Mother Mary Rosary Beads📿

                               ‘We ought to love the Blessed Virgin very much’. (The Cure D’Ars)

I left Church holding Mother Mary’s blue Rosary beads in my hand. Fleetingly I wonder who might receive it but dismiss the notion just as quickly, any minute now I would be home. Then, around the corner comes Tom, literally!! We stop for a quick chat as always.

American born, residing now in our town, he loves my prayer and now Mother Mary is about to gift him her blue Rosary beads too. I recount to Tom Mother Mary’s promise to me in Medugorje last October: ‘Her gift 📿and she is present in the sharing’. Tom accepts joyfully.

‘I have something to tell you too, I was hoping we might catch-up’, Tom utters. ‘My grandmother came from Knock, Co. Mayo and her mother Bridget (14 yrs old) was one of Knock visionaries way back in 1879. I can’t think of anyone else who might appreciate that more than you’.

Tom’s Great-grandmother one of Knock Shrine’s visionaries! Wow! Tom’s Great-grandmother gazed upon Jesus, Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, St. John the Evangelist and angels in those terrible famine days and now her Great-grandson lives in our town☀️ 

‘That is huge Tom’, was all I could think to say absolutely amazed. ‘It is’, replied Tom -‘Thank you for this’, holding his special gift📿 tightly.

As I write, delivery guy arrives at my door and of course he takes his leave holding Mother Mary’s beautiful beads, promising to place what weighs heavy in his heart right now, in beautiful Mother Mary’s hands.📿

After 3PM live-streamed Holy Rosary in Church this afternoon wonderful encounter with Italian couple. Gentleman, retired Insurance Broker. We joke that perhaps my prayer (which they accept) is God’s insurance policy gift to them! (Half joking-fully in earnest!)

Young teenagers who gratefully accepted my prayer this morning remain all day long in my deepest heart. One young girl in particular! The way she uttered: ‘Thank you soo much’.🙏🏻

‘Mother Mary stands at the court of Heaven fulfilling the office of all good mothers; promising, explaining, pleading for us, as mothers always do’. (Sr. Mary Jean)

Happy day😁☀️

‘What are the servants of God if not His minstrels, who must move people’s hearts and lift them up to spiritual joy’. (St. Francis of Assisi)

Early this morning I visited a dear lady who lost her beautiful son James very recently. We had never met, wonderful Holy Spirit prompt. She read my prayer silently and loved it. She happily accepted my blue plastic Rosary beads, I told her what Mother Mary put in my heart last October in Medugorje; ‘Not alone is she personally gifting this Rosary beads to the recipient, Mother Mary is actually present in the Grace-filled encounter 📿)

Lady talked about her beautiful James and before we parted I quoted Saint Pope John Paul; ‘Our deceased loved ones are invisible - not absent’. Those words comforted her broken heart a lot in that moment.

What a beautiful blessing to learn on arriving for Holy Mass some time later that today is St. James feast day. Beautiful God-incidence☀️

In the afternoon, elderly lady with the most amazing smile told me how unhappy she is now because she cannot live in her own home. When I suggested to her that her winsome smile lifts many a heart, she was surprised and definitely uplifted. I spoke the absolute truth, her warm smile lifts my heart always. I told her that our own plans are puny and paltry when compared with God’s lavish plans for us all, if we would put our trust in Him.

On way home I visited Church for a quick chat with beautiful Jesus in Holy Tabernacle. Lady sobbing silently, sitting alone, I offered her my prayer and Rosary beads. Her beautiful face wet with tears lit up like a thousand suns. I let her know that the Rosary beads were Mother Mary’s gift to her and even though right now her heavy heart hurts, all indeed will be very well. Smiling and crying all at the same time, she uttered: ‘I know. Thank you very much’.

Nearly home and had two Italian teenagers sitting on a bench not greeted me first, all three of us would have missed out on a most amazing divinely inspired encounter! They both read my prayer aloud and will pray it every morning. ‘You young folk really need us older ones to pass on what we know…’ I asked. Both of them nodding gravely, replied; ‘Yes we do’.

Speak Lord. Your servant is listening 🙏🏻

‘Never will we understand the value of time better than when our last hour is at hand’. (St. Arnold Jansen)

                               How I love to visit with dear Marina ❤️and her loyal Lesley every chance I get🐒

This morning I rang James (rip) heartbroken Mother letting her know that our beautiful encounter took place on St. James Feast day. No words!🌟 🙏🏻😭

‘And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it’. (Mark 16:20)

Pass it on🌟

‘The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest’. (St. Thomas More)

Rushing after 3pm live-streamed Holy Rosary in Church, almost didn’t offer her my prayer as she knelt silently, eyes closed, so glad now that I did. Thank you wonderful Holy Spirit.

We chatted and turns out our tales of wonder and woe matched almost perfectly, Being the (much) older dame I could pass on glorious gems gleaned on my winding road to where I stand right now. ‘You are very good’, she uttered sadly. ‘No’, I replied ‘Jesus is’, pointing to the large Cross on the wall

‘I didn’t read from a book what I am sharing with you’, I said. ‘I walked every mile of it in my moccasins’. Her fragile beautiful smile pierced my heart.

Tea with my new friends from a continent many miles from our town. Relieved, happy to be safe but they dearly wish to do something, anything, be of service, earn their keep. ‘Please be patient. This time of nothingness is not useless. You are growing stronger every day in every way’, I shared with them from my own lived experience. 

All on a Friday afternoon!! I love being my ripe old age! Lots to pass on!! 

If not me then who?

Road trip to catch a glimpse of tranquil soothing Atlantic Ocean. Every time 🌊 one of my dear Dad’s favourite songs dances into my heart:❤️

‘We saw the Atlantic, it wasn’t romantic. We saw the Pacific it wasn’t terrific. We saw the sea’. 🎶

‘Know that the Lord is God! It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture’. (Psalm 100:3)

An elderly gentleman I gave my prayer to a long time ago, greeted me today with the words: ‘Hello there. God’s secretary’.😁

Delightful day☀️🙏🏻

‘Act as if everyday were the last of your life, and each action the last you perform’.

 (St. Alphonsus Liguria)

Joyful privilege mine singing Amazing Grace in Church for Derm and Shona’s Wedding Blessing. I love this hymn and now it holds even more significance for me ever since Holy Spirit placed in my heart; ‘My Grace is with you right now’ in a moment of turmoil. Everything is Grace, Little Flower would oftentimes declare.

Eric and Fiona’s two daughters, Saoirse and Aoife, bridesmaids along with Shona’s two sisters Rachel and Natalie. Ruairi and Tricia’s little son Daithi pageboy as was Eric and Fiona’s son Cillian. Ruairi did one of the readings in Church.

Splendid fun-filled family and friends wedding reception. Derm, Killian and I delivered our wedding speeches. All went very well Thank God. 

Relaxed affair, dazzling day brimming with light and life. What a Mighty God we serve.

 

   ‘We are born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more’. (St. Joseph Cafasso)

Fun family time🌟

‘God’s word doesn’t overwhelm us. It invites us to respond’. (Bishop Barron)

Wonderful amazingly beautiful time together. Every single second delightful. How can I possibly in all honesty put in words that which is unutterably magnificent.

Killian and I left home last Wednesday, road-trips back on!! From then until Saturday (Derm and Shona’s Wedding day) we lived together, Derm, Shona, Luna Belle, Killian and I in perfect harmony. (Almost😂) Hugely reminiscent of bygone days when Derm and Killian were small and I was big😁. 

Luna Belle slept in my arms as I sang her to sleep with my rendition of: ‘If I needed you🎶’.❤️ All of us strolled every evening into the nearest village, Derm made us succulent lunchtime wraps. Shona provided us with every comfort and kindness imaginable. Killian drove me every place I needed to go in his rented car. No distance too long or short.

Claire’s had the perfect fascinator to complete my wedding ensemble and the young shop assistant loved my prayer. Every action a transaction! Young girl who tinted my eyebrows loved my prayer too. ‘You probably don’t have many clients hand out prayers’ I suggested to which she replied: ‘Not at all! Nobody is religious anymore’. 

Lady in Dunnes Stores seemed thrilled to receive my prayer but Killian told me later he saw her shake her head as I walked away👵 I must be about my Father’s business though, ridiculed or not. Lady in Centra shop laughed too as I took my leave but I know in my deepest heart that both ladies were happy to receive my prayer. I am sure of it!!

Young lady who gave me directions to Hair Salon readily accepted my prayer with the words: ‘I am not religious but a friend forwards something Holy on to me every morning and oftentimes it is just what I need in that particular moment.’ As she walked away she called back to me: ‘Look, it fits perfectly in my pocket’.

Hairdresser replied when I asked if I might leave him a prayer; ‘You can try’ laughing in disbelief but definitely not refusing..

One young guy really touched my heart. As he took my prayer he uttered seriously: ‘I haven’t prayed in a very long time but I will pray this tomorrow morning and from here on in. I am actually catching a flight to Spain tomorrow and it is very hot over there right now’. 

Many many more prayer-sharing encounters. Taxi driver having survived brain tumour surgery is now enjoying and appreciating his life in a far richer way than ever before. He cannot stop thanking God for this second chance. Lady, holding my prayer to her heart, pleasantly surprised uttered: ‘Thank you. I am having surgery soon’.

Holy Spirit dropped new ‘chat up line’ into my deepest heart in the midst of my prayer-sharing: ‘When you pray this every morning, there’s no guarantee that nothing will be ‘wrong’  but there’s every chance that you will be ‘strong’. Young guy heading to overheated Spain really took that wisdom to heart.

Two delightful older ladies told me something that makes perfect sense! In this our day and time, young folk are yearning with all their heart for guidance and truth, consistency too, but at the same time they are extremely fearful lest their contemporaries might perceive them to be ‘Holy Joe’s’. (Dunnes Stores and Centra ladies😀)

With that in mind I shall go forward unafraid! This is what I am here for and for this task I have been made and redeemed for such a time as this.☀️

If you know what torch to light, guiding others through the night. Light it! 🌟

‘Young people need the light of watchful guides to lead them on the path of salvation’.                            (St. John Baptist de la Salle)

‘Jesus spoke to them saying; ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’. (John 8:12)

We are family❤️

Come Holy Spirit, fill our minds with your truth. Fill our hearts with your love. Amen

‘Love your children. In them you can see Baby Jesus. Pray for them a lot and every day put them under Holy Mary’s protection’. (St. Gi Anna Molla)

Derm and Shona’s wedding party🌟📸

Derm and Shona wed during lockdown. Families only. In the meantime Luna Belle has arrived Thank God - just on time for our super party and renewal of Derm and Shona’s marriage vows.☀️🙏🏻 

‘Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be, and becoming that person’.

(St. Therese of Lisieux)