Well, this month is pretty much over. Feburary is Valentine's month, and I enjoy doing alot of decorating for this day second only to Christmas. They have some really cute pink and red balloon hearts you can find at the Dollar store for a dollar apiece that I'll fill with helium to hang around the house. I also have some garland to wrap around posts or swing at the windows. When I was in the Philippines last, I picked up some Asian made hearts that I can decorate around in the room in addition to the Asian boxed-typed hearts I can put chocolates in and eat later. Fun, fun!

 

This time of year is also a good time to meet new people, maybe someone special. A good friend of mine just got engaged on her birthday this month , and I am so happy for her. She was having a good feeling he was going to ask her, as her family was acting rather strange, and she found out that her fiance now had recently spoken to her father and also the parish priest. The gentleman's sister had also just asked her about ring prefences and style. Well, they went out for dinner and he suggested they should go for a walk on the river. Well, not long afterwards, she texted me to say she was now engaged. I am pretty sure she is on cloud nine these past few weeks. They hope to get married before summer.

 

This has not been the first guy that she has dated. Is is common to go out with a few people before finding the "right one" for you. This guy was a traditional Catholic to begin with, and  they had spent some time working together at the same school before things took off and he asked her out on a date. They would go for coffee just round the corner from the school. She was shy, but I encouraged her. He had good morals and came from good family. It looks like it will work out.My firend was in her late twenties and she was worried that she had missed "the boat." No, she hadn't; but she needed assurance that the right time will come. And the same will be for you, just trust in God and put yourself out there, either at church or online, as Catholics are kinda spread out these days.

 

Until next time!

 

Melissa

Marriage at Cana

 

Hello to all ! I sincerely hope your year is turning out well. This past Sunday, Father preached from the pulpit about the Sunday's Gospel. We all most likey have heard of the Marriage at Cana where Jesus and His disciples along with the Blessed Mother attended. I think it would be so cool to have these important guests in person at one's wedding. But of course Jesus is  there and present when we receive Him in our hearts and souls at our wedding mass. I'm sure Our Lady is there as well, looking down on us and ensuring all goes well on that special day of our lives.

 

Well, Father in his sermon emphasized that this was the very first miracle that our Lord performed. I don't believe He had originally planned it that way, as He told the Blessed Mother in the Gospel that "His time had not yet come." Maybe He planned to raise someone from the dead as His first miracle. The Gospel does not say how Our Lady found out that the wine had run out. Maybe she had heard it from one of the waiters who had confided in her. I am sure Jesus knew exactly what was going as the marriage feast progressed, since He is God and knows all things. In Jewish weddings, the men and women are separated into two large groups, and Mary had to leave the company of the women to cross the garden or wide market area to approach the table where Jesus and His disciples ate. When she reached His table, she told Him what He already knew "They have no wine." Jesus seemed to have rebrucked her, saying "What is that to Me and thee." But the BLessed Virgin took matters into her own hands. She was a women who did not want to waist another second and save face for the bride and bridegroom. She was also His Mother, whom Jesus would not and could not refuse her anything. And that's why Mary continued to tell the waiters ,"Do whatever He tells you."

 

This first miracle of changing the water to wine was at a wedding. I am so excited that it was, as I believe good weddings are miracles from God to continue the human race. It was also a miracle for the disciples, who were following Him and starting to believe in Him, but were not quite there yet about Him being the Messiah. It also has a good message for all of us...And a reminder to say our daily Rosary. God answers our prayers, I believe quicker and maybe in a more pleasing result if we go thru Mary to ask God for a favor or help. Let us not forget our daily prayers!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Dear friends,

 

Just a quick note to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a properous and blessed New Year. For me, Christmas was spent with the Christmas eve vigil followed by midnight  high mass. The chapel was packed with other parishoneers eager to well in the Christ Child's birthday. After the midnight mass, Father went right into the mass at dawn, so the religious ceremonies ended just around 2 a.m. I spoke to one of my sister's later, and, as she lives far away from mass, went and spent an hour singing Christmas carols with the people in the town where she lived, and thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband and I later worked during the afternoon and evening, but it was filled with good cheer and free meals as well as plenty of cookies and cupcakes from the local religious communities. There goes all the calories!

Anyway, how was you Christmas? Hopefully, it was a blessed and happy one, with family and friends. I spent quite alot of time on the phone catching up with fiends and family who were not in the area. The next day, I spent some time in Seattle, taking in the sites, going out for my free meal at the Ram( an restaurant I highly recommend especially if you like burgers!), as well as my free mud pie, courtesy also of the Ram. I could not finish it all my myself, so I had help from a friend. What are friend's for, anyway? Just kidding!

 

As the new year approaches, we can all plan new or renewed resolutions. The daily  Rosary would be a good thing for all. One can never go wrong with that! I heard that this time of year is also when many singles go on line looking for that special someone to spent time with. I have heard that on-line lookers increase by at least ten percent. Well, whatever the percentage is, it is a good idea to try and meet new friends and hopefully make lasting relationships. I sure hope 2012 will be an exciting year for all and one to be remembered by all.

 

Until next time I write.....

 

 

God bless,

 

 

Melissa

 

 

Preparation for Christmas

 

                      I hope you had a very happy thanksgiving!

Christmas is just around the corner. And I want to remind everyone of how special this time of year can be. Many Catholics recite The Saint Andrew's Prayer,a novena beginning November 30th and lasting until December 25th. I've enclosed it here for your convenience.

 

While any novena is usually a nine-day prayer, the word novena is  sometimes used for any prayer that is repeated over a series of days. The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is often called simply the "Christmas Novena" or the "Christmas Anticipation Prayer," because it is prayed 15 times every day from the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle feast day until the day of the Christ Child.

 

St. Andrew's Day is the Scotland's patron saint.  His feast day is Scotland's official national day. St. Andrew is also the patron saint of Greece, Romania, Russia, and Constantinople.

 

Here followes the Novena......

                                                                                           Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
 
 
This prayer addresses God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. You can say the prayer all 15 times, all at once; or divide up the recitation as necessary (perhaps five times at each meal).Praying as a family, the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is a very great way to keep family and friends united in prayer.
 
God bless!
 
Melissa

The Souls in Purgatory

 

This month of November, we recall and pray for the souls in Purgatory. These are souls of people who have died and are not yet perfect for heaven; they may not yet have fully atoned for their sins. I am pretty sure we have someone we know there. Many Catholics write down the names of their loved ones or people they know who have passed away and give it to their parish priest to remember them during mass. There is also the nine day visit to the cemetery, starting on November the first and ending on the eight day of this month. The Catholic Church offers a special plenary indulgence for cemetery visits on those specific days under the usual requirements. Such visits only takes a few minutes, and such souls never forget the help given and almost sure to return the favor someday. The Bible tells us that "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." (2 Maccabees 12:46).

Prayer for the dead  is one of the greatest acts of charity we can do, to help those who are still in Purgatory, so that they can enter more quickly enter into the fullness of heaven. These souls cannot help themselves; however, we are in  a position to help them. The saints in heaven can also help them by their prayers. We can also offer sacrifices to assist them in either lessening their pains or shorten their stay. It is very possible that  by performing the requirements of the indulgence, you can obtain the entrance into Heaven of a soul who is currently suffering in Purgatory.

 

The main prayer for the souls of the dead:

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls and all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

 

Hello again and welcome to all new members! The summer has come and gone and before you know it, it will be Advent and Christmas.

 

I was just at a square dance recently in St. Mary's, Kansas, accompanied by my brother and his wife for some wholesome fun and exercise. It was a very lively dance run by the caller whom I have known for 15 years.( I am sure he has been doing this for much longer!) There were many couples on the dance floor enjoying themselves. There were some refreshments for sale to keep the guests cool and collected. Since I did not exactly have my own date, I sat on the sidelines and watched apart of the time when I was not talking to friends or greeting passerbys. But I did notice on the left wall of the big gym, alot of girls sitting there in a row practically waiting to be asked to dance. I looked around and there were some guy hanging outside but not many. Where were they? A squaredance is an excellent place to meet and socialize. Maybe they forgot....too busy....or maybe there are not enough traditional boys in this town.....I am pretty glad I have already found my mate! It can be pretty frustrating looking, and what if the choices are too small, even for a partner in a dance. It can be great for the guys but not GREAT for the girls, especially when there are so many.... And in this parish of 3,500 souls.......

 

Anyway, a husband of one of my close friends happen to walk by and stopped to talk. He commented that this was a nice squaredance and although he voiced he does not dance, he appreciated the wholesome fun of squaredancing and highly recommended it. However, when he glanced to the left wall of the gym and saw what I had noticed earlier in the evening of the row of girls, he was pretty concerned..These were his very words,"Look at that! Where are the guys around here? That is pretty sad!" Then, as he proceeded to look at the square dancer and the happy faces of the couples, he made another comment that made me smile and agree, " Yes, he is right."  "Look here, this is where alot of future marriages will come out from."

 

Well, one of these days, perhaps next year, we may be able to offer a type of atmosphere where singles Catholic boys and girls can get together and make friends, share similarities,and possibly more, God willing....

 

                                                             Until then....

This period of the church concentrates on the Passion of Christ, His Death, and His subsequent Resurrection on Easter Sunday. During this time, we can gain so many special graces when we meditate on His Passion, pray on each of the fourteen Stations of the Cross, and offer daily sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Many eat only one meal of meat daily with Fridays no meat. Others can fast with no eating between meals. The big days of fast and abstinence in the Catholic Church are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Anyone can fast, but those most encouraged are those between the ages of seven and sixty-five. St. Theresa says, " I wish to suffer everything that my Beloved wishes. I wish to allow Him to do with His little ball whatever He desires." Also ," I am no afraid to suffer for you." She further states that nothing is too great to suffer in order to win the palm of eternal life. So we should try to carry our daily cross, offer up little crosses and tribulations for our sins and the conversion of others who don't know the way to Him. According to one passage in the book of Hebrew : Let us run with persevereance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesu,s the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Lent is composed of forty days. That is approximate six and one half weeks, not including Sundays. It is such an important time in the liturgical year. This is the time when our Lord procures heaven for us by paying the debt owed to omnnipotent God for original sin. Have you watched the movie The Passion? I think it is very good to watch during this time of year, and it helps us think about what Christ went thru during His Passion, including how the devil tempts Him and how the disciples abandoned Him. I think it shows how God truly loved us. God truly showed how He loved us as He willingly died on the Cross for us, the ultimate sacrifice of His love. Envision the Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross; she says nothing but looks at Him sorrowful, but knowing that He is doing the will of the Father and praying for all of us, her children. Let us never forget what she does for us, continually pleading for us before God. Let us also consider why we were created, to love and serve God , and be happy with Him someday, in heaven.

I was recently at a conference in St. Mary's and Father Alphonse was  speaker of the evening. He based his talk on purity and was giving examples of how prayer helps Catholics whether practicing or not had been saved on account of prayer to either keep them on the right path or to return to it if they had lost the faith. A very good practice he recommends is the Three Hail Mary's each morning and each night. I think this would an excellent habit to start if we are not already doing it already. Our Lady will certainly love this devotion and assist us in our daily trial and temptations as well it will show her our devotion to her.

 

One fine example occurred in Naples. Perhaps you have heard of it, but I would like to reiterate here. This one gentleman had lost the  faith and was recently was hosting a dinner. A local priest was interested in attending as there was talk that the man owned a monkey who served him in his house. The man told the priest that he was not interested in converting back to the faith but the priest merely stated he wanted to see his pet who would be serving the guests at the table. The man then said that the priest was welcome. At dinner that night while all the guests were seated, the man rung the bell for the monkey to serve. No sign of the monkey. The man stated that this was odd and rang the bell again

 stating, "He always comes imediately." After awhile, the priest suggested they look for his pet. After searching, the priest found the monkey under the owner's bed. The monkey kept moving further back under the bed when called, and then started hissing. The owner did not know what to make of it. The priest then stated that he knew what was wrong. He commanded the monkey to come out and say who he was. The monkey hissed and came out from under the bed, and stated that he was indeed the the devil who had taken the form of a monkey to serve his master's need and was waiting to strangle him at night the moment his owner stoped saying the Three Hail Mary's each morning and night. Then he vanished. The man was deeply moved and asked the priest to hear his confession.

I thought it was a great true story and would like to pass it on to you!

Situations With Divorce

Some people feel that if a person has been married but is now divorced, he or she is now free to date. Now divorce is a legal paper stating you are no longer legally married to another, according to the states opinion. However, according to the Church, in the eyes of God, what really should matter is that there can be no true divorce if two parties are lawfully married. Let me quote Jesus' own words from the New Testament in the writings of Mark:" Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her." Jesus does not take "divorce" lightly, and this advice for all to hear and follow, including our present times. So if you happen to befriend a divorced person, she or he is unavailable and they should not be pursued if the former spouse is alive or the marriage has been proven valid by the church. One needs to remember that even if the person you might be interested in no longer lives with his or her spouse or whether the state believes the marriage is still legal or not, one cannot just date him or her anyway. In the eyes of God, a person married is a person married til death of one of the parties. Only the church can decide that a marriage was not actually valid when it occurred, after careful study.

Some people think divorce is the same as annulment. Well, the state does not annul; the church does. Annulment can take a very long time.The church does undertake a timed process to look into a wedding that took place and determine if it was actually valid or not. In other words, they consider whether a valid marriage actually took place at all. The Catholic Church cannot dissolve a marriage but can determine that a marriage in the eyes of God actually did not take place and no marriage binding truly existed in the first place with the evidence put  in front of them. (I will go into more details next week about grounds for annulment.)

Finally, it would be ideal to find someone without a prior or recent attachment, rather than going through the pain of having to refuse to go out with a person due to their previous marriage or attachments.

CHOICES TO BE MADE WHILE DATING

 

Ideally, when one is dating, there aren't too many complications to overcome. However , there can be issues especially when the usual proper guidelines of conduct are overlooked.

 

If the case arises when the girl becomes pregnant, there are some decisions that may need to be made. This can be a very trying and difficult time on both parties. Anger, frustration, guilt, depression can easily provoke people and hasty decisions should not be made. Every case is different and the right decision may be not the same in all cases. Some couples may choose to wait until after the baby is born before deciding what the next move will be. With a baby itself on the way, there is alot of planning to do, and one may not be able to concentrate fully on marriage and discerning if the person one is dating is still the right one for him or her. On the other hand, there may also not be enough time to get married sooner if you have not been dating for a long time and have made the wedding plans scheduled on shorter notice. Things can be more expensive this way, for example, the venue, food, cake, the dress without adequate time to plan. Furthermore, the priest will not marry a couple quickly without proper wedding instruction and classes.

 

I used to think that if a couple was pregnant, they had to get married. Well, there are some choices to be made, for the interests of all parties involved, including the baby. The decision will be a difficult one, in which both parties should seek advice from the priest and their families. One option is to have the baby and give it up for adoption. The couple may not be right for each other, and decide they need to part ways. Or they could still consider marriage after birth, but in the meantime, may give the baby for adoption or have other parents care for the baby. It would be great if they still want to get married and raise the baby together. Or another option is to keep the baby and choice not to get married if they feel they are not right for each other, or it simply was not the right time.

 

Hopefully, the right decision will be made for all, and ideally no will judge them the less now or in the future. But in any issue, large or small, we will ask Our Lady to help us make the right decision!