Day 56 – 2 hours    day 57 – 6 hours    day 58-60 – 4.5 hours    383.5 to go

Went to Pennsylvania with my daughter for a while to visit my Dad and to buy our goddaughter’s communion dress – the trip was full of blessings as well as some difficult challenges – the blessings started with the “chat” my daughter & I had on our way – though she has some liberal views on some subjects that we agreed to disagree on; she has grown to be a very special woman with an incredible heart that makes me so proud – she is brash, yet reserved & a bit unsure of herself; she is extremely happy in her own skin, convicted in her beliefs, and is well-adjusted and at peace – I really could not have asked for more in a daughter & pray that she will always be open to God’s grace & mercy

My father, whose Alzheimer’s is at an advanced stage, on the other hand, is fading away at a rate that is sad to behold – he was quite confused this visit and forgets many of his family except for myself and my sister, his caregiver, Gracie – I was blessed to be able to bring the Eucharist to him on Monday morning after Mass and he “clicked in” for a few seconds after receiving the Blessed Sacrament and thanked me for bringing him the Lord – I prayed over him each night as I tucked him in & we even said an ‘Our Father’ together on Sunday night – please pray for all who suffer from this disease

The chapters in Divine Intimacy are now on obedience, “which contains all other virtues.” – the colloquy at the end of the first chapter, The Value of Obedience, contained this prayer of St. Catherine of Siena – Grant me, then, O Lord, this holy obedience anointed with true humility.  It is straightforward and without deceit it brings with it the light of divine grace.  Give me this hidden pearl trampled underfoot by the world, which humbles itself to submit to creatures for love of You.”  Good stuff – I have lots to learn about this virtue and pray that it will sink in and take root – I need to take seriously the reading from Monday’s evening prayer from Romans 12:1-2 “Brothers, I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship.  Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind; so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.”  & should do this at the level from Sunday’s Daytime reading from Deuteronomy: “You shall seek the Lord, your God, and you shall indeed fin him when you search after him with your WHOLE heart and your WHOLE soul.”  I’ve got a long way to go but with God’s help, for I am nothing, I can be what God has intended me to be. (see, I did learn something in the humility chapters!!!)

My chaplets were for the people of Haiti & Chile and my rosary on Saturday was for the parishioners of St. Patrick, Mystic – Sunday was for my father and all who suffer from Alzheimer’s – no rosary on Monday – Tuesday was for my daughter Kate & yesterday was for my Mom, sisters, & their daughters

Peace

 
my Father - there may be equal, but none better - the perfect Daddy!!!!!!!!!!