7 Quick Takes (v. 1)

(1)

This is not only my first 7 Quick Takes post, but also my first post in nearly a year, so I guess my quick takes will be a brief update of life and a few highlights from this week. Oh and can't forget a couple old and a couple new photographs. After all, that's how this blog first began.

(2)

I came home from the convent in June. Being with the School Sisters of Christ the King for nearly nine months was wonderful--exactly where God was calling me. And now I continue to seek Him and His will.

Here's some previously posted photos of some of the sisters (with links to the original posts):

(3)

Since being home, I've seen family and a number of friends. One highlight of the summer so far: Fourth of July with some of the usual family friends in the evening, but an unusual beginning of the day--walking along side my brother and his band's float in the parade.

(4)

Quotes have, throughout my life, inspired me. I recently finished a set of four, to be hung together, paintings using quotes from some of my favorite people: Pope Benedict XVI, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Blessed John Paul the Great, and St. Therese of the Little Flower. My latest favorite quote of Mother Teresa's:

"Let us conquer the world with our love."

(5)

While I dearly miss having Archbishop Charles Chaput here in my home Archdiocese, I am happy for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and warmly welcome our new Archbishop Samuel Aquila! I have not been able to attend a mass of his yet, but hopefully someday. I loved his words only days after his installation and the tragic shooting in Aurora: "The love of the Father is stronger than the bullets." Check out this article on the National Catholic Register, which includes this quote.

(6)

I have really been enjoying watching the women's gymnastics in the Olympics this week. Congratulations to the USA's team on winning Gold! It's amazing to see what they can do. I also can't help but think of the pressure put on the athletes though. The pressure to perform well and get a gold, coming not only from themselves, their families, coaches, teammates, but really the country as well. Imagine if we put the same effort into becoming saints--our lives, families, country, and world would be completely different!

(7)
It was St. Alphonsus de Ligouri's feast day on Wednesday. In the last year, I have read more about him and read some of his writings as well. One of my favorites is Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Filled with wonderful meditations and prayers, I especially like what I read today:

"My Lord, would it not have been enough for You to remain in the Blessed Sacrament during the day only, when You could have someone to adore You and keep You company? Why remain the whole night as well, when all the churches are closed and men retire to their homes, leaving You quite alone? But I understand You. It is love that has made You our prisoner. It is the very great love You have for us that has kept You on earth, unable to leave us either night or day."

In Christ through Mary.

Novena Prayer for World Youth Day

Join me in praying for all those at World Youth Day, especially those you know, over the next nine days, by saying the below prayer every day. I set this picture as my background so that when I start up my computer for the first time each day, I say it. Pick a time to say it and stick to it!

Miraculous Medal statue at the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.
(Click for larger image)

The prayer (in case you just want the text):

Novena of the Miraculous Medal

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we your loving and trustful children implore you to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this novena, if they be beneficial to our immortal souls, and the souls for whom we pray.

*We pray for grace and blessings to be poured down upon World Youth Day, and all those attending, especially...
You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son who hates iniquity. Obtain for us then a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory. Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin and at length attain to that blessed abode where you are the Queen of angels and of men. Amen.

*This is the part I added especially for WYD.

I know World Youth Day 2008 was one amazing experience for me, especially to be so close to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, and to see how universal the Universal Church truly is. But we must pray for those attending, for the enemy is not happy that these gatherings of youth occur and he will do everything he can to prevent conversion of hearts from occurring. But Christ, Our God and King, will reign! Our Mother, Our Queen, will help us. But we must pray, pray, pray!

Please, I beg you, join me. I've started today and will end August 21. You can start the day you read this and pray for nine days. You can say the prayer 20 times. I don't care. But please! Pray for the youth, the young adults, the youth ministers, the chaperones, the sisters, the religious, the priests, the bishops, and Our Holy Father!

In Christ through Mary.

Christ the King

Not much to say today, but just some photos from my weekend retreat. It was a great weekend getting to know some other wonderful women and, even better, a great time to pray, letting Our Lord love me and growing in my love for Him.

Roses in my room.

Christ the King statue.

The first station.

"He knocks at the door, he is close to us and thus true joy is close, which is stronger than all the sorrows in the world, and in our life." -Pope Benedict XVI

In Christ through Mary.

The Month of the Rosary - A Month for Life

October is a beautiful month, not only because the leaves are beginning to change, marking the start of my favorite season, and not only because it is the Month of the Rosary, but also a month dedicated to life--respecting life from conception to natural death.