My name is Susan Skinner and I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. I am a cradle Catholic. I am the youngest of four children and I attended all Catholic schools including the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Though I never left the church, I had a great awakening of faith after the murder of my friend Veronica on August 29, 2010. For the first time I can remember I experienced God come alive in prayer and the Sacraments and my luke warm heart was lit on fire with a zeal for Christ and his church. I felt called to ministry and earned a certificate in catechesis from Aquinas College in Nashville. I have continued my my education in catechesis through Avila Institute and Franciscan University Catechetical Institute. I am under the care of Spiritual Direction from a Priest and I submit fully to the authority of the church regarding my writings and works.
I am a wife to Jason and mother to 3 children and caregiver for my mom, Mary Jo, as dad, Mike, passed away July 16, 2021. I am also the Director of Adult of Adult Faith Formation and RCIA at a parish in the Diocese of Nashville. I am a columnist who has contributed to Catholic Stand, Catholic 365, Shalom Tidings, and the National Catholic Register. I have been a regular guest in the past on Father Dan Reehil’s radio show Battle Ready with Father Dan Reehil on Radio Maria, USA. I have also worked in deliverance ministry.
You will find pages of different prayers on this blog. These prayers were written by either me or my friend Ashley Blackburn or by both of us together. It is our wish that you freely pray these prayers. Most of these prayers were approved by the censor librorum from the Diocese of Nashville, TN.
This blog is dedicated in loving memory of Veronica Chiaramonte Bozza – born March 31, 1971 in Milano, Italy – died August 29, 2010 in TN, USA.
Sites I read or listen to regularly
Radio Maria USA – Battle Ready with Fr. Dan Reehil. http://radiomaria.us/
https://fatherofthefamily.blogspot.com/
https://steadfastheartofgod.com/
https://www.catholicexorcism.org/
https://padrepionashville.blog/
https://writingonmyheart.wordpress.com/
https://www.romancatholicman.com/
https://www.facebook.com/consecrationtostjoseph/
https://www.creativeminorityreport.com/
I really no longer have a presence on social media accounts. If you need to contact me please do so at susancgskinner@gmail.com.
Veil of Veronica 
We met at the tour of homes. I got your cell number wrong. I’ve tried to reach out. Your blog has touched me deeply.
Thank you for sharing with me that night and through your blog.
Thanks Susan. I really enjoyed meeting you too and I appreciate the kind words. I will try to get in touch with you shortly.
May God continue to Bless you and thank you for sharing with us all !
A friend sent me one of your blogs on anxiety. I loved it an her for sending it. I went to your blog page and read your blog Wiping the Face of Jesus. It was beautiful. You are an inspiration. Thank you.
Thank you. God Bless you.
To add to your post on the Trinity
My analogy on the Holy Trinity and Creation
There is only One God and in this God there are Three Persons God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These Three Persons make up the One God so we cannot say God exist with out one of these Persons.
Look at the world it is made up of longitude, latitude, and altitude all three must be present for the world to exist.
For time to exist, in order for us to measure time or to talk about time there has to be a past, present and a future.
Look at matter it is made up of height, width and depth, all three must be present for matter to exist.
Take the atom it is made up of neutron, proton and electron and all three must be present for the atom to exist.
Also look at the elements, they can be in the form of gas, solid or liquid, such as water, it can be liquid, or steam, or ice. Take a piece of ice put in a pan and heat it. Now from that piece of same ice you will have a solid, liquid and gas, (steam).
Next think about the sun it is a Ball of fire and from it comes light and heat, Imagine the sun being God, the Ball is God, the fire God the Father, the Light, God the Son and the heat God the Holy Spirit. A flame does the same thing; it is a flame of fire, which puts out light, and heat. Here again we can compare it with the Trinity, the Flame being God, the Fire being God the Father, the Light God the Son and the Heat God the Holy Spirit.
One other important out look. The human family, in order for a complete family to exist there must be father, mother, and a child. A child cannot be made with out a father or mother and a father or mother cannot make a child by their self. Also for a woman to conceive, there has to be the woman, the man and God. For in the Old Testament God said I knew you before you were in your mother’s womb.
God = Father, Son & Holy Spirit
World = Longitude, Latitude & Altitude
Time = Past, Present & Future
Matter = Height, Width & Depth (Length)
Atom = Neutron, Proton & Electron
Element = Gas, Solid & Liquid
Sun = Ball of fire, Light & Heat
Person = Mind, Body & Soul
Family = Father, Mother & Child
Conception = Man, Women, & God
Note this the only thing that you can help create, that will last forever is a soul. Although all things are possible with God, He use a man and a women in His creation of a soul.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.
Isaiah 49:2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.
Isaiah 49:3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
Isaiah 49:4 But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
Isaiah 49:5 And now the LORD says– he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—
Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Luke 1:36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
Luke 1:40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
Luke 1:43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Then what about each person, we are made up of mind, (intelligence), body, and soul. Here a gain there are three separate functions but one in the same. What effects one effects the other.
And one last thing the church, the church is made up of the church militant, the church suffering, and the church triumphant. Here are three separate functions, but one and the same church. The church militant are us on earth fighting against evil, the church suffering are those souls in purgatory, and the church triumphant are those in Heaven.
So it is with God from God comes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit..
Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Note the us has to be the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, because only God can create.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”
John 10:38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.”
Note Jesus is called Immanuel (God with us) so since He is God with us, And there is only One God. He has to be one in the same God as the Father and the Holy Sprit.
John 20:28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Note Here a gain Jesus is called Lord and God, since there is only one God, There has to be a trinity and Jesus is the Son
P.S.
Also I would like to point out here the reason why the Roman Catholic church teaches against birth control and abortion. As it is seen from the scripture readings above, it is God who creates us and forms us in our mothers womb. So when we use birth control, etc. we are going against nature and God’s Will. We are preventing God from forming us in the womb. For if we let God’s Will be done, as asked in the Our Father prayer, would He not from a baby in the womb for the benefit of all creation, even if the woman is thought to be barren. If we really believe in God, that He created us. Why do we worry about world population, do we not trust that He will take care of us. Must we be in control or should we let God be in control. God does not go against our will. Don’t we trust God, were is our faith ! In Geneis 38:9-10 we see that God was so displeased with Onan for spilling his semen on the ground, that Onan was put to death. Here again the bible tells us not to use birth control.
Genesis 38:9 But since Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, he spilled his semen on the ground whenever he went in to his brother’s wife, so that he would not give offspring to his brother.
Genesis 38:10 What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.
Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples:”Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
Luke 12:23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
Luke 12:26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Luke 12:28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
Luke 12:29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
Luke 12:30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
Matthew 10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
These scriptures tells us that God will take care of us, if we only let Him!
Remember: Thy Will be done!
You may say who are you to tell me about scriptures, and I say I am nobody, I am less than nobody. I am a creature, created by God, who has not done the Lord’s Will in the past and who is now struggling to do His Will. The Lord has had and still has patient with me, as He has with everybody. I am one who likes to have control of myself and those around me. But I must let go, as we all must let go, to do God’s Will. And in this century of materialism it is hard to let go. We must be perfect, as the Father is perfect, for we are His creatures. He created us, we did not create ourselves. Please Pray for me.
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 13:9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.
Sirach 44:17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he kept the race alive; therefore a remnant was left on the earth when the flood came.
Wisdom 9:6 for even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.
One comforting thought before I close, God will devise plans for your good.
II Samuel 14:14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. But God will not take away a life; he will devise plans so as not to keep an outcast banished forever from his presence.
P.S. 01-05-12 From a book I read “Proof of After Life The Conversation Continues”
Page 117
In the book of Genesis, God referred to himself as a plurality when he proclaimed, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image and likeness… (Genesis 1 :26) If he was only one person he would have said, “let me make man in my own image and likeness.” But he did not. He said, “Let us make man in our own image and likeness.
We who are similar to God in our composition, are also made up of three parts; body, soul and spirit. There are three yous! That is why we have heard stories of certain saints who have experienced bilocation – being in two places at one time. Namely, in recent years, Padre Pio (+1968) had this gift.
Look at it this way. When you get into a car and drive down a highway, your body is physically in the automobile and it’s operating the car skillfully – that is one part of you, your body at work. However, did you ever notice that while you are driving you can simultaneously speak with a passenger or take a phone can, safely we hope? That is your spirit at work, talking and recalling various memories and thoughts. Now, while you are having a conversation and driving. You also have the ability to experience emotions, regrets, joys and frustrations. That is your soul at work. The body and spirit sit inside of definition (words), while the soul sits outside of definition.
Have you read The Testimony of Gloria Polo
http://english.gloriapolo.net/
Also I found this about conception and the soul
Conception & the Soul
I found this very interesting- how a God forms a soul at conception.
Now what really amazed me is I read this in Gloria Polo’s testimony (Great Direction for our Times), which happen in 1995 and I read it in the writings of Maria Valtorta (Poem of the Man God 5th April 1944, 602.
Gloria – In the book of life I saw how our soul is formed the moment the sperm and the egg touch. A beautiful spark is formed, a light beaming from the sun of God the Father. As soon as the womb of a mother is impregnated, it lights up with the brightness of that soul.
From Maria Valtorta – Genesis says also: “Adam then had intercourse with his wife Eve”.
They had wanted to know the secrets of good and of evil. It was fair that now they should also experience the pain of having to reproduce themselves in flesh, having God’s direct help only for what man cannot create, the spirit, the spark that-departs from God, the breath that is infused by God, the seal that on the flesh affixes the sign of the Eternal Creator. And Eve gave birth to Cain.
Awesome two people so far apart in years and countries (unknown to each other) Maria Valtorta died in 1961, to have the same revelation on how a soul is formed – a spark from God.
May God have mercy on all those who oppose life.
note web site http://www.valtorta.org.au/Defence/Maria%20Valtorta%20Summa%20%26%20Encyclopedia.pdf
Charles thank you for all the information and kind comments. I love your family story. I will keep you in my prayers. Sorry it took me awhile to respond. I will look at all the info you gave me.
I read your take on the Holy Trinity
I would add this to what you said
My analogy on the Holy Trinity and Creation
There is only One God and in this God there are Three Persons God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These Three Persons make up the One God so we cannot say God exist with out one of these Persons.
Look at the world it is made up of longitude, latitude, and altitude all three must be present for the world to exist.
For time to exist, in order for us to measure time or to talk about time there has to be a past, present and a future.
Look at matter it is made up of height, width and depth, all three must be present for matter to exist.
Take the atom it is made up of neutron, proton and electron and all three must be present for the atom to exist.
Also look at the elements, they can be in the form of gas, solid or liquid, such as water, it can be liquid, or steam, or ice. Take a piece of ice put in a pan and heat it. Now from that piece of same ice you will have a solid, liquid and gas, (steam).
Next think about the sun it is a Ball of fire and from it comes light and heat, Imagine the sun being God, the Ball is God, the fire God the Father, the Light, God the Son and the heat God the Holy Spirit. A flame does the same thing; it is a flame of fire, which puts out light, and heat. Here again we can compare it with the Trinity, the Flame being God, the Fire being God the Father, the Light God the Son and the Heat God the Holy Spirit.
One other important out look. The human family, in order for a complete family to exist there must be father, mother, and a child. A child cannot be made with out a father or mother and a father or mother cannot make a child by their self. Also for a woman to conceive, there has to be the woman, the man and God. For in the Old Testament God said I knew you before you were in your mother’s womb.
God = Father, Son & Holy Spirit
World = Longitude, Latitude & Altitude
Time = Past, Present & Future
Matter = Height, Width & Depth (Length)
Atom = Neutron, Proton & Electron
Element = Gas, Solid & Liquid
Sun = Ball of fire, Light & Heat
Person = Mind, Body & Soul
Family = Father, Mother & Child
Conception = Man, Women, & God
Note this the only thing that you can help create, that will last forever is a soul. Although all things are possible with God, He use a man and a women in His creation of a soul.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.
Isaiah 49:2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.
Isaiah 49:3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
Isaiah 49:4 But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
Isaiah 49:5 And now the LORD says– he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—
Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Luke 1:36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
Luke 1:40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
Luke 1:43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Then what about each person, we are made up of mind, (intelligence), body, and soul. Here a gain there are three separate functions but one in the same. What effects one effects the other.
And one last thing the church, the church is made up of the church militant, the church suffering, and the church triumphant. Here are three separate functions, but one and the same church. The church militant are us on earth fighting against evil, the church suffering are those souls in purgatory, and the church triumphant are those in Heaven.
So it is with God from God comes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit..
Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Note the us has to be the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, because only God can create.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”
John 10:38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.”
Note Jesus is called Immanuel (God with us) so since He is God with us, And there is only One God. He has to be one in the same God as the Father and the Holy Sprit.
John 20:28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Note Here a gain Jesus is called Lord and God, since there is only one God, There has to be a trinity and Jesus is the Son
P.S.
Also I would like to point out here the reason why the Roman Catholic church teaches against birth control and abortion. As it is seen from the scripture readings above, it is God who creates us and forms us in our mothers womb. So when we use birth control, etc. we are going against nature and God’s Will. We are preventing God from forming us in the womb. For if we let God’s Will be done, as asked in the Our Father prayer, would He not from a baby in the womb for the benefit of all creation, even if the woman is thought to be barren. If we really believe in God, that He created us. Why do we worry about world population, do we not trust that He will take care of us. Must we be in control or should we let God be in control. God does not go against our will. Don’t we trust God, were is our faith ! In Geneis 38:9-10 we see that God was so displeased with Onan for spilling his semen on the ground, that Onan was put to death. Here again the bible tells us not to use birth control.
Genesis 38:9 But since Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, he spilled his semen on the ground whenever he went in to his brother’s wife, so that he would not give offspring to his brother.
Genesis 38:10 What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.
Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples:”Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
Luke 12:23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
Luke 12:26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Luke 12:28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
Luke 12:29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
Luke 12:30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
Matthew 10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
These scriptures tells us that God will take care of us, if we only let Him!
Remember: Thy Will be done!
You may say who are you to tell me about scriptures, and I say I am nobody, I am less than nobody. I am a creature, created by God, who has not done the Lord’s Will in the past and who is now struggling to do His Will. The Lord has had and still has patient with me, as He has with everybody. I am one who likes to have control of myself and those around me. But I must let go, as we all must let go, to do God’s Will. And in this century of materialism it is hard to let go. We must be perfect, as the Father is perfect, for we are His creatures. He created us, we did not create ourselves. Please Pray for me.
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 13:9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.
Sirach 44:17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he kept the race alive; therefore a remnant was left on the earth when the flood came.
Wisdom 9:6 for even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.
One comforting thought before I close, God will devise plans for your good.
II Samuel 14:14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. But God will not take away a life; he will devise plans so as not to keep an outcast banished forever from his presence.
P.S. 01-05-12 From a book I read “Proof of After Life The Conversation Continues”
Page 117
In the book of Genesis, God referred to himself as a plurality when he proclaimed, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image and likeness… (Genesis 1 :26) If he was only one person he would have said, “let me make man in my own image and likeness.” But he did not. He said, “Let us make man in our own image and likeness.
We who are similar to God in our composition, are also made up of three parts; body, soul and spirit. There are three yous! That is why we have heard stories of certain saints who have experienced bilocation – being in two places at one time. Namely, in recent years, Padre Pio (+1968) had this gift.
Look at it this way. When you get into a car and drive down a highway, your body is physically in the automobile and it’s operating the car skillfully – that is one part of you, your body at work. However, did you ever notice that while you are driving you can simultaneously speak with a passenger or take a phone can, safely we hope? That is your spirit at work, talking and recalling various memories and thoughts. Now, while you are having a conversation and driving. You also have the ability to experience emotions, regrets, joys and frustrations. That is your soul at work. The body and spirit sit inside of definition (words), while the soul sits outside of definition.
I read all of your blog and I find all that you said to very true and helpful
I know I have posted several comments but here is one more on suffering and miracles
The Year 2000 a year of miracles
The year that all the catholic cathedrals had a door opened for mercy. Pope John Paul II in 1999 had closed a door in St. Louis Mo. Cathedral, to be opened in 2000 for mercy year.
Our daughter Sonia who was born Nov. 3,1966 with multiple birth defects. One lung, heart on the wrong side & turn side ways & a couple of holes in her heart, one ear missing, hard of hearing & curvature of the spine and many others defects. The day she was born the doctors told us that she would not live. The nurse told me she baptized my daughter and I prayed to God to let my little girl live. The doctors kept telling us that she was not going to live very long. But she had a very strong will and kept on living through several major operations. Such as, when she was around 5 years old, tubes in planted from her bladder to her kidneys and then a 10 hour operation on spine. They put a rod in her back and tied her spine to it. Because the spine was putting pressure on her only lung, this was when she was around 12 years old. Then when she was about 25 years old she had to go on oxygen 24 hours a day. At this time they put her on a transplant list, for a heart & lung transplant.
She told me she prayed to God to meet a young man with two kids, as she love children but could not have any because of her condition.
On new years of 1999 she meet Ken and they fell in love.
You’re right he had two children a boy Matt,12 & a girl Donna,11. Ken and his children had never been baptized and they did not go to church. Well they signed up for RCIA and I was Ken’s sponsor.
In the year 2000,Easter vigil Ken and his children were baptized, & received their first communion and Ken was confirmed. Then on May 13,2000 Sonia & Ken were married in St. Mary’s church. It was a awesome wedding. [ Note: May is the month of our blessed Mother Mary. And 13 believe it or not stands for One God in Three Persons.]
My wife’s sister Pat, who was at this time living with us and was dying of cancer. Pat had never been married & of course had no children, but was like a second mother to my children.
She had lost a very good job and had to find a job which was not paying good enough to keep her house. So she sold it and moved in with us. That was before she had cancer. While living with us is when she came down with cancer. So my wife took care of Pat and she continued to care for our daughter Sonia. At this time our daughter Sonia had to go about once a month to have blood removed, as her blood was getting very thick and her heart was having a had time pumping it around her body.
On July 12, 2000, Pat passed away in our house. I had been praying the rosary every night next to her bed and while she was taking her last breath, I also prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet while holding her hand.
Then on August 2, 2000 Sonia got her heart & lung transplant. They put two lungs in her. She was clinically dead for thirty minuets and her body temperature was 20 degrees, and it swelled so bad that the doctors could not close her up. It was four days later, they took her back in to close her up.
The doctors did not say much as they said they had too do things that they had not done before, such as Sonia’s artery to her heart was to small to hook the heart pump up so they said they were beside their self, but finally they went to her leg and was able to use a artery there.
Sonia did wake up on the first day, but because of the breathing machine she could not talk, but she could sign, ( she knew sign language from school).
Oh, one other thing my wife and I could not go in her room because we both had a cold. We had to look through the window and this was only for a brief time, as they made us stay out in the waiting room. But Ken & our son, his wife & our other daughter was permitted to go in.
When my wife was able to go in, one day a nurse kept telling Sonia she was going to be alright, Sonia had been complaining about something. My wife, Ruth said Sonia told her mom, “I know I am going to be alright, Pat (my wife’s sister who passed away) told me God said I will be alright”. Then on another day My son, & his wife was in the room with Sonia and Sonia told her brother, Shawn “Patsy is right next to you”. Shawn told her she was hallucinating, Sonia got a little upset and she said Pat left.
Now in February 2003 our son Shawn finds out he has an aneurysm in the main artery to the heart and a bad leaking aorta valve in the heart. So on March 17, 2003 he was operated on. They put a stint in the artery and a mechanical valve in the heart.
Both our daughter Sonia and our son Shawn are doing as good as can be expected. Sonia can do more now than she has been able to do all her life.
Both were a miracle, Sonia was a miracle all her life and Shawn because his problem was found before it has burst. He would have died on the spot.
Thanks be to God!
The year 2000, a year of grace and mercy.
I did go through the door of mercy in St. Louis cathedral in the year 2000.
My God continue too have mercy on us. Amen
Charles Fears
P.S. I also saw Pope John Paul II in St. Louis in January 1999. Below are pictures of Pope John Paul II in St. Louis Mo.
P.S.
July 12, 2001, my daughter Tonia had a baby girl. One year to the same day my sister in law passed away.
God takes away and God gives.
Charles, thank you for your comments and your lovely stories about the year of miracles in 2000. Also, your post on the Trinity. I have a Priest friend who says everything is in 3’s, like what you were showing in your post. God Bless you and your family.
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We have some things in common. Thank you for your great fidelity and contribution. Wonderful.
What a beautiful testimonial to your friend. God Bless You
Thank you.
Please send the blog on wiping the face of Jesus. Will you continue to send me your blogs now that I am giving you my email address?
If you signed up as a follower it will get sent automatically when I post something new. If you go to your menu and click on Susan Skinner there is a link when you click the word “murder” to my blog post Wiping the Face of Jesus. When you sign up as a follower you get automatic emails from WordPress but it doesn’t send me your email. If you want to email me I am at susancgskinner@gmail.com. Thank you.
Thank you Susan for your blog. It is consoling at least in our deprivation that our Lord is not abused in sacrilege as much by those who take His presence lightly or receive Him in grave separation. He is taking a break from being mocked and bruised. And it makes me think of all the times I may have contributed to His sorrows. Keep up the great work, for Truth heals and sets us free. It is the best and only remedy.
I cried when I realized how many times I may have taken him for granted. God Bless you and stay safe.
Hi Susan. I always pray the novena that you created. Please pray for my family as we are in troubled times.
Praying!
Hi Susan,
I enjoyed your recent post very much about Our Lord showing you how things are connected. He has been showing this to me as well. Could I request a prayer for my wife. In particular that Jesus would show her as well how everything is connected and how the words we speak carry blessings or curses. I will pray for you and your loved ones as well. Thanks and May our loving God bless you abundantly!
Todd
Of course I will pray for her Todd.
Hello Susan,
I pray this message about your friend Veronica will resonate with my 20 something daughter who also had her friend murdered while in college, her name was Lauren.
We live in the South also and I pray all my adult children stay connected to their Catholic faith in these confusing times.
I will pray for your friend Veronica’s soul.
May we meet one day. Thank you for your beautiful reflections!
Blessings,
Marianne
Thank you! I will pray for your daughter.
Hello Susan;
I would like to contact you directly regarding your Litany to Our Lady Healer of Families prayer and redistributing it. If you could contact me via the contact info in the post reply data. God Bless.
My email is susancgskinner@gmail.com
susan, your email came back undeliverable.
strange, it is correct and I am getting emails from others. susancgskinner@gmail.com
I did go to your website and put info in also
Not sure why but it seems that emails are not making it, this is the email – not sure you want it in your blog but respond to email and delete as desired.
I am the president of Road to Purity, Inc. Road to Purity is an organization with the mission of education, awareness and healing of pornography and sex addiction. Along with the many recovery programs, materials books etc, we publish a line of prayer cards for both the service of spiritual growth of our clients and also as a method of funding for our non profit organization. I am contacting you to request permission to publish in print form the LITANY TO OUR LADY HEALER OF FAMILIES prayer that you wrote. The printed piece would of course contain your credit as well as link to the Veil of Veronica site. Also, for this permission if desired, I can supply you at our cost, a supply of the cards when we have them printed.
Hi Dan. I actually did get your email yesterday but have been dealing with moving my parents. I will email you shortly, hopefully by tomorrow.
Thanks so much for your words. In the world gone insane, I needed a pause to be look at what is truly important. My daughter had COVID19. My reaction showed me what real fear is, and how much my faith needs to grow. My daughter amazed me with her sweet and gracefilled response to God’s will. I am thankfull she has recovered. Neither her husband or children were ever ill. Also the spirit of hate and fear and violence all around us is definitely affecting us, and we cannot go to Church, besides, the Church leaders don’t lead. There seems no where to turn but within.
God Bless you. Yes the fear is real. Jesus is waiting for us within. I often look at a picture of his Holy Face when I feel anxiety rise. It always refocuses me on Him. Keep trusting God.
Hi, I’m Christopher Greenwood. Veronica was a lovely dynamic person who was simply wonderful to be around. Like a live wire! Everyone was so shocked and saddened by her untimely death. I am the photographer who took the photo above. I remember that day vividly. She is missed by all who were fortunate to have known her.
She was always kind to me. She did not judge me at a time when a lot of others did. I still think about her everyday and sometimes when I am walking I will see a butterfly and I am reminded of her. Thank you for letting me use the photo- I had asked way back when if you remember. I am glad to hear from you. May God Bless you.
Hi Susan,
I love reading your blog . Any thoughts as to keeping that peace until what is to come? Also, I long to hear God’s voice within me any thoughts or suggestions?
First I would turn the news off. A cursory glance at the headlines is okay – but the news is programming anxiety – and we don’t know what’s true. So turn off the noise and distractions.
The voice of God gets more clear the more we are purged of sin. If we have mortal sin on our souls then the devils voice can be quite loud. You must know the faith to know what sin is. Starting with an examination of conscience is a good thing. I had many friends who weren’t aware of things they were doing were sinful. Certainly when you don’t know the culpability is less and makes it not be mortal – but objectively speaking it is still a sin that lets Satan speak to you. That’s why a good examination of conscience is so key.
Then go to confession with the sincere desire to not commit sin again.
This is repeated over in my life. I am not mortally sinning everyday – but obviously I am a sinner and even venial sins I take to the sacrament because grace is there and it helps stop habitual venial sin as well.
I actually go to confession weekly.
My recommendation is go at least monthly.
This combined with daily Mass – and your are living a sacramental life which is filled with sanctifying grace.
Mental prayer is also key – this means talking to God about absolutely everything. Don’t try to pretend to God that you are better than you are. If you feel a mess inside then tell him. I tell him all thoughts I have. Then I listen silently. If I get distracted I tell God I am distracted.
It is then in our thoughts that we start to hear God (or Satan). If I get a word, phrase, or image in my mind when I pray I pay attention to it. If it matches scripture and the magisterium it can be solidly known to be from God. If the thought pulls me away from God then it isn’t from Gods Kingdom.
Thoughts of envy or jealousy or irritation towards someone (their personhood) – not from God. Thoughts of wanting others to make it to heaven – yes from God. We should be repulsed by evil – but we should want for the good of another person. It is a place where we do know the difference between judgment of a persons soul and of their actions.
If you find yourself wanting to please people more than God – that’s an area to work on. God should be first above all things.
And finally but certainly NOT least, unforgiveness towards others will block you from hearing God clearly. We must ask forgiveness of our own sins, but if we are not forgiving others than Satan will pounce on us.
Dear Susan, Thank you for responding. I am so happy to have found your blog. Please keep me in your prayers and I will keep you and your family in mine. During this pandemic I feel I am so worried and anxious over business, work and health. I keep reminding myself that God is good all the time and I pray He keeps watch over us. Any food for thought is most welcome. Thank you soul sister. In Christ, Tina
Sent from my iPhone
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My anxiety about the virus left when I turned off the news. I just live my life practice prudence. I also know tons and tons of people who have had the virus. And while it is a real virus, the vast majority are okay. I do know some who had died too, but I don’t fear death – our savior is on the other side. Think of it this way – if we published every single car accident in the country from minor ones to injury to death, none of us would ever drive, but we’re actually doing that with this virus. I also think a lot of anxiety I had came from worrying about what other people thought (the blaming people as being “murderers” is from the pit of hell. Satan is the murderer). I realized we were being shamed for things we cannot control. You were made to feel that if you sneezed you’re an evil murderer. That’s a lie. Satan is trying to shame us for ways in which our body works properly. Be prudent and respectful of other people, but stop believing the lies that you should be ashamed for everything (unless it is sin, then that’s appropriate), and secondly that we think we can control all of this without God. Purification of sin is what stops the destruction of Satan – this requires relying on God to save you- and also being okay with when he takes you home. Again it boils down to trust. Control what is within your means to control – if you’re sick stay home, if you’re healthy go about your business. If you worry about money hand that to God and trust He will take care of you even when you can’t see it. If people judge you that’s them listening to Satan, not you, stand confident in Gods love for you and ignore the judgment and pray for people who persecute you. You are actually standing in God’s grace (Romans 5:1-2).
And of course I will pray for you.
I’m just trying to sign up to receive your posts by email.
Thank you
Janey
If you have a wordpress account, you can sign up through that. I am working on getting a subscribe button that doesn’t require the wordpress account on your end
Susan,
Though we have never met, I feel I know you from Radio Maria. Fr Dan is a dear friend & I listen to Battle Ready, M-F. I am a member of Cathedral parish in Nashville & often watch our former pastor, Fr Ed, online at St Philip’s.
I am having my 5th of 7 Orthopaiedic surgeries within 1 1/2 years Jan 25, & lost my Mother on Aug. 18, 2021. Fr Dan buried her. I’m telling you all this to ask for your healing prayers too…..& to tell you how much I enjoy your insight & information on Friday’s with Fr Dan.
Thank you for supporting him and our faith! 🙏
Hi Becky, I will most certainly pray for all these things. May God Bless you. May St Raphael intercede for you.
In Christ,
Susan
Thank you. God bless you!
Susan,
Though I usually hear you on Fridays with Fr. Dan on Radio Maria , it was nice to see you online today at St. Philip’s. Thank you for getting Joan Watson to talk on humility. Very good!
I look forward to your March 20 talk on reparation. Am praying for you as I’m just out of hospital for knee surgery.
Blessings,
Becky 🙏
Thank you Becky! Prayers for your recovery!
Thank you for sharing!
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God bless you and all you do
Thank you. God bless you too.