Do you KNOW HIM?

Posted on August 24, 2016 by veilofveronica

Monstrance at Aquinas

24 hour Adoration chapel at Aquinas College, Nashville, TN

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me” John 10:14

The past few months have been very difficult with personal trials I will not go into.  I feel the Lord pressing me, telling me, “take up your cross and follow me.”  There was a time when I would have said no.  I would have taken the easy path.  I would have followed what the world told me to do.  But in the 6 years since Veronica’s murder, I have to say I feel as though I have been in a state of constant prayer.  I wake up every morning talking to the Lord, and I go to bed at night talking to the Lord.  Suffering can do that to you.  But praying can lead to joy in the hope of things unseen.

Throughout this journey there are several things that have brought me much closer to the Lord, His Mother Mary being one, going to Mass frequently, Confession, and Adoration. When I first developed a devotion to Mary, I knew that she always pointed to her Son, but what I didn’t realize was how deeply she drew you to Him, and once you KNEW HIM, she steps back to let you rest there with Him.

My times in Adoration have been emotional and immense.  He IS LOVE AND MERCY.  I am so thankful we have a 24 hour Adoration Chapel in town where I can go to pray.  The photo above is from there.  Sometimes I just sit in there pour out my heart and cry.  Always, I feel loved and forgiven.

Some of the trials I have been through lately would have been a lot harder if I didn’t have this relationship with my Lord.  And though I find myself increasingly against the grain of our culture, there is a sense of peace that overcomes me when I step into Adoration and have a conversation with God.

As the world increasingly spins out of control, there is a joy in knowing the Triune God who seeks communion with me.  As you know I keep a journal.  I record my conversations with God, I give them to my Spiritual Director, and occasionally I share them with you.  I thought I would share this latest entry from August 20, 2016;

August 20, 2016 – Adoration Chapel

Beloved,

You are surrounded by heavenly Saints.  I hear your cries. When you bring all of you to Me, you can receive all of Me and shine My light into the darkness of the world.  The earth is rumbling and moaning.  The sins of mankind are many.  My Son’s precious Blood was poured out for these.  Hardened sinners will be brought back to the rejoicing of heaven.  But woe to those who reject my love, they choose the abyss.

My mercy is pouring out over the earth.  The suffering will be great.  But I have made you for these days.  Rely on Me and all will be well.  Like a ship caught in fog, you cannot see, but the shore is not far.  Follow my guidepost.  Mother Mary will lead you. 

DO NOT BE AFRAID.  Your tears are not in vain.  I hear the cries of my people and I am with you always.

Abba

Matthew 3:8-10 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

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Purity and the Domestic Church

Posted on August 11, 2016 by veilofveronica

(I have added our regular commenter, Michael Patrick’s marvelous website, ‘Sweetwater Haven’ to the links under my favorite spiritual sites and the Surrender Novena, one of the be…

Source: Purity and the Domestic Church

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Confidence in things unseen

Posted on August 8, 2016 by veilofveronica

Pastoral Center

The renovated chapel in the Diocesan Pastoral Center, Nashville, TN

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I went to our new Pastoral Center yesterday for a conference.  We celebrated Mass, and I was stunned when I walked into the renovated chapel which used to be blank and bland.  I saw this breathtaking artwork behind the altar.  Saints, Our Blessed Mother, Christ on the Cross at the center of it all.  It was everything that lifts my eyes to heaven.  The Priest sang the Mass, and his voice was beautiful.  The music was transcendent.  The homily called us to Sainthood.  It was heaven on earth, and it actually brought tears to my eyes.

This morning I went to the 24 hour adoration chapel we have in town, and I feel the Lord calling me closer and closer, which is what he wants with each one of us.  I wrote in my journal what popped in my head.  I will relay it here for you;

Beloved,

It is the merits of my Son that frees all people that is why I call you to adoration.  Prayers do not go unanswered.  If only people knew the power of prayer.  A war is raging for souls and I am calling my most faithful to battle.  Heed my call.  I am LOVE itself.  I place you in the Sacred Heart.  The Immaculata covers you in her mantle.  Things are quickening.  Do not be afraid.

John 6:13 – “so they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that could have been more than they could eat.”

-see how your cup overflows when you believe?  Have faith.  Do not fear.  Trust me totally and completely.

Abba

God is calling each and everyone of us, as the world swirls in confusion, into an intimate relationship with Him.  If we heed His call, our world can stop swirling and we can be at peace.  Keep your eyes on Him.

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He is there

Posted on July 29, 2016 by veilofveronica

Eva, Amber and Me

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

Eva’s cancer is back.   She’s been given a 3% chance of survival.  The Nano Knife is not an option right now as she needs more nutrients in her blood, I think.  She had to have a feeding tube inserted yesterday.  I decided to take her to St. Mary’s where we have the incorrupt body of Bishop Miles.   I thought perhaps we could ask for his intercession and she could receive a miracle.   Along the way we talked about confession and healing our souls, as well as asking for healing of her physical body.

When we arrived at the church, it was pouring rain.  We parked in a parking space and went to pay for parking.  It was pouring rain and the stupid machine wouldn’t take my payment.  We were there in the rain for about ten minutes. I was getting frustrated and was having words with the Lord in my head.  “Lord, why did I bring her all the way up here if we can’t even go in the church?” Then up to the parking meter came another woman to pay.  She used to work with Eva.  I knew why God had delayed us.  We all went inside and Eva went down to the bathroom with her old co-worker and informed her of the pancreatic cancer .  The woman came upstairs and said to me — “I was sitting at home and the Lord told me to come up here to pray, and I am not even Catholic.”   Turns out her dad had died of pancreatic cancer.  I was teary at the woman’s statement.  God works in mysterious ways.

I explained, to both women,the Communion of Saints and how those Saints in heaven can intercede and pray for us and that Bishop Miles incorrupt body is a sign of holiness.  That as Catholics we ask both those in heaven and those on earth to pray for us because we are part of the community of God.   Eva and I prayed at the coffin of Bishop Miles.  Then the woman and I prayed over Eva together.  She was very charismatic in her prayer, and I realized how God works through all kinds of people.  It was a sign that He is walking with Eva through all of this.

We went to lunch.  She called it her last meal, since the feeding tube would be inserted that afternoon.  I really hope Eva knows how much God loves her, and that God’s mercy is surrounding her.  Please keep praying for her.

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The Living God

Posted on July 22, 2016 by veilofveronica

Mary Magdelene the Penitent

Mary Magdalene- Painting by Kathleen Carr, my cousin.

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.  And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.  And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,  “Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,  “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”and then reported what he told her. John 20:1-7- 11:18

 

Today is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene.  The Apostle to the Apostles.  She was at the foot of the cross.  Her story is a story of love and redemption.  She was a terrible sinner.  The Gospel tells us she had 7 demons in her.  Yet, in her state, as the lowliest of low sinners, Christ lifted her up out of her sin and gave her new life, new freedom.   It shows us that no matter how deep in sin we are, no matter how far away, Christ can lift us out of it.

Jesus tells her in today’s Gospel not to hold on to Him.  I found that strange.  The Priest explained in his homily that He was telling her not to hold on to His physical representation.  He would now be mystically available, just as He is to us today.  We don’t have Him walking around with us, but we have the Living God, mystically available to us in the Eucharist, and spiritually in our hearts.   Do we recognize that when we go to communion?  Do we ask for spiritual communion with Him?  Are you aware of how much He loves you?

Recently, I made a Consecration to Merciful Love.  It is based on a Consecration St. Therese of Lisieux made, it shows you overwhelmingly how much God loves us, even when we fail. I cannot tell you how much this Consecration drew me deeper into a relationship with the Trinity.  I have also been reading the 24 hours of the Passion by Louisa Piccarreta.  Reading these two things has been profound for me.  They draw you into the Divine Will, something I think St. Mary Magdalene and St. Therese experienced.  It is an experience of the Living God.   I weep because of how little the world can see God chasing us, and how much we run away.

As I sat in the chapel yesterday, I had an experience.  It is hard to explain, except that I felt in the presence of the Living God.  I felt His Sacred Heart.  As the outside world swirls around me, with personal storms, and with global crisis, I totally and completely felt God tell me, “I’ve got this.”  I told the Lord, “I’m so glad you do, because I don’t.”  It was an experience and exercise in TOTAL TRUST.  I felt safe.

My friend, Eva, has been told her pancreatic cancer is back.  I weep.  God says, “I’ve got this.”  I experience personal hardships.  God says, “I’ve got this.”   I look at the news.  God says, “I’ve got this.”  In that moment, in the chapel, all I can say that I experienced is that the God who created the universe, who created each unique human being, is definitely intimately involved in our lives.  I have no doubt of that.  If we only knew how much He loves us, we would all be living very differently.

Hold onto hope.  Love one another.  Ask God to make His will be yours.

“My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?” Psalm 42:2

Remember things of this world are passing away, our real life is in eternity in heaven with God.  Do not be afraid.  If you aren’t praying, start, if you are ask God to take you deeper into a relationship with Him.  If you are grounded in the Lord, you shall survive life’s storms.

“Do not love the world or the things of the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.  Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

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Flood Social Media with Mary

Posted on July 18, 2016 by veilofveronica

OurLadyOfGuadalupeforUnborn“Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.”
–St. Bonaventure

Just a short note today.  My friend John contacted me and he said that with all the violence and terrorism, we Catholics should flood social media with Mary’s image every time an act of terrorism is committed.  Mary is the converter of hearts.  This combined with our prayers can hopefully change some hearts out there.

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Weathering a Storm with small signs everywhere

Posted on July 13, 2016 by veilofveronica

Storm

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world! John 16:33

My family and I are on a vacation in Florida.  Though we have been to the beach many times, this is our first to a beach with just my immediate family and my first to Destin, Florida.  I was a little anxious about coming because of the state of the world these days, as things seem to be rapidly deteriorating, but I decided to put my trust totally in the Lord, and I asked Him to bless the trip, or block it, His will be done.  As we got ready to depart, I discovered a downed tree in my backyard.  It was downed by the previous nights storm;

downed tree

Jason and I decided to call a tree removal guy and have the whole tree removed.  It’s a Bradford pear, so no love lost as they are prone to splitting and are quite insidious trees. So off we went traveling to Florida.

Along the way we encountered an Interstate that was closed due to an accident, and a hail storm;

hail storm

I wasn’t sure if God was blocking or blessing our trip, but I decided to be patient, as patience is a virtue I need to work on.  After 8.5 hours, we arrived at the destination that should have only taken 6.5 hours, but we were safe and none the worse for wear.

We had saved up some money so we promised the kids we would do some fun things on this trip.  My husband Jason, whom many know I lovingly call Mr. Finance Pants, and I decided to take the kids on a Snorkeling and Dolphin sight seeing boat trip this morning.  It was quite expensive in terms of what we normally do, but we were excited and so were the kids.

We arrived at the boat dock just in time to see a storm cell moving in.  There was lightening and thunder all over.  The people at the sight seeing place assured us we would still have a trip but there would be a delay.  We went and sat under an awning as rain, lightening and thunder poured all around us.

After about an hour, we were given the all clear.  But I still had trepidation.  You could still see storm cells around us, as well as lightening, though not as close as it had been.  I decided, surely the boat Captain is used to this so we can trust his judgement on safety.   On the way up to the dock, I saw this on the back of a T-shirt;

st catherine

I thought to myself, “I’m following St. Catherine.”  I couldn’t help but think of the metaphor here between my situation and life with God.  I am boarding this ship, which is surrounded by storms and I am trusting that all will come out okay.  The ship reminded me of the Barque of Peter.

“if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1:Timothy 3:15

As we boarded the ship, we got our picture taken by the ships crew;

family photo

My family

And off we went, driving a boat into what looked like another storm cell to me.  I had confidence in the Captain who must know not to drive us into a lightening storm.  The Captain began speaking.  “Hello, my name is Skylar, and I will be your Captain.”  Oh my, I was pretty sure Skylar was 15.  Well maybe he was 25, but still, I just put my family on a boat, near storms, in the hands of Skylar, the 15 year old, I thought to myself;

Skylar

Skylar navigating our boat

As Skylar began to drive, with the lightening and thunder in the distance, I decided I had no control, and that now is as good a time as any to let go, say “Jesus I trust in you,” and hope that Skylar really does know what he is doing.

As we drove off, the song, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for,” by U2, played over the loud speaker.  I thought, isn’t that the cry of every human heart…  We are looking for the Father.

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” John 14:8

I really want to be shown the Father, but Lord, not today, I thought to myself, as I sat back into the boat.

We arrived at the place to snorkel.  Skylar informed us of how everything should be done.  Over on the other side of the rocks from where we were, I could still see a lightening storm.  It was probably far off, but it seemed close to me.  I looked out into the other direction of the sky and saw two clouds forming columns;

pillars

I immediately thought of St. John Bosco’s vision of two columns.    I again felt like I was living in a metaphor.  I was on a boat with a storm nearby, but I know, the Blessed Mother, and Mother Church that gives the Eucharist are my guides, today as much as any other day.  I hopped in the water and I began snorkeling with my children and my husband.   Though the weather above wasn’t great, there was a calm beneath the sea.  The snorkel makes you breathe slow and steady, you can hear every breath you take.  I know all that I am and all that I have belong to God.  I feel a sense of peace.

After we finish snorkeling, we climb back aboard the ship to go see dolphins, and ride around on the boat awhile.  Dolphins really are breath taking creatures that God created. After awhile, the skies began to clear, and Skylar announced that the children can come up and drive the boat;

sarah with skylarSean with Skylar

My son and my daughter driving the boat

I found meaning in the clear skies with the children driving;

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

The day became beautiful and as Journey’s “Don’t stop believing” played on the radio, I looked up at the American flag flying atop the boat, and I saw another flag flying underneath it;

cross flag

He was guiding us all along, saying Do not be afraid in the midst of the storm, and leading us to a joyful day.

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.  Ecclesiastes 9:7

Whatever storms life brings upon us, remember to walk with Christ, and that though we all will endure suffering, there is always joy on the other side.

I pray everyday for the Father to make my will one with His.  That I mean the words of the Our Father…Thy Will Be Done… and that no matter my misteps, taking my family out in a boat in a storm, he will make straight my crooked path, or my crooked wake as the case may be.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

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Two Eves converge

Posted on July 9, 2016 by veilofveronica


Scene from the Passion of Christ by Mel Gibson

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your Mother.”  And from that hour the disciple took her into his home….But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. John 19:25-27 and 33-34


At the foot of the Cross two Eves converge.

One saved before she was conceived.

One conceived because of the sacrifice of the cross where blood and water flowed.

One the greatest Saint ever known.

The other birthed by the God of love to form Saints.

One is a gift to the other.  An example, of perfect humility to help guide the other.

Erasing the sin of the original Eve, o happy fault that gave to us a Redeemer.

Two Eves converge.  One assumed into heaven and one an earthly authority.

Let them each guide you.  Mother church and the Blessed Mother given to us to take into our homes.

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Angels all around us

Posted on July 8, 2016 by veilofveronica

angels-gods-messengers“For he commands his angels with regard to you,

to guard you wherever you go” Psalm 91:11

From my journal July 6, 2016

Beloved,

There are angels all around now.  An army of them because my faithful need them in the trying times ahead.  Call on the angels, they are there for you.  Repent and mercy is yours.  Know that I am intimately involved in your life.  Things unfolding in front of you pass through my hands.  Learn to let go and totally trust.  What seems important now will seem unimportant in a very short time.  Worry and anxiety add nothing.  I will deliver you from the evil one.  Love one another.  Stay with Me.

Abba

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Our Lady of Humility

Posted on July 7, 2016 by veilofveronica

Our lady of humility

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10

Some of you may remember that a little while back I had an encounter with the Blessed Mother.  Ever since then, I have looked for a Mary with a gray mantle.  Last night, I was just sitting on my couch and I felt pop into my head, “I am Our Lady of Humility.”  I was unaware that this was one of her titles.  Perhaps I should have known, but I did not.

I quickly googled Our Lady of Humility, and the image above popped up.  And there she was in a gray mantle with gold trim and a red dress.  I found this blog by Father Jerabek, where he states that this image is venerated in a chapel in Rome in a house for American Priests.   I don’t know why all of this was a surprise to me.  I feel like I should have known.

This is very special to me because I fully feel in prayer that our humility is key to making the world be a better place.  Mary is the highest example of humility.  I have also felt extremely called to pray for Priests and here was this Icon in a house for American Priests.  It’s like God was giving me a little wink.

I noticed the Icon has Mary looking toward heaven, toward God, the direction she always points us.  It is here where I feel her calling me to adore her Son in Eucharistic adoration and to receive Him frequently at Mass.

This morning I woke up and my friend Gina sent me this picture,

Eucharistic adoration

It was taken by Father Geoff Rose, at Catholic Heart Work Camp adoration last night (6/6/16).  It is a beautiful reminder of the Real Presence that we get to receive everyday at Mass.  I don’t know a lot about the picture, except that it touched my heart.

Jesus’ love and mercy are there for us, if only we say Yes.  The Gospel this morning from Mark 1:15 started out with, “The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” Indeed it is and indeed we should.  I don’t know if this all means as much to you out there as it does to me, but I will go forth in joyfully in the Lord in this choatic world of ours because I know HE is here with me.  Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.

Today is also my husband’s birthday.  He has been such a gift to me.  Please keep him in your prayers.

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