A fish named Starlight

English: An image of a Common goldfish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My grandkids are a six-year-old girl and a four year-old boy.  They live a little over an hour away.  About once a month they get to spend the weekend at Grams and Pop’s house.  There is usually a whirlwind of activity as the girl is very dramatic and the boy is perpetual motion.

Recently, my granddaughter has discovered that we as humans have a limited time on this earth.  That has made her very sensitive to the subject of death.  I tried to talk to her about the lives of the Saints and how they are in Heaven.  She covered her ears and wanted none of it.

Imagine my horror when Saturday, my daughter arrives with the grandkids who are proudly showing off two goldfish they have won at the local fair.  My daughter whispers to me that we will just put the fish in a tank of water and they “will probably die anyway”!  So began our weekend with the grandkids.

My granddaughter named her fish Starlight.  I tell her that is a beautiful name for a beautiful fish!  Five hours later all of us are watching Starlight  struggle and then the poor thing loses her life.  I watched my granddaughter grab the little fish net and ask her mother to fish out Starlight so that she could flush her down the toilet.  I thought she was acting very brave and that  she must not have the same sensitivity with death of an animal or fish as with a human.

Later on she brings a picture that she has drawn.  I look down at her art tablet and see a gold fish floating in a toilet!  I could not contain my laughter.  It was such a surprise!  Well, immediately my granddaughter began bawling and ran to the back of the house.  Oh no!  I looked at my daughter and said, “time for a fish prayer service”.

The four of us (myself, my daughter and two grandkids) gathered around a Crucifix.  My granddaughter said we should say a “Hail Mary”.  My grandson reminded everyone to make the Sign of the Cross.  He prayed for God to Bless him, his sister, and his whole family.  We all said the Hail Mary prayer.  Then my granddaughter picked out several prayers from a prayer book, which I read while she held the book.  My daughter said some nice words about Starlight.  We ended with the Guardian Angel prayer.  It was quit lovely.  My granddaughter and I actually had a talk about dying.  I was able to share with her that people never die.  Our bodies do die; but we have a soul that lives forever thanks to Jesus.

All of this reminded me that Jesus often taught using fish.  Matthew 14:17  “All we have are five loaves and two fish, they replied. ..then He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God.  He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over. The number of men who ate was about five thousand, not counting the women and children.”

Mark 1:17 “Jesus said to them, Come with Me, and I will teach you to catch men. At once they left their nets and went with Him.”

God works in mysterious ways.  A fish named Starlight won at a local fair has helped my granddaughter get over her super sensitivity to death and all topics related to death.  Thank you God!

In case you are wondering…the boy’s fish made it through the weekend.  Raphael is swimming safe and sound back at my daughter’s home.  When it is Raphael’s time to go, we know exactly how to handle it!

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

Be a Warrior

English: Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is suddenly “inappropriate” for Christians to express their beliefs in public if it contradicts the new social norms of society.  I am sorry, but I have morals and beliefs based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.  My Catholic faith is sound and comprised of church doctrines that are two thousand years old.  Some may say the teachings are outdated.  I say the truth never stops being the truth.

On November 12, 1991, Jesus appeared to Nancy Fowler in Conyers, Georgia with this message: “My laws surpass man’s laws.  My laws are for all time, for all people, for all nations.  Man tries to distort and bend My laws to fit their individual sinful lives.  I do not bow down to man’s laws.  It is man who should bow down to My laws”.

We live in a country founded on moral foundations of liberty.  Religion and speech are protected by our constitution.  As Christians following the ways of Jesus Christ, we have an obligation to speak out His truths and spread His messages.  Why are Christians being shunned and admonished for expressing their personal religious beliefs?

Yes, all people are created equal.  Yes, all people should have equal rights and protections.  Does this mean that the definition of marriage – which has always been defined as man and woman – should change?  It does not.  If that is the case, then why not allow multiple wives or husbands?  Where will this end?

Acts 10:34 Peter “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.  Those who  fear Him and do what is right are acceptable to Him no matter what race they belong to.”

Stand up for your beliefs.  Do not be afraid to speak the truth.

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

Mystical Rose

Rose petal which fell from the sky in Conyers, Georgia where Our Lady appeared to Nancy Fowler with public messages in the 1990’s.  (ourlovingmother.org)

The rose is known as the Queen of Flowers. It has a perfume that will raise the mind to the “highest state of spiritual consciousness”.  It is no wonder that over the centuries, this flower has become a symbol for Our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Heaven and earth. This symbolism came to fullness with the devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary.

The rose has also been used as a sign by Our Lady to her children.  Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego December 9, 1531 and asked that a church be built. The Archbishop of Mexico City asked for a miraculous sign from the Virgin. Diego was instructed by the Virgin to gather flowers from the top of Tepeyac Hill.  Although it was December and the hill was barren, Diego found Castilian roses, which are not native to the area, and arranged them in his tilman cloak.  Later when Diego opened the cloak in front of the Archbishop, instead of flowers, there was a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary.  This image is still on Diego’s cloak which is enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

On July 13, 1947, Our Lady Rosa Mystical (Mystical Rose) appeared to Pierina Gilli in Montichiari, in Nothern Italy.  She asked that everyone pray the rosary and do penance.  She appeared with a white rose which symbolized prayer; a red rose, symbolizing sacrifice; and a yellow rose for the spirit of penance and conversion.  Our Lady of Mystical Rose asked that every December 8th at noon, we celebrate an Hour of Grace for the Whole World.

I have a rose story of my own.  A few years ago, my father was suffering with a disease affecting his balance.  My mother and I prayed a novena (nine day prayer) that he be healed or come to terms with his disability.  It is often the case that novenas are answered with a rose.  After the nine days, which was in late November, my mother was very excited to find a single rose had bloomed in her yard.  We took that to mean that our prayers would be answered.  I was not looking for my own rose, thinking that one rose gave both of us an answer.  Later that same day, my husband and I went buy a Christmas tree.  I picked one, but then thought it was a little too crooked.  I picked out another one.  My husband held the tree up for my inspection.  I looked it over and my eye caught something inside the tree.  I reached into the branches, and lo and behold, I pulled out a rose bud!  Well, that was definitely our Christmas tree!   It is a moment I will never forget!

At our family rosary yesterday, we were very blessed to have a friend of the family share a special rose petal with us. On this tiny petal that has traveled from home to home for several years, you can clearly see Our Lord Jesus and the Blessed Sacrament.

And so remember to honor your Blessed Mother with roses on her special feast days.  She has done so much for us, her children.  She deserves our attention and honor.  Her messages should not be ignored.  She is fervently working for our salvation.  She is our gift from Our Lord Jesus Christ.  His Crown of Thorns gave way to our Mystical Rose.

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

Peace of Christ

Icon of Saint Ephrem the Syrian (Meryem Ana Kilesesi, Diyarbakır, Turkey). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Our Lady of America appeared to Sr. Mary Ephrem (deceased January 10, 2000) with this message: “It is the United States that is to lead the world to peace, the peace of Christ, the peace that He brought with Him from heaven…Dear children, unless the United States accepts and carries out faithfully the mandate given to it by heaven to lead the world to peace, there will come upon it and all nations a great havoc of war and incredible suffering.”

Saint Ephrem of Syria lived in the 4th century.  He was a theologian and is officially recognized as a Doctor of the Church.  Is the name a coincidence? Is there a tie between Sr. Mary Ephrem and Saint Ephrem of Syria? I think so…

The United States has aggressively been calling for military action against Syria.  This led Pope Francis to host an unprecedented event on Saturday.  The Pope led the faithful of all religions in a peace prayer vigil that lasted four hours.  One hundred thousand attended the prayer vigil in St. Peter’s square, praying, fasting, and adoring Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

I was fortunately sick in bed and stayed glued to the TV in amazement watching this event.  I felt so connected with the assembly in St. Peter’s Square, and I just knew that these prayers would change the course of the world events.

Lo and behold, today something did happen that has changed up these events!  Secretary of State, John Kerry, made an off- the- cuff remark today regarding Syria handing over its chemical weapons and that leading to a halt of the military strike.  Russia jumped on this remark and immediately stated that this was a “firm” proposal by the US, one which Russia states was “welcomed” by Damascus.

President Obama’s rhetoric on the military strike has suddenly changed.  Obama has now stated that should Syria give up its chemical weapons, a military strike would “be on pause.”

The people have prayed and fasted.  God has heard His people.

It is so amazing the power of prayer and the power of the Almighty!!

Romans 3:22  God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ.

C’est Bon!

Love,

Sherry

The Family that Prays Together…

rosary (Photo credit: rebeccavalfl)

“Henceforth all generations will call me blessed”  Luke1:48

The special prayer of The Most Holy Rosary was given to St. Dominic by Our Blessed Mother in the year 1220.  St. Dominic was asked to spread devotion to this powerful prayer, which is a meditation on the life of Jesus Christ as seen through His Mother’s eyes.

As a child, I learned to say the Rosary; however, it seemed to me that it was a prayer that was recited by old women who had a lot of time of their hands.  My grandmother said the Rosary over and over again in her final years on earth.  It is only now that I see and understand the value of this Holy Prayer.  I hear others my age talk about their grown children as having lost their faith, or as having delved into other “modern, new-age” faiths.  My three children have all held onto their Catholic faith.  I do not take credit for it.  My mother-in-law twenty-one years ago became inspired to host a once a week family Rosary.  My children and my nieces and nephew have grown up leading these weekly Rosaries.  It has become imbedded in their souls.  Over the years we have prayed for many sick, dying and departed.  We have given thanks for healings and blessings.  The spiritual growth that has occurred in this family has been awesome.  My mother-in-law has three children, all of them still married to their first and only spouses.  All of the grandchildren seem to have a deep understanding of their faith and are all witnesses to that faith.

Pope Pius IX once said, “If there were one million families praying the Rosary every day, the entire world would be saved.”

St. Pio of Pietrelcina said, “The Rosary is THE WEAPON.”

I can now say thank you to my grandmothers for all their Rosary recitations.  To my mother for her daily Rosaries on behalf of her family.  To my mother-in-law for laying a solid foundation for her grandchildren that is being carried on in the great-grandchildren (my grandchildren).

The power this prayer yields is strong beyond belief.  Pray the Rosary.  Form Rosary clubs or weekly family Rosary nights.  Together we can change the world – one family at a time!

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

 

Room 411

There is a grave in Church Point, Louisiana of a girl who suffered and died at the age of 12 years old on August 11, 1959.  The girl’s name was Charlene Richard.  In southern Louisiana, she is known as our “Little Cajun Saint”.

The book, “My Name is Charlene“, by Rev. Joseph Brennan, has awe inspiring testimonies of people who knew Charlene during her days here on earth and those who have prayed to Charlene for her intercession and received miraculous healings.  The testimony by Rev. Brennan was most touching as he recalls being the priest assigned to ministering to Charlene during her last two weeks on earth, in room 411 of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana.  In fact, Father Brennan had the awful task of telling Charlene, at her parents’ request, about her illness and prognosis.  In his testimony, Father Brennan recalls, “Then I said, “In a couple of weeks a beautiful lady is going to come and take you home”.  Looking at me with those brown Cajun eyes, she said, “When that lady comes, I will tell her that Father Brennan said hello.””

Thus began a two week period of the young Charlene offering up her sufferings, willingly carrying her cross with Jesus.  Father Brennan could not understand how someone so young could understand the concept of redemptive suffering.  She suffered and prayed, and taught us all that no suffering is in vain.

Today, fifty years later, ten thousand people visit Charlene’s grave every year.  It is a resting spot that I find peaceful beyond words.  You feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when you combine your prayers and intentions to those ten thousand people and Charlene Richard.

God works miracles through suffering.  His only Son was able to defeat evil and open those doors of heaven through his acceptance of God’s will and His suffering.  Our loving mother suffered with her Son as she watched Him carry His cross and die on it.  Suffering with faith is never easy; nothing that is good for the soul is ever easy.  But, we must remember that Jesus showed us the Way.  By picking up our crosses and walking with Him and trusting in Him. we can save not only our soul, but the souls of countless others.

Prayer to Charlene Richard

Charlene, when you were only twelve years old, you showed heroic faith, hope, and love; dying of leukemia, you joined yourself to Jesus on His Cross and offered your intense pain for others.  You thereby echoed St. Paul’s words to his people in Colossians 1:24: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His Body, the Church.”

Charlene, I believe you are with God.  Please ask our Heavenly Father, His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to grant me the following favor: (mention favor sought).

Charlene, thank you for helping me.  May Jesus Christ always be praised.  May Mary, Jesus’ Ever-Virgin Mother, always be blessed.

Amen

C’est Bon

Love, Sherry