The Latin Mass (again)

I went to the Latin Mass again today. It's only held once a fortnight in this area but how I love it! The reverence, the silence...with just the priest and altar server speaking quietly, the peace and joy. Words cannot express it. And our beloved priest, Fr T, speaks very frankly to us about the way we should live as Christians. He has told us he couldn't be so open at a parish Mass as people would be offended. Today he told us bluntly that we had to be Christ to a fallen world and explained what that meant. Very challenging and quite scary, so we try and we pray to the Holy Spirit.

THank you Jesus for the Blessed Latin Mass.

Offering up

For several weeks now I have been quite ill which is a novel experience for me. As I was being admitted to hospital the nurse said incredulously "At your age you've never had a general anaesthetic before?" and I answered "I've never even been in hospital before." (Even my babies had been born at home, and were very easy births) We agreed I had been very 'lucky'("blessed" I said to myself). So this was my first experience of 'offering up' my pain to God for others, I'd read about it, and knew how important it was but I'd never had the chance to actually do it before. And I was rather disappointed when I did. I don't know what I expected...an easing of the pain? ...a feeling of peace?...I don't know. But whatever I expected it didn't happen; the pain was just as bad, there was no lessening of my distress, I was still as scared. But in faith I believed that I was helping some priest somewhere. Praise God.

Sacred Heart.

As June is the month of the Sacred Heart I decided to add this beautiful prayer to my daily prayers. I say it often during the day: 'Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.'

Such a blessing from the vast treasury of our Church.

Dreams

I'm thinking of writing a book for parents about how to introduce children to the Mass, starting when they are very small. Is it a dream or a plan? I'm not sure at the moment. I'm just praying for God's guidance and playing around with ideas. If it's a dream it'll fade: if it's God's Will a plan will emerge. As with everything prayer is the key.

Alleluia!

My friend Joan was teaching at the Children's Liturgy on Sunday and asked her class of 4 year olds "What does resurrection mean?" and one little girl leapt to her feet and said excitedly "It means He bees risen!" I love that.

Alleluia!

Stations of the Cross

My lenten penance was to pray the Stations of the Cross after the weekday Masses. So I wait until everyone, well, almost everyone, has left the church then I say them. I have found a beautiful meditation booklet to use and the stations have really spoken to me and helped me to be more honest with God and with myself. And of course I am even more aware of the sufferings of Jesus.

My daughter recently mentioned the old Protestant hymn "When I survey the Wondrous Cross" and I've incoporated that (silently) into my meditations too. I use the final verse at the Station where Jesus dies on the Cross:

"Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That was an offering far too small.
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my life, my soul, my All.

So moving.

Wake up Rosary

My second precious rosary is actually the first one I acquired after coming back to the Church after a long absence. My husband bought it for me - much to my surprise! It is in a lovely olive wood box and the beads themselves are also made of delicate olive wood from Bethlehem. There is a pewter crucifix on the box, and the crucifix and medal on the rosary are silver and stamped 'Jerusalem'. It was made in Canada.

The beads are smooth from much use and they are beautifully soothing as they slip effortlessly through my sleepy fingers every morning. This is my first rosary of the day which I say around 7am, as I finish my morning prayers by praying the joyful mysteries for the conversion of my family.