Moments of Reflection

Every now and then, there is a need to go off to a place, a place that often brings peace to the soul. My weekend was spent in contemplation and reflection. Not many prize this in their life or value what it does for the soul. So on Tuesday which is my Saturday I spent long hours away from home contemplating my lifes direction in the spiritual sense. On Wednesday, my Sunday was spent reflecting the message of the Gospel.

It turned out to be a very beautiful day where silence and harmony filled the air. The noon Mass was filled with wonder and grace. My heart was filled with consolation, knowing how much there is love and need deep within my soul. A song began in the depths, but to recall the words now, are lost.

I knew in my mind and my heart how much I need you, dear God. In the same way I knew of his love for me. Moments that I wasn't sure could be possible and yet they are. How truly possible it can be to know how much we are needed and loved by God and so much more. If I am wrong I'm certain I would be corrected on it. It was a weekend of awe and wonder, where love and need came shinning through to touch my heart.

Lifetime

When I received the Program of Events for LaSalette last week in the mail, I noticed upon opening, the schedule for healing Masses. This Sunday was my Holiday and it was a blessing. I attended my Parish Mass and later in the afternoon I did get to go to a healing Mass. This was one time it was done on my own, without any promptings of the Holy Spirit. I went with my mom and dad in thought as well as for myself. It was a threefold journey for healing. Nothing ever prepares a person for tears, yet for some reason throughout the time I was there, that's all that I knew.

My mom was not feeling well when I left and for some reason her sadness stayed with me. She loves La Salette and more than anything I'm sure she would have loved to have gone with me. With her recent back surgery and issues that my dad has been having lately, it would have been too much for them. I think her sadness was also part of her concern for my dads test today. Her fear of being alone should she lose my dad, must weigh heavily on her heart. It's a concern for many who have lived long lives with their partners. It's a facet of life we often fail to witness in others.

The elderly often face this when their other half becomes ill. They have had their whole life with someone but do the young realize the depths they go through or the fear they encounter pending losing a lifetime love. Would they take care of them or push them into a home, never to be bothered with again. For some elderly, their health does not always allow them to live independently and their need for companionship is great.

It's almost a sad thing to know, but can be a blessing when faith is shared together as family. Faith that keeps a family strong in God. All too often in this world there is much focus upon ourselves and not enough on our neighbors well being.

La Salette Shrine

Sometimes days don't always start out so good especially when there is a need for spiritual cleansing. Not always knowing for certain the why of it, but the end result is a renewal. All I knew is I needed reconciliation. Yesterday morning I thought about going to an area Church that offers confession and toyed with the thought of heading to Stockbridge to the Divine Mercy Shrine as well. But the thought of LaSalette poked through so I grabbed my camera and headed east. I even managed to take the wrong exit to get there and found myself on a very busy route 1 and attempted to hopefully get there in time to receive the Sacrament of Penance before Mass.

It was close for sure with less than ten minutes to pay a visit to the restroom then to the Reconciliation Chapel and then hopefully be in the Church before Mass. The timing all came about beautifully too. Part of God's plan for sure. I have found that when things happen according to his plan things flow very smoothly.

The Nativity scene is absolutely beautiful as shown by this picture.

Part of the evening included a 45 minute concert by Father Pat, but my eyes tend to focus on the central figure that is hanging on the Cross or the tabernacle where our Lord is ever present.



This one is in the direction of the Stations of the Cross and the outdoor Chapel where the Creche is. A statue of Jesus is holding the large anchor. I took quite a few pictures but most of them came out very dark. I used the flash too. Some of the pictures inside the Church came out dark too, but the inside lighting was also lower. This year it seems the season of lights are extended to Epiphany which is January 4. So if anyone in the surrounding area would like they are more than welcome to see for themselves a beautiful setting on Holy Ground.

Include a visit to one of Father Pat's concerts it's amazing how words can touch a heart. For the past few years I have experienced quite a bit when attending a concert, this time as well. "Holy Light" was quite strong and this is on a second time that it came across again. Sometimes I wonder what significance they have for me. Just like when I receive them in my sleep or at Mass. I think I was in denial about this gift and the relating of it over the years. I didn't understand it too well, but then again when God chooses his time to reveal things to a heart he does it magnificently. One thing that being at Mass or in a Church is the joy that I feel when I am doing God's will.

What I would like to do is also invite those who read this blog to also listen to Father Pat's beautiful music and hopefully obtain a DVD called "Tears of Love" a delightful video with very beautiful songs about Mary. It's all about our Blessed Mother and her love for us. After all she said "Yes" and gave us Jesus. Without her we all would be in the dark.

Advent Begins

Today Advent begins and so does the ongoing journey with our blessed Mother. I have focused most of my journey on God because he is the one I love the greatest. I have not forgotten the Mother of all mothers, she has been beside me also. I have found so much a blessing in the way of how God chose our dear Mother and the way he achieved to bring our Lord to life.

The journey she too went on to fulfill, doesn't it make us all wonder about the greatness of God. I don't wonder about how he did what he did, because I too have undergone something in a way that I understand how truthful the Gospel speaks of the Divine. How truly possible it all is. I know how hard it is to grasp the enormity of God's love for mankind and how he can select a single person out of so very many and give to her the responsibility of bearing His Son. It is the mystery of how he did it that has often made us wonder about the truth of the telling.

If my life wasn't touched personally by God I would have no right to speak of this, but since I have had the grace to have been given His Love and to have been touched by His Spirit, I can understand how it came about for our Blessed Mother. In no way do I place myself close to what she has undergone for us. I can only say one thing it's true and possible. When I look back at my own encounter I am reminded each time of our Blessed Mother and her "YES" to God. In my own smallness and sinfulness I did not want to see and fought the truth of God's choosing. It is by the grace of God and the miracle he has given me that enables me to relate to what he has done for our Blessed Mother.

So on this first day of Advent the journey truly begins, because love is born. By the way that happens to be the theme this year at the Shrine of La Salette in Attleboro. An appropriate theme because our Beloved Pope Benedict XVI had given us his first encyclical on Love and this second one on Hope. They are both magnificent encyclicals and they are born by his tremendous faith in God. He is a blessing to us all and may God continue to be his guide on this Advent journey we all are on.