Getting Back Into It

Wow. I’ve really neglected my blog, haven’t I?

I upgraded to the new version of Blogger and now my third party editor, w.bloggar, won’t work. Frustrating.

So I have downloaded BlogJet and trying it out for 30 days.

Colbert, Fr. Martin and Mother Teresa

Hilarious commentary I saw last night based on the TIME article "Mother Teresa's Crisis of Faith". A bit irreverent, but funny nonetheless.

In Memory of Maxine B.

From and email I received today:

Maxine, peacefully passed away through the night. She fought the good fight, but ultimately she let Our Lord lift her up to His arms. There is no doubt in my mind that she is happily with Him now. Thanks for your prayers and I ask that you continue those prayers for Jim and their family.

Eternal rest grant unto Maxine O Lord,
And let perpetual Light shine upon her.
May her soul
And the souls of all the faithful departed
Through the mercy of God
Rest in peace.
Amen.

Please Pray For...

Please pray for my great-aunt, Maxine B. who is suffering with emphysema. She was a teacher and a nurse. A very good person. I have very fond memories of visiting her farm in Indiana on Thanksgiving when I was little.

Hospice has been called in. Family has been visiting regularly. She's is in God's hands now.

(on a separate note) - I plan to post more regularly from now on. Please check back daily if you choose. Much went on in the last six months. Trying to sort everything out.

God Bless -

Darren

On Vacation

On vacation from May 29 - June 7th. Check out daily logs and pics at Norton, News, Notes 'n' Nonsense.

St. Patrick's Day Video

With St. Paddy's Day coming up, I thought I'd post a little video from one of the kids' Veggie Tales DVD. It's pretty funny, fairly informative on the basics of St. Patrick's life, and pretty entertaining. Let me know what you think.

Minute Meditation - March 14

Scripture
"Now is the acceptable time!
Now is the time of salvation!"
(2 Cor 6:2)

Reflection
"You no longer have the time that is past. Nor are you sure of the time that is to come.
Hence, all you have is this present point in time and nothing more."
- St. Catherine of Siena

Prayer
Timeless Lord, teach me to be grateful for every moment of timee tha You allot to me. Grant that I may always make the best use of my time.
- Every Day is a Gift

March 14 - Augustine Day by Day

Cross and Resurrection
Jesus'cross is an example of painful toil. His resurrection is the reward of painful toil.
In the cross He showed us how we are to bear suffering. In His resurrection He showed us what we are to hope for.
On the Creed 3, 9

Prayer: You come, O Christ, humble in appearance. You were scorned, whipped, crucified, and killed. Yet on the third day You rose again, and on the fortieth day You ascended into heaven, where you sit at the right hand of the Father and where no human being sees you!Commentary on Psalm 53,4

Lenten Season and the Playoffs

From Young Fogeys, Fr. Jay Toborowsky's blog:

If you're a sports fan, or if you've ever played organized sports on any level, you know that there's the regular season and there's the playoffs. The regular season is when every single team plays the same amount of games. Some teams win a lot, some teams lose more than they win, but everyone plays the whole season. Playoffs are when teams compete for a championship. During the playoffs teams play until they are defeated, and then they stop playing.

Many Catholics, I think, treat Lent more like the playoffs than a regular season. On Ash Wednesday, everyone has visions of glory and make all kinds of Lenten sacrificial intentions (I'm going to give up chocolate, I'm going to pray every day, I'm going to go to Stations of the Cross on Fridays, etc.). But one failure within those intentions (one "bad game", if you will), and we act like our Lent is over and we can resume everything we gave up and discontinue everything we added to our lives. Pass me the Reese's peanut butter eggs and the black jelly beans; Easter has arrived!

Read the rest of it here.

St. Jude Novena - Day 9

This is the last day of the novena, but if you would continue to pray for BR's recovery.

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Jude Novena - Day 8

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Jude Novena - Day 7

Thank you for your prayers. Please continue. See the update here.

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

UPDATE: BR's Condition

Thank you for all your prayers and for joining in the St. Jude Novena.

BR made it out of surgery as well as the doctor could have expected. He was lucid and seemed to be doing well last night.

While the doctor still is unsure how much strength will return to his left side, it seemed yesterday he had more than when he went into surgery. He still has some numbness in his left leg, but we are optimistic!

Praise the Lord for his initial recovery! Continue the prayers, please, as we find out in the next few days what the long-term prognosis will be.

St. Jude Novena - Day 6

BR goes in for surgery today at 12:00 pm.

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Jude Novena - Day 5

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Jude Novena - Day 4

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Jude Noneva - Day 3

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Jude Novena - Day 2

We now know that BR has a brain tumor. They will be operating on Monday.

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to give he and his family strength and his doctors the Lord's guidance.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Jude Novena

For all that read this blog, I invite you to join me in praying a novena to St. Jude for BR.

BR has just found out that they have found a "mass" on his brain. He goes this afternoon to a neurosurgeon for more information.

Below are instructions from the St. Jude Novena page on praying the novena for those unfamiliar with this type of prayer. I'll be starting the novena today for 9 days.

What is a novena?
A novena is the reciting of powerful prayers and devotions for a special request over nine consecutive days. Traditionally, a novena included praying, fasting, and meditating.

Do I have to be Catholic to make the novena? Do I have to be religious?
No! You only have to be someone having a difficult time coping with one (or more) difficult problems in your life that do not seem resolvable on your own. You're human! It's alright to be overwhelmed sometimes.

How often and for how long should the novena be said?
Traditionally, the novena prayer is said for 9 days. The 9 days signifies the 9 days the early Apostles prayed together during the time between the Ascension of Jesus, and Pentecost, when they experienced the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. However, there is no hard and fast "rule" for praying; it is best if you adopt a series of prayers and a rhythm for saying them that is comfortable for you and allows you to open a dialogue with God.

What prayers should I say? How do I say them?
Your goal when praying is to focus your heart, mind, and body on communicating with St. Jude. Praying is best done alone and in a quiet environment. Start by closing your eyes, then describe your special need, and make a heartfelt request for St. Jude to intercede on your behalf to help it be realized. Your prayer can be as simple as "St. Jude, please help me with (insert your request)", or if you prefer, choose one from the St. Jude Prayers. You should then follow your St. Jude prayer by saying 3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, and 3 Gloria prayers. Although not required, many people also find that meditating and/or some type of fasting during the 9 days provide extra comfort and strength when saying the prayers.

What should I expect to happen?
A novena to St. Jude has never been known to fail for those who maintain a strong posture of faith that God is ALWAYS working behind the scenes for us. For some people, by the end of the 9 days, they will see some visible, concrete proof that their request has been granted. For others, they may receive something that is not what they asked for, but turns out to be what they REALLY needed at this point in their lives. And for others, they may experience a newly-found feeling of hope and peace of spirit, that brings with it the sense that they ARE NOT GOING THROUGH THEIR DIFFICULTY ALONE. The beautiful power of the St. Jude novena is that people can have their requests answered in ways or times they may not have expected. The important thing is to believe that you WILL experience a change, and don't despair if you do not receive an instant answer. Often the path to finding true healing of mind, body, or spirit is a process that will only be fully visible and appreciated after an extended period of time. Praying to St. Jude is the first step in that process.

Whatever you do…
DON'T STOP HOPING…
DON'T STOP TRUSTING….
DON'T STOP TRYING…….

St. Jude Novena - Day 1

St. Jude, please help BR and his famly in this time of uncertainity and stress. I ask that you intercede on BR's behalf to rid him of the mass in his head and all the negative effects associated with his condition.

St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for BR now before the Most High so that he too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for him and faithfully place himself in God's loving hands.

Our Father (three times)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (three times)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria (three times)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.