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Journey of an Unknown Soul
PAINFUL HUMILITY
\\\"Love without ceasing.\\\" - St Bernedette
The past ten days I spent serving in Lourdes, France - as a volunteer thru North American Lourdes Volunteers. It was an incredible experience that called me on to RADICAL OBEDIENCE and painful humility. Working in the bathes of Lourdes with the sick, the \\\'normal\\\', the children, the disabled and the pilgrims - moved my heart over and over.
One incredible experience occured when a handicap girl camp into the bathes. She struggled with all of her might to pray the hail mary and do the sign of the cross as she entered the bathes. She was so holy and so full of love, what an incredible example of how I should live.
There were several conversions I experienced each day. Each moment serving the women, I felt our Lady softening my heart and moving me closer to sweet Jesus. It was very difficult, but I would not trade my ten day for any other ten day.
Each night there were Eucharistic processions, in which many miracles have happened. There have been 66 approved MIRACLES in Lourdes, however there have been thousands of cures and healings there as well. IT is an approved apparatian site of Mary, and that is what really blew me away. That the Mother CHurch declares that Mary did appear here. If I am truly Catholic, then I trust the Church with my life - and that means that MARY DID APPEAR HERE...Wow. How does this affect my life? What does this mean? How do I respond to the message of Lourdes? Can I? Do I have the strength?...
\\\"Pray, hope and don\\\'t worry.\\\" - St Padre Pio
On the way to Lourdes we went to Navarre, France. This is where the incorrupt body of St. Bernedette is on display. She is sooo beautiful. I honestly have never seen a woman so beautiful. Praying before her, I really felt her saying that I would take Mary as my MOTHER in Lourdes. I have taken her as my Queen, my Light - and everything i have is hers. But, I just really felt this call that I would take her as my mommy. After receiving communion I was drawn to pray before the altar. I saw a woman redecorating the altar in preperation for Holy Week. There were yellow petals all over the altar and so I asked if I could have them, instead of her throwing them away (I was planning on sending them to a good friend). She cheerfully said yes, and as I gathered them she gave me two bright blooming yellow lilies. This was my gift from St. Joseph...it was beautiful.
I am still absorbing Lourdes affect on my life and where it drew me. I know that taking two bathes, I was healed internally of many things. There has been a greater call put on my life to conversion, communion with others and love. I realized that I know a lot of people really well, but very few know me really well. In fact, I rarely share myself with others. I learned a lot about myself, my pridefulness, my weakness and my need for conversion. I desire the Sacred Heart of Jesus more then anything, please pray for me.
On the train ride home I wrote a poem...
Curving hill, rolling tops, uncharted territories, foggy rocks
My eyes gaze onward to thy guiding light
Morning air, cool crisp breeze, sunshine dispell, time to seize
Seize the day, seize this hour, - live in love, guiding tower
Frangrance of Mercy, steeple of just - how I give my heart to love
Sacred Banquet, Merciful King, Heart aflame - burn in me
Eucharistic Chalice, flowing full of life, caress my heart with thy love
Temple of graces, tabernacle of love, I cant wait to be before you - descend on me dove
Seize the day, Carpe Diem - rushing morning, light is freeing
Awake O sleepers, arise from dew - thy heart of love burns for you
Chism of radiance, dawn of grace
A grateful heart, before you I place
- Lindsey Larson
\\\"Being obedient she (Mary) became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.\\\" - St. Ireneus
Pope John Paul II\\\'s Prayer to Mary
Immaculate Conception
Live in me. Act in my. Speak in and through me. Think your thoughts in my mind. Love, through my heart. Give me your dispositions and feelings. teach, lead, and guide me to Jesus. Correct, enlighten, and expland my thoughts and behavior. Possess my soul. Take over my entire personality and life. Replace it with yourself. Incline me to constant adoration and thanksgiving. Pray in me and through me. Let me live in you and keep me in this union always. Amen.
- PJPII
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