Butterfly in the Wind

  Celtic Cross in Ireland      Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, or Whit-Sunday. In The Commonwealth it is a bank holiday today. Here, in the United States it is Memorial Day. On this Whit-Monday I have been reflecting on the first days after the Holy Spirit came down like tongues of fire and my friends and family who were in wars. . Knock Shrine, County Mayo, Ireland     My sister who lives in Georgia just returned from a trip to Ireland. She saw many historic site, visited with friends and family, as well as enjoying the peaceful country life.       The lush vegetation mixed with the history of the people for the past 1,500 years is present throughout her photos. The Emerald Isle is truly awash with green and flowering plants this time of year. Meanwhile in California      She left for Ireland while I was in Walnut Creek, Berkley and Concord for our APCK Synod.  I have spent the last month "unpacking" all ...

 St. Mark's Feast at the Seminary      On Tuesday, April 24, I was blessed to celebrate the Feast of St. Mark at St. Joseph of Arimathea Theological Seminary in Berkley. I sat near the door and could see the Altar and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at my left and out the door to the world on my right. It was a vivid picture of the Christian church; the people of God, and the world. The people were clueless and uninterested about what was going on inside this building. For 50 years Anglicans have been worshiping in this building while millions have passed by indifferent to the need for a Savior.     I was blessed to have a tour of the 1900 buildings and hear the story of Bishop Morse . He died peacefully at the age of 91 the very same week that my life changed and I began my current book of life. The highlight of the day was to see a video of one of his messages recorded 10 years ago; however, every word was appropriate for today. What books to d...

  He is Risen! Hallelujah! He is Risen Indeed!     The last two months have been a "good Lent". On January 6th I applied for a different position in the school system. It took the institution nearly 2 months and three interviews to let me know that I would not be getting one of the 12 positions. The first of March I threw myself into working an additional 3 hours a day in the after-school program. My assigned group are 21 students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. I am often tired by 4 p.m., but it has been a great change in my routine.    The week before Lent began, one of our perishers gave me a book entitled: Holy Island (A Lenten Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne.) Through the weeks of Lent the author gives a tour of the Holy Island and ties the history of St. Cuthbert from the 600's AD. with the pilgrimage of modern day.  I spent the last two hours each day visiting Lindisfarne in my mind.   Another book I was gifted this year is A Catholic Women's Book of Day...

  Gaudete   Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born Of the Virgin Mary – Rejoice! The time of grace has come— What we have wished for; Songs of joy Let us give back faithfully. God has become man, With nature marveling, The world has been renewed By the reigning Christ. The closed gate of Ezekiel Is passed through, Whence the light is risen; Salvation has been found. Therefore, let our assembly Now sing in brightness Let it bless the Lord: Salvation to our King. This video is the Latin words of the original song. Gaudete is Latin for Rejoice in this 16th century carol. 3rd Sunday of Advent Trader Joe's has a beautiful "Country Rose" collection      It is important to remember as we celebrate the Season of Advent that we are not only preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus our Christ, but also we are preparing our hearts as we await HIS second coming at the end of the age. He came a little over 2,000 years ago to be the sin offering for us all and as he...

A Prayer for Plenty O MOST merciful Father, who of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and turned our dearth and scarcity into plenty; We give thee humble thanks for this thy special bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness unto us, that our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . (1789- Book of Common Prayer)     7 Years ago I took a personal retreat at The Abbey of Our Lady - New Clairvaux.   It was a time to reflex and enjoy the quiet of the monastic life. On Thanksgiving day the monks sent a lovely dinner to the guest house and ever day I could enjoy the smell of fresh baked bread. I was already gluten-free back then and enjoyed oatmeal each morning with fresh walnut from the path outside.     7 Years and many grandchildren later... I had another personal retreat this year. There was no need to leave my apartment. After enjoying evening pr...

St. Therese of Lisieux      St. Therese of Lisieux is know as the Little Flower. She was born on January 2, 1873 and was allowed to become a Carmelite  Nun on April 9, 1888. She had such a strong conviction to take on a religious  life that she boldly approached Pope Leo XIII and asked him to grant her permission  to enter the convent. This happened while she was on a pilgrimage  to Rome with her father and sister. The Pope told her to do as her superiors instructed. This happened before the Christmas of 1887 and she was told by New Years that she could enter the convent in the spring.     The last six months I have studied the lives of many of the women who have taken Holy Orders in the past 1500 years. The Feast Day for St. Therese is October 1st as she died on Sept. 30, 1897 at the age of 24. She suffered with tuberculosis and during her final year her older sister, Mother Agnes of Jesus,  commissioned  Therese to write...

 During many conversation I hear of sad hearts. People who are saddened by the state of our culture, our weather, our news media, and they often ask rhetorically, "What is going to happen to us?" In the book of Saint John, chapter 14, verse 27 Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (NKJV) This verse alone is comforting. I have repeated it over and over the past few days to myself. The 14th chapter of St. John is a conversation with Jesus and his disciples. Namely, Thomas, Judas (not Iscariot), and Philip are asking him questions. I love Thomas as he is often late or needing clarification. I identify, as I have often been the one who asks the question in a group that I hope others are thinking. He wants to be shown, he wants to see, feel, and touch. This last week Mother Angelica's videos were suggested to me by YouTube. The YouTube algorithm ...