Oh Nuts

Disconnect to reconnect. No, I am not talking about disconnecting and reconnecting your internet at home. I am talking about real people and spending time with them. Disconnect from your phones and try reconnecting with the people around you. This is something that I struggle with a little, and I am trying to work on it.  Photo by  boram kim  on  Unsplash While I am not an expert on this, but people often tend to say that they are being realistic with how much time they are spending on the internet, whether it is on their phone, computer, tablet, iPad, etc. But if you really take the time to look at it, that is just a lie. Because there is so much out there on the internet that pulls people into it and it can impact them negatively. In one of the daily reflection books by Norman Vincent Peale says that: "When most people say they are being "realistic" they delude themselves; they are simply being negative." But how does being realistic relate to disconnec...

Gospel Reading: Luke 24:1-12 Photo by  Bruno van der Kraan  on  Unsplash At daybreak on the first day of the week, the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb;  but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (Luke 24:1-3) Abstain from frivolous activities and make an effort to focus your thoughts throughout the day on the death of Jesus for your Salvation.* *Taken from the 2019 Lenten Daily Devotional from the Basilica of The National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception.

Day of Fasting and Abstinence Gospel Reading: John 18:1-19:42 Photo by  eberhard grossgasteiger  on  Unsplash Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,  "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly. (John 19:1-3) If you are able, attend a Good Friday service today, or offer an additional act of penance.* *Taken from the 2019 Lenten Daily Devotional from the Basilica of The National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception.

Gospel Reading: John 13:1-15 Photo by  Francois Pistorius  on  Unsplash Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus Answered him,  "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." (John 13:8) Spend time in church or a quiet place, praying with Our Lord, and keep him company in the  Garden of Gethsemane as He awaits the suffering He is to endure.* *Taken from the 2019 Lenten Daily Devotional from the Basilica of The National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception.

Back in October I wrote a post about how I had come across a month long Scripture writing plan . I have been doing it every month since then. Even though it is already day 8 you can still jump in and join me in doing it this month.  taken by me Since the theme for February is love the verses for day 1 were John 3:16-17, which are two of my favorite verses and ones that everyone knows. John 3:16-17 Revised Standard Version (RSV) 16  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  17  For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. The verses for days 2-7 were 1 John 4:7-21 and they explain how God is love and how love comes from God. The vorses for day 6 tell us that there is no fear in love, and that perfect love casts out fear.

O Emmanuel , Rex et legifer noster, expectratio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domines, Deus noster. O Emmanuel , king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people: Come and set us free, Lord our God. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel captivum solve Israel, qui gemit in exsilio, privatus Dei Filio. (1) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel nascetur pro te Israel! Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23 1 Timothy 4:9 Psalm 14:7 Phil 4:4

O Rex Gentium , et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O King of all the nations , the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man: Come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. Veni, Veni, Rex Gentium, Veni, Redemptor omnium, ut salvas tuos famulos peccati sibi conscios. (7) O Come, Desire of the nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid every strife and quarrel cease and fill the world with heaven's peace. Isaiah 2:4; 11:10 Psalm 47:8; Jeremiah 10:7 Daniel 7:14; Haggai 2:8 Romans 15:12 Ephesians 2:14, 20

O Oriens , splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Radiant Dawn , splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Veni, Veni O Oriens, solare nos adveniens, noctis depelle nebulas, dirasque mortis tenebras. (6) O Come, Thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death's dark shadow put to flight. Isaiah 9:1; 58:8; 60:18-20 Malachi 4:2 Luke 1:78-79 John 8:12 Revelation 22:16

O Clavis David , et sceptrum domus Israel, qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Key of David , O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom. Veni, Clavis Davidica, regna reclude caelica, fac iter tutum superum, et claude vias inferum. (5) O Come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav'nly home, make safe the way that leads on high, that we no more have cause to sigh. Revelation 3:7 Isaiah 22:22 Jeremiah 13:13; 51:19 Matthew 4:16; 16:19 Luke 1:79

O Radix Jesse , qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. Veni, O Iesse virgula, ex hostis tuos ungula, de spectu tuos tartari educ et antro barathri. (4) O Come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem, from ev'ry foe deliver them that trust Thy mighty power to save, and give them vict'ry o'er the grave. Isaiah 11:1, 10 Isaiah 52:15 Romans 15:12

O Adonai , et dux domus Israel, qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. O Sacred Lord  of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. Veni, Veni, Adonai, qui populo in Sinai legem dedisti vertice in maiestate gloriae. (3) O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times didst give the law, in cloud , and majesty, and awe. Exodus 3:2 Isaiah 33:22; 63:11-12 Micah 6:4 Acts 7:30-31

As I am sure everyone knows by now, I often share things that I find on Pinterest. This is one of those posts.  Towards the end of September one of the suggested pins that came up was for a month long journal project that involved scripture for the month of October. Since I have always been trying to read the Bible more, I figured this was a good place to start. So I printed out the page, which can be found here . The theme for October is the Promises of God. I have been doing it every day and I am enjoying it. I do it every night before I go to bed and it is a great way to relax and unwind from electronics and the rest of the day. The verses from Monday's journal are from the gospel of Matthew chapter 6 verses 31-34. 31  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32  For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33  But seek first his k...

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Though I don't know who originally said it, the above quote is something that I have heard my whole life. Sometimes I feel like it is very true. The idea for this post came around a week ago, during a talk that I was listening to on the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. In the handout that was passed out after the talk, there was several sentences that stuck out to me about what our vocations are in life. It was also part of the inspiration for the post that I wrote on St. Catherine of Siena . We all have a different vocation in life, sometimes we know what it is and sometimes we don't. The only person who knows what each person's vocation in life is God. Sometimes it is hard to understand what it is we are supposed to do in life, but we have to be patient and trust in God. In the reflection for the talk that I went too, the first sentence that jumped out at me was " St. Joseph did not clai...

"Have no fear for what tomorrow may bring. The same loving God who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. God will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.  So, then, be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. " - St. Francis de Sales  Since it is the beginning of the Lenten season this quote is something for us to reflect on.

The First Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1234) Therefore, most beloved sister, or should I say, Lady, worthy of great respect: because You are the spouse and the mother and the sister of my Lord Jesus Christ (cf 2 Cor 11:2, Mt. 12:50) and have been beautifully adorned with the sign of an undefiled virginity and a most holy poverty: Be strengthened in the holy service which you have undertaken out of a burning desire for the poor Crucified, Who for the sake of all of us took upon Himself the Passion of the Cross (Heb 12:2), delivered us from the power of the Prince of Darkness (Col 1:13) to whom we were enslaved because of the disobedience of our first parent, and so reconciled us to God the Father (2 Cor 5:18). O blessed poverty, who bestows eternal riches on those who love and embrace her! O holy poverty, God promises the kingdom of Heaven and in fact, offers eternal glory and a blessed life to those who posses and desire you! O God-centered p...

The Second Letter of  Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1235) But with swift pace, light step unswerving feet, so that even your steps stir up no dust, may you go forward securely, joyfully, and swiftly, on the path of prudent happiness, not believing anything, not agreeing with anything that would dissuade you from this resolution or that would place a stumbling block for you on the way, so that you may offer your vows to the Most High in the pursuit of that perfection to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you. For Prayer and Reflection: What are the stumbling blocks that keep you from "going forward securely, joyfully and swiftly?" What passion will you never abandon in your life?

The Fourth Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1253) Gaze upon that mirror each day, O Queen and Spouse of Jesus Christ, and continually study your face within it, that you may adorn yourself within and without beautiful robes, covered, as it is becoming the daughter and most chaste bride of the Most High King, with the flowers and garments of all the virtues. Indeed, blessed poverty, holy humility, and inexpressible charity are reflected in that mirror, as, with the grace of God, you can contemplate them throughout the entire mirror. Then, at the surface of the mirror, consider the holy humility, the blessed poverty, the untold labors and burdens that He endured for the redemption of the whole human race. Then, in the depth of this same mirror, contemplate the ineffable charity that led Him to suffer on the wood of the Cross and to die there the most shameful kind of death. Therefore that mirror, suspended on the wood of the Cross, urged those who passed by to co...

The Third Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1238) Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance! And transform your entire being into the image  of the Godhead itself through contemplation. So that you too may feel what His friends feel as they taste the hidden sweetness that God Himself has reserved from the beginning for those who love Him. And, after all who ensnare their blind lovers in a deceitful and turbulent world have been completely sent away, Who gave Himself totally for your love. For Prayer and Reflection: Clare uses the image of the mirror popular in the spiritual literature of her time. The medieval concept was that one gazed into a mirror to see there what one should become . Does this image speak to you in realizing that as one gazes upon one's truest self, one comes to see the very Image in which one was create...

The Second Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1235) Your Spouse, though more beautiful than the children of men, became, for your salvation, the lowest of men, was despised, struck, scourged, untold times throughout His entire body, and then died amid the suffering of the Cross. O most noble Queen, gaze upon [Him] consider [Him] contemplate [Him] as you desire to imitate [Him]. If you suffer with Him, you will reign with Him. [If you] weep [with Him], you shall rejoice with Him; [If you] die with Him on the cross of tribulation, you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendor of the saints and, in the Book of Life your name shall be called glorious among men. For Prayer and Reflection: What times and places are reserved in your life NOW for "gazing, considering, contemplating," Jesus on the cross? Is this a struggle as you attempt to balance contemplation and ministry? How has your own suffering been a transforming p...

From the Letter of Saint Clare to Ermantrude of Burges, Look to heaven that invites us, O dearly beloved,  and take up the cross and follow Christ who goes before us, for through Him we shall enter into His glory after many different trials. Love God and Jesus, His son, who was crucified for us sinners, from the depths of your heart, and never let the thought of Him leave your mind. Meditate constantly on the mysteries of the cross and agonies of His mother standing at the foot of the cross. Pray and always be vigilant. The work you have begun well, complete immediately and the ministry you have assumed, fulfill in holy poverty and sincere humility. For Prayer and Reflection Where in your life are you invited to "take up the cross and follow Christ? In your  meditation on the mysteries of the cross, how have you encountered Jesus? Where in your ministry do you experience a fulfillment of "holy poverty and sincere humility...