiser is a series
of rummage sales
with all the proceeds
going to the orphanage.

Behind Father are drawings for a village
setting for residences for the orphans.
Orphanages in the past were
cold, sterile institutions.
Father and Tony want the children
to live in a home atmosphere.
In addition, there are plans
for a clinic and a school.
In the works is a website
to make donating to the orphanage
more accessible.  I will pray
that it will be completed soon.

Mr. Tony Costello
explains about the future  buildings in Haiti.

Please visit Mornings with Mary
at Rebecca's Recuerda Mi Corazon.

Mornings with Mary: Faith

Dearest Mother Mary,
I desire faith,
faith as deep as the one
my kitty Jax has in me.
As neatly tied up
and ever available
as I picture yours was
when the angel Gabriel
announced your role
in the birth of Our Lord.
Help me to have the vision
of the path that leads
to your Son
with clarity and steadfast faith.
Amen

more Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: Blessing

 I received a while ago
this most perfect shrine
created by Hettienne @http://hergracedevata.blogspot.com/
Her talent is evident as an artiste,
much like others
who contribute to Mornings with Mary.
And maybe I should leave it like that,
but I long to repay Hettienne
with something other than my photos.
So, here is my effort, Hettienne,
with heartfelt thanks.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
bring blessings to you each day.

And with the tumultuous events
of recent times, I
pray for all those 
who have been pummeled 
with the loss of so many
in Arizona, other states, in Canada
and elsewhere in our world.

gather blessings from
Mornings with Mary
@ Rebecca's recuerda mi corazon

Mornings with Mary

Mary, queen of hearts,
the model of faithfulness
to her Divine Son.

She understands those
who deal with uncertainty
and aids them with hope.

may you be blessed to seek Rebecca's
Morning with Mary

Even with Mary, I like playing with PicMonkey's editing tools.
As you can see, I have switched old crumbling pots to new tubs
to hold flowers for Mary. My daughter also bought some new
kinds of flowers for my Mother's Day yearly gift.

Mornings with Mary: Project Gabriel

Gabriel Project
saves babies' lives, mothers' souls
a mission for God.

For my journal pages,
I used the following materials:top half of a reminder to hand 
in Gabriel Project cans filled with money 
for the Project's needs to help new mothers;
(we handed out cans to the parish on Mother's Day
and had them brought back on Father's Day-
fitting days, don't you think?)
scrapbooking stickers;
photo of youngest son when he was a toddler;
remnants of a graduation announcement envelope;
bear from a thank you card;
water color wash

merrily I make my way
to Mornings with Mary