Are You Suffering Today?

Listen to the words of St. John Paul II:

Suffering "burns and consumes evil with the flame of love and draws forth even from sin a great flowering of good."

Think of the suffering of the cross and suffering of all the disciples as they mourned the loss of Jesus and then think of the great flowering of faith when the fire of the Holy Spirit came down upon them on Pentecost. If you are suffering today from physical, emotional, or spiritual pain, please don't waste it! Your suffering "consumes evil" when you make it a sacrifice on the altar of love -- especially through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

Prayer: The Catholic Response to Evil

This email was forwarded to me by a friend. While you are writing your Christmas cards, how about including one for the priests and parishioners in Newtown at St. Rose of Lima Church. Nearly half of the murdered children were from their parish. Wouldn't it be wonderful to send an outpouring of love to the priests and parishioners so they know the mystical body of Christ is united with them as they suffer. God bless you all in these last days of Advent. I've highlighted the address in the email below:

All of you, I am sure, have heard so much about the tragedy in Newtown, CT. Many of you have received emails from me about my younger brother, Father Luke Suarez, who is a priest at St. Rose of Lima parish, a Catholic church just down the road from Sandy Hook Elementary. He, and his pastor, Monsignor Weiss, arrived at the school within moments of the shooting, and have been caring for the community ever since....

Sunday Meditation: The Value of the Elderly Sick

Every Sunday I take Communion to five residents of a local nursing home in Woodstock, VA. I only take two hosts because of swallowing issues with several individuals and the possibility that someone will not be able to receive. Since Jesus is entirely present in each particle of the host I don't deprive anyone, and it ensures the hosts are consumed. What a privilege to bear the Savior to these dear souls.

Each time I visit is a unique experience and today illustrated that. When my husband and I arrived we found Linda (I'm not using real names to protect the privacy of the residents) in the TV room. Linda has Alzheimers and is frustrated sometimes over not being able to remember things, but she almost always recognizes me as the lady who brings her Jesus, and what a smile she gives me along with a cheery greeting. I took her out to the lounge and showed her pictures of our newborn granddaughter and than prayed with her and gave her Communion. Linda always engages in a verbal dialogue with the Lord she loves so much. "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for coming to me. I love you so much. I want to be with you. Please when it's my time take me to live with you."  Her prayer is always similar, very simple, and filled with the language of love.