Helping Jesus Carry the Cross

February 17, 2010 by Be Holy

Reflection on The Fifth Station: Simon the Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross.

Who can understand the humility of God who holds power over the whole universe and yet enlists the help of a Simon to help Him carry His Cross. Richard Garnaut says:

I imagine Simon was reluctant to take part in your shame. He had no idea at all (that those)who watched and jeered at him would pass into oblivion, while his name would go down in history and eternity as the one who helped his God in need.

Is it not so with me, dear Jesus? Even when I carry my cross reluctantly as Simon did it benefits my soul. If I keep my eyes on you and watch how you suffered, I will be able to bear my cross with greater fortitude.

You bore the Cross and looked on it and held it fondly before you passed it on to me. You watch me and give me strength just as you did Simon. When I enter your kingdom, I shall know just as Simon knows, what marvels your Cross has wrought in my soul.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Dec. 8th

December 8, 2009 by Be Holy

Podcast for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

H/T the Jesuits in Britain.

Visit pray-as-you-go.org for a marvelous prayer experience. Get God on your pod.

Knight of the Immaculata

December 8, 2009 by Be Holy

A wonderful and profound way to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: consider the Prayer of Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal.

Prayer of Total Consecration
By St. Maximilian Kolbe

Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, N…, a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and, “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the world.” Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against your enemies.

Commentary on consecration prayer

Please Pray With Me

November 20, 2009 by Be Holy

A Prayer Request:

Hello to all:

Update on David: As most of you know, the petscan was negative, which was truly good news. This means the cancer has not metastasized into any of his major organs. So, today was the next step – surgery – to remove more tissue from the site and then determine if the lymph nodes are affected. Surgery took 4 ½ hours and was supposed to take two. They had to call in a plastic surgeon to help close the wound, due to the size and placement on his back. They ended up taking biopsies from four different lymph nodes – so he has dressings and stitches and gauze pads all over his back, under his arm pits, and on either side of his neck. He is a mess! We left the house at 6:15 a.m. and got home at about 4:45 p.m. – so it was a long day.

The good news: The lymph nodes were benign in the preliminary labs. Final labs will not be in for a few more days, but the surgeon was confident that they are clean “for now.”

The bad news: Because the initial site was so deep, they are still going to refer him to an oncologist and he will probably have to go through chemo. Unlike other cancers, melanoma can crop up at any time and in any place (including internal organs) – even years down the line. There isn’t that “5 year rule” with melanoma. With other cancers, if you are cancer free for five years, you’re “cured.” There is no “cure” for this. He will always have to be checked closely and will have to be diligent whenever there are any external signs. With the internal signs, sometimes you don’t know until it’s too late. So the surgeon was not Mr. Sunshine. He was very cautious and totally neutral. It was very hard to read him. The only optimistic thing he said was that Melanoma, unlike other cancers, can often be surgically removed – even from internal organs – without spreading. So, he said it is one of those cancers where you “never give up hope.”

We will see the oncologist next week. I will be anxious to hear what they say. Overall, we feel good and we feel optimistic … but I know David is scared about the chemo and I didn’t leave today feeling like “this is over.” He is in good spirits and fairly doped up on vicadin at the moment. In fact, he’s sort of dancing (rather stiffly) to Earth Wind & Fire in the living room with Thomas at the moment. I just had to yell at him to sit down and be still. Gees. What a dummy.

Tonight we have spent a lot of time on the phone to Kaiser dealing with the bleeding. The major site just keeps soaking through and we aren’t sure what that means. I’m supposed to be watching for signs of shock, but they don’t want us messing with the bandages. So, I have a feeling we will have to go back in tomorrow to have it looked at, just to make sure everything is o.k. He is obviously not in shock at the moment. Then again… it could be a long night.

For now… all is well!!!

XOXOXOXO

Thanks for your care and concern,