Our two Feast Days the end of last week, The Feast of the Sacred Heart and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart brought with them a great gift. Starting early in the morning of the Feast of the Sacred Heart  every fiber of my being felt a connection with all the RSCJ and Associates with whom I am connected and have been connected. During Mass there was the realization that somewhere in the world others were also celebrating the Eucharist with the same focus on God's love poured out for us. All day small reminders of our connectedness with His Love and with each other kept popping up. Reminders that God's love is everlasting and surrounds me all the time. Remembrances of connections with people I have not seen for many moons and yet still feel in touch with. As I clean out boxes and corners for a yard sale coming up, items, notes and pictures show up unexpectedly that remind me of a funny time, a sad moment, a happy occasion - all signs of connection. For one who used to worry about abandonment, Our Lord has certainly filled my life with signs of love and caring, pouring from the wellsping of his heart.
cape cod cathy

Today is a beautiful day.A spring-summer day. warm sun, cool breezes, the scent of blooming flowers on the air, a sense of freshness all about. It makes me wonder if Jesus experienced days like this? How did He see them, feel them?
These days are God's gift to us-out of God's love for us. The Eucharist is also God's love for us,a way of uniting us with God, with Jesus. Yesterday at Mass we sag-"Here I am, Lord". I always sing this hymn with my heart as well as my voice. This is the only way of saying "thank you" for the gift of the Eucharist and for all the gifts God gives me on a daily basis.
cape cod cathy

As I was praying this morning, I suddenly realized (inspiration from above!) that today begins the Novena for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Immediately the Novena of Confidence also came into my thoughts:
                   "Lord Jesus, to your Sacred Hear we confide this intention.
                   Only look, then do what your heart inspires.
                    Let your heart decide. We count on it. We trust in it.
                   We throw ourselves on its mercy.
                    Lord Jesus you will not fail us."

When I was at Oakwood Sister Clare Pratt suggeted for the Novena for St. Madeleine Sophie that we "confide all our sisters and brothers who are ill". I am going to do that again, since there are relatives, friends and acquaintances all dealing with various stages of illness.

On another note my prayers are very much still with the LCWR. What brave women to make the statement they did in response to the Vatican. Again in prayer, Mary and her role as Mother of God was the focus on Saturday. Images of her confronting Jesus in the Temple when he was a child, "telling" him what to do at Cana, calling for him in Galilee and staying with him through the whole passion and death and holding him in death, came to mind. Our Lady is our role model. The Board of the LCWR is following in her footsteps and drawing on her strength, as I see it.

Love and peace to all,
cape cod cathy