Through The Grapevine

I am inspired by something I came across from the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit and want to share it…

From their Facebook page:
“What if everyone on Sunday, April 5, in the morning puts a branch on the door of their house or on the window, to celebrate Palm Sunday?

It could be any green branch you can get. This would help, despite the social distancing, to be connected as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks.

Want to join?

We may be physically isolated, but not separated. We are united as the body of Christ.

We are the Church.”

Since we will not be receiving traditional palms at Mass this year, we are going to use the green leaf stems that you see in the picture. After Mass, I’m going to tie them together with a red ribbon and place them on a pillar on our front porch.

WE ARE THE CHURCH…Yes we are!!

Join us in making Palm Sunday special and memorable!

 

The JOY of Advent is revealed today.

Actually, joy is revealed to us every day, but we must choose it. The gift of this 3rd Sunday of Advent reminds us that Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is near and He wants us to choose Him…to choose joy as He is the only one that can fill our hearts with what joy truly is.

Joy is all around us. It is rooted in our relationship with God and can be found in the ordinary moments of life. As Christians, we should always be able to find reasons to be joyful. It is more than a mere feeling of happiness that can dissipate quickly as circumstances change.

How do you define joy?

For me…joy is that constant state of my heart and soul that resides deep within my being. It is the foundation of my faith that does not always “feel” happy. It requires nurturing through prayer and meditation, surrender of my will to His, and active service to others (most importantly, service to my husband and children).

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-7

St. Paul wrote these words from prison and leaves no room for despair or anxiety. All is joy, despite his grim circumstances. How can we be like St. Paul and find joy in all things? He provides the answer in his own words and example.  When Christ is in us and we are in Him, the result is joy. If we find ourselves journeying through tough times, sadness, loss or grief, we can still choose joy and rejoice in Christ and all He has done and is doing for us.

We rejoice because…

He is near.

He will never leave us.

He will never forsake us.

He will never forget us.

 

Who is the king of your heart?

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, bringing this liturgical year to a close. Can you believe Advent begins next week? Before we jump ahead to Advent, take a moment to reflect on who is king over your heart and your life.

Does Christ reign over…..

Your thoughts?

Your actions?

Your choices?

Your family?

Your relationships?

Your work?

In order to make the Kingdom of Christ a reality, He must reign over ALL parts of your life, not just some of them. Today is a good day to reflect on what parts of your life you may be holding back from Him. Prayerfully consider those areas where there may be a lack of trust, or fear, and surrender them to Him.

Let Christ be your King and give Him full reign over your heart and your life!

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Another absolutely gorgeous First Holy Communion Keepsake Rosary made with Swarovski crystal pearls for the Aves and pewter roses for the Paters. Trinity spacing is used between each Ave and pewter daisies are used to accent each rose Pater giving this rosary a feminine look and feel. A Guardian Angel medal hangs with the beautiful, ornate crucifix.

A single decade rosary bracelet was made to match the pattern in the full rosary.

No doubt these special keepsake pieces will be treasured for a lifetime! Congratulations, Olivia!🙏🏻😇

Jack’s First Holy Communion Keepsake Rosary is made with green miracle beads for the Aves and black onyx for the Paters. Trinity spacing is used around the Pater beads to represent the Most Holy Trinity. A Saint Stephen medal hangs with a classic Saint Benedict crucifix. Congratulations, Jack!

Reyna’s gorgeous keepsake rosary is made with Swarovski crystal pearls for the Aves and Czech cathedral beads for the Paters. Trinity spacing is used between each Ave. These three beads represent the Most Holy Trinity with the middle bead being accented as a reminder to keep Christ at the center of our lives. The 10 beads on either side of the Pater represent the 10 Commandments. A guardian angel medal hangs with the ornate crucifix. What a lovely combination! Congratulations, Reyna🙏🏻😇

Carly’s Keepsake Rosary is full of meaning, made with smooth amethyst beads for the Aves and pewter roses for the Paters. A St. Stephen medal and a Miraculous Medal hang with the St. Benedict crucifix. God Bless You, Carly!