Holy Saturday ponderings

Always hunting for nuggets in the morning to share with my reader(s).   I have often struggled with the concept of comatose patients hooked up to everything to keep them alive, knowing that on their own they couldn't survive.  Even those patients that are conscious, but in a vegetable state unable to live on their own.  This morning I found a very timely nugget that I want to share with you.  The pontiff goes on to also explain Christ's glorified body both in the presence to the apostles and also in the Eucharist for us.

Pope: Where Is the Soul of a Comatose Person?


Addresses Japanese Child, Iraqi Christian, Ivorian Muslim

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 22, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI employed television to address people with a variety of crosses: a Japanese child traumatized by the earthquake, a persecuted Iraqi Christian, and a mother of a comatose man.

The Pope was featured today on a television program "A Sua Immagine" [In His Image] of the Italian channel RAI to answer seven questions from these people and others, including a Muslim woman from the Ivory Coast and Christians from Italy seeking deeper understanding of Christ's resurrection and Mary's role in our lives.

An Italian mother named Maria Teresa explained that her son, Francesco, "has been in a vegetative coma since Easter Sunday 2009." She asked the Holy Father, if her son's soul has "left his body, seeing that he is no longer conscious, or is it still near him?"

Benedict XVI assured the mother, "Certainly his soul is still present in his body."

He explained: "The situation, perhaps, is like that of a guitar whose strings have been broken and therefore can no longer play. The instrument of the body is fragile like that; it is vulnerable, and the soul cannot play, so to speak, but remains present."

The Pope assured the mother that "this hidden soul feels your love deep down, even if unable to understand the details."


He continued: "Your presence, therefore, dear parents, dear mother, next to him for hours and hours every day, is the true act of a love of great value because this presence enters into the depth of that hidden soul.


"Your act is thus also a witness of faith in God, of faith in man, of faith, let us say, of commitment, to life, of respect for human life, even in the saddest of situations."


The Pontiff encouraged Maria Teresa to "carry on, to know that you are giving a great service to humanity with this sign of faith, with this sign of respect for life, with this love for a wounded body and a suffering soul."

Truly resurrected

Later, while responding to a question about Jesus' resurrection and what it will mean for us to have a glorified body, the Holy Father reminded his audience that "even matter is destined for eternity, that it is truly resurrected, that it does not remain something lost."

"Jesus did not leave his body behind to corruption," although he "assumed this matter in a new condition of life," Benedict XVI added.

He stated, "There is a new condition, a different one, that we do not know but which is shown in the fact of Jesus and which is a great promise for all of us: that there is a new world, a new life, toward which we are on a journey."

"Being in this condition," the Pope observed, "Jesus had the possibility of letting himself be felt, of offering his hand to his followers, of eating with them, but still of being beyond the conditions of biological life as we live it."

"He is a real man, not a ghost, that he lives a real life, but a new life that is no longer submitted to the death that is our great promise," the Pontiff said.

He continued: "It is important to understand this, at least as much as we can, for the Eucharist.

"In the Eucharist, the Lord gives us his glorified body, not flesh to eat in a biological sense.

"He gives us himself, this newness that he is in our humanity, in our being as person, and it touches us within with his being so that we might let ourselves be penetrated by his presence, transformed in his presence."

"It is an important point," the Holy Father asserted, "because we are thus already in contact with this new life, this new type of life, since he has entered into me and I have gone out of myself and am extended toward a new dimension of life."

He stated, "It is not about noting things that we cannot understand but of being on a journey to the newness that always begins again anew in the Eucharist."

Credit due to:  Zenit

Holy Thursday thoughts

Today I have been feeling rather put off and discarded by the Church, no one really has been very thrilled that I study, write, and have so much desire to serve Her.  A few months ago my Knight said I needed to get a job now that we no longer homeschool our daughters and I am not making any money as a writer.  Well I found one last week out in the world not related to the Church, got hired this week and begin working next week...sigh... school spring break for the girls.  Now I don't know what is ahead of me in this job as I haven't started it yet, but I will not be completely available to them from now on as we are used to.  I won't be doing what I have studied so long to do, nor will I be able to speak about it in these times and culture.  Silenced and put away.

Spending most of the day selfishly down-in-the-mouth about things, an afternoon rain came and cancelled my knight's softball game, so he decided to come with us to Holy Thursday Mass, always nice having him with us.  Sitting in the pew, still feeling sorry for myself during most of Mass, I'm moved to tears as I watch the Eucharistic procession going past us.  A thought came to me:

Dear Jesus, we are loving you tonight, look at us consoling you during your agony in the garden!  There must be about 300 or more believers here tonight to replicate the Last Supper.  Twelve are chosen to have their one foot washed by our pastor and then after communion, the procession takes place with beautiful music playing in the background with our young sacristan leading the way through the Church.  The Acolytes are very serious, the incense smoking, we are here for you, dear Jesus!  We are like the angel who comforted you at Gethsemane, we are showing you that we are here worshiping, praising, and loving you with thankful hearts for your passion and death.....for us.

Thank you, dear Lord for your suffering, I want to console your divine heart.  I want you to know that not only I, but so many love you and believe in you and want to console you during your passion.

Thank you, thank you, O thank you, Jesus.

I love you!

Linking Your Beads: A Book Review

Once again, I am honored to be a book reviewer for The Catholic Company and am thrilled to present a review on “Linking Your Beads, The Rosary’s History, Mysteries, and Prayers,” by Patricia Ann Kasten. Sometimes I pick a book to review because I want to learn about the subject, other times I chose a more recreational topic since I read and write mostly serious stuff. This time I saw “Linking Your Beads” and thought that this would be a refresher for this old rosary praying mom/daughter.

From the beginning of this gem to the end, the rosary came alive and revealed to me more deeply her meaning and need in our world. The Rosary is an open book to Christ through our Holy and obedient Mother Mary. Each and every element of these beads gives way to what, why, and how we bow our heads and hearts to the mystery of our Redeemer. During our times praying the Rosary, we are brought to the foot of the cross, lap of Mary, and doorway of our salvation. In praising and supplicating our transgressions and tribulations we seek our Lord’s mercy in answered prayer.

Patricia Ann Kasten put her book together beautifully with the beginning of the Rosary’s 500- 600 years history to our present and new Luminous Mystery, explaining each mystery as it ties together the Old Testament with the New Testament. How the sacraments are at work in each bead and mystery as we meditate upon the life and death of Christ in the eyes of His Mother under the guidance of The Father. This is a short book, only 118 pages in 23 short chapters, but it is packed with all the history one could ask for. Kasten breaks down the rosary prayer by prayer with their origin along with their meaning and uses. I even learned about the Jesus Prayer: ”Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Wow, I can definitely pray that one daily.

From the Sign of the Cross to the Memorare and each of the mysteries, Ms. Kasten does an absolutely lovely job reflecting upon the Rosary's many elements to help us have a new appreciation for this beautiful and powerful prayer. As she puts it, “As we ponder the Gospel events in our hearts, our own lives will begin to reflect Christ’s light. In so doing, we act like neon signs, showing that we are aglow with anticipation over the coming of the greatest attraction we could ever witness: God revealing His light and love to us, and in us, just as He did to Mary. All we need to do is take our place in the line of discipleship that Mary started and say, “May it be done to me according to your word”(Luke 1:38).”

This is a wonderful addition to all Catholic households and would be a great teaching tool for students from middle school though high school and beyond to gain a better understanding and a desire to add this to their daily prayer life. And as Mary tells us through the Gospel, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Linking Your Beads:The Rosary's History, Mysteries. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

A Palm Sunday thought

If I asked nicely...

If I asked nicely, asked sweetly, could I change Your will?
If I didn't know any different, was simply a fool, would that change Your will?
Could You change your plan.....just a bit, to make a point and prove your presence?
Would it make a difference, if you gave us a miracle, Your Will in our midst? Could it?
If we looked up at you in the bluest of skies, with tears and much fear in our eyes
Possibly could that impress you enough to change Your will?

I pray that it's Your will that good news comes soon.
Not soon enough for some, but the few could see and feel your mercy
That it would change our Will and bend to Your will. 
Would that change us?

So You've asked nicely, asked sweetly, for me to change my will
I know no different, I'm simply a fool without Your will
You have changed my plan....just a bit, to make a point, you proved your presence.
You've made a difference, I am that miracle in our midst.
You looked down from the bluest of skies, saw my tears and all my fears
You blessed me, gave me grace enough to change my will.

Wednesday's Notes

Beatification of Pope John Paul II is coming up very soon and the Vatican has announced his feast day as October 22nd.
_______________________________________________________


Students at JPII College put this together, I'm impressed!  Go to Youtube and "like" it!

SAINT REPORT: Imelda Lambertini, Patron Saint of First Communicants

 Imelda Lambertini was born into a rich family, the only child of Captain General Egano Lambertini and his wife Donna Castora (her name is recorded as Castora Galuzzi in some resources). The family was devoutly Catholic and well loved by their community of Bologna, Italy. After Imelda was born, her mother had a dream and was convinced there was a message in it about her daughter. The dream was set in Bologna where she saw St. Dominic walking through the streets toward her, she noticed that he had a light radiating above his forehead like a star and just before he went into the Dominican convent, he raised his hand in a fatherly blessing toward her. It was in the year 1220 when Dominic de Guzman held the first General Chapter of his newly formed Order…the Order that Imelda would later enter at the tender age of nine.

At age 5, while she helped feed the sick and poor of their city, Imelda came to realize that everyone was a tabernacle where God resided. It was during this time that she began to desire Jesus more fully in Holy Communion, but could not receive since the Catholic Church had the age of reason set at 14 years of age. Also during this time, Imelda took St. Agnes and St. Tarsicius as heavenly friends whom she talked and prayed to often to help her love God more fully.

Imelda entered the Dominican Order of Sisters in Bologna, Italy at age nine. She continued to serve the Lord obediently with the other sisters in the convent, always on time and willing to complete her chores.

At age 11, after years of prayer and desire for Holy Communion, a miracle occurred during Mass of the Ascension. A consecrated host left the altar and hovered over Imelda as she prayed in disappointment at not being permitted to receive communion once again. At this sight, one of the sisters ran to get the priest and after he witnessed this miracle saw it as a sign for Imelda to finally receive Holy Communion. As soon as Imelda received Jesus in the Eucharist, she went into joyous ecstasy. Those with her decided to allow the young sister some time to be alone in her thanksgiving prayers. Later, one of the sisters being concerned for her, went back to check on Imelda only to find the young girl dead. Imelda Lambertini, at age 11, died of ecstasy just moments after receiving Jesus; she was at peace, her mission in this life was completed.

The story of this blessed is an interesting one. For a young child learning about Imelda’s deep desire to receive Holy Communion might cause some fear, as this is the age that many children learn the realities of death. To have this patroness’ sole purpose in life as the example of true desire for Jesus in the Eucharist is beautiful, but ends suddenly and at such a tender age. It should be emphasized, though that Imelda died peacefully, joyfully, and with thanksgiving, she suffered no fear only sheer ecstasy. Imelda’s life, for the young Communicant, can mean the beginning of life in union with Jesus through the Eucharist filled with an abundance of His grace and love.

Throughout Imelda’s life prayer, supplication, charity, and innocence dominated her world. She cared for those around her and was unspoiled in material things. Imelda Lambertini’s life is truly an inspiration for our young children. Her desire to receive Holy Communion at a young age proved that children as young as eight can appreciate this sacrament for what it is by studying the examples of this young saint and other saints like St. Agnes, who at age 12 was martyred for her faith. Through their exemplary lives, our lives are richer and truly blessed with inspiration and appreciation for Jesus, our Lord and Savior

Note: She is a blessed due to the miracle of her body found incorrupt. Her incorruptible body is in Bologna, Italy, at the Church of San Sigismondo and she was beatified by Pope Leo XII on December 20, 1826.

Catholic Sunday Snippets, April 10

Catholic Sunday Snippets are ready for your convenience.  Read, post something, share your faith....it's nice to have a gathering spot each week.

Thanks, RAnn!!

The ER, a wedding, a loss, and thanksgiving

Last night my knight and I found ourselves in the ER with our middle child.  It's Saturday night in a small college town, probably not the best time to be in the ER, but there we were.  Symptoms and decisions all based on gut feelings, should we or can we wait?  What will happen if we don't go now, what if we wait for more symptons or the resolve?  Well, by the look on our daughter's face, it was time to go.

Entering the ER is like entering an airport terminal, baggage checked, X-ray machine and purses pried and officers looking rather stoic.  At the initial scanning of the crowded room, all I saw were gowns, spiked heels, and tuxes.  "Oh no, prom night and drunk driving equals a long wait at the ER....we are going to be here awhile.  Well, with further observation there was way too much of one color with matching tux vests and older people dressed up...a wedding party. Oh my.  With the struggles that we have been going through trying to figure out what is wrong with our daughter and finding ourselves in the ER this night seemed to diminish at this sight...just a bit.  A young girl in the wedding party has died, later we would find out it was a flower girl just 6 years old and two other guest were critically injured in a violent head-on collision 1 mile from the wedding location an hour before the ceremony was to take place.  How horrible, I thought.

As the hours pressed on and my daughter seemed to get somewhat panicky I began to talk to Jesus. I said a prayer to St. Jude and thought about praying the rosary, but couldn't seem to concentrate on one thought, so I just leaned over and held my girl close to me and watched my husband find something else to read. "I need a drink of water," he said standing up. Just 20 minutes before that a young man walked passed us vomiting into a bag, I said, "Don't drink out of a water fountain!" Why not?" he questioned me.  "The dr, told me you should NEVER drink out of a public water fountain and if a dr says that.... I'll get you some bottled water." "No, I can wait.  I'm going to the bathroom."  I got him and our daughter a bottle of water each and when my knight returned from the men's room, I asked him to use the disinfectant cloths at the dispenser.  "You can never be to careful, besides you are in germ city right now, with some guy throwing up and who knows what else here."  He agreed and wiped his hands real good.  My knight is a research scientist, but if there was one course I wish he had paid attention in and possibly taken more of, it's virology.

The hours ticked by, they triaged our daughter twice before finally calling her to put her in an exam room.  All the while, the wedding party cried, walked up and down the aisles, back and forth for water, snacks, changing clothes, and looking understandably numb.  What now for them, for such a joyous occasion to go so wrong and forgotten in the face of such tragedy and loss.

The doctors suggested more blood work and an ultrasound for our daughter to check on her spleen since she has mono already.  Two hours later and a diagnosis:  a urinary tract infection.  We can live with that.

Walking out of the ER last night was a joyous occasion for us, we were leaving WITH our daughter and returning to our lives as they were.  I looked back to notice that there are those that will leave empty handed without a precious one, their lives forever changed, forever emptied of a precious child.

My prayers are with this group of people, the mother and the father and all those so touched by this tragedy.  Forever changed are they and no one can do anything to help ease this pain.

Waking up this morning with only 4 hours of sleep, I am saddened, thankful, relieved, and appreciative of the experience last night and early this morning.  No complaints here at the Pillar household, just thanksgiving for a diagnosis we can all live with.

The Real Presence: a lost sacrament?

At dinner last night, my knight made a statement that as I watched him find the words cautiously, I knew it was going to be a doozy.  We were talking with our daughters about their religion classes and my knight was asking them what they were learning about now.  Then he said, "I think........hm.. that there are...... some....Catholics, well, that.....don't really believe that....that the host really turns into Jesus."   He was talking to one of the other scientists recently at work who is a Catholic that doesn't believe in the real presence, "he said, No, it's a symbol".

Sadly, I said, yes that's true, there are many Catholics that have lost this aspect of their faith due to poor catechesis, or lack of clarity and correction.

Is there anyone out there that reads this blog that doesn't believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist?  This is the main part that sets us apart from all other Christians, it's the source and summit of our faith, it is what nurtures all other sacraments.

Re-read John 6, slowly.

Keep your Eyes on Jesus

Sitting quietly during adoration after Holy Thursday Mass tonight, a lady moved to a closer pew next to Jesus' Tabernacle. Solemnly she gazed at the tabernacle adorned with fresh lilies, white bouquets of flowers, and candles. I've seen that expression before, it was at funerals where one of the closer relatives would stay near the coffin longer and seem more intimately moved with sorrow as to say something terrible has happened and the loss will be immense.

Jesus' passion is still painful for us to hear, still horrific to imagine, still amazing to know that He did it for us. Innocent and mighty, divine and human He didn't have to, but He did...for us.

Something else is necessary here, however, it's not just our knowledge of His sacrifice and salvic deed we need to remember, but it's the trust we must have in it! Trusting completely, because of His death and resurrection, He gave us an EASTER!

With Christ's passion comes the salvation of the world, meaning that everything will be alright now. This is hard to completely understand and trust in , I know. It's just like learning how to bat a ball, "Keep your eye on the ball," they say. I never understood how watching the ball instead of how I was holding the bat could help me be a better batter, but I hit that flying ball nearly every time watching it.

As I sat in Church, I realized that no matter what is going on in the world around me, keeping my eyes on Jesus will be the saving grace needed to get through it all. I've never tried this completely before, but I'm going to now.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, focusing on His saving love can give us the hope of a better future - maybe not here, but maybe when our time is over and we're called home to be with Jesus in Heaven. We have no knowledge of our future, God only knows when the 'thief' will come, but comfort can come from our focus.

Until then, Jesus also gave us the gift of Church in which to learn to pray, hear His Word, and praise His holy name. This, too, can help us focus and rebuild our faith each time we receive Christ in the Eucharist. Allowing God to work in and through us, we can help others building their trust as well, which will multiply like the loaves and fishes that fed the crowds for Jesus.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, remembering His passion, His gift of love to and for us, focusing on His words, focusing on what He did, focusing on Jesus can get us to home plate.

It's nearly Easter, are you ready?

Just stay focused, keep your eyes on Jesus!