To the servant of God...every place is the right place, and every time is the right time. ~St. Catherine of Siena

Today, I finished my sophomore year of college.  These past two years have been a whirlwind and I think these words from St. Catherine sum it up perfectly.  Although it was hard to realize it at the time, I look back on it now and can see a little more of the big picture that God had in mind.  And I can see that I needed what He sent my way, from the struggles of my second semester as a freshman to the "fit" that I have found with my school now.  I love my major and can't imagine studying anything else anywhere else.  It all just helps me remember Who is in control. =)

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

"Meanwhile, Mary stood weeping beside the tomb.  Even as she wept, she stooped to peer inside, and there she saw two angels in dazzling robes.  One was seated at the head and the other at the foot of the place where Jesus' body had lain.  "Woman," they asked her, "why are you weeping?"  She answered them, "Because the Lord has been taken away, and I do not know where they have put Him."  She had no sooner said this than she turned around and caught sight of Jesus standing there.  But she did not know Him.  "Woman," He asked, "why are you weeping?  Who is it you are looking for?"  She supposed he was the gardener, so she said, "Sir, if you are the one who carried him off, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away."  Jesus said to her, "Mary!"  She turned to Him and said, "Rabbouni!" (meaning "Teacher").  Jesus then said, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.  Rather, go to My brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to My God and your God!'"  Mary Magdalene went to the disciples.  "I have seen the Lord!" she announced."  ~John 20:11-18.

At all costs...

If I am still sane by next week, it will be a miracle.  I'm not even sure what I'm posting about here, but I haven't posted in....a while, so I thought I should post something.  Don't be surprised if I start rambling about the anatomy of a four-chambered heart or comparing the respiratory systems of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. ;-)
It is Holy Week, the most beautiful week of the year.  Our redemption, our sinfulness, our hope, our mortality, our immortality...it all culminates in a few short days.  It begins on Holy Thursday, when the Lord institutes the Holy Eucharist, through which He is present with us until the end of time.  Somber Good Friday witnesses the unconditional, unfathomable love of the Savior.  Holy Saturday is a day of silence and anticipation.  And then there is Easter, the joyous day that represents our hope.  "We are the Easter people," Pope John Paul II said.  It is a week full of meaning for us.
At the center of this week is obviously Christ, the gentle Savior.  On Holy Thursday, He washes the feet of His disciples, showing us the humble service that we must imitate.  On Friday, He is the Savior, demonstrating His amazing love for us, a love that desires to "save us at all costs".  On Holy Saturday, He tests our confidence and our hope.  Did the apostles believe His words, that He would triumph over death and rise?  Do we trust Him in the times when we don't feel anything?  Do we trust Him even when we feel alone?  On Easter, He reassures us that we do not hope in vain, we do not struggle in vain.  He is always with us.
I wish you a very blessed Holy Week.
"How clearly we see in all this the will of Jesus to save us at all costs.  That will made Him shed all His Blood to the last drop, when a gesture, an absolution, would have sufficed.  Jesus means "Savior."  It is His name.  And this Savior is always with us, always ready to save us." ~I Believe in Love

The Golden City

When I was younger, I remember reading the story "King of the Golden City" about a young girl named Dilecta and her relationship with Jesus.  I haven't read the book in several years, but one night as I was watching the sunset, I recalled it.  The sun was a vivid orange, the horizon a rich gold.  The sky was painted in crisp, contrasting pastels of blue, purple, and pink.  Any wisps of white cloud stood cleanly against this backdrop.  As the sun sank behind the trees in the distance, it outlined their silhouettes and its rays pierced between them, like through the bars of a gate.  It made me think of the Golden City and ever since then, every sunset or sunrise I see strikes me as a promise of the Golden City.  The King has promised a place for me and sends the golden colors of evening and morning to remind me of the beauty of His Kingdom.

Today was a rather ordinary day, but full of little blessings here and there. =)   

1. No classes.  I don't have any classes on Thursdays anyway, so it is a welcome break from the routine of going to bed early, getting up early, driving, etc.

2. Mass.  I was able to get to Mass this morning, which is the perfect way to begin the day.  Thank you, Jesus!

3. Almost no homework.  Okay, there are things I technically could work on, but nothing that immediately needed done, so the day was relaxing in that respect.  

4. Books.  I went to the library and got some new books, like five new books.  I don't know why, because with finals week approaching, I don't know if I will have time to read them!  But it's a comfort to have books to read if I do have time.  

5. Outing in the park.  I went to my little sister's soccer practice and walked the dog with my mom.  There was a little boy there who came over to see my dog and he ended up staying by us for the rest of the practice and just talking away.  He seemed like quite a little animal-lover.  Anyway, it made me smile as he proceeded to tell me about polar bears, dolphins, sharks, groundhogs, and his own pets.  Maybe someday he'll be a zoologist.  It was really cute. =) 

It's amazing how wonderful a day feels when everything seems to come out right.  Praise the Lord! 

  

“Blessed is the man that loves Thee, O God, and his friend in Thee, and his enemy for Thee.  For he alone loses no one that is dear to him, if all are dear to God, Who is never lost.” ~St. Augustine, Confessions

This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to a wedding uniting two very special people through the Sacrament of Matrimony.  It was such a joy-filled day!  Everyone who knew the couple had been waiting for this day for a while. =)  People traveled from far and wide.  The ceremony and reception were beautiful, and it was just an amazing weekend overall.  

The whole weekend made me think about friendship.  The friendship between the bride and the groom is so wonderful and is just the beginning to the beautiful lifelong commitment they made to each other.  Not only was friendship witnessed to by the bride and groom, it was also evident in the people who came to the wedding.  Many of us who were in attendance have worked at CFL in the past.  Many of our friendships started there.  Throughout the weekend, I was reminded again of how blessed I am to have such wonderful and amazing friendships with good, Catholic people.  To be able to come together again and laugh and talk and enjoy each other's company, it was like we'd never been apart.  To me, that is a test of true friendship, and that true friendship is because of God, because it was built on God.  It amazes me, how wonderful God makes my life by working through my brothers and sisters in Christ.