The Spice of Life......

In the midst of my decluttering and reorganising frenzy I decided that the way I had been storing my herbs and spices was not working for me.

I had some in my tiny drawers in the top cupboards and the rest in a spinning carousel.

I cleared out one of the drawers under my hob and inserted some plastic containers then put all the spices in there.

It worked well except that I could no longer read the lables!

I had recently bought three new jars from Tesco (on special offer) and notice that the had lables on the top too.

Some of mine were a little past their best so today I bought 10 new jars at Tesco (all on offer at 50p each (cheaper that a refill).

They were also doing an offer "spend £20 get £5 off £40 next week", so I split my shopping into 2 lots £20.25 and £20.55 (I also picked up 2 £1 off coupons in the leaflet on the way in and used them) so next week I can get 2 lots of £40 with £5 off each.

My Catholic Bible Reading Plan

Since becoming a Christian I have used lots of different "read the bible in a year" plans. There are lots out there and they are easy to track down.

So, when I became a Catholic I looked for Catholic reading plans. What a shock it was to find that they are few and far between.

None of the ones I did manage to find seemed to meet my needs, so I fell out of the habit of doing a read through once a year. Oh I carried on reading the bible, but not in the same consistant way.

I realised that this is a discipline which is very profitable for me and wanted to return to it so I decided to make my own plan.

First thought I thought that as I last read the "Catholic" bits I would spend the rest of 2012 reading the "All inclusive bits" which are also in the non-catholic bibles.

I took the amount of chapters in the (non-catholic) bible 1189 (929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New Testament as compared to 1334 in the Catholic bible) and divided it by the number of of days left in the year which was 255.

So at the moment I am reading four chapters of the Old Testament together with one of the New Testament.

Then in 2013 I will read through the Catholic Bible by following my own newly made up plan.

Monday to Saturday (that's 313 days in a year)

3 chapters of the Old Testament (not including the Psalms that is 924 chapters - 3 x 313 = 939)
1 chapter of the New Testament or Psalms  (giving 313 chapters)

Sunday (that's 52 days in a year)

2 chapters of the New Testament or Psalms (including the psalms that is 410 - 52 x 2 = 104 + 313 from above = 417)

Based on these figures there is a margin built in to allow for illness or other unforseen factor of 22 chapters.

Also because I only have 2 chapters to read on Sunday there is a chance to catch-up if necessary.

My 90 Day Journey - Day 1

Passage to Read

For your Maker is your husband—

the LORD Almighty is his name—

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of all the earth.

The LORD will call you back

as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—

a wife who married young,

only to be rejected," says your God. Isaiah 54:5-6

Prayer from My Heart

Heavenly Father, 

           You alone know me inside out………You who made me and know all my needs and imperfections better than I know myself but love me with a greater love than any man can understand - I come before you in humility and with bended knee…….. asking that you search my inner being the hidden woman of the heart and see what needs to change in me and what needs to be developed. Lord prune me so that I may bear sweet fruit for your honour and glory…….. Amen

Spiritual Communion

It was the Cure of Ars who said, "A spiritual communion acts on the soul as 
blowing does on a cinder - covered fire which was about to go out. Whenever 
you feel your love of God growing cold, quickly make a spiritual communion."

By a rescript of November 24, 1922, the Sacred Congregation of indulgences 
approved the following formula for a spiritual communion:

"O Jesus I turn toward the holy tabernacle 
where You live hidden for love of me. 
I love you, O my God. 
I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. 
Come nevertheless and visit me with Your grace. 
Come spiritually into my heart. 
Purify it. Sanctify it. 
Render it like unto Your own. Amen."

Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof, 
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

[An indulgence of 500 days, if thrice repeated. (129 The Raccolta 1944).]

An Alternative Spiritual Communion Prayer

    My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
    I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Praying the Chaplet of the Blessed Sacrament

Blessed Sacrament Beads consist of a medal of the Blessed Sacrament and 33 beads, recalling the 33 years of Christ's life on earth.

On the medal one makes a spiritual communion as follows:
"As I cannot now receive Thee, my Jesus, in Holy Communion, come,
spiritually into my heart, and make it Thine own forever."
On each bead say:
"Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar have mercy on us!"
Approved May 30, 1911 by Pope Pius X (The Holy Father has granted to
the entire world 300 days indulgence each time the above prayer is recited.)

As I don't have a Blessed Sacrament Chaplet I am going to use the Anglican Rosary pictured above and when I have a chance to buy the correct medal I will swap it for the crucifix.

My New Daily Prayer

The Miracle Prayer  Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am, I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever.  I invite you into my life, Jesus.  I accept you as my Lord, God and Saviour. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul, and spirit.  Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your Precious Blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you Lord Jesus. I praise you Jesus. I thank you Jesus.  I shall follow you every day of my life.   Amen.  Mary, My Mother, Queen of Peace and all the Angels and Saints, please help me.  Amen.

The Potpourri Prayer

I have owned a copy of this book for at least 18 months possibly 2 years. It was one of those things I was going to get round to.

Well a couple of weeks ago after my retreat I finally started to use it and I can't even begin to explain how wonderful I have found it.

After a couple of days of using it I sent for two more copies, one for my son and one "just in case".

That really says something because I don't usually buy multiple copies of books.

It may not be a book which suits everyone, you need to be a little flexible as instead of the usual twenty (or fifteen for the really inflexible) mysteries there are thirty-five.

That gives a different set for each day of the week, as well as that there are a choice of five different sets of bible verses.

There are different ways of using the book all explained in the book itself, but the way I am using it I will only repeat the same verses once every five weeks and for myself this seems tailored to my needs.

There are also opening and closing prayers and different prayers for each decade....

First       For Priests
Second  For the Souls in Purgatory
Forth      Prayers of Thanksgiving
Fifth       Prayers of Praise

I intentionally left our the third decade because that is what they call the Potpourri Prayers and although it does give some suggestions (and starts of with the St Raphael Christian Community, the authors parish - which seems only fair and I am sure she prays for her readers) it is for our own personal intentions.

So here is my own mix of Potpourri for this season of my life.....

For health and stability in my own family, peace in their hearts and conversion in their souls and for those in our parish and the world.

For my associates in the Rosary Confraternity, the Confraternity of the Passion International,  the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, the Confraternity of Consolers, the St Mary MacKillop Rosary Circle and all their intentions.

For all religious Brothers and Sisters and in particular for the Sisters of the Cross and Passion and their Associates and for an increase in vocations.

For the protection of the Unborn, an end to abortion and abundant mercy for those who are or have faced this difficult decision.

For all children who's lives are effected by their parents negative choices, particularly L & L and C & G.

Lent is such a good time to overhaul our intentions and maybe even our whole prayer life.

Day Two of Lent...

Yes I've been at it again....

Today I joined the Confraternity of the Passion International.

Don't worry I don't intend to join a new one every day over lent!

Together with the Rosary Confraternity and Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy that makes three or four if you count the Confraternity of Consolers (which is not as yet recognised by Mother Church) and I am a member of a Living Rosary Circle.

I joined the Passion International because of my Passionist leanings, and Our Lady of Mercy because of my regrets over my abortion (I joined the Confraternity of  Consolers in advent when I did the Consoling the Heart of Jesus do it yourself retreat) .

Each confraternity has its own commitments, but many of these overlap, such as making a yearly retreat and a nightly examination of conscience and act of contrition.

Many of the commitments are things that I already do regularly such as praying the rosary and for the souls in purgatory and for an end to abortion and making a yearly retreat, so I am not actually taking on heaps of new spiritual practises all at once.

I will have to make some changes, but mostly it will be a case of looking at my routine and tweaking it in order to make sure that all the commitments are met and fitting things together in a more appropriate way.

For instance I have realised that instead of going to Bible Study on Monday Nights (where we study the readings for the following Sunday) I would do better to go to Mass on Tuesday Nights instead, which will meet one of my commitments, to go to one weekday Mass per week.

Also there are lots of alternative resources for studying the Mass readings, but there is no substitute for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

What I am also doing is using my self knowledge, which tells me that I am more apt to be regularly devoted to the practises I have if I have the accountability of knowing that if I do not I will be letting others down as well as myself.

Well onwards and hopefully upwards into lent.....

Today is Ash Wednesday

My first act today has been to join the rosary confraternity, I will be a member from today and will receive my certificate some time during Lent.

It seemed to me to be a very fitting day to join.

Here is the Rosary Confraternity Prayer

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary and Mother of us all, we come to you for help in our sorrows, trials and necessities. Sin leaves us weak and helpless but Divine Grace heals and strengthens.

We ask for the grace to love Jesus as you loved Him, to believe as you believed, to hope as you hoped; we ask to share your purity of mind and heart. Give us true sorrow for sin and make us love people as you and Jesus loved them. 

Obtain for us the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we may be wise with your wisdom, understand with your understanding, know with your knowledge, prudent with your prudence, patient with your patience, courageous with your fortitude and desire justice ardently for everyone with the all consuming desire of the Sacred Heart of Jesus your Son.

Open our minds that as we pray the Rosary we will understand the teachings of the Gospel contained in its mysteries.

We pray especially for the members of the Rosary Confraternity whom we love. Help them wherever they may be; guide them, watch over them and make them strong in their trials and suffering. We are drawn together by a common bond of great charity for you and for each other; keep us faithful to your Son and to your Rosary till death.

Intercede for the souls in Purgatory, especially for the members of the Rosary Confraternity who have died. May they rest in peace. Finally we ask for grace of final perseverance for ourselves and for our loved ones that we may all be reunited in heaven forever.

Saint Dominic, you who received so much Grace and Strength from the Rosary, Pray for Us.

In the Garden with Jesus....

When I came across the words of comfort on the Passionist website one line stood out as having special meaning for me.....

If I am afflicted, abandoned, desolate, I will keep Him company in the Garden. 

 

This was because only days before while on my retreat I had been meditating (or at least my version of it) on Psalms 42 and 43 in which there is a line which is repeated several times.....

 

"Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me?"

 

This was often followed by "Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him."

 

At this point these words totally summed up what was going on in my own mind.

 

As a family we have been going through some terrible problems (the major one being my sons health) and just before I left to come on retreat yet more problems had added to the pile.

 

It was on this retreat that all this came to a head in my thoughts and I reached the end of my tether.

 

I found myself totally immersed in this verse. The questions went round and round in my mind. Why was I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? I knew that I truly did put my hope in God so how could I still feel like this?

 

In the cross references I saw listed Matthew 26:38 and there were the words of Jesus spoken  in the Garden "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow - to the point of death."

 

He had voiced my own thoughts. My soul felt as though it was swallowed up by my sorrow.

I felt so close to him and I knew without a doubt that he knew what I was feeling. Even more than that,

I knew that he would not condemn me for my thoughts and think less of me. He would still be able to see that my hope was in God despite them.

For He Himself had felt terrible anguish although His hope could never be anywhere but with His Father.

So from now on when things seem unbearable and I am afflicted, abandoned, desolate not only will I do as the Passionists recommend and keep Him company in the Garden, but I will run there as quick as I can!

Sisters of the Cross and Passion

 

I will try with all my strength to follow in the footsteps of my Jesus. 

 

If I am afflicted, abandoned, desolate, I will keep Him company in the Garden. 

 

If  I am despised and injured, I will keep him company in the Praetorium.

 

If  I am depressed and afflicted in the agonies of suffering, I will keep Him company on the Cross with a lance in my heart.

 

These words describe the source of comfort and strength for Elizabeth Prout (Mother Mary Joseph) and others who have followed a call to the Sisters of the Cross and Passion, of which she is foundress. 

 

The order's beginnings date to the industrial revolution in Manchester, England. The times called for strong people to work against the filth, danger, and ignorance that abounded in living conditions of the new factory towns. The place, the midlands of England, called for people of faith sturdy in the face of deep anti-Catholic prejudices.