Food for The Journey

Something a friend shared with me today, so I thought I would pass it along to you!

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If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola (Priest, 1491-1556)

On earth, we are wayfarers, always on the go. This means that we have to keep on moving forward. Therefore be always unhappy about what you are if you want to reach what you are not. If you are pleased with what you are, you have stopped already. If you say; "It is enough," you are lost. Keep on walking, moving forward, trying for the goal. Don't try to stop on the way, or to go back, or to deviate from it.

- St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop

It is important that you choose your career with care, so that you may really follow the vocation that God has destined for you. No day should pass without some prayer to this end. Often repeat with St. Paul: "Lord, what will you have me do?"

- St. John Bosco, Priest

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament are powerful and indispensable means of overcoming attacks of the devil. Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the devil will be powerless against you.

- St. John Bosco

Those who are led by the Holy Spirit have true ideas. That is why there are so many ignorant people who know far more than the learned.

- St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests

O Gentle Jesus, Saint James was one of Your first apostles, but he started out as a very impulsive, self-centered man. He dared to ask You for a place of honor in Your kingdom, and he wanted You to destroy the villages that had rejected You, but eventually he developed a true understanding of holiness. I ask him to pray that my humility grows stronger than my pride, that I submit my will to Your will, and that when I speak, my words reveal Your gentleness and love. Restrain me when I want to rush ahead, and give me a broader perspective when I'm seeing things through a narrow, limited view. Saint James, pray for me. Amen.

- A prayer for the Feast of Saint James, Apostle, from Terry Modica's book "Daily Prayers with the Saints for the New Millennium", Queenship Publishing; http://gnm.org/books.htm

Does your mind desire the strength to gain the mastery over your passions? Let it submit to a greater power, and it will conquer all beneath it. And peace will be in you -- true, sure, most ordered peace. What is that order? God as ruler of the mind; the mind as ruler of the body. Nothing could be more orderly.

- St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop

When we have once placed ourselves entirely in the hands of God, we need fear no evil. If adversity comes, he knows how to turn it to our advantage by means which will in time be made clear to us.

- St. Vincent de Paul, Priest

St. Peter Chrysologus

Prayer, Fasting and Mercy - St. Peter Chrysologus

There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other. More....

Check out Heidi's Interview ~ Listen to Ave Maria Radio on-line

Heidi will be on “Kresta in the Afternoon” this afternoon, talking about St. Martha of Bethany, at 3:20 EST. You can listen on Ave Maria Radio — or on your computer by

clicking here!

Just in case this link breaks here's the dirrect link:

http://www.avemariaradio.net/christian-radio-host.php/Al-Kresta/

broken link fixed ~ Pain of Infertility Article..

I'm so sorry about the broken link, something had me go back and check over it. If you're still interested in the article please click the link below.

The Pain of Infertility:

http://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/article/?article=268

article found on The Pain of Infertility

This is nothing new to most of you, but I thought I'd share this as it is on my heart as a friend of ours is going through surgery today... as I am sure there are many others in this world enduring similar surgeries today. Let us pray for all those in need and for God's holy will!

*The pain of infertility

Jane Williams shares her personal experience and feelings about infertility.

“There is a problem here. There’s a good chance you will have difficulty having children.”

*This article is also a good way to teach others that do not understand the cross of infertility.

Listen to Catholic Radio NOW

Listen to this now!!!! Great talk....

Food for the Journey & Fire on the Earth

10:00 - 10:30 am EST

http://www.avemariaradio.net/catholic-online-radio.php

NFP and the Poetry of the Body

NFP and the Poetry of the Body Source: tob.catholicexchange.com
hannahs.tears@gmail.com sent this using ShareThis.

Quotes to meditate on...

Adoration is such a wonderful place to go when you feel as if life is just out of control, physically mentally and spiritually. Just plain over-whelming! This is a place where peace comes to your soul without you even trying.

This is something I did today for myself but also for all of you. There was nothing that I brought with me except a heart open to the love of Christ filling me with His peace and healing love. I went feeling a bit unprepared, but something told me that all I needed was me and that He would take care of the rest. Our Lord provided everything that I needed ~ I found that I had a rosary, a new testament Bible, and a little book of meditations on St. Pio. I prayed the chaplet for all of your needs and then I was led to open this little book that I had and the words just leaped off of the page...

"Jesus let Padre Pio's heart hear a voice: "My son, the test of love is pain; you will feel it sharp in your spirit, and still more in your body."

As I was led to meditate upon this verse, I knew in my heart that this is not only St. Pio that Our Lord speaks to but all of us that are trying with grace to carry the cross that He has fashioned and made for each of us. It truly rings in my heart: "the test of love is pain" ... Somehow, I believe this is the Lord also speaking to all of us who are struggling with pain. It reminds me of the scripture that the slave is not greater than the master.

God bless and keep you... and please feel free to add your thoughts and feelings about this meditation.

Old article rediscovered

Here's an article from July 26, 2008. If you haven't read this before it's an interview with Marie Meaney and how she has learned to cope with the cross of infertility... Always a process each and every day.

Interview : Coping With Infertility

July 26 ~ Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim

Novena to Sts. Anne and Joachim

Readings for the Feast of the Anne and Joachim

Prayer to Saint Anne

Good Saint Anne, you were especially favored by God to be the mother of the most holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Savior. By your power with your most pure daughter and with her divine Son, kindly obtain for us the grace and the favor we now seek. Please secure for us also forgiveness of our past sins, the strength to perform faithfully our daily duties and the help we need to persevere in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.

Check out:

Catholic Fire: St. Anne and St. Joachim, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Sacrament of Matrimony

Check out "Catholic Fire":

The Sanctitiy of the Sacrament of Matrimony

Marriage is like a beautiful gilded bird cage. All the little birds on the outside want to get in, while all the little birds on the inside want to get out!

Quotes to meditate on...

I have just been reading a book this week called "I BELIEVE IN LOVE" by Fr. Jean C.J. d'Elbee and what I was hoping what we could all do is come together by sharing quotes from books that you may be reading or meditating on.

These are great ways to touch the hearts of all of us that may be struggling in one way or another.

Lets take time to share, if you are interested in sharing a quote or prayer, please send it to Hannahs.Tears@gmail.com , you do not have to give your name just consider sharing something from your heart to ours.

Something to ponder:

"People examine themselves in terms of what is forbidden them and not in terms of what is asked of them. People examine themselves on faults and failings, and not on their intimacy with Jesus."

Remember that we are bathed in love and mercy by Christ who loves us so very intimately.

Next SHE Group Meeting

S.H.E.

(Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth)

An Infertility support group for women from a Catholic perspective.

Next meeting: Saturday, July 25th

9:00-11:00am

Seton Catholic School

1740 Summerhill Dr.
Lexington, KY

Women enduring primary and secondary infertility are welcome.

Our guest speaker is Fr. Steve Roberts, M.D., who used to work as an OB/GYN. Don't miss his incredible talk!

Mary Magdalene - Forgiven Much

Dear Sisters,

As we celebrate today the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, I wanted to share with you a little bit about her life, and also a beautiful painting from her life and a reflection found in today's Magnificat. Especially as we consider Adoring our Lord, being Contrite for our sins and the way we have wounded His heart, Thanking Him for his love and blessings, and Petitioning Him for our needs, I can't help but think of the way that St. Mary Magdalene exemplified this in her own life, and how she really is a role model for us in how we are to love and serve God.

St. Mary Magdalene

(Feast day - July 22)

Mary Magdalen was well known as a sinner when she first saw Our Lord. She was very beautiful and very proud, but after she met Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. When Jesus went to supper at the home of a rich man named Simon, Mary came to weep at His feet. (Luke 7:36-50) Then with her long beautiful hair, she wiped His feet dry and anointed them with expensive perfume. Some people were surprised that Jesus let such a sinner touch Him, but Our Lord could see into Mary's heart, and He said: "Many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved very much." Then to Mary He said kindly, "Your faith has made you safe; go in peace." From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly served Jesus and His Apostles. When Our Lord was crucified, she was there at the foot of His cross, unafraid for herself, and thinking only of His sufferings. (John 19:25) No wonder Jesus said of her: "She has loved much." After Jesus' body had been placed in the tomb, Mary went to anoint it with spices early Easter Sunday morning. Not finding the Sacred Body, she began to weep, and seeing someone whom she thought was the gardener, she asked him if he knew where the Body of her beloved Master had been taken. (John 20:1-2, 11-18) But then the person spoke in a voice she knew so well: "Mary!" It was Jesus, risen from the dead! He had chosen to show Himself first to Mary Magdalen, the repentant sinner.

"Forgiven Much"

It is called "Forgiven Much" and depicts the forgiven Mary Magdalen washing Jesus' feet with her tears. I have found it to be so powerful in my life and wanted to share it with you. I love this image and often come back when I have wounded the heart of our Lord and Savior with my sins. My tears of repentance, washing his feet. I have found this image especially powerful to pray with prior to receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance/Confession). I pray that it is a blessing for you as well.

If you want to find it on the web go to:

http://www.catholicposters.com/shop/product.php?prodId=2288&cat=0+

Meditation of the Day:

Mary Magdalene

God is the spouse of the soul. The act of contemplation is an embracing of the soul by God, as total, as poignant, as dizzying as the union of two bodies. It is deeper, even more living, more fruitful, and more penetrating. And, through the soul, it is the whole being which is seized by God. Such is the meaning of the vow of virginity in Christianity. It is in such an embrace that Mary Magdalene's soul had been seized.

With this in mind we can well say that she loved Christ, that she loved him with all the force of her being. This love was wise and pure, it obeyed. What is more, all the saints have wished to die for Christ, which is a physical proof of love far more violent and convincing than any other. Mary Magdalene's love of Christ went to the bitter end and that is why it was pure. Only the soul pushes things to the bitter end, even its body, which it reduces to the service of its love. Such was Mary Magdalene's great soul: the whole being of this admirable creature was in the service of her contemplative love, even her body. That is why she wanted to die for Christ...the help we receive from the saints and from Christ himself is not that they were, they also, entangled in our difficulties; it is that they have solved them and that they help us to solve them. There must have emanated from this man, who was the Christ, a light, a power far above nature to free the love of a burning and passionate woman like Mary Magdalene from all obsession, pacify it, order it, and at the same time bring it to full flower.

~ Father Raymond-Leopold Bruckberger, O.P.

Father Bruckberger (=1998) was a French Dominican priest and a spiritual author

Father, through the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, may we learn to love you from our brokenness and with our whole hearts, to give you all that we have and all that we are. May we embrace the tenderness, compassion and healing that you long to give us in our lives, and in return devote ourselves ever more to Jesus and His Sacred Heart. May may our reception of you in the Eucharist fill us with the same faithful love, that kept Mary Magdalene close to Christ, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

With love,

Your Hannah's Tears Intercessor

(S)

Catholic Infertility Conference

Help Spread the WORD!!!!!!!

Cincinnati Infertility Conference

Saturday, September 12, 2009

9 am to 1 pm

Guardian Angels Parish
6531 Beechmont Ave Cincinnati, OH 45230


Featured Speakers will include:


Dr. Jason Mattingly and Dr. Kevin Sellers

Trained at the Pope Paul VI Institute


Fr. Earl Fernandes

Dean of Mount St. Mary's Seminary and Assistant Professor of Moral Theology


Sylvia M. Corson

Certified Creighton Teacher


We will also have couples to speak to who have adopted domestically and internationally


For more information contact Lottie and Tate or to help advertise you can print and distribute our handout

The Angel of the Lord declared!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Little hearts,

Look up to heaven that beckons us on!! We are but strangers and pilgrims in this land. When and as you pray the Angelus today, ask the Angel of the Annunciation to announce to someone this day, maybe even someone you know by name, the message of salvation.....

The Angel of the lord declared....... Angel of God declare unto (N) the message of salvation... keep close to Mary she will nurture you beyond this life to eternity...

with love,

from a Poor Clare Colettine Nun

Wales, UK

The Angelus

by Jean-François Millet

Every Blessing upon you all

Every stress and every worry must be given to Our Lord at the foot of the altar where Jesus becomes present, body, blood, soul and divinity. Our lives are not our own let us take one moment at a time and place our worries, hopes and prayers in the hands of Our Blessed Mother as she answers her "fiat" to God the Father let us humble ourselves and thank God for everything we have today.

Below the Poor Clare Colettines have a message for us all. God bless and keep you!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Poor Clare Colettines TMD

community@poorclarestmd.org

---

Dear Little hearts,

You are never forgotten in fact you and your families are daily in our hearts and prayers. It has not been possible to send out daily communications because of a limitation regarding the typing...I had to attend Gods medical Centre myself.... but this is to assure you of love and remembrance and prayer.

Could we all please look again into our hearts, into our daily offering of prayer and renew our dedication, or even begin to say the Angelus daily.....

I would be very interested to know what the common practise is in the area that you yourself live, as to whether it is prayed in the church, town or not....

Have a blessed Sunday, with love and joy....

---

The beautiful painting of the "Angelus" as painted by the French artist Jean-Francois Millet is well worthy of deep reflection and prayer

.

Pictures can yield as much understanding as the revealed word if we ponder, like Mary, all these things in our hearts...

The pictures is painted in such delicate tones, that we are as it were immediately brought into the atmosphere of the event it captures....the praying of the Angelus.. we are drawn into an experience of prayer.

It is dusk, the birds in the sky are flocked and flying home to their nesting place, the labour of the day is well on and drawing to a close, the Farmer and his wife have laboured long and hard, and are eager to return home which is yet a journey away as they are far out in the fields... it is harvest time.

In the far distance we see the church spire, the bell is ringing.... the bell not electronically generated, but made, cast and named to give glory to God, and often dedicated to Mary the Mother of God. The sweet tones of such bells could carry on the wind over great distances.....

The Angelus bell was rung and still is in many countries, and places three times a day, 6am-12 Noon and at 6pm. It calls each to lay aside their work in hand and to stop and pray, to lift their hearts and minds to God in gratitude through the intercession of Mary.

This is so beautifully captivated in this picture, God was supreme, all things had to bow before him, for man understood that all he had, possessed was for and from God... he was the source of the blessing of the harvest, the grace of labour, the gift of the day.

If you look closely you will see that the harvest was not an easy picking it was a potato crop, before the invention of harvesters, a back breaking job indeed.

There is something profoundly touching, inspiring and worthy of imitation in this picture.

The farmer and his wife worked a full and demanding day and yet they knew their priorities, it was never the case that there was no time for God.... time was dedicated to God.... the Angelus was as it were the 'poor persons office.... it is a most beautiful prayer, simple and yet so meaningful.

Traditionally it is always accompanied when recited in public by the ringing of bells, but even for a private recitation the offering can be made even more solemn by ringing just three times a small bell.

Let us reflect deeply upon this picture it can speak to us so much of God.... and a call to love God above all things.

Endurance...

"Cooperating with God allows us to endure to the end of our lives."

quote from:

"Living Love" A Modern Edition of

Treatise on the Love of God

by St. Francis De Sales

"He who stands firm to the end will be saved"

(Matthew 10:22).

Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin ~ July 11 and 12, 2009

This is a humble invitation to those seeking a blessing from the relics of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux.

Mass times:

Saturday 5 PM vigil

Sunday 7 AM, 9 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12 noon

St. Patrick Church

280 N Grant Ave

Columbus, Ohio

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us!

This Weekend, July 11-12, we will remember the special feast day of the Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of Saint Thérèseof the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. Their feast day is celebrated on July 12, which is a Sunday this year. Pope Benedict chose thisdate for their feast day because the Martins were married on July 12, 1858. A beautiful framed tapestry of Blessed Louis and Zélie alongwith Saint Thérèse will be displayed in the sanctuary next week. After all the Masses there will be an opportunity to venerate a First Class relic of a small fragment of the Blessed bones. The framed tapestry, relics and the altar flowers that weekend are being donated by a parish family who wishes to honor all married couples for their unselfish love, for their “fiat”, as they say, “yes”, to every childconceived in their union of sacramental love, a living sacrament and example like Louis and Zélie. The framed tapestry will bepermanently placed in the shrine of St. Thérèse and the relic of the Blesseds in the relic cabinet in the back of church. We express ourthanks to this family who so generously donated these religious objects to our parish community.

Bienheureux Monsieur et Madame: On Oct. 19, 2008, for the first time in the history of the Church: a married couple, the parents of a daughter who is a saint and a Doctor of the Church, were beatified in Lisieux, France. 15,000 faithful attended the celebration. Louis and Zélie Martin were not beatified because of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. They were beatified in recognition of the virtue and holiness displayed, by the grace of Christ, in their own life. Two months before her death, Saint Thérèse wrote to the Abbé Bellière: God gave me a father and a mother more worthy of heaven than of earth; they asked the Lord to give them many children and to let them all be consecrated to Him. (July 26th, 1897).

The Challenges of Life: The Martins had nine children, four of whom died in infancy. Of their five daughters, one of them, Léonie, was a very difficult child, furrowed by the emotional complexities that would follow her even into adulthood. Louis, a watch and clock maker and Zélie, an expert artisan of lace, operated their own businesses. They were familiar with the challenges inherent in dealing justly and patiently with employees and with customers. In the Martin household the needs of the poor were never forgotten.

Suffering: Both Louis and Zélie were stricken by disease. Zélie died of breast cancer on August 28, 1877. Louis, a widower with five dependent children, was afflicted with a humiliating brain disease and confined in a psychiatric hospital. During occasional periods of remission, he devoted himself to his fellow patients. He died at home in 1894 at the age of 71.

Holiness: Les Bienheureux Monsieur et Madame Martin prove to married couples that a great holiness is possible, even in the midst of a family life marked by difficulties and sorrows.

Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin

Beatified as a Witnesses of Conjugal Love

God of eternal love. You give us Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Therese, as an example of holiness in marriage. They remained faithful to You and your commandments in all the duties and trials of life. They desired to raise their children to become saints. May their prayers and example help Christian family life blossom in our world today. If it be your will, grant us the grace we now ask of You through the intercession of Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, and let them be counted among the Saints of the Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us!

Low Adrenals?

Below are some links that were found after noticing the need for information regarding low adrenals. Hope this is helpful to you all, if you have anthing to add that may be helpful to others please email us at Hannahs.Tears@gmail.com .

Adrenal gland disorder

Adrenal fatigue: What causes it?
Is there such a thing as adrenal fatigue?

Answer from: Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.

Adrenal Fatigue and the Effects of High Cortisol

Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Malfunction

If you have 3 or more of these symptoms, have your adrenal glands evaluated.

Fatigue
Interruption in sleep
Difficulty waking in morning
Joint and muscle aches
Weight gain that is resistant to diet or exercise
Frequent infections
Fertility problems
PMS
Poor concentration/memory
Migraines
Depression/mood swings
Low blood sugar
Allergies
Light headedness/ fainting
Asthma
Skin conditions
Thyroid imbalances

Enduring losses...

My friend Caroline, wrote a beautiful article about the loss of a child some years ago. As I think of Caroline today during her suffering with lung cancer, I also think of those that are enduring the loss of their dream...

Miscarriage: Moving From Grief Toward Healing
By Caroline Schermerhorn

May God bless you today in all of your needs.

Let us know if you need additional prayer support hannahs.tears.prayer@gmail.com