Day 17 of 30 Day Novena

Well, I did not get the part-time job, so I am little bummed. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Seeking "Aunt" Position

I need to be adopted by a family with small children, just so I could play with the little ones. I want to be an "aunt." It has been a long time since I have had the fun of reading stories to children or doing crafts with them.

When my friends take their children on outings to the zoo or pumpkin patch, I wish they would invite me.

The Way Movie Starring Martin Sheen

Today I took my dad to see Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez in The Way. In case you don't know what the

Camino de Santiago is go here. In English it means the Way of St. James as in James the apostle. 

The movie is deceptively simple, yet quite deep when you think about it. Catholicism is lovely in this movie. There are priests being priestly, nuns, statues of Mary, rosaries, crosses, Mass, cathedrals, and prayer. Not only are there complicated characters, but the scenery of France and Spain is beautiful and peaceful. You won't see car chases in this movie, because people are walking. 

    This is a movie of a grieving father and broken people searching for healing, for restoration. See forgiveness and mercy and bring tissue.

Fast Acting Novena Part III

Yesterday I interviewed for a part-time job.

I just received a call for an interview for a full-time job. The interview is tomorrow. Wow! Two interviews in one week. It's been an extremely long time since I've been on any interviews. I am so glad people are looking at my resumes and applications and like what they see.

Please pray that the Holy Spirit is with me on this interview. I must prepare for this interview.

Thank you, God.

I wonder where this picture was taken. Isn't it an interesting office building?

Prayer for Living Alone

My friend gave me this prayer for those of us who are living alone. 


I live alone, Dear Lord,
Stay by my side,
In all my daily needs
Be Thou my guide.
Grant me good health,
For that indeed, I pray,
To carry on my work
From day to day.
Keep pure my mind,
My thoughts, my every deed,
Let me be kind, unselfish
In my neighbor's need.
Spare me from fire, from flood
Malicious tongue,
From thieves, from fear,
And evil ones.
If sickness or an accident befall,
Then humbly, Lord, I pray,
Hear, Thou my call,
And when I am feeling low,
Or in despair,
Lift up my heart
And help me in my prayer,
I live alone, Dear Lord,
Yet have no fear,
Because I feel Your presence
Ever near.

 Amen

Two Book Stores and Catholic Books

Today my cousin and I traveled to a corn maze then stopped in a little town on the way home. I wanted to go in St. Mary's Bookstore in that little town in the middle of nowhere. It was quite a disappointing book store because it sold mostly religious statues. There was three book racks, and two of them were filled with Spanish language books. The books in English were mostly pamphlets. I bought a $3.95 pamphlet on prayers to say at adoration. Actually that's about all I could afford.

After I came home I went to my local Family Christian Store and wandered around there. Catholic books were relegated to two bottom bookshelves in the Commentaries section. The Catholic books were mostly Bibles (and I already have several), and children's books about saints. I saw one book about Catholic traditions, but I'm not sure if the author had much credibility. I wish they had a real Catholic book section. I did buy a comedy DVD by Chonda Pierce because I had a coupon. She's pretty funny.

I'm looking for some good contemporary Catholic books that are page turners. What Catholic books have you read that are captivating and page turners? I want to get lost and escape in a good Catholic book.

I read and loved these two novels by Christian M. Frank. I want to read more novels like these.

Like Being Catholic More

I think I increased my appreciation for Catholicism since I started writing this blog. Now, I am paying more attention to Mass and the Church. Of course, I am learning from other bloggers too.

Fast Acting Novena Part II

On Monday morning I have an interview for a part-time job for a very little wage. But the job does not sound very demanding, and it's in a pleasant environment. The key words in this post are interview, job, and wage. I am excited about this first step.

I am on Day 7 of this 30-Day novena.

Domestic Violence, Disabilities, Gather Us In

For the third Sunday in a row, someone from my parish's Peace & Justice Committee right before the announcements spoke out against domestic violence. This past Sunday, the Peace & Justice member addressed any abusers in the congregation and told them where to get help, so they can change their behavior.

Very good that this issue is being addressed since domestic violence is often a secret. Nothing has been said about this being Respect Life Month except to pick up the baby bottles to fill with spare change. However, abortion is a form of domestic violence.

Our cardinal did write a letter in our bulletin about Respect Life Month with an emphasis on welcoming and helping our neighbors with disabilities.

I'm not sure who wrote the following hymn, but I thought of it for this post because of the second stanza:

Gather Us In Lyrics
Here in this place, new light is streaming
now is the darkness vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in the lost and forsaken
gather us in the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken
we shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young – our lives are a mystery
we are the old – who yearns for your face.
we have been sung throughout all of history
called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in the rich and the haughty
gather us in the proud and the strong
give us a heart so meek and so lowly
give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water
here we will take the bread of new birth
here you shall call your sons and your daughters
call us anew to be salt of the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion
give us to eat the bread that is you
nourish us well and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

The Sex Talk While Dating

Seraphic Singles posted about how difficult, but important, it is to say no to pre-marital sex.
Read her posts dated October 14, 2011, and October 15, 2011.

Fast Acting Novena

If you read my previous posts, you know I have been lamenting the lack of a job and income.

Today I decided to start the 30 day novena to Our Lady. I commented on the blog, "Thanks for posting this prayer. I am going to say it for 30 days for a job (or a windfall)."  I printed out the prayer. So today I finally decided I was actually going START the novena today.


About 30 minutes ago I grabbed the prayer and went out for a walk. As I walked I prayed. My intention was for a job and an income to support myself and pay my bills. No, I didn't trip over anything despite having to look down at the paper. When I returned to my apartment building I took the mail out of my mail box.


A particular envelope caught my eye, and I opened the letter right there and then. The letter is from a lawyer saying I am an heir to my deceased aunt's estate!  I don't know the amount, but any amount is greater than zero,which is great.


I never expected to inherit from this particular aunt even though we had a special bond, and I felt very close to her. She never married (so she didn't have children), but she also has several godchildren, six nieces and nephews, and four great nieces and nephews. My aunt died a year ago. I had heard that the trustee (one of my cousins) has been slogging through Auntie's financial paperwork, but her paperwork was none of my concern.


The nasty Devil has me asking, "How much am I getting? Am I getting more or less than someone else? Am I more special than this cousin or that cousin?" Down, Devil, down! 


Wouldn't it be great if I received enough money to catch up on my rent, pay off my bills, fix the car, and be able to gift my own godchildren. It would be great if I could hop on a plane and visit my godchildren. I must rein in my expectations and dreams because I do not know how big of the piece of the pie I am getting. The pie is only so big. 


Thank you, God. Thank you, Auntie.

Good News is Good T.V. or Still Amazing After All These Years

Sorry to say that I've watched a lot of stupid television these past few months.

Happy to say I just watched the first episode of the CATHOLICISM series. on my local public broadcasting station. The series is presented by Fr. Robert Barron. I sat captivated even though I've heard it all before. The message of Jesus, the fact Jesus was born, walked the earth, crucified, rose and ascended into Heaven is just AWESOME that I can't wrap my head around it all. I feel like I am hearing the Good News for the very first time. And I am a cradle Catholic and went to a Catholic grade school. I go to Mass most Sundays.

Wow!

Yesterday, Awareness Month, T-Shirt, John Michael Talbot

It's Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At least that is what the Peace and Justice Group member announced before Mass started yesterday

It's also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Why do we have to be reminded of scary breast cancer? Oh, wait - it's to raise money for the Susan G. Komen fund. That's the organization that reportedly gives money to Planned anti-Parenthood. It would be nice to know of other organizations that help fight breast cancer.

Lastly, it's Pro-Life month. Baby bottles were passed out at church for us to put our spare change in. We are suppose to bring the bottles filled with change back to church Oct. 22-23. The money will go to a crisis pregnancy center.

I was a communion minister yesterday. A teen-age boy came up to communion wearing a t-shirt that said, "Talk Nerdy to Me." As my friend Beth would say, "Did he have no other shirt he could've worn to Mass?"

Finally, some ladies and I traveled about 40 minutes to see John Michael Talbot. A week ago I didn't know he existed. It was two hours of preaching and music. I'm glad I went. I do like hearing classical guitar.

During one song, he said to breathe in the name of Jesus and breathe out anything that is not of God. Let go of that which troubles you. So on every exhale I visualized my phone and electronic bill going up to Heaven for God to take care of. I let go of the frustrations I felt with some of my family members. Maybe I should have let go the distraction of the talk nerdy t-shirt.

On the way home, there was upsetting talk of politics and the Occupy Wall Street movement. Well, there went some of the spiritual peace I was feeling.

Breathe in
Breathe out

Oh, Jesus, please take care of me.

New Gloria, Pro-Life Even in the Case of

This past Sunday at Mass, the choir director announced that they're singing the new Gloria. Our church is slowly introducing the changes in the New Roman Missal. Did I mention that my dad and I went to a workshop at our parish about the changes? I'm good to go. I figure there will be a period of adjustment as we learn new prayers then we will know them.

Since it was Pro-Life Sunday, I'm telling you that I personally know two women who conceived children from the crime of rape, kept their babies, and raised them as single moms. Do they love their children who were conceived this way? They love their children with all their hearts. They thank God for their children despite the crime. They view their children as blessings. Sure, it would have been better had their children come into the world in a kinder way.

Did they wrestle with the decision to keep or abort their babies? No. Keeping their children and going through the pregnancy was not a decision either of them pondered. For them pregnancy equaled giving birth.

Were they emotionally hurt by the rape? Yes. It was horrible event. Yes, they had major issues and problems. The rapes and pregnancies really threw them off their respective tracks.

Fortunately, they had the love and support of their parents and siblings. Really, a shout out goes to the parents/grandparents. Social workers, lawyers, and psychiatrists were called in. I have seen them go through many difficult times. Life has been hard for them, but now they are married and each went on to have another child. I know these children (one now a teen-ager, another now an adult), and they are wonderful people.

I want you to know the good and the bad. The good: the life of these children. The bad: the horrible crime of rape and the after effects. Just in case any pro-choice people are reading this, I want you to know that I am not discounting the crime committed against them. Not at all. I'm just saying the argument of "abortion is okay in the case of rape" doesn't fly with me. It's still not okay. And how could it be okay when I know these dear women and their dear children?

A good book on this topic is Startling Beauty: My Journey from Rape to Restoration by Heather Gemmen. The author really gets personal, whereas, I'm just glossing over the details in my blog.