...and some long overdue thank you's to my amazing family!

This is, finally, my last post here, scheduled to post itself on Monday morning (as I start Office of Readings with the sisters) after I'm gone. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works!)

It's Multitude Monday...and about time that I took some space on this blog to say "Thank You" to the people who who have been the deepest source of inspiration, the greatest loves in my life, no matter what: My family.

Apart from God, no one knows me better than you. We have been through so much together...

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Mommy and Daddy,
thank you for teaching me how to pray and how important prayer is. You have always invited me and the others to holiness by example as much as by word, if not more.
Thank you for all the very important little things you did to make my life beautiful... for singing to me when I was a baby, for throwing me in the air, for tipping my mattress up at night (the best good-night routine ever!), for cleaning up (and teaching me how to clean up) my messes (physical and spiritual!) over the years.
Thank you for being there to listen and help me all the time, even (especially) during all the years when if I rarely took proper advantage of your help or listened to you!
Thank you for all of the sacrifices you make for me and our family to keep us healthy, happy, and holy. It really has been a grace, a great grace from God to have grown up in this family, in this household.

J,
I know I've already said this, but I'll say it again, it bears repeating, because it is just so true...thank you for being the best big brother ever! For the laughs, for the lessons, for the love. To take just one moment, or rather some of the best moments of my childhood, I'll never forget the joy of playing on the swing set during the summer listening to the Maple Leaf club's amazingly beautiful music. So much fun! And that pretty much sums up our life, doesn't it, only the goodness in you goes deeper than just plain fun. Being your sister makes holiness more fun than anything else I know! Thank you!

G,
thank you for putting up with me when I was (hopefully this only pertains to the past tense) an annoying little sister all those years. Following you around at the barn was fun, even if it didn't turn out to be my thing, and it meant a lot to me to have you as my prefect and my captain during my freshman year of highschool. I always looked up to you when we were growing up together, and still have so many reasons to admire you today. Good luck with all of your cooking adventures, and thank you for "following" me.

F,
thank you for being the best 'big' sister ever! (I don't remember when I started calling you my big sister, but I'll never forget all the ways that you have been, sort of.) For all of your the advice that I took, for better or for worse (always for better in the long run!), for your zany stories that amuse me to no end (they are just stories, right?!), for all the times we spent just talking about life...you're the best. And I mean it! I Love you, Little Lee Lee Lotta!

S,
what did you do to my cute little brother?(sorry, just had to ask that!) I am so proud of you, and it is such a joy to see you excel at everything, from academics, to running and swimming, and building upside-down ball tower tracks out of K'nex...thank you especially for bringing me to Compline these last few weeks, I owe you for that! ...all in all, life with you has been an amazing adventure...Godspeed!

D, last of all...
(Gretta: "Why am I always last?"//Uncle Max: "Because you are the most important!"-The Sound of Music)
I love you, love you, love you so much. Every minute we spent together was a real blessing, from our morning walks to church to our evening walks down by the bay. Thank you for talking with me, listening to me, and putting up with my occasional need to quiz you on the saint of the day! You are an absolutely beautiful young lady, and you have taught me so much over the years, about faith, life, and love. I am going to miss you so much, but look forward to your visits at the convent. I love you!

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And to everyone else in my family: Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins...thank you for all the good times in PA, NY, FL, RI, or wherever the good Lord has brought us together over the years (though I think I've covered all the bases, I hope..oh, wait...D.C./MD/CT/NJ should be on that list, too!) We have had so much fun together, and I am incredibly grateful for all of your love, encouragement, generosity and prayers.

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To all of the above, I am living in the convent because I love God and I love you.
In Christ, I am yours forever...


Love and prayers always from your unworthy daughter/sister/granddaughter/niece/cousin,

Mary

All this is love, love's gifts.

This is my last Multitude Monday post.

On Saturday afternoon, I will pass through the door that only Love can open...and my life as the littlest daughter of St. Dominic will begin.

In the meantime, there is so much to be grateful for here and now...just noticing the little moments of grace every day...

...starting new, for the last time (here, anyway), in no particular order...

1. he came back to get me for Compline
2. Gregorian Salve, oh, how I'll miss it, though the Dominican Salve already holds a place in my heart, too.
3. singing O Lumen in the dark on the way home, followed by the De Profundis.
4. I have a place to call home and a family that loves me
5. Sister time watching Theresa of the Andes together and thinking about the separation we will have to endure as I answer God's call to be a cloistered nun
6. Brother time building the best K'nex ball tower ever; I couldn't have done it without him 
7. the astounding generosity of a friend giving me her favorite icon 
8. I was able to go to confession (finally, and just in time to prepare for my entrance!)
9. Adoration for more than an hour on Friday
10.  hugs, hugs, and more hugs
11. sunset Vespers by the bay
12. the beautiful moon, waxing again
13. my oldest brother, still the best big brother ever
14. the humility that comes from reading through old teacher's comments from high school, just reminding me where I've come from
15. beautiful plans of my friends from college, working on Organization for Life projects
16. other vocation stories
17. Dominicana articles making me think every day (and reminding me to pray for my Dominican brothers!)
18. a holy priest's homilies podcasted!
19. week of holy feastdays, especially St. Francis of Assisi tomorrow, Bl. Raymund of Capua on Wednesday, and Our Lady of the Rosary on Friday.
20. the grace to keep on praying
21. these words from today's Office of Readings: "pray earnestly and frequently, not offering long and wearisome prayers, but praying often, and with perseverance." (Saint Ambrose)

for these, and the untold gifts that I've noticed moment by moment but forgotten now...

my sweet Jesus, I thank You!  

And I join the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience today for the last time
 

 

Blessed be God forever, forever Amen!

One day at a time...

Home again

As I unpack my bags,

I pause for a moment to look at the crucifix hanging above my bed

and I sigh, “Home.”

My heart and soul are at peace

after a beautiful trip to the mountain country

where I was born.

Grace upon grace showers down on me in these last few weeks

as I finally realize how dear they all are,

my family far and near,

only when it’s time to say goodbye.

And prayers fall from my heart,

through my lips,

on my breath as I have learned from holy people.

I pray calmly, quietly,

as I unpack my bags,

at home only for a time.

“Lord, help me to live these last few weeks—days!

one day at a time, in the moment.

Thank you for all the precious moments!”

11 days left, and I give thanks for:


-those mountains surrounding me for the last time : : homecoming over and over again
-American Cassinise Benedictines : : Mass with seminarians 
-The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, looking after everyone in that house
-knowing that Sara is at peace : : and it's not too late to get to know her better
-this post, making me even more grateful for the rich correspondences I have enjoyed over the last few years

Joining the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience today and every Monday 
(but there is only one Monday left until E-Day!)
 

 

Blessed be God forever!

One day at a time...

The Queenship of Mary, Waiting Days, and New Beginnings

Source

Today is the Feast of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth.

No word yet as to whether the Prioress has received my application (though I trust that she has by now), or whether the letter of recommendation from my spiritual director has arrived yet either. Humanly speaking, my acceptance now rests on the reception of these documents and the mercy and love of the Prioress and her Council.

More fundamentally, all my hopes are pinned on God's good pleasure, and I have two reasons for trust:

1. God would not have let me progress as far as I have unless He willed me to persevere and be accepted.
2. failing 1, God has some other plan for me that I don't yet know, but He will never leave me an orphan.

Meanwhile, my sister is making preparations for a new beginning of her own this fall: she is college bound at the end of this week. So between the two of us alone, there is quiet a bit of anticipation of things to come.

Today is Monday, and there is much for which to give thanks, as always, so here goes:

Lord, thank You for Your 1000+x Gifts; for Your Infinite Love!

-The Queenship of Mary :: This video clip from Sister Act (just for fun!)

-breath slowing these last few days :: deep calm :: God's patience :: precious encouragement here and here
-monarch on the marigolds :: distant thunder :: raspberries ripe again
-Grandparents home safe :: newly minted Master's homecoming today
-sister piecing her quilt :: mother making handkerchiefs :: cat's cradle with littlest sister (stalling her bedtime)
-fun haircut :: no more headaches :: blister healing faster than I'd hoped
-Discovering Gruda's Poetry :: new desire to learn more about the Theology of the Body
-thoughtful letters from friends
-the grace to always wear my Grandfather's Pardon Cross :: broken chain quickly and easily replaced
-the Word, always inviting to begin again in faith, hope, trust and above all, love.

Joining the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience today and every Monday:

 

Blessed be God forever!

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin

Some reflections from my journal, written on August 15, 2009 :

“Nothing can ever separate us from His love.” Romans 8:38

...and so she who loved most purely and perfectly was drawn into Heaven by Love, for her Son would not let her be separated from Him by death.

Rejoice, all you saints and souls of the just!

Rejoice, all you orphans, sinners, and wanderers, you lost children!

Rejoice, heavens!

Rejoice, earth!

and bless the Lord our God this day, for He has taken His Mother from earth to Heaven.

Jesus saved us by His sacrifice on the Cross,

and continually sanctifies us and intercedes for us by His sacrifice on the Altar.

Mary, likewise, being our Mother inasmuch as we are members of Christ’s Body, the Church, also prays to God on our behalf, and graciously bestows all of God’s good gifts on us.

But this day, she holds also the promise of immortality, that will be given at the end of time.

We shall then be like her, and like her Son, and we shall see them as they are. 

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This day, I rejoice in the mystery of the Assumption of my Blessed Mother into Heaven, and thank God for his superabundant gifts, given through her:

1000+X+46, and still counting...

-mini family reunion :: red hair and freckles :: Aunt Ellie got there first! :: running barefoot :: 

"Around the World" on the basketball court with cousins :: His victories over my fear :: 

F. behind me all the way up :: laughing crazy happiness :: Hallelu! Glory all for the Blessed Trinity :: 

-Gladiolis garden :: kitchen trash duty :: Mary of the Pine Statue :: being with family 

:: finally learning to crochet in the round :: Grandma's "hat"

-today's graces, just beginning :: lessons about oversleeping :: time enough for Office of Readings :: 

candles lit around her statue :: a whole group of girls celebrating with us :: red-headed Thurifer :: 

Abbot's Homily :: greetings in Spanish from my former teacher on the way home from Mass :: rain falling ::
Dominican Brothers making simple vows 

 -today's is the next-to-last doctor's visit before I can send my application to the convent!

afternoon update:
-flooding roads :: lost wanderings in the halls :: misunderstanding :: the embarrassment of rescheduling ::

tomorrow we will try again :: mother's calm acceptance and forgiveness of my carelessness ::

errand of love for a neighbor on the way home :: quiet time alone to think about God's grace :: 

precious memories of June :: the patience of my Novice Mistress is still a light in my life, even out here

-Coming home to this beautiful post by Ann Voscamp :: Wondering if I haven't just had a parallel experience to that of her Farm Boy, though I've not broken any windows, praise be to God!

-I don't have the all answers :: but God knows :: and the ponderings go on...

and always:

  -weakness, uselessness, despair break out daily, showing me how much I need God in my life

:: but the storms are always countered with His gentleness and Love :: and this life is not the only life ::
I have a family waiting for me and praying for me in Heaven!

 

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Blessed be God forever, for ages unending, amen!

Joining the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience today and every Monday: