St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wiles and wickedness of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Dear Angel, in His goodness God gave you to me to guide, protect, and enlighten me, and to bring me back to the right way when I go astray.
Encourage me when I am disheartened. Help me to become more Christlike and so some day to be accepted into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven.
Amen.
hugs n’ blessings to all those praying tirelessly to battle the darkness in the world & send forth light.
It’s the beginning of Lent on our Calendar of Faith & I am pleased to announce it took me only about 3 minutes to be told “Hey, you have something black on your forehead!”
“No? Do I realllly???”
Giggles.
It’s okay. We Catholics know how to politely play the game! But truthfully I usually do forget the Ashes are on me. It takes me a moment to remember people are not staring at me because I’m “ridiculously good-looking” like Zoolander, or that I’ve forgotten to comb my hair before leaving the house (this may or may not have happened before.) But instead it’s the big black smudge mark on my forehead which causes the furrowed foreheads & raised eyebrows starring back at me.
I have found it best to simply “embrace the Ash” I’m wearing, no matter the color or size of the black cross. It’s rather beautiful becoming ‘calendar reminders’ to those who pass by and declare, “I forgot today is Ash Wednseday!” (I heard this at least 3 times this morning walking through the airport between gates.) Not to mention the wonderful boldness of those at the hospital who smiled & stopped to ask during my Communion Rounds, “Are you giving out Ashes too?”
You meet people.
Others smile at you.
And of course there are the ones who rub at their own forehead hoping to signal to you again, “Hey, you have something black on your forehead.”
“No?Do I realllly?”
Giggles.
hugs n’ blessings to all the #ashtags out there sporting their symbols of faith!!
It may be a tad pre-mature, but the weather is so wonderfully unseasonable I’ve decided it’s officially time for my (drumroll…) Annual Spring joke!
(giggle.)
What is invisible and smells like worms?
(giggle…giggle.)
BIRD FARTS!!!!
(giggles!!!)
“I’ve told you a hundred times Dawn…you’re FUN, not FUNNY.” Thunder
Okay, so admittedly I’m not very good at telling jokes.
HOWEVER…
I AM HAPPIER THAN I DESERVE
AND
I DON’T CARE
HOW MUCH I SHOW IT!
AND i do always hope-ity hope everyone will join in the joyright beside me!
(giggle…giggle…& giggle.)
Papa promotes happiness too!
“Have the courage to be happy!”
Pope Francis at World Youth Day 2012
In what has been tagged ‘Pope Francis’ 10 Commandments for a Happy Life,’ he stressed his motto of ‘Live and let live’ as the main ingredient for a happy life!
Here’s the list of the Pope’s guidelines to happiness, according to a Catholic News Service translation of his interview:
1. “Live and let live.”
2. “Be giving of yourself to others…If you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric…And stagnant water becomes putrid.”
3. “Proceed calmly [in life].”
4. “A healthy sense of leisure…Consumerism has brought us anxiety, [causing us to lose a] healthy culture of leisure.” [At this point, the pope also urged families to turn off the TV when they’re eating together.]
5. “Sunday is for family.”
6. “We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities, they will get into drugs.”
7. “[Environmental degradation] is one of the biggest challenges we have. I think a question that we’re not asking ourselves is: ‘Isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?”
8. “Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, ‘I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down.’ Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.”
9. “We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: ‘I am talking to you in order to persuade you.’ No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing.”
10. “We are living in a time of many wars, [and] the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive.”
(giggles.)
I just love our Papa!
And through Sacred Scripture, I believe God affirms what Pope Francis is saying! Here are a few of my personal favorites, which take me to my happy place.
(giggle.)
John 16:33 – I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Revelation 21:4 – And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away.
1 John 4:8 – He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Exodus 14:14 – The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still.
Romans 8:28 – We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are the called according to his purpose.
Lots to smile about!
Lots to be happy for!
Praise, praise, praising Him,
all the more!!
Sweet Constance!
And then of course there’s this little blessing to be happy & giggly over!
hugs n’ blessings to all those “courageous enough to be happy!!”
hugsnblessings 