Happy Feast of St. Michael

Happy Feast of St. Michael!! What a wonderful saint to have as my patron and protector. And Happy feast day to the best dad in the world - I love you!

Here is the St. Michael Chaplet which is a wonderful prayer. The above picture is an icon from the Louvre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre

I just back from a day in Paris and a night spent at Sacre Coeur. The sisters who care for the basilica offer a place to sleep for 5 euro so you can participate in the night adoration. I was so amazed that the Basilica has had perpetual adoration for over 150 years! - and I felt so blessed to be a part of that.

Ember Wednesday in September - Memory of Padre Pio

I was surprised at 7am mass this morning (as St. Germain's in Le Chesnay) to see the collect, secret, and post-communion in honor of St. Padre Pio. As soon as I got home I jumped online to see the Clear Creek monastery liturgy for the day -- and saw that they also were celebrating Ember Wednesday with a memory of Padre Pio. Did a little more looking around and found this letter from Padre Pio to the Holy Father where he expresses his whole-hearted devotion to Holy Church and her vicar - I thought is was very beautiful and should be an inspiration for all children of Holy Mother Church. Blessed feast day!

San Giovanni Rotondo
September 12, 1968

Your Holiness,

I unite myself with my brothers and present at your feet my affectionate respect, all my devotion to your august person in an act of faith, love and obedience to the dignity of him whom you are representing on this earth. The Capuchin Order has always been in the first line in love, fidelity, obedience and devotion to the Holy See; I pray to God that it may remain thus and continue in its tradition of religious seriousness and austerity, evangelical poverty and faithful observance of the Rule and Constitution, certainly renewing itself in the vitality and in the inner spirit, according to the guides of the Second Vatican Council, in order to be always ready to attend to the necessities of Mother Church under the rule of your Holiness.

I know that your heart is suffering much these days in the interest of the Church, for the peace of the world, for the innumerable necessities of the people of the world, but above all, for the lack of obedience of some, even Catholics, to the high teaching that you, assisted by the Holy Spirit and in the name of God, are giving us. I offer you my prayers and daily sufferings as a small but sincere contribution on the part of the least of your sons in order that God may give you comfort with his Grace to follow the straight and painful way in the defense of eternal truth, which never changes with the passing of the years. Also, in the name of my spiritual children and the Prayer Groups, I thank you for your clear and decisive words that you especially pronounced in the last encyclical "Humanae Vitae"; and I reaffirm my faith, my unconditional obedience to your illuminated directions.

May God grant victory to the truth, peace to his Church, tranquility to the world, health and prosperity to your Holiness so that, once these fleeting doubts are dissipated, the Kingdom of God may triumph in all hearts, guided by your apostolic work as Supreme Pastor of all Christianity.

Prostrate at your feet, I beg you to bless me in the company of my brothers in religion, my spiritual children, the Prayer Groups, my sick ones and also to bless all our good endeavours which we are trying to fulfill under your protection in the name of Jesus.

Humbly yours,

P. Pio, Capuchin

Padre Pio letter to the Holy Father

New video on Clear Creek Monastery

I was delighted to find this new video of the progress of Clear Creek Monastery. Please keep all the monks in your prayers especially Fr. Subprior who is seriously ill with cancer. more ...

Blessed Feast of Our Lady of Sorrow - Notre-Dame des Douleurs

A blessed feast to you all. Here is a video clip of the Boys choir in Warsaw singing the Stabat Mater Dolorosa by Pergolesi

1st Day at the Louvre!

IMG_2277
Originally uploaded by mystical_rose84

I spent most of Sunday gazing at the vast collections of art in the Louvre. The had an audio tour that was really helpful (though I wish it had more info on it). Here is a picture of me in front of the pyramid. You take stairs down into the pyramid and then you have three different directions you can go - and each one is bigger than any of the museums back at home! I enjoyed the old religious statues the most ... I took a lot of pictures. The roman marble statues were totally amazing. I want very much to go back with my sketch book and spend more time in one particular area. This time was just getting myself comfortable with the place and checking out what there was to see - and there was alot! Enjoy the pictures.

A safe return to Versailles

Thank you for all the prayers being said for my safe travels. I made it back to Versailles without much incident - which was a suprise compared with my other recent travel experiences. My brother drove me to the Dallas airport with plenty of time to get through security. I flew with Lufthansa since my past experience with United was very difficult. I arrived in Frankfurt and had a 2 hour wait for my plane to Paris. I landed in Paris safetly and then began the long process of getting from the airport to versailles ... nothing went wrong but everything took as long it seems as was possible. I waited at the baggage claim for nearly 30 min. Then after crossing to the other side of the airport I had to wait another 30 min in a line to buy a train ticket (I could have bought it at the machine if I'd have had some pocket change). Then the train had a 30 min delay at one of the stops - I can't say why because I could not understand what was being said over the speakers. In those sort of situations I just observe the other people and usually go along with the flow. I transfered from the train to the RER C at the San Michelle metro and from there until Versailles I just relaxed and watched out the window at the familiar Paris landscape. It brought back memories of my first train ride when everything had seemed so strange and foreign - this time it was all so familiar and much easier. I heaved my luggage out of the train at Versailles Rive Gouche and walked out of the station just as the bus was arriving. I already had several tickets with me so I could just step in. The drive along main street was wonderful and I was reminded of just how much I had grown fond of Versailles. The market, the pattiseries, the people on bikes, the flowers in pots on the windows, the little cars and little streets. I had a short walk from the bus stop to the house where I was warmly greeted by the family I am staying with. I had missed them all very much during my month home and it is wonderful now to be back for a time. Now I just am catching up on sleep and getting back into a routine.