Mother's Love

Today is Mother's Day and as I look at my 4 beautiful and healthy children, I am reminded yet again about how blessed I am.  I have been a mother for 17 years now.  It'll be the longest job I ever have, the job I make the least money in, but reap the most rewards.  I have kissed many a boo boo, given millions of hugs, dried tons of tears, clapped at many accomplishments, waved goodbye as they headed to school, listened to lots of stories, tried to give advice, and smiled with my heart exploding when they have made me so proud.

I don't think there is a responsibility as important as a parent and I don't think anything compares to a Mother's love.  From the moment we find out we're expecting, we have a love for this new life, this blessing from God, living in us.  We are the first to feel the movements, little kicks and even hiccups, and even though it may  make us run to the bathroom 4 times a night, we do it all with a loving devotion.



We suffer through the toddler years, taking the good with the bad.  We take the back seat when our child discovers their friends.  We become an afterthought as they become teenagers and discover cars, jobs, and the opposite sex.  But then the tables turn.  As they move into college and adulthood and discover the struggles of life, all of a sudden they realize they need the woman who stood by all these years with such a quiet and loving devotion. 

They need her shoulder to cry on when life is hard.  They need her advice as they realize she really does know what she's talking about.  They look to her for her loving support and motivation as they find their place in the world.  This is what a Mother waits for, to be needed.  For a Mother's love is undying, unwavering, and unconditional.

Happy Mother's Day!         

Power of Prayer

We received happy news this week.  My eldest son had his Eagle board of review for Eagle Scout and passed! 

As he waited to be called in to the board, I posted in Facebook a request for prayers and within 5 minutes 10 people were already praying.  Before it was over it was at about 20. 

 

As I was saying my rosary in the van outside, I saw a beautiful butterfly land on the veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary statue that was in the grotto before me.  It just sat there, opening and closing it's wings.  It was as if it was a sign that my prayers were being heard and not to worry.

An hour and a half later, he was told he was an Eagle.  10 years worth of work finally paid off and he was so excited.  I know God heard our prayers, as my son had one of the toughest board members on the board quizzing him.  His wits and patience were tested and he passed with flying colors.   

He is such a good son, active in the community, school, and his Parish.  He is definitely a model for Eagle and I'm so glad the board agreed.  Now we get to prepare for the Court of Honor to present him with this award. 

I think God for my friends, who saw and answered my request for prayers.  I thank God for my family and especially my son.  May God bless him in everything he does and everything he attempts to do.  He will go far!

True flesh and blood

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”  John 6:53-58

As Catholics we take this revelation by Jesus to heart.  We believe that through transubstantiation, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ at consecration.  The Mass is not a memorial of the Last Supper, it's not a representation, it is truly our Savior in the flesh and blood.

Just as we need food to nourish our body, we need the Eucharist to nourish our soul.  We have no eternal life without Him.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” John 6:47-51   

Jesus is the bread of life.  We who believe will indeed have eternal life.  If you have never read the miracle of Lanciano, read this site.  http://miraclerosarymission.org/lanciano.html.  It is the miracle that was performed because a priest had doubt that the bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Christ.  This time, it physically changed into a blood type of O negative (universal blood type) and the body was tested and it is heart tissue.  It is still in it's same form today without external preservation.  What more proof is needed?  

Alexandrina Maria da Costa (1904-1955)

Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa lived on the Eucharist alone for 13 years, receiving no other form of nourishment.  To read about her fascinating devotion to suffering for our sins read http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20040425_da-costa_en.html.  These mysterious and miraculous occurrences are given to us so we may see and believe.    

I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

Today's blessings

Seeing my teenager play in his Orchestra concert (dressed in a tux)
Getting hugs from the 4 year old and hearing him laugh when I teased him
Combing the Princess' hair and hearing her try to repeat what I was saying
Assuring my 9 year old that I would help him with subtraction because he forgot it all from last year
Joking with my husband

There are so many things I am grateful for.  Life is so short, we need to recognize the small daily blessings God has given us.  Friends and Family are priceless.  Don't take them for granted.

God bless.