The Providence of Small Dwellings!

In imitation of Mary, I ponder in my heart the Biblical scene of Christ's Nativity.The stable in which Jesus choose to be born gives a glimpse of God's perspective on both worldly poverty and His Divine Providence.  In my prayerful imagination I step into the cave which our Heavenly Father lovingly reserved for the Holy Family. It is smelly, dank and dirty. It lacks comfort and dignity. Joseph enters first. Looking around he realizes fully his poverty and he feels his spirit sink.

Joseph and Mary had spent so many months excitingly planning for the birth of this new Baby. I imagine he used his carpentry gifts to design storage space for diapers, warm garments and toys. He even built a room, a scared space, just for Jesus. How beautiful it must had been - the cradle he crafted for the Son he would welcome! Joseph had been anticipating giving the divine Child so much. But tonight, after a long trip and a really, really bad day, the foster father of the Christ sits on a cold, stone, cave floor far away from the home he and Mary had done their dreaming as they prepared for the One called Emanuel.  Joseph is distraught over not having been able to do better; he wants to give his family the best of everything. Instead, they are cold, hungry and barely sheltered. He looks at his wife with eyes filled with defeat, remorse and grave concern. Mary, however, smiles back with eyes full of  grace, confidence and trust. With grateful awe She joyfully laughs, "God has provided, Joseph! God has provided!"

Once upon a time I lived in a big, beautiful, yellow house. My husband and I tried our best to use the Providence of this house to serve God and bring souls closer to Him. I would often say, "God gave me this big house, it is my job to fill it up." And we did fill our home with prayer, holy friendship and so much laughter on Sunday evenings.  For 6 years we hosted a monthly parish Family Rosary followed by a big Sunday meal. Then, circumstances changed and we had to give up that house and move into a smaller home. Another family, with a house just like ours, took over the Family Rosary.Though I was aware of God's constant blessings, I had the most difficult time detaching from that big, yellow house which held so many memories.

Many times over the last 3 years I have often consider hosting another Family Rosary in our new, old house. However, pride and doubt would push the idea away from my heart. Our present home is much smaller, lacks seating, counter space and bathrooms. And though I have always been grateful that God saved this house for us, I just didn't think it was good enough for ministry, broad hospitality and Community building. I thought my obligation to fill up my house for God was no longer.  Was I wrong?

Why would God desire less "filling up of Good Things" simply because a dwelling was little? Do not small homes, too, belong to God? He has even used impoverished caves to provide for His most important purposes!!

I believe my family is called to fill up our home and cover our well lived on floors with the feet of disciples of every age. I think Our Lord would be pleased to have prayer and laughter echo off our tired walls. Most of all, I wonder if Our Blessed Mother is depending on the Pirrungs to make room for the children She wishes to gather together in the Name of her Son, all for the glory of God and the good of His local Church.

The Family Rosary was the most beautiful part of the years we lived in the big house. And, I ponder if it will be the Family Rosary that humbles me enough to see this home,too, as beautiful.

What stirs one to love?
 

A trinity of attempts.

My first attempt at blogging was in 2010. It was to be a political blog entitled Defining Is. My enthusiasm didn't last. A year later I tried again with a new title; At the Corner of Church and State. It, too, would be political, but this time also spiritual. My zeal didn't last. 
Tomorrow, on the day The Church remembers Saint Theresa of Avila, I plan on posting my third "maiden" article. Saint Teresa, pray for me as I try to follow God's inspirations for this blog. It will last this time for I must keep a promise made to my dear friend, Linda J., to continue writing.

Linda, thank you for encouraging me to write about the little portion of Jesus that He allows me to know, and love, and serve. 

The Day After

During our family Friday night dinner, the children asked my husband and I where we were when we realized American was being attacked on 9/11. I review that day several times a week, so being asked to repeat my tiny experiece of that day if very easy: calling daddy right away, glued to the TV, not being able to reach my own father up north, after flight 93 crashed going out into my southern yard to see if any planes were falling out of the sky above me...and my baby taking her first steps, and being shaken awake in terror  that night by a military plane flying over our home. My oldest daughter then asked us, "And what about the next day? What was that day like?" I sat there for a moment not being able to recall one memory of 9/12. Then my husband and I replied in unison: "It is still the next day."

Look at your Father when He's talking to you!

Our family morning prayer routine was interrupted last week because of our family's involvement in two different Catholic camps. My husband and oldest daughter attended Holy Mass at another parish. I and the rest of the kids participated in morning devotions with others in VBS.

Wanting to hear the daily readings one morning, I turned on EWTN and proceeded to get myself made up for the day. Br. Leo read the first reading and the lead the responsorial psalm. But, when Brother sang the Alleluia before the Gospel...I heard my soul being called. I'll never forget it....I was leaning over my bathroom counter into the mirror applying my mascara. I hear Him calling me out of the mirror and into His Presence. As every woman knows, once the process of applying mascara begins it must be carried out to the end!
Therefore, being in the middle of my plans for the moment I did not responded with obedience. It was more like a..."yep...I hear you...just a sec...be right there...coming...." but not moving. Then I suddenly saw myself in a new way. I stood there looking at myself looking at myself! While reflecting on my imagine I heard a voice inside my heart tell me, “You want to hear  God, but won't take your eyes of yourself!"

In that moment I realized the root of all my stress and anxiety and lack of peace was ME!   I know God has a plan for every moment of my life. What I have forgotten is that I am not to depend on myself for the fulfillment of His plans. I need to stop paying so much attention to what I am doing…and focus on what He is doing through me.

And when my Heavenly Father wants to talk to me....I should at least look in His direction!

A Little Saint

A friend of mine died suddenly last Sunday. Her funeral Mass was yesterday. She was a wife blessed with four beautiful children to nurture and educated while waiting to one day meet the several other babies she held only in her heart.

She always reminded me of Caroline Ingalls (Ma) on Little House. My friend was a simple and humble woman of pure sweetness and great FAITH!  She did nothing to attract attention to herself in anyway. Nothing about her would make her stand out in a crowd. Yet, she stood out in the hearts and lives of so many. My estimate is that there was close to 1000 people at her funeral in a city 3000 miles from where she grew up. No one there was a co-worker, no one was there to make an appearance out of political or business motivations or high society expectations …. Only pure hearted family and friends who loved her so much.  Six priests presided over the Mass and 3 deacons assisted simply because they wanted to be part of the last moment of the story of a special soul. One priest that knew her well referred to her as “a little saint.”

It dawned on me just today, (Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), that my dear saint wore the scapular. The promise is that one who wears it devoutly will exit Purgatory before the next Saturday after death. I don’t think she had to wait that long.

She was a “little saint” well in advance.

June: Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

J.M.J. 

This is the first day of  the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. How blessed my family is to have had the opportunity to begin this month with a Eucharistic Procession at a local Catholic school. One of my  older children is currently discerning religious life. Because of her interest in being a nun, last evening we had a wonderful visit with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. They teach at a local school and invited us to participate in this morning's devotion. To learn more about this order please visit: www.sistersofmary.org.  Please, remember to pray for vocations!