I Am Pondering The Lord's Beatitudes

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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.*

*Please Lord, fulfill Your promises to those who are faithful to You.  

Help me sustain my trust and faith in you in this unjust situation that I am in.

I beg you, Lord, to lead me and guide me to where you want me to go to fulfill your wishes and Will.

In Jesus' name, I pray.

Let Us All Remember to Defend The Catholic Faith

And here's one fine new resource that will help us in defending Her:

A Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan

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Have you ever wondered where to begin to discover some of the BEST Catholic references and/or books to learn more about Our Beautiful Catholic Faith? I know that I sure have!

 There is SO MUCH that I did not learn from my Catholic school teachings, from my CCD classes when I was in public schools, and even from my parents. I am a self-educating Catholic from simply the constant reading of literature that is approved by the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Today I discovered this list from a conservative Catholic web-site linked to the Cardinal Newman Society that supports true Catholic education. I can't wait to start reading this list . . . and as the title states, it will take a LIFETIME! Why? The Holy Roman Catholic Church is rich in its treasures and beauty and it will take a lifetime and MORE, to discover Her treasures!

Here is the link for you too:

A Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan

Blessings!

Denying Ourselves During Lent: Personal Sacrifices and Fasting

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Holy Card image re-printed with loving permission from "Holy Cards for Your Inspiration"

http://thewindowshowsitall.blogspot.com/

"If anyone wishes to come after me,

he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

yet lose or forfeit himself?"

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Luke 9:22 - 25

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Ash Wednesday and Lent

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Dear friends in Christ,

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Today is a most holy day, one that all Catholics around the planet unite together to begin our 40-day journey of repenting our sins, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, sacrificing, and doing good works. Pope John Paul II said that Catholics who fast and pray together as one body, are a most effective weapon against the power of the devil.

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Today, I join with all of you in this wonderful spiritual opportunity to improve our souls, to continue the fight against evil in this world, and to grow in faith ever closer to our Heavenly Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Blessings,

~ bella

Through all your days . . . keep the Lord in mind, and

suppress every desire to sin or to break His commandments.

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Perform good works all the days of your life, and

do not tread the paths of wrongdoing.

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Do not turn your face away from any of the poor, and

God's face will not be turned away from you.

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Give to hungry some of your bread, and

to the naked some of your clothing.

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Whatever you have left over, give away as alms; and

do not begrudge the alms you give.

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At all times bless the Lord God, and

ask Him to make all your paths straight and

to grant success to all your endeavors and plans.

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Tobit 4:5, 7b, 16, 19a

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To Those Given MUCH . . . Much is Expected (Luke 12:48) Today's Gospel Reading

(Holy Card re-print permission granted from "Holy Cards for Your Inspiration"

http://thewindowshowsitall.blogspot.com )

Hello Dear Friends in Christ,

As I read today's reading from the Book of Luke, I could not help but think back upon the days of graduate school. I was attending a a dinner for undergraduates and since I was a graduate student, and I was told by a priest, "To whom much has been given, much is expected in return."

Well, here I am over 10 years later. In the morning before my rosary I ask God to bless my day and to help me be the best that I can be according to His Will for me. That includes not just being the best in my work, but also as a Catholic, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, neighbor, parishioner, community, state, and national citizen.

Each of us was divinely designed!!!! for a special vocation. We each have gifts. If you don't know what your gift(s) is(are), may I suggest that you ask God to show those to you?

I need to remind myself of the post(s) that I have divinely been created for according to God's Divine Will and to carry out my responsibilities faithfully! God placed each of us in this moment in time for a reason and we MUST understand the magnitude of our individual MISSIONS that will bring pleasure to God!

For example, I teach. When I just stop for a moment and think of the immense power that I have to influence young adult minds, I am just speechless. Many say that teaching is a thankless job. Maybe so. At least in the present it may appear that way. But like a pebble skimming the surface of water, or throwing a stone in water. . . . there is a long, long, LONG-term ripple effect that a teacher (or really anyone!) can ever see! That is unless, people come back to you later and tell you what a difference you made in their lives.

I pray that I use this influence wisely and in a way that pleases God. I try to teach honesty, integrity, ethics, decency, civility, kindness, tolerance, non-judgemental-ism, and so forth and so on. I try to be patient and understanding with students without being taken advantage of. I try to guide them when they get off course. I have 100 + students each semester and some days when I get home from simply teaching and answering questions with students ALONE, I can be just wiped out. But you know what? I feel SO fulfilled.

How has God blessed you (given you much)? I have a beautiful Catholic faith, a wonderful loving husband, healthy, educated, and employed and happy Catholic children (needing a little guidance as always), a joy-filled Catholic parish community, a warm and comfortable home, a satisfying career that helps individuals and society, loving elderly parents, my dream fulfilled of living on an acreage with beautiful animals, the ability to learn and grow more each day, and the privilege of living in the United States.

The list goes on and on and on. With so much given to me, I can see why I have the obligation to return my absolute best in everything that I do for the Lord and our Heavenly Father.

I know that when I think about what I DO HAVE and show GRATITUDE for those things, that I get less caught up in this worldly place we live in; that I am less depressed about the economic and political situations that we currently face. I don't ignore them, but I don't get caught too deeply in worry, but rather place my TRUST IN THE LORD for my needs. He certainly knows what I need better than I do.

I hope that you're having a great day in your neck of the woods. I need to go and get my classroom ready for my evening class.

Wishing you blessings,

~ Bella

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For Everything There is a Season ~ Ecc 3:1-11

I had read that the Internet can be somewhat like a 'black hole' in which to just get lost. With this blogging and Facebook and 4marks social networks, I think I can relate to that thought! How incredible is the Lord's timing in His messages to all of us.

Yesterday, the 25th of September, 08, we read the Gospel reading from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-11 . . . Time is PRECIOUS, fleeting, elusive, a GIFT from God! As I read from the "In Conversation with God" for Friday in the 25th Week in Ordinary Time:

• How faithful am I to the duties in my life?
• How miserly am I in the use of my time?
• Do I use my time well by working with love and intensity?
• Do I waste my time doing whatever I want instead of what God wants?
• Do I live in the present moment that God has given me?
• Do I put some order into my day with a schedule/plan that I stick to as best as I can?
• Do I overcome sloth and laziness so that I can help others, my family, my community, my students, my neighbors? Do I raise them up to a better mode of existence?
• Do I do what I should be doing?
• Do I give complete attention to what I am doing as if I were to offer it as a 'last thing' to Him.
• Am I using the present moment to enrich my spiritual life (faith, hope, and charity)?
• Am I using the present moment to progress in the human virtues (industriousness, order, optimism, affability, spirit of service)?

WE SHOULD WORK HERE ON EARTH AS IF WE HAD A LONG LIFE AHEAD OF US. AT THE SAME TIME WE SHOULD WORK AS IF WE ARE GOING TO DIE THIS VERY DAY (p. 98 In Conversaton With God, Friday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time).

With that said, my friends, I need to get back to the day's laundry and cleaning.

Blessings in Christ our Lord Jesus!

~ Bella

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I have just posted my morning thoughts on Chapter Two, Article 1, Section II. God's Revelation. It is important to me to understand my faith better as I continue my efforts to prepare for the evangelization that we are ALL called to as Catholics. It is a beautiful journey in Faith and I hope you join me!Blessings to you on this absolutely breathtaking autumn day in October.

.So for now, from the Carolinas, I'll stop in later to chat. But now it is time to do some housecleaning (oooooh, changing the kitty litter is at the top of the list so that I don't procrastinate this chore)! After the cleaning (first things first), I'm going outside into the garden.

Ciao for now,

~ Bella

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