Happy New Year- a liturgical New year.

Happy New Year- a liturgical New year.

Advent Wreath- symbol of Advent

 

Happy New Year- well a liturgical New Year.

I know that during this year I have had a difficult time for all sorts of personal reasons, and I have allowed my own problems to get in the way of blogging.  I am sorry that I have not continued to contribute to the blog. I really am.

WHY IS A NEW LITURGICAL YEAR IMPORTANT?

However with a liturgical New year, there is hope in the season of Advent.  I look forward to Advent because with the start of Advent and a new liturgical Year, the Church provides us with the opportunity to start again. I can ask God to help me start again.  It really is a case of ’'Just give me another year Lord and I will dig and manure it...."

I can close the door on the past and start again.  The problems may not go away, but the difference is that I have Jesus by my side again- I have hope again and I can, through His grace continue the struggle of life with the hope that someday, things will be better.

Perhaps if you are in a good place emotionally and spiritually, then at least be grateful. Use this Advent well to be grateful, or at least to stop and think and decide to change something in your life that needs attention- be on the alert- is your life really in keeping with God's plan for you?  I hope it is, but if not, start to make the adjustments through this season of hope.

I want to create again a spiritual new Year goal.  I know I can’t change myself without God’s help and I can’t change it all in a day.  I have another year to use wisely. So, instead of wanting to change the world within myself, I will choose one aspect. just one and sincerely ask God to help me change that this year.  I sure don’t want to be in the same place this time next year.

So Happy New Year- I hope you have a think about your spiritual goals and hope, with Jesus, that you will act on them.  We can act on them one day at a time, one hour or one minute at time, knowing that God loves us in our hope, loves us when things are going well and we are happy, and  loves us when we fail too and come to Him.

Let us prepare for the coming of Jesus and allow Him to be born in our hearts again this Christmas. Stay awake and be alert.  Happy New Year. 

Need a new focus for the month of November

The feasts of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, when Catholics are encouraged to offer Masses and prayers for our deceased family members and relatives, were the living expression of a doctrine which stretched back to the earliest era of Christianity, and which is embodied in the Apostles' Creed.

The origin of All Saints Day is to be found in the prayers made to the martyr saints of the persecuted Church in the early centuries.  All Souls Day reflects the constant teaching of the Church, stretching back into the Old Testament period where it is record in the Book Maccabees, " It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to prayer for the dead, that they may loosed from their sins'.

It seems a tragedy that All Saints Day is less recognised that Halloween, now a secular celebration of what was once the day before All Hallows (Saints) Day.

In Australia in 2001, the Australian bishops made a decision to reduce the number of Holy Days of Obligation, with the great feast of All Saints Day and All Souls Day (albeit an unofficial Holy Day of Obligation) disappearing from the awareness of even practising Catholics. As a consequence of that decision, a diminished awareness of the doctrine of Communion of Saints has resulted, a doctrine which teaches that believers on earth are united in a spiritual fellowship with the saints in Heaven and the souls in Purgatory.

These beautiful feasts days are both a source of inspiration and a consolation that we, in the world as the pilgrim Church can aspire to be reunited with our families and friends who are the Church triumphant in the joyful perfection of Heaven.  We can also give the souls in purgatory- great consolation by our prayers and Masses since we can pray for them, but they cannot pray for themselves. 

Let us assist them by our prayers, works of charity, offering up our day and trials for them and attending Mass for their souls not only on these great feasts, but also during the month of November.

Let these great feasts touch our spiritual consciousness this year.

Remind me Lord.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

                                                              REMIND ME LORD.

Remind me often Lord, 

that You are more interested in what I am 

than what I do.

Whatever draws me away from You 

is not the ''better thing''.

May God remind us of our true identity in Him in this coming week.

Companions for the journey

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES

 

Light in our life. Reflection and Prayer Series Icon

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

                                                 COMPANIONS FOR THE JOURNEY.

In the midst of my loneliness, 

let me remember Lord

that thought, prayer and work 

make good companions for my journey.

May God be with us in our thought, prayer and work throughout this coming week

Sacred Heart of Jesus

FEAST OF SACRED HEART OF JESUS.

Sacred Heart of Jesus 

St Margaret Mary was born in 1626 in France. She joined the Visitation Sisters at Paray le-Monial. It was through her progress in the spiritual life that God granted her mystic revelations regarding the Sacred heart of Jesus. It was through her efforts and trials that the veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was accept in the Church. She died on 16 October 1690.

I have a special spot for her as she is 'my confirmation saints', 

                                        IN GOD'S FATHER-HEART OF LOVE

In the midst of the world's turmoil

and life's incessant demands,

we are like children, 

seeking shelter from the storm.

In God's Father-heart of love,

we find haven and peace for our souls.

May the love of Jesus sustain you us during this week.

the meaning of Anzac day and traditions.

the meaning of Anzac day and traditions.

Today is Anzac Day. This day has many meanings but often the Anzac spirit is portrayed as 'mate-ship'.

It strikes me that mate-ship in difficult circumstances such as war helps the human spirit to persevere and to know that they are not going through it alone. We remember the ultimate sacrifice of those who served and lost their lives in the battle and those like my late father who served in World War 2 who came home and began their lives anew after giving their best years of their lives in service of their country. Many in later years still carried the scars physically and emotionally from their service with some suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Anzac Day in our home was important with its tradition. Dad went to the Mass and most years he then marched. Each year the medals came out the night before and placed carefully on his suit jacket which he wore with just pride the next day. My grandfather on both sides were also veterans. Before dad passed away, he had his medals made for myself and my siblings as miniatures. It was indeed a gesture of great love on his part.  Now that dad has passed away, the memory of Anzac day tradition lingers in my mind and I remember what this day meant to him and our family.

Mum was also up early on Anzac morning. She always got a couple of batches of Anzac Biscuits in the oven before Mass so that we could enjoy them warm whilst we were watching the March on the TV and trying to pick out dad.  This morning I got up and made the biscuits. I wish I could make them like mum.  Just have not got her same knack.!!!!

However, it has always struck me that mateship is keeping the commandment to love- the veterans loved one another in an appropriate manner to put each other first, watching each others backs in combat, gave their lives in service and some paid the ultimate price of death.   In psychological terms, the whole experience bonded them so that years later, they could still come together and feel that sense of union with each other.

For those of us who have not served in this way, we can commend them and be grateful for their bravery. 

We can follow in their example of mate-ship, which in essence is keeping the commandment to love in its fullest meaning as Christ specified.

Lest we forget.

 .

The Lord has truly risen

RESURRECTION WINDOW  IN ST JOSEPH'S CHAPEL 

HAPPY EASTER TO MY READERS.

May the blessings of Easter day and Eastertide be yours.

Alleluia.