Pray!

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Reflections from the Saints

According to the divine plan, action must be fed with prayer. The interior life is the wellspring of the apostolate. Do not believe in the slogan, 'The priest is sanctified in sanctifying others' - it's an illusion. The real formula is, 'Sanctify yourself so as to sanctify others.' – Bl. Edward Poppe via mycatholic.com

and this...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for June 10, 2010

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

"Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, crouched down to the earth, and put his head between his knees." –1 Kings 18:42

Elijah prophesied that three-and-a-half years of drought would soon end although there was not a cloud in the sky (1 Kgs 18:41ff). He told his servant seven times to look for a cloud. "Seven" possibly refers to an indefinite number of times. Time after time, the servant reported: "There is nothing" (1 Kgs 18:43). Finally, the servant sighted a very small cloud with little possibility of rain. However, immediately "the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain fell" (1 Kgs 18:45).

This pattern is very common in our life with the Lord. Like Elijah and his servant, we watch and pray, and pray and watch, but see nothing again and again. We wonder if God is even there. We think: "Why pray?" Finally, we see something which is so small it isn't much different than nothing. Nonetheless, the Lord amazes us again by using a little something to make a big difference.

Where in your life are you praying for something and seeing nothing? Persevere, a small cloud is rising in the west.

PRAYER:
Father, give me faith to move mountains (Mt 17:20) and clouds.

PROMISE:
"I tell you, unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the kingdom of God." –Mt 5:20

A Thousand Gifts: #23 - 24

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We found them among her things after she died. I gasped when I saw those long-forgotten but familiar rosary beads. They are now one of my most treasured possessions, my link to her, these worn beads, fragile, patched together with filament. I can easily picture her hands moving along them as she whispered the prayers, day in and day out, asking that Mary pray for her oldest daughter to be led back to the Church. My mother and the Blessed Virgin are a formidable pair, and I'm so very grateful they never gave up on me. My turn, a mother too, joining the prayers of mother, grandmother and Blessed Madonna, all of us bound by these simple beads and our love for our children, invoking grace and mercy, never denied.
Thank you God, for my mother's rosary, and thank you Mom, for your ceaseless intercession on my behalf.

A Thousand Gifts #21-22 A Rainy Day and A Husband

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Thank you God, for a rainy day on a boat, and for a husband who insists on going out in it. 
Our plans were not to be as we had hoped. We were longing to be aboard Harmony with family for three days of relaxation, fresh air, good food and the joy of being with our loved ones. Pouring, blowing rain discouraged even the most optimistic among us and we decided to postpone our get-together. Then a full day went by, now it's Sunday morning. A dash to early Mass, then home to jump aboard, just the two of us for a quick trip across the strait to rest at anchor, where a few short miles removes us to a place an eternity away from our daily life.
A sleepy, quiet bay, a strong anchor, a gentle breeze swinging us 'round, a good book, and the sound of rain above us on deck--simply heavenly. Music plays on the stereo, coffee is almost ready, coziness is abundant! And my sweet, wise man is here with me to share it all. Twenty-four hours later, we are home, renewed.