Holy Relic Visitation: Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Group, 2/27/2016

Sometimes we can take blessings for granted without even realizing it.  One good example is the presence of God in nature.  Here in Hawaii, the abundance of beautiful, natural scenery is a daily sight for us... and because of it, God's blessings in nature can easily be taken for granted.  I admit that I do often enough.

Tonight, at our prayer meeting, a small incident that I shared from the life of our featured Saint - St. Catherine de' Ricci (read about her here) - inadvertently turned out to be the stimulus for one of our bigger takeaways this evening; an important reminder that we sometimes need to stop and smell the roses in life... so as to, perhaps, discover the rich, living presence of God in the beauty of his creation all around us.

Enjoying my time with
my two godsons.

So what was the story about St. Catherine that occasioned such lofty sentiments?  I read from a booklet about the Saint's life that she one day went for a stroll in the monastery garden with some of the other nuns when spotted a small, lone flower blooming on the ground.  The Saint was so captivated by what she saw that she pointed to the blossom and excitedly blurted to her companions, "My spouse [Jesus] created that flower.", as though God had caused the plant to bloom specifically for her enjoyment; a personal gift to her. Almost immediately, St. Catherine was caught up in an ecstasy that left her immobile for several hours(!) while she happily contemplated the goodness and wonder of God, via the flower.  It was a story that gave us a lot of food for thought.

Just think - St. Catherine spent hours in silent appreciation and mystic union with God over a simple plant, which was probably just a pesky weed... but how many of us pause for even a moment to consciously thank God for a brilliant rainbow in the sky or for a breathtaking sunset (common sights in our islands)?  We were humbled and several expressed their amazement and appreciation over St. Catherine's story... and how, moving forward, we'd all make an effort to recognize God's presence and gifts in nature.

Fellowship and potluck after our prayer time.

Lastly, a personal highlight for me from this meeting was having two of my godsons present in one place, at the same time, which never happened before.  A friend finally decided to attend our prayer meeting after several invitations, and she bought her son - my godson - and her disabled mother with her.  They all seemed to enjoy the fellowship and the potluck dinner, and were deeply touched by the Holy Spirit, judging by the tears they shed during prayer time.  We enjoyed their company, as well.  Again, blessings upon blessings, not to be taken for granted.

Thank you, Lord.

Monthly Messages from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: February 2016

Dear Children...

Our Lady's Monthly Message to the World on February 25th:

   "Dear children! In this time of grace, I am calling all of you to conversion. Little children, you love little and pray even less. You are lost and do not know what your goal is. Take the cross, look at Jesus and follow Him. He gives Himself to you to the death on the cross, because He loves you. Little children, I am calling you: return to prayer with the heart so as to find hope and the meaning of your existence, in prayer. I am with you and am praying for you.  Thank you for having responded to my call."

Our Lady's Special Message to Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo on February 2nd:

   "Dear children, I have called you and am calling you anew to come to know my Son, to come to know the truth. I am with you and am praying for you to succeed. My children, you must pray much in order to have all the more love and patience; to know how to endure sacrifice and to be poor in spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, my Son is always with you. His Church is born in every heart that comes to know Him. Pray that you can come to know my Son; pray that your soul may be one with Him. That is the prayer and the love which draws others and makes you my apostles. I am looking at you with love, with a motherly love. I know you; I know your pain and sorrows, because I also suffered in silence. My faith gave me love and hope. I repeat, the Resurrection of my Son and my Assumption into Heaven is hope and love for you. Therefore, my children, pray to come to know the truth; to have firm faith which will lead your heart and which will transform your pain and sufferings into love and hope.  Thank you."

First Saturday Parish Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 2/6/2016

My Rosa Mystica pilgrim statue on
display in the parish's Day Chapel.

My Rosa Mystica pilgrim statue did it again.  By that, I mean that once again, while we were praying, its face became soft and dewy, taking on a beautiful life-like appearance. Me and the other regular participants usually notice this remarkable transformation (if it occurs at all) beginning sometime during the prayers of the 3rd Mystery. We take it as a special confirmation that Our Lady is present with us through the statue; a promise she made to her devotees, via a series of alleged private revelations to the Marian visionary, Pierina Gilli (read about the Rosa Mystica Devotion here).

Anyhow, this month's First Saturday Rosary for Peace was a preparation for Lent, which is right around the corner, beginning on Wednesday, February 10th.  The Saint I shared about was St. Catherine de' Ricci, who was also the featured Saint of the Month on my blog.  I thought narrating her life to our participants would be relevant at this time because she was an individual who lived and "prayed" the sufferings of Christ in a powerful manner, resulting in a richer, deeper personal relationship with our Lord; something that we could all strive for during every season of Lent.  We then prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries, which is always very moving.  Again, appropriate preparations.

After the Rosary Prayer ended, a couple of parishioners stayed behind to request special prayers for health issues they were going through. So a small group of us regulars prayed over them, while each held a 2nd Class [veil] Relic of St. Catherine de' Ricci that I had brought to today's meeting for public veneration (right photo). The second lady, who had nerve and muscle pain in her head, stated that she felt immediate relief after we prayed - what a blessing!  Our Saints are so helpful to us, via their power of intercession, and I only wish more Catholics today were truly cognizant of that fact... and prayed more to the Saints.

The next First Saturday Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church will be prayed on Saturday, March 5th, beginning at 4:25pm.  All are welcomed to join us in the Day Chapel to help intercede for World Peace and to seek the special help of Our Lady and the Saints, via the Holy Rosary and the Sacred Relics that are always present each month.  Come, and be blessed...