Mary, Jesus, Pope John Paul II and Fr. Corapi

My last post had Mother Teresa in it.  This post has Pope John Paul II and more.  I guess I'm going for the heavy hitters.

While cleaning today, I came across a prayer card that I appreciate now more than ever.  The photo is wonderful.  Mary, the Mother of God on Earth, collects His blood in the Chalice for the rest of us to become like Him.  I am so thankful to have a spiritual mother.  She is always there when I need her.  She is always there when anyone needs her.

The prayer on the back is Pope John Paul II's Prayer For Life.  He was so humble.  He was so holy.  He was ProLife.  He  loved ProChoicers with the love of Christ.  He was a man of the world. He brought Jesus everywhere.  He celebrated Mass every day.  He prayed.  Today, I think of the situation with Fr. Corapi, and I pray that we as a Church, can follow in his footsteps, apply this Prayer For Life, and not let the Devil divide us.

Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.


This poem was posted on the wall at Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta. It is based on Kent M. Keith's poem, The Paradoxical Commandments. It really resonated with me tonight.


image - http://www.carina.cc/2011/05/20/anyway-by-mother-teresa/

Blog Blog Blog

Maybe I should go on the Nate Berkus Show for design tips with my blog.  I am in a state flux.  I want brighter colors, so I apply them, but then I want my more neutral, traditional colors back.  It must be the summer weather.  Maybe I'll use one combo May to September, and the other combo October to April.  Who knows?

I hope you stay interested and keep reading.

Kathleen

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image - http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/11-most-popular-blog-design-styles-with-examples/
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Kudos To Visitation House of Worcester, MA

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I recently received the semi annual newsletter from Visitation House in Worcester, MA.  They are in their 7th year of operation!  That's fanatastic.

Visitation House is the only Catholic home in Massachusetts for women in crisis pregnancies.

According to their newsletter, over the past six years, they have been home to 107 women, 47 babies, and two toddlers, and, they are expecting four new babies in the next few months. 

So they do not put themselves in a position where they might be pressured to compromise their pro-life values, they do not accept any government funding.  They are a 501(c)(3) private non-profit organization with operating expenses ~$22,000/month.  Along with a doctor and other lay people, they have deacons and priests on the Board of Directors.

These things, however, do not necessarily make the house Catholic.  When I visited several years ago, among other things, I noted crucifixes on the walls, celebrations of feast days, and the enforcement of traditional Catholic morals.  My guess is that these organic evangelical features are all still in place - and more, influencing the clients in a real and positive Catholic way. 

May God continue to bless them in their ministry.

All newsletters can be accessed here.

Kathleen

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image - http://www.visitationhouse.org/index2.html
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