You almost smiled☀️🙏🏻

‘If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honour’. (St. Charles Borromeo)

My journey back home began with glorious Adoration of the most Blessed Sacrament in St. Peter and Paul’s Church, Cork city and ended with glorious Adoration of the most Blessed Sacrament in Franciscan Friary. Sacred bookends holding all encounters in between, safe and secure in the gladsome light of Christ.

Countless prayers shared, wonderful chats. Selfie with lady sitting in St. Peter and Paul’s Church. She wept while reading my prayer and through her tears whispered; ‘So much sadness all around.’ Then, quick as a flash she brightened and what a chat we had. When she told me that she wasn’t wearing her dentures this morning I told her truthfully that she was beautiful. I doubt she believed me. Our selfie is on my Frameo now. I would have loved to stay longer soaking up some of her hard earned authentic wisdom, pure unadorned beauty.

Young homeless guy, just out of prison. Hauntingly lost and broken. He has my prayer, all of Heaven minding him now. As we parted company I told him; ‘You almost smiled’ and then he really did. 

Young girl, twenty three years old. In foster care all of her short life. Not good! No one ever really cared. We had tea and toasted sandwich. As we walked she told me: ‘This makes me feel like a real person’. She has high hopes for a better life, study and one day go on to help others living the chaotic life she is immersed in right now. My email address is tucked safely in her sock, my prayer in her pocket. Our photo is on my Frameo now too. (Kind cafe lady took it).

Homeless folk always on my heart, I seek them out everywhere I go. Chatting with those two beautiful souls shone a light for me into that dark dangerous world. I learned stuff. Disturbing.

‘Go forth as an apostle - with no shoes. Then you too will hear the words of Christ at the end of the journey; ‘Have you wanted for anything?’. (Catherine Doherty/Madonna House)

One lady told me as she happily accepted my prayer; ‘I love this. I’m into all that stuff’. Just like my granddaughter Aoife told her teacher about me!

South African guy told me that one reason he loves Ireland is that he can wear ‘warm’ clothes when the weather is cold. At home in South Africa in the intense heat it is not possible to wear ‘cold’ clothes! Never heard that one before.

I left home with many powerful prayers (far too many I thought). I return home with none!

 

Impromptu ☀️🙏🏻

My dear sister Anne, first bus journey together since our schooldays way back in the sunny long ago. On her way to visit her husband in CUH, Anne normally drives and only took the bus ‘just for a change’. One of my many beautiful impromptu joy filled encounters. Had my designated bus shown up as planned, I would have missed out on so much beauty. God’s ways are always and ever will be, the best ways.

Zimbabwean lady. What a tale to tell, we will keep in touch. Prayerful as all asylum seekers seem to be. I have no doubt whatever that she and her fellow asylum seekers come to our shores bearing gifts more precious than anything we gift them. God owns everything. Last week as I asked four African ladies if they needed Bibles, it occurred to me how my fellow country folk would laugh in surprise if asked that same question. To our African friends totally normal welcome question.

Maureen (almost 80 years) shall remain in my heart forever. What a lady. Her turn of phrase, simplicity, prayerfulness, joy, acceptance, endurance, I could go on and on. Her widowed Mother ran a small shop and she: ‘Gave away more than she took in but there was enough to bury her’. Copious tablets keep mental illness at bay and because of them she suffers severe vertigo. She lives happily by God’s Grace taking the bus most days to the Friary in Killarney. ‘They know me there’.

She feels sorry for folk who shun prayer: ‘When the chips are down they won’t be able to take it’. Oh how I wish I could have recorded our whole conversation. Before we parted she apologised for ‘talking too much about herself’. If she only knew!!

Bus driver who not only happily received my prayer but took one also for his young son who loves reading the Bible. When I suggest he ask his boy pray Psalm 91 every day, Dad wrote it down in case he forgot. Holy Spirit wisdom for father and son! Another bus driver happily placed my powerful prayer in his work bag. 

African lady who’s beautiful baby was ‘diagnosed with Downes syndrome’. Or ‘blessed with Downes syndrome’, I replied. How she smiled. Little boy wrapped in swaddling clothes laid in a humble pram. Another unforgettable encounter!

While waiting on my super early morning bus that would never arrive (driver sadly took ill) Saint Mother Teresa’s quote danced into my heart: ‘Let us wait and see what God does with this’.

 As always, totally amazingly beyond beautiful every step of the way.

‘Lord, help me to make time today to serve you in those who are most in need of encouragement or assistance’. (St. Vincent de Paul)

Love this!! My powerful prayer at the base of St. Pio statue in Cork City Oratory. 

                              Gentle Friary. Peace and harmony far from the madding crowd.🙏🏻☀️   

All that stuff!!☀️🙏🏻

Somehow we found ourselves walking together in the rain, young frail guy and me, talking mostly about the weather! Yes it rains a lot in these parts but both of us like the rain. ‘Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet’,  Bob Marley once declared. I turned to go into Church, he about to walk on and Holy Spirit prompt; ‘I have a lovely morning prayer, would you like one’. To my utter surprise he replied: ‘Why not’.

We had never before spoken, never even met until this morning. Turns out frail young man is wading through crushing anxiety right now and has had to leave the job he enjoyed so much. He went on to tell me that his Dad was an abusive alcoholic who wreaked havoc on both his Mom and himself. ‘Alcohol should be banned’, he said sadly. Yes indeed, I bet whoever invented the stuff wishes now that they didn’t!

I told him that four years ago having been extremely ill in hospital, I awoke one morning with the following wisdom from wonderful Holy Spirit on my lips: ‘I am rebuilding you. This is your rest time. My gift to you. Accept and enjoy’. (Four years later I can truly declare that Wonderful Holy Spirit’s words are totally true!)

 

‘I needed to hear that’, young frail guy replied, smiling now. ‘Don’t worry about anything today’, I suggested. ‘I won’t and you don’t worry today either’, he replied.

I needed to hear that too!!

‘If we wish to make any progress in the service of God, we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness’. (St. Charles Borromeo)

I asked my granddaughter Aoife how come I get to do a reading at her Confirmation Holy Mass. Her sweet reply: ‘I told my teacher that my Nan is Holy and into all that stuff’. Allelulia.

After Holy Mass Aoife whispered to me:’Give my teacher one of your prayers Nan’. Holy Spirit prompt. My joy☀️🙏🏻

Bishop Crean, our Parish Priest once upon a time. 

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us.☀️🙏🏻

Everyone is looking for You, Jesus☀️🙏🏻

Jesus is the joy of every heart.

Guy sat alone in pew as I set up Holy Alter for Holy Mass this morning. When I offered him my powerful prayer he told me that he would share it with his wife who is right now waiting in their car feeling quite poorly. ‘Please take another one for her’, I suggested. He was so happy and super shocked at the same time. ‘I’m a grandmother who shares prayers. Strange concept in these times’, I said. His reply: ‘And it shouldn’t be!’. Poor man needed badly a helping hand and wonderful Holy Spirit saved the day as only He can do. 

American Priest, Deacon and their happy group, celebrated Holy Mass in Church this afternoon. Third Holy Mass with visiting groups from America in less than one week. I thoroughly enjoyed being Sacristan every time, joyful prayerful occasions all three of them. Today’s Priest told me that their own Cathedral in America looks quite grand on the outside but unlike ours, needs lots of work done inside. ‘Don’t we all!!’, I added. Homily fodder right there!!

I gifted a powerful prayer for each member to respective group leaders. Many powerful prayers got shared. All glory to God. (Today’s leader exclaimed; ‘They are laminated!!)

When my prayer-sharing mission began some years ago I had no idea how it would bloom but Father God did!!

3pm Live-streamed Holy Rosary and two ladies of another Faith sat on pew nearest Holy Alter. Sometimes they discussed, other times they sat in silence gazing on Holy Cross of Christ. Not in the least disruptive, I prayed Holy Rosary with my friends online, while enjoying their company all at the same time. 

Hard to articulate how beautiful is life within the walls of our Church every single day. Unforgettable Holy Spirit guided encounters, far too numerous to mention. I do not go in search of the world anymore but it seems to me that the world is coming more and more to this place as I go about my day under the omniscient gaze of beautiful Jesus, our Lord, Saviour and elder brother, in Holy Tabernacle.

Reminding me of what an elderly lady told my Dad one day when I was a little girl: ‘One day Eddy, it will all fit into a barnacle’. I had no idea what she meant back then but I really do now!

‘When they found Jesus, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for You’. (Mark 1:37)

‘How wonderful it is to be who we are, without masks, without fears, without compromises, without lies. Let’s learn to open our hearts to Jesus, even if sometimes we feel tired and wounded, to free ourselves from the weight of our sin through the only medicine able to heal the deepest wounds of our lives: the Eucharist.

Only by shaping our actions on the word of Jesus and nourishing ourselves with Him will we find that peace and joy that we need so much’. (Mother Elvira Petrozzi)

 

Ever what He brings me☀️🙏🏻

God is the Artist. I am the block of marble and the chisel is EVERYTHING.

Thinking this morning how uncomplicated life can become when we learn to accept each moment without judgement. ‘My Grace is with you right now’. In recent times, Heavenly peace has descended into my deepest heart and never before have I tasted anything remotely like it. Unutterable!! I love to share how wonderful Father God took all my shattered nerves and painstakingly, over time, He replaced each one with a brand new nerve. This is how I see it.

“From on high He reached down and seized me; He drew me forth from the mighty waters”.

(Psalm 17:17)

“Almost forty years ago, I ran a crèche in a Fitness Club. Back in the day when rules and regulations were scant, we made it up as we went along. Hard to believe such times even existed! One day I asked a little boy (Docter now) what he was hoping to receive from Santa Clause. Without a moment’s hesitation he simply replied; ‘Ever what he brings me’. 

I never forgot those wise words from the mouth of a child. They remained in my heart up and down the long years waiting for the day when I could honestly apply them to my own wonderful life from God;  Dear Lord, ever what You bring me. Amen

Joyful devout Priest and congregation all the way from America celebrated Holy Mass in our Church early this morning. My privilege to be their Sacristan. Last week a different American group celebrated Holy Mass too. Both groups each received my powerful prayer and loved it. Lots of laminating of late! 

Today’s group’s Bus Driver’s relatives living in our town and I got to connect them. Thing is, had his cousin not been ultra helpful a few months ago when many asylum seekers began to arrive in our town, I would not have had his number and so Bus Driver and his kin might have passed as ships in the night. How great is our God. 

Same Bus Driver, all the way from America, attended his first Holy Mass in twenty years in our Church this morning. What an honour for us! He told me that somehow mysteriously he agreed to be Bus Driver for this ‘Holy’ tour having turned down all other previous requests. When I handed him Holy Rosary beads from Medugorje, we both knew Mother Mary was gently calling her son home from his extended travels. Bus Driver had no complaints as he smiled from ear to ear.

                                            Moment of transcendence, beauty and peace. 

‘Everything I have learned about beauty in its simplicity, I learned from the Blessed Virgin Mary’.     (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Luminous encounter in Church this evening. Beautiful gentle couple all the way from Tennessee joyfully accepted my powerful prayer and then charming lady told me that her handsome husband was enjoying a ‘quiet day’. She went on to explain (in few words) that for the duration of one whole day every week he utters not a single word, doing everything he normally does in serene silence. Oftentimes she joins him on his day of calm.

Something about them touched my deepest heart. We spoke very little and yet our encounter was heavily laden with all that is good, true and beautiful. Definitely worth pondering upon…..one whole day without words!

‘Beauty and creativity liberate the spirit and bring peace’. (Catherine Doherty/Madonna House)

Sunshine in my heart☀️🙏🏻

‘What doe the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God’. (Micah 6:8)

‘I pray your prayer every morning ‘, she told me as she hurried past. I caught up with her, yearning to hear her speak. I knew she would be interesting! Quaintly dressed, little boots that stood out (no pun intended). To the unseeing eye just another ordinary middle-aged lady but oh she was so much more than that. We talked about God and prayer and her painful head. I shared my flowers with her, fresh from our Legion of Mary alter. (Legion of Mary meeting in Church every Thursday morning before Holy Mass). ‘You console me’, she said and looking deeply into my soul, uttered; ‘You’ll get to Heaven no bother, there is no sin in you’. Wow! What a gift to my heart!

Little further on, Postman accepted my prayer. He may have needed a prayer I think. Smiling surprised he told me; ‘Thank you. This is no load to me right now’. 

Later, on my way to St. Anne’s Holy Rosary, elderly gentleman shuffling across zebra crossing leaning heavily on his walking stick. Recognising him I thanked him for providing much needed employment through  the years to countless folk in our town. ‘Now I have a gift for you’, I told him, handing him my prayer. For the longest time I will remember fondly his warm smile on hearing my words: ‘When you pray this prayer every morning, all of Heaven will be minding you and your family’. 

‘You give me this’, he uttered, holding up my powerful prayer. Affluent generous gentleman, involved with many thriving business ventures and yet, in that brief moment, on the edge of zebra crossing, (zebra crossing! whole bunch of theology in that) he knew without question or doubt, that he had lovingly received something priceless, more precious than gold.

Three unforgettable encounters. Divine appointments. Holy moments.

‘Keep the joy of loving God in your heart and share this joy with all you meet, especially your family. Be holy’. (St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

Beautiful invitation this evening! My dear granddaughter Aoife asks if I would like to do a reading at her Confirmation Holy Mass. What an honour and delight.

Some years ago when Aoife was receiving her first Holy Communion, she told me; ‘Nan, every time I say a prayer, every time I pass a Church, I think of you. That’s the kind of Nan you are’. Wow! What a gift to my heart!

‘Viva Cristo Rey’. (Miguel Pro SJ)☀️🙏🏻

She paused in her mad hurry, seeking directions to the Intreo Office. Little elderly Ukrainian lady out of her depth, many miles from her harried homeland. Copious forms to fill out, no word of English emanating from her anxious mouth. As we walked I offered her my prayer. Because she was confused I pointed to the Cross of Jesus around my neck. ‘Islam’, she replied with utter conviction;‘No Christo!’. 

Walking on, we soon arrived at her destination and full of gratitude she hugged me warmly. Sheer magnitude of it all moving both of us to tears. Poor dear lady. 

In Church I went directly to that beautiful Divine Mercy image and tearfully uttered: ‘Imagine this weary world with no Christo’.

Myriad displaced devastated folk in our town right now (oftentimes in tears) and yet, alongside all of that, countless amazing miracles. Overwhelming need and yet ‘Blanketiers’ (Our Volunteer WhatsApp group) coming up with the goods every time. John, out of the goodness of his own heart, ensuring anyone who needs a Holy Bible gets one and that’s pretty much everyone. Most definitely, God is doing a new thing in our town.

All of us deeply privileged to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, our elder brother. We measure our Holiness on how well we imitate Jesus.

‘Following Jesus means nothing other than reproducing His virtues in ourselves, in order to do all things well. It is trying to assume His imprint on our bodies and our souls that we might be entirely transformed into Him’. (Blessed Conchita)

‘If only we would go out, calling upon Jesus power, His Grace, His authority and His word and leaving ourselves out of the picture, we too could do wonders for Him’. (Frances Hogan)

Many young folk joyfully accepting my powerful prayer. Amazing encounters almost every single day. Unforgettable young couple from Sweeden who offered money (Irish Granny freely sharing powerful prayer, super strange concept!) and then were further moved when I asked if they would like me to take a photo of them in our Church. They could not stop smiling as they posed in front of Jesus statue. Definitely they were not expecting that!! Conversation starter for sure when they return home.

Joy: Jesus first. Others next. Yourself last.

‘If we have given ourselves to Jesus Christ, we can give Him to others who are in quest of God, the sea of people who move from one place to another seeking not knowing what they seek. People who hunger for Him today but are confused by a thousand voices….We can give them Jesus Christ if we are in love with Him, the Christ who is in our midst’. (Catherine Doherty)

I didn’t know I was going to find so much love.☀️🙏🏻

‘I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn’. (Anne Frank)

‘I didn’t know I was going to find so much love’: First words she penned in her pristine notepad. Diary of an African Nan. (I love gifting notepads and pens. Lifesavers!). As I was leaving Refugee Centre, she (grandmother) stood at reception, signing copious forms alongside many others. Strangers to each other, collected by common calamity. Yes, all of them together in one place but each one standing alone. Wishing those who incessantly gripe and complain would come and see for themselves.

St. Anne’s afternoon Holy Rosary delightful as always. To be in that sacred space truly a slice of Heaven. Fifteen years ago I asked Father Niall (our Parish Priest for a time) if he would have someone pray Holy Rosary with the gentle folk in St. Anne’s. His reply: ‘How about you do it!’. Seemed an outrageous proposal to me at that time but the seed was sewn coming to fruition in God’s own time. 

In Church three American ladies gladly accepted my prayer. They read and loved it. When I told them that it came to me from EWTN, one of the ladies laughed telling me that her husband one time worked for EWTN.

In Church too, Breda asked Brendan (who uses words sparingly), if he knew the guy Bridget (I) was talking to. ‘He could be from the Horn of Africa and Bridget would make free with him’. replied Brendan dryly. Funny and true!

‘Be who you are meant to be and you will set the world on fire’. (St. Catherine of Sienna)

Another memory! May 2020, first refugees had just arrived in our town. ‘I think I might be involved with our visitors’, I suggested to Jesus one day. ‘You will’, He whispered in my deepest heart. Four years later it is coming to pass and oh how grateful we are to be of assistance to our sisters and brothers in Christ. ‘Blanketiers’, our volunteer WhatsApp group adding new members all the time.

Hearts are being opened. God is blessing our town through the prayers of our visitors, they do not come empty handed! Our little town is not so little anymore.

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God’. (2Corinthians 3-5)

Mothers Day.☀️🙏🏻

 

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

God Bless your big beautiful hearts. My beautiful boys from God.❤️🙏🏻

Thank you for your generous thoughtful gifts. I am truly blessed.

‘My heart is full as I contemplate the Kingdom within us all that makes it possible for us, despite the worst apparent handicaps, to do the work of God on earth. When I was talking about this book to a friend in America, he suggested: “Bring the story to a dramatic climax”. 

But I don’t know how I can. 

The story and I can only go on and on, for that is what life is, the process of going on and on until the work for which we were created comes to an end”. 

‘The Kingdom within’. (Genevieve Caulfield)

Jim🐈 dropped by this morning after a long absence (many weeks) just to wish me: ‘Happy Mother’s day’.❤️ (and there are those who deem our feline friends to be ungrateful!)

Afternoon tea with ladies in Refugee Centre. All of us Moms, some of us Nans too. I ask them what surprised them most on arriving in deepest Kerry, far far away from their own continent. One lady talked about the weather, others our buildings etc. Last lady to reply, Mom and Nan just like myself, uttered haltingly, stifling back tears (yet again): ‘I didn’t know I was going to find so much love’. Holy moment!

                               Mothers Day 2024 extraordinarily beautiful in every way.

Exalted company☀️🙏🏻

Each lady got gifted a beautiful pendant for Mother’s Day. What is so amazing about that? The beautiful pendants were given to me by a dear lady who would never wear them (gathering dust she said!) so she asked if I would gift them to visitors in our town, folk far away from their own homelands and dear families. Utterly moving! What a privilege to be assigned such an awesome task.

The ladies, joyfully surprised, gifted me beautiful hymns in their own dialect while wearing their new pendants. Yes, the pendants are indeed beautiful but oh so much more than that, laden with meaning! Father God letting His dear children know that all will be well. All is as it should be, right here, right now.

We held hands as one lady prayed aloud. I don’t know the words she spoke but Holy Spirit goosebumps enveloped me while grateful tears filled my eyes. Holy Trinity, One God, present for sure in our cozy corner of Refugee Centre. 

That is what our God is like!!

‘May He walk with us all the days of our lives. His light shine in us. His words make us whole. The kindness, love, joy He shows us through other people, may we give it to others. May the Lord be with us all the days of our lives’. (Pendant ladies). (Text message)

‘Jesus said also to the man who had invited Him; “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen, or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just’. Luke 14:12-14)

‘Everything a baptised Christian does every day, EVERYTHING!! should be directly or indirectly related to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy’. (Doris Day)

‘To join Jesus army is to do the corporal and spiritual works of mercy’. (Bishop Robert Barron)

Walking with Jesus☀️🙏🏻

‘But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying: “Take heart, it is I: have no fear”. (Matthew 14:27)

On my way to Holy Mass this morning, Postman driving by stops to hand me this beautiful postcard. He never before did that. ‘Letter for you’, he said. ‘It is so beautiful’, I replied. ‘Great start to your day’, Postman said. ‘Yours too’, I replied. 

A few minutes before this took place, I said aloud: ‘Oh Jesus, I love walking with you’. 

Further on, bursting with joy I tell Mary all about it. ‘Oh yes’, she replies, ‘Nobody writes letters anymore’. (Missing the whole point!)

Then she added: ‘Do you know of anybody who could use a pair of shoes, size 6’. I could hardly believe my ears! I surely do know someone who will be delighted with her new shoes. Thankyou kind Mary.

After Holy Mass lady told me that her teenage son who received my prayer recently, sent me a message: ‘Hello. God Bless and Thank you very much’. Wow!

Wonderful visit with guy recovering from long-awaited much needed surgery. All pain gone from his ever-joyful face. His daughter, ever-joyful too, told me she learned very early-on from her dad to smile in good times and bad. Impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time.

St.Anne’s Holy Rosary I told my precious folk that if I had a choice between a holiday in America or pray Holy Rosary with them, I would choose the latter. ‘Do you believe me Nora’, I asked. ‘I do. You are like that’, she replied. Dear Nora. High praise indeed!

Dear lady on her final journey received a brown Scapular. Miraculous that!

Oh how I love walking with Jesus! ‘The joy of the Lord is my strength’. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has, and this requires transforming greed into gratitude. (St. John Chrysostom)

Slow down. Cover less ground.😀🙏🏻

Flawless timing divine wisdom! (God calling2).  Last night Killian was concerned that maybe I rush about too much, leaving little or no time just for little old me. God Bless his kind caring heart.

How could I explain that with Jesus holding the reins, there is no strain! Time reveals all. We must each of us do our own growing no matter how tall our grandfather was. 

Just now Father calls leting me know that St. Anne’s Holy Mass is being postponed until next Wednesday. Awesome God caring for Killian’s concerns too. Restful morning for me and any time I am unable to attend Holy Mass, wonderful Holy Spirit whispers: ‘It will be as if you have been at Holy Mass’.

I love St. Teresa of Avila’s quote:

‘One single Holy Eucharist devoutly received would be enough. One Sacred Host is 100% Jesus - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. It only takes one Holy Eucharist to make us a Saint’. 😀

The red coat

Maria is one of the very first African folk to arrive in our town. Older than the others she came across a touch arrogant, proud even. One day my dear sister Chris gave me a beautiful red coat and I gifted it to Maria. (I knew right away that it was meant for her)

What happened next stays with me forever.

Maria told me that she had much wealth and now it is all gone, loss of life too. (Her words). When she received her beautiful red coat she knew God was speaking to her in a powerful way. He was telling her that she will always have nice things (of course God knows that Maria loves nice things!) but above all of that, Maria has Him, she is not alone on this foreign soil. She has everything she needs right here, right now. 

What a transformation!! Nowadays, Maria is happy, accepting her new life, believing with all her heart that God will find a way. She looks so much better too!

‘Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices’. (St. Teresa of Avila)

Let go and let God☀️🙏🏻

Daniel was in no mood for my chitchat when I arrived at his Care-Home today. He agreed to let me fix his pillow before closing his weary eyes in peaceful sleep. Walking away from him, feeling extra to curriculum, unwanted, when after a while beautiful Jesus spoke to my deepest heart. (I love how calm my Jesus always is). ‘You came here today to fix Daniel’s pillow. He has no need of anything else’. Wow! My bus journey was not a wasted one. I got to do what I was called to do. All glory and honour to Holy Trinity one God. (I had forgotten that our elderly need so little but they need that ‘little’ so much!)

I prayed Holy Rosary in magnificent Church. Sheer joy! Normally I kneel or sit while in prayer but walking in prayerful reverence in the company and under glorious gaze of Jesus in Holy Tabernacle. Unutterably sublime.

Wonderful encounters in compact Cafe (tiny). Ash, young guy who’s pretty flower, now dried and pressed, is in my prayer-book from our very first meeting almost a year ago. Today our third meeting. (Coincidence, said Ash. God-incidence I suggested).  As we parted I gifted him St. Catherine of Sienna’s beautiful quote: ‘Be who you are meant to be and you will set the world on fire’. He memorised it joyfully. Perhaps that is all Ash needed today too. 

Two Phillipino ladies received my prayer. One said: ‘This is a big blessing. God is with us right here, right now’. Other lady will stick it on the wall beside her bed and pray it every morning. Polish lady ‘spiritual’ and not religious so declined my prayer. I suggested she keep it until she is elderly like us and perhaps one day she may well pick it up again. Delighted she agreed. (Probably thinking to herself that ‘being elderly’ is way off in the distance. I thought that one time too!)

Nora in Post Office queue (our coats identical!) shared as she gratefully accepted my prayer: ‘This is beautiful. I am just emerging from a fierce battle with cancer’. How can I possibly articulate how grateful I am to be used by God in moments like that! Better than all the tea in China.

‘If only we would go out calling upon Jesus power, His Grace, His authority and His word, and leaving ourselves out of the picture, we too could do wonders for Him’. (Frances Hogan)

Henry Nouwen.

Sharing and caring☀️🙏🏻

‘Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire’. (St. Catherine of Siena)

Guy walking past as I made my way to Holy Mass this morning and stuck to the Velcro on hood of his jacket, plain as day in full view, grubby cloth duster. I drew his attention to it and when we eventually stopped laughing I suggested that Holy Spirit must really want him to have my prayer. No other explanation! He accepted graciously, surprised and really happy with our encounter, as indeed was I. 

One thing always borrows another and I am reminded of something similar happening to myself many years ago when we lived in Swords, Co. Dublin. One morning I walked from my home to the village (twenty minutes) not realising that a personal item, definitely not intended for public display was stuck to the bottom of my backpack. Back in the day when some stuff was still sacred, unlike now I’m sad to say. Oh the embarrassment of it all!!

After Holy Mass, I walked through the park just to get a photo of my snow-capped favourite mountain. Another delightful encounter! Young Ukrainian couple, first day in our town and awestruck with the beauty confronting them, stopped to chat. Of course they received my prayer even though they never pray. They will now pray it every morning they told me. I shared with them how desperately prayer is needed right now for Ukraine, Gaza and countless other war torn parts of our troubled world.

After 3pm live-streamed Holy Rosary, tea with lovely Nadia (Albania) in Lazy Cat Cafe. So many displaced folk in our town right now. Care and share or remain aloof, choice is ours to make but lest we forget - we were born for a such a time as this. We were created for this! We are really serving Jesus in serving one another.

Each and everyone of us is exactly where we are meant to be, right here, right now. Our God makes no mistakes and He always provides!

‘The only answer in this life, to the loneliness we are all bound to feel, is community. The living together, working together, sharing together, loving God and loving our brother, and living close to Him in community so we can show our love for Him’. (Dorothy Day)

‘I am inspired and humbled by the generosity of people towards those who are seeking refuge in our land and towards those of this land for whom life has been more than difficult and who find themselves at life’s edge. In our generosity - when we give ourselves and our resources, Christ comes to life in us anew’. (Archbishop Dermot Farrell)

Service joyfully☀️🙏🏻

‘Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God’. (Leon Bloy)

Optician’s scan reveals that at the back of my left eye a nerve is thinning. Not ideal but all other tests normal so no intervention needed for now. Wait and see!! (No pun intended).

Taken aback for sure! Hearing unexpected news like that sharpens my focus. I think of my dear younger sister Katy who died suddenly over one year ago. Taken out of her shoes, no warning. Definitely her passing makes me even more passionate about life than before, despite the fact that I miss her oh so much. Paradox!

I truly believe that only when we pop our clogs and leave this world behind will we fully realise how wonderful and beautiful being alive in this world really is. Unutterable gift from our Father God. Hence my intention to make every moment matter whatever the circumstance or trial. Life is short. Eternity is forever.

Walking home in the rain, grumpy lady calls to me: ‘What a horrible day’. ‘We are alive thank God’. I reply smiling, she smiles too. The ordinary is extraordinary!

3PM live-streamed Holy Rosary in Church, sharing my prayer afterwards with young folk, two young ladies from Switzerland. Local guy who ‘mislaid my prayer’ and would like another to pray every morning going forward. Young folk delight my heart,

To be Your Hands and Feet, beautiful Jesus is deepest desire of my heart. You know how the story ends, I don’t need to. In the meantime, my eyes and all of me is Yours to use as You will.

‘I am confident of this: that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus’. (Philippians 1:6)

 

God is beautiful ☀️🙏🏻

                 ‘The Grace to live a vocation is there only if a Call is there’. (Fr. Malachi Napier)

‘God is beautiful. Every word is a big heart’. Ukrainian lady’s words first thing this morning as she accepted my prayer. What a start to my day!

Legion of Mary meeting, Holy Mass before Derm dropped me at Daniel’s Nursing home on his journey back home to his beloved family, rested and renewed after our smashing weekend together.

Every week there is a noticeable difference in Daniel, more alert and his voice gets stronger. Singing along, today he even managed a smile. Human touch! While there, I get to visit and pray with other dear folk too. Our esteemed elderly need so little but they need that ‘little’ so much. Never a chore, spending time in their company is time well spent and beyond enjoyable.

Young girls on work-experience in nursing-home happily received my prayer. I share with them that without Jesus they will get by, but with Jesus they will fly. No way of articulating how joyful, young folk become on hearing that eternal truth. Every time!

Wonderful prayer-sharing week, to mention but a few. Friday last, after 3pm live-streamed Holy Rosary kindly gentleman approached me, shook my hand and looking directly into my soul uttered: ‘Thank you for all you do. Be Holy, be happy’. Speechless, tears filled my eyes. Definitely divine visitation!

Young German girl, surprised, accepting my prayer with the words: ‘I really appreciate this’, walking away, glancing back smiling, all at the same time. Older lady (perhaps her Mom) graciously refused. (Role reversal).

One of my African ladies could not stop crying and next day she told me that having prayed long into the night, suddenly her sadness faded away and today she is feeling much better. I instantly knew what she meant. One time, in deep turmoil I prayed Holy Rosary many times and my hurting heart literally became joyful, like I had something to celebrate! Prayer is powerful, it gives life to the soul.

Poor guy who loves his wine far too much and much too often, told me honestly how much he would love to quit drinking. ‘Let’s pray’, I suggested, right there in the park. He did not laugh or think me weird. God grant poor man the freedom he so earnestly desires. I read one time that freedom is the opposite to alcoholism and not sobriety!

Elderly couple (Afghan asylum seekers) sitting on a bench. I sign to them that I will take their photo if they wish. Handing me their phone, they stand together smiling like a thousand suns. My joy could not be contained either, seeing both of them so happy. Delightful joy-filled impromptu performance!

After Sunday Holy Mass, elderly elegant lady in the midst of her loving family, called me to say: ‘You know the prayer you gave me a long time ago? I say it every morning’. Wow! Thumbs-up from Heaven above.

I love my prayer-sharing vocation from God. Exciting, no two days ever the same. Only Jesus could make things happen the way they do. Everything is better with You in it, my dearest Jesus.

‘All work with me is wonder-work. God working in and through man. This should be the normal work of every Christian’s day. For this I came to earth, to show man this could be’. (Jesus/God calling)

                                                                        Valentia slate quarry.

                                                                    The broad Atlantic.

‘I will attempt day by day to break my will into pieces. I want to do God’s Holy Will, not my own’. 

(St. Gabriel Possenti)

All of us together.☀️🙏🏻

‘Sing to God with joyful devotion, and don’t stop’. (Hildegard of Bingen)

‘Skellig Trio’ sang at 11AM Holy Mass this morning. Deepest Africa and deepest Kerry, adoring and praising Holy Trinity One God, in this sacred sacrosanct space that is our Church.

Whatta Mighty God we serve!

‘Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?’. 

(St. Gerard)

Just this minute hearing brilliant Bishop Barron speak (YouTube): ‘Do I love the benefits of God or do I love God’ . Instantly a marvellous memory dances into my heart.

Killian, probably eight years old at the time (twenty two years ago), giddily ecstatic, telling me that somebody had given him five pounds. ‘Who do you love the most’, I ask him - ‘God or money?’.

‘God, of course’ , he replies, without batting an eyelid. ‘because doesn’t God give me money’. 😀

‘