mercy – Page 79 – hugsnblessings

Constancy of grace

Published on March 15, 2016March 9, 2018 by Dawn Marie8 Comments

I enjoy meeting people!

I enjoy discovering the important things about them…their past, their present and what they hope for in their future.

I even enjoy getting to know the people I’ve never really ‘met,’ but have instead gotten to know through reading about them.

This is especially true reading about the lives of the Saints!

They inspire me, guide me, and in many ways encourage me to do ‘better’ in my own manner of living.

Have you ever ‘met’ someone like that? Who inspires, guides and shows you; through the example of how they live (or have lived) their own life, the way to live your own?

I call these people, in particular these Saints, my IRONMEN as taken from Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Continue reading “Constancy of grace” →

recollected silence

Published on March 2, 2016February 8, 2017 by Dawn Marie6 Comments

It’s another Wednesday,

for Saint Maria Faustina KoWalska (what else,)

with a brief reflection on the Divine Mercy of God!

Pope Francis has made Mercy a central theme of his papacy, speaking of it often in homilies and in his texts. His apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”), uses the word 32 times. Symbolically in March of 2015 he called upon the entire global Roman Catholic church to take up his papacy’s central message of compassion and pardon, and announced that he would convoke a jubilee year to be called the Holy Year of Mercy!

This Jubille Year of Mercy, as proclaimed by Pope Francis, formally began on this year’s Catholic feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated Dec. 8. It will close on Nov. 20, 2016, the day celebrated that year as the feast of Christ the King.

Because of my devotion to the practice of the Divine Mercy and my deep admiration of St. Faustina Kowalska’s life…I have been VERY excited since Papa first made this proclamation!!

And now as we approach the 90 day mark of this Holy Year I have reflected upon the great graces I have already received within this Year of Mercy.

Do you ever do that?

Do you ever take a moment to reflect?

On love? On life? On all you have received?

And even on those thoughts filled with what should be? Could be? Will never be?

By the grace of God, I am grateful God has been guiding me toward a new path which no longer places expectations on life. Allowing me to simply be grateful for all that is given, all that is taken away, all that is loved, and all that is lost. The emotions which may coincide with any one of these occurences does not matter, for even they do not alter my underlying peace.

And there in lies why I bow my head in thanks, to God,…for His Mercy. His mercy, sinner though I am, to show me the path to Peace.

Does this mean I no longer feel pain? Or anger? Or disappointment?

No way!!

BUT I am discovering what it truly means to place my Trust in Him, as He maintains my peaceful heart despite the feelings I may be experiencing.

And (in all this recent reflection I have been doing)

I am giving thanks,

at this almost 90 day mark in the Holy Year of Mercy,

for the very first lesson my Teacher gave me

which lead me to this path toward Peace.

SILENCE.

I have listed below some of my favorite lessons, taken from St. Faustina’s Diary, which gently helped to guide me along the way…

I will not allow myself to be so absorbed in the whirlwind of work as to forget about God (82).

Great are the faults committed by the tongue. The soul will not attain sanctity if it does not keep watch over its tongue (92).

In order to hear the voice of God, one has to have silence in one’s soul and to keep silence; not a gloomy silence, but an interior silence; that is to say, recollection in God. One can speak a great deal without breaking silence and, on the contrary, one can speak little and be constantly breaking silence. …God does not give Himself to a chattering soul which, like a drone in a beehive, buzzes around but gathers no honey. A talkative soul is empty inside (118).

I spoke much with the Lord, without uttering a single word (137).

The soul that reflects receives much light. A distracted soul runs the risk of a fall. …But for the Spirit of God to act in the soul, peace and recollection are needed (145).

Even when I am dealing with very important matters which require attention, I do not lose the presence of God in my soul, and I am closely united with Him. With Him I go to work, with Him I go for recreation, with Him I suffer, with Him I rejoice; I live in Him and He in me. I am never alone, because He is my constant companion (318).

If only souls would become recollected, God would speak to them at once, for dissipation drowns out the word of the Lord (452).

Silence is a sword in the spiritual struggle. A talkative soul will never attain sanctity. The sword of silence will cut off everything that would like to cling to the soul. We are senstive to words and quickly want to answer back, without taking any regard as to whether it is God’s will that we shoud speak. A silent soul is strong; no adversities will harm it if it perseveres in silence (477).

The Holy Spirit does not speak to a soul that is distracted and garrulous. He speaks by His quiet inspirations to a soul that is recollected, to a soul that knows how to keep silence. If silence were strictly observed, there would not be any grumbling, bitterness, slandering, or gossip, and charity would not be done. Silent lips are pure gold and bear witness to holiness within (552).

I will safeguard my interior and exterior silence so that Jesus can rest in my heart (504).

However….

Keeping silent when one outght to speak is an imperfection and sometimes even a sin (553).

God speaks to us all. He constantly speaks to us through Sacred Scripture, liturgy, people, circumstances, events, and in many other ways, such as when he speaks to us more directly during times of quiet. While it’s possible for him to speak to us at such times in audible words, that seems rare. More often, he speaks with inaudible, interior words. Such interior words are often delicate and can only be heard in the Silence of our minds and our hearts.

I pray sometime, during this Year of Mercy, you too

may

hear Him,

feel Him,

see Him,

in your Silence.

hugs n’ silent blessings that bring you peace!

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:7

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

toadstools & the queen

Published on February 7, 2016February 24, 2016 by Dawn Marie2 Comments

e62098d2cf4d87442446341e5902adca — Photo Courtesy of Kristyn Brown Photography

An anxious man once advised:

“All I can tell you is exactly what my father-in-law advised me early in my own marriage: “You have a choice to make, you either get on that train or you get out of the way because this train is not stopping.” And just so you know…it never will.”

Moral of the story: A train’s tightly shackled caboose always follows along…because it can’t go anywhere without it.

Readings of the day for Friday, February 5, 2016.

Gospel Reading

Mark 6:14-29 (RSV)

King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.