pope – Page 2 – hugsnblessings

cause i’m happy!

Published on February 8, 2016 by Dawn Marie8 Comments

it’s the monday giggles….

Ahem….

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 joy right beside me!

(giggle…giggle…& giggle.)

“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!!

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!!”

*Music by Pharrell Williams.

knot a problem…anymore.

Published on October 4, 2015October 4, 2015 by Dawn Marie1 Comment

I’m still suffering from a Pope-Hangover.

For five days we immersed ourselves in all things “Papa” and “Faith.”

But now life is glossed-over. A clear-film of joy covers over each day.

And I feel this is a very good thing!

I am enjoying this somewhat detached manner of living from the chaos the world often has to offer. The problems in my life are still present, yet somehow they are no longer problems; but rather simply…difficulties. And those are much more manageable, don’t you think?

This transition from problem to difficulty came through my visit to the Mary, Undoer of Knots Grotto established for Pope Francis’ participation in The World Meeting of Families. (Be sure to see the Pope’s visit to this lovely Groto on his final travels through the streets of Philadelphia on their web-site!)

A wonderful tribute, not only to this beautiful devotion to the Blessed Mother, Mary who was the undoer of the sin of Eve;

“Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it.”

but also to bring awareness to hunger & homelessness in America.

But what are these knots? They are the problems and struggles we face for which we do not see any solution. Throughout time and across all cultures, a knot has been used to symbolize tension and struggle. The undoing of a knot symbolizes freedom from these burdens – a release of pressure. In the tradition of Mary, Undoer of Knots, Pope Francis’ favorite artwork, visitors of the grotto were able to add or remove knots, symbolizing their personal struggles and sharing the burdens of others.

And I know from the power of prayer & personal experience, many pilgrims returned home with knot as many problems…anymore.

Leaving prayer intentions to be placed into the hands of Mary.

Pope Francis does have a special devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. While studying in Germany in the 1980s, he discovered this devotion at the Church of St. Peter am Perlach in Augsburg.

My own Mary, Undoer of Knots which hangs in my sewing-corner.

“Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the Evil One himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands, there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with your Son and my liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot. (Mention your petition here.)

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, O safe refuge.”

hugs n’ blessings to all who trust their knots to be undone.

Love always finds what is lost!

Published on September 30, 2015September 30, 2015 by Dawn Marie7 Comments

There were numerous blessings during my pilgrimage to be with Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Some were personal and others shared. One inparticular was filled with great grace.

(Grace is God extending favor toward us that we do not deserve.)

Mother Superior & Sister, Members of The Sisters of Christ the Light — Mother Superior & Sister, Members of The Sisters of The Light of Christ

On Saturday evening I discovered, as I was departing the Ben Franklin Parkway Oval where I had been standing for 7 hours awaiting the chance to see the Holy Father at the World Meeting of Families Ceremony, I had lost one of my treasured rosaries.

This rosary was given to me by a special young person while on retreat together. They had made it themselves and the cord it was made from had been dipped & died in the colors of the Divine Mercy of Chirst; which as I have mentioned I hold a special devotion to. ( You may read more about this in several of my posts under the Divine Mercy Page, located on the Menu Bar!) I had tied this rosary around my wrist, so that I would have easy access to pray the Rosary throughout my time in Philadelphia.

And I did!

I prayed on the bus,

while walking from one train to another,

while walking to the Grotto (read more about this in an upcoming blog,)

as well as with new friends from Mexico!

(Even though I do not speak more than 20 words of Spanish they helped me to follow along.)

I am pretty certain it was lost in the course of trying to find a woman, in our pilgrimage group, who had gone missing. As I searched the area for her and while speaking to the authorites regarding the situation, I am confident it fell from my wrist. Praise be she was found, but my rosary had been lost! And although I retraced the areas I had traveled through, St. Anthony was not interceding for me this time!

The next day I felt the significance of it’s loss while praying the rosary on my walk, again to the Parkway; this time to celebrate Holy Mass with Christs’ Vicar, Pope Francis!!! (There is always a way to pray the rosary with 10 fingers as your “beads!”)

When I arrived at the Parkway I again marveled at the enormous number of people, just like me, who were bubbling with joyful anticipation over what was to unfold this day! And yet still there was an under-current of saddness regarding losing my rosary as I recognized my eyese were turned automatically toward the ground as I walked, in hopes of finding it. Not long after I had chosen a spot where I would set myself up to wait for Papa’s arrival, I felt a tug at the hem of my skirt. Turning around to see what had pulled at me so forceably…I found a darling olive-skinned litle girl, holding up toward me in her tiny hand, a clear plastic bag, motioning for me to take hold of it. “For me?” I asked. And with the biggest grin on her face, she bobbed here head up & down with the gesture of an enthusiastic “Yes!” Accepting the bag to see what was inside, there I found….a home-made rosary.

God had guided this little angel to find me & replace what had been lost.

I asked if I might give her a hug for this gift she had just given and without hesitation she warmly melted into my arms. I thanked & introduced myself to the man standing close behind her, who explained he was her father. Speaking in very broken English he explained that after coming to America from Cuba just 5 years ago, their entire family gathers each Saturday to make Rosaries together. They are then given the responsibility to hand out 5 rosaries (each) that next Sunday, as a way of offering thanks to the Holy Mother for protecting them during the course of traveling safely to America. This family has committed themselves to giving Thanks to God for the opportunity to have this new freedom while evangelizing to others as a bonus! All born from the love they have for Our Heavenly Father and their desire for others to experience the same. I thanked him and hugged my little angel once more before she skipped away to give yet another of her proud creations to the next unsuspecting person she was guided toward. And I know she gave it with Love as her Mission.

“We believe that love is our mission, and that this mission is the only way we can be fully alive and be who we were created to be. God works through us. We are in the world for a purpose – to receive God’s love and to show God’s love to others.” Pope Francis

hugs n’ blessings to everyone who professes love to find what is lost!