Faith, Prayers, & Quotes

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I dedicated the year 2012 to St. Therese of Lisieux (hard to believe that was 10 years ago!!!)
She continues to be a source of profound inspiration to me.  The following are some of my favorite quotes of hers.

                     ~ St. Therese of Lisieux ~ 

•  The Lord has given me the grace never to fear the conflict, to do my duty no matter what the cost.
• The only happiness here below is to strive to be always content with what Jesus gives us.
• Jesus points out to me the only way which leads to Love's furnace - that way is self-surrender - it is the confidence of the little child who sleeps without fear in its father's arms.
• I know that love strengthens every vocation, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places, because it is eternal.
• No harm can come to me since, in whatever happens, I see only the tender hand of Jesus.
• When I am charitable, it is Jesus alone acting in me.
• I ask Jesus to draw me into the fire of his love, and to unite me so closely to himself that he may live and act in me.
• How do I react when in my mind's eye, I see the defects of someone who doesn't attract me? I remind myself of all that person's good qualities, all her good intentions.
• I know well, joy is not in the things which surround us; it dwells in the innermost soul.

ALSO...

                        ~ St. Theresa of Calcutta ~  

• We can do no great things, only small things with great love.
• Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
• The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.

FAITH:

                        ~The Apostles Creed ~

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

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                       ~Eucharistic Adoration ~

In 1999, at my sister Pat's invitation, I attended a 'silent' retreat at the Dominican
Retreat House in Oxford, and there I was introduced to Eucharistic Adoration.  It was an optional activity that would be available throughout the week end.  I didn't really understand it, nor did it sound like something I wanted to do, but I was impressed and amazed that many women signed up to do this in the middle of the night.  I had spent times in my life  visiting a church for some quiet prayer time, usually when facing some difficulty, but did I understand why I chose to do this in church?  Was is just for the quiet space? 
Our Catholic faith teaches that within the tabernacle resides the very person of  our Lord Jesus Christ; body, blood, soul and divinity.  I believe it is Jesus calling us to be physically with him during times of deep prayer.  After the retreat it would be several years until I made a conscious effort to visit a Eucharistic Chapel.  We read in Galatians 4:4, "...when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son", and I believe that just as The Father ordered all of history for the coming of his Son into the world, He is at work in our lives, bringing experiences and people to us, that will witness to the truth, enabling us to draw closer to Him.  In my life, I see now, how His still small voice called so patiently to me. 

Adoration brought me to.....

                                   ~Daily Mass ~

I was the Vicariate Newsletter Editor for a while, and during that time I always found room to include an advertisement from St. Rene for their Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.  When Fr. Ben from St. Cyril and Methodius became temporary Vicar, I thought it would be nice to interview him for the Newsletter.  During the interview he mentioned that his parish would be instituting a daily 6:00 am Mass.  I had already been going to Eucharistic Adoration for a couple of year, which had been a source of great comfort and strength, especially during a time of family crisis I had experienced, and as he spoke, I felt a little spark of excitement inside me, at the possibility of attending daily Mass.  When the Masses started I went.  If you're not a musician, or someone that music plays a very important part in their life, you may not understand how 'different' it was to attend a Mass with no music and no singing.  It felt odd at first, but as time when on, the beauty of the dark mornings, mixed with the quiet time of prayer, daily readings, and Holy Communion, helped me to know and understand more fully, the Lord's constant presence in my life.  It's so hard to put into words how my love for the Lord has grown these past years - but please understand that He isn't done with me yet - by NO means!  I still continue to struggle with my sinfulness as we all do, but because of putting God first in my life, I find some old habits are beginning to change.  God gives the grace every day, but we need to make a conscious effort to humbly accept His gift, and utilize it in our lives.  

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PRAYERS:
 

 MY MORNING OFFERING

Almighty God and loving Father, I thank you for this day.   Help me to make choices that will bring me to a closer relationship with You, that I may be an instrument of Your love and mercy to others.
I offer to You any burdens or sufferings I may experience.   May they contribute to my sanctification and the sanctification of others.
Forgive me the sins and failings of my past.
Help me to recognize and resist temptation, to come to know myself better, and to surrender to Your will in all things.   I ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns in unity with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever .
Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Karen Zawadzki

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THE ROSARY

It's not just for Catholics.  This prayer, in which we meditate on the life of Christ can bring peace to us and to the whole world.   There are many web sites that explain how the rosary is prayed, but the most important thing to remember is that while we pray,  we meditate on the life of Christ as depicted in each particular 'mystery'.  If you are interested in praying this prayer, or perhaps you have prayed it in the past and would like to revisit it, but haven't got a set of rosary beads, I would be happy to send you one at no charge.  Just send an e-mail request to me on the Contact Page, and include your address.  A group of ladies in my church make these rosaries with the intention of giving them away to anyone in need, and I said I would help in any way I could with this.  If you would like to dialog about this, please e-mail me on the Contact Page.
Here's a nice instructional link I found: http://www.stjosephgreenville.org/how_to_pray_the_rosa.html

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THE DAILY MASS READINGS

The daily Mass Readings have had a huge impact in my life.  You don't need to purchase any special publication for them, they are easily found on-line, and  you can use your own Bible.  If you do a Google search, the first two sites that come up are the USCCB and EWTN, but there are many other sites that offer the readings, along with other prayers and meditative readings.  Immersing yourself in God's word is the best way I know to come closer to the Lord.  If you aren't currently reading the Bible every day, I encourage you to begin this practice.  You will be blessed at how this effects your journey of faith.

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QUOTES:

  ~ St. Augustine ~

“Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you."

"Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. "

                     ~ PRAYER OF REPENTANCE~

                                  Saint Agustine

"Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient, O Beauty so new, late have I loved you!  You were within me but I was outside myself, and there I sought you!  In my weakness I ran after the beauty of the things you have made.  You were with me, and I was not with you.  The things you have made kept me from you - the things which would have no being unless they existed in you!
You have called, you have cried, and you have pierced my deafness.  You have radiated forth, you have shined out brightly, and you have dispelled my blindness.  You have sent forth your fragrance, and I have breathed it in, and I long for you.  I have tasted you, and I hunger and thirst for you.
You have touched me, and I ardently desire your peace."