Glad surprise☀️🙏🏻

‘The soul that has God as it’s best friend trusts God, because the soul knows that God always organises everything for the best.’ (Mechthild of Magdeburg)

I asked Jesus if I could please receive Him in Holy Communion despite the fact that I was desperately late for Holy Mass. Perhaps I would arrive in Church just on time for Holy Eucharist. Was I being disrespectful? All of Holy Mass is sacrosanct.

Almost at my destination when tired looking young guy came walking towards me carrying a brown paper bag in his hand, alcohol for sure. We saluted one another and of course without thinking I offered him my powerful prayer. ‘Yes please. If you have one’, he replied, surprised. His gentle smile lit up his whole face when I reminded him; ‘I’m sharing, not preaching’. 

I hurried into Church and sure enough, Holy Eucharist had already been given out to the congregation. No problem, I sat relaxed in prayerful peace, thanking Jesus from my heart for our beautiful encounter in the person of that bone weary young man. Everything was exactly as it should be.

After Father had bestowed his final blessing, in Persona Christi, I headed towards Holy Alter and there, to my glad surprise, Phil, about to give Holy Eucharist to lady who sang at Holy Mass. Perfect timing, I too received precious Holy Eucharist.

So amazingly beautiful. Our God can never be outdone in generosity.

Cardinal Robert Sarah’s wonderful words from his masterpiece ‘The Power of Silence’ dances into my heart as I struggle to sum it all up; ‘Words spoil anything which surpasses them’.

                     ‘It only takes one Holy Communion to make us a Saint’. (St. Teresa of Avila)

Go have tea with Hope☀️🙏🏻

‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go’. (Psalm 32:8)

Holy Mass this beautiful St. Stephen’s day. Hope (Africa) sat in the pew across from me. I was surprised when Holy Spirit whispered into my deepest heart; ‘Go have tea with Hope after Holy Mass’. As always I asked Holy Sprit a few times if I was hearing right! I didn’t audibly hear ‘yes’ but I didn’t hear ‘no’ either. Hard to put in words that ‘knowing’ feeling.

Turns out, Hope received word yesterday, Christmas day, that she will soon be starting her new job in Dublin. Expecting to have to wait until her money comes into her account on Thursday, wonderful Holy Spirit to her rescue. I would gladly help out today and therefore Hope can begin, right away, putting her new life in motion. A few short years younger than me, we both know all about ‘beginning again’.

Hope spent yesterday, Christmas Day, alone in her room. Yes she missed her family in Africa but for the most part she danced, sang and praised God for His never-failing faithfulness in everything she’s been through. Add to that, new job where she will earn actual money. How great is our God.

Had Holy Spirit not prompted me, Hope would have returned to her room after Holy Mass this morning uttering not a word of her ‘good news’. None of our worthwhile encounter would have come to pass either.

‘I will look after you one day’, she told me. I could truthfully tell her that her powerful prayers are already helping my family and I. Each and every one of us give, every action is a transaction. 

How great it is to know, really really know, that God owns everything, even money!!

Passion and empathy is all it takes to live our best life, Hope says. Now that is top-tier freedom straight from Heaven above.

Don’t just live. Live with passion!

‘They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, that shall walk and not faint’. (Isaiah 40:31)

Hope told me too that after arriving in our town she cried every single day but her tears dried the day we met and now she rarely cries. Oh to be the Hands and Feet of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in this world. 

                                              (He must increase; I must decrease’. (John 3:30)

O Lord, You are the Word, spoken from eternity by the Father. You came to dwell among us and to lead us with You to Your Father’s House. I thank You, I praise You. I worship You Amen. (Henry Nouwen)

Do it anyway ☀️🙏🏻

Handsome young man, toddler in pushchair, stood just inside the door of Church this morning as I entered. Both of us smiled and without thinking I offered him my powerful prayer. ‘You gave it to me already’, he said. ‘But when’? I asked, surprised.

Turns out, last May, my granddaughter, on her Confirmation day, (in another county of Ireland) asked if I would give one of my prayers to her Teacher. Courageous request, surrounded as she was by her many peers. Courage needed by me too but of course I did it anyway feeling a tad awkward for sure. Even then I knew in my heart it was a special assignment.

To my delightful surprise, here in our Church this morning stood that same teacher.

‘I have your prayer in my car and I take it out sometimes. I can’t tell you I read it every morning though’, he told me. Golden opportunity right there letting this genial young man gently know that to pray my prayer every morning is inviting all of Heaven into his day and that of his whole family.  

He agreed liking what he heard. He took a second prayer too for someone else. I congratulated him on his kind caring teaching ways with my grandchild and countless others and how my granddaughter had told me on numerous occasions how much they loved having him for their Teacher. Gifted young man.

Had my grandchild, prompted by wonderful Holy Spirit on her special Confirmation day, not stepped out in faith last May, our beautiful encounter today would most certainly never have come to pass! Also, he recognised me, I did not recognize him. Had I not offered my prayer spontaneously this morning, as I do, I would have been none the wiser! What a shame that would be.

Holy Spirit’s words in one of my many faltering times, dance into my heart as I write; ‘How can I give you more courage when you do not use the courage you already have in your heart’.

Divine confirmation from on-High, all of it. Bearing this in mind, fellow pilgrims, courageously we shall march on, placing one foot in front of the other, in the gladsome light of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Nothing to fear - Jesus is here!

‘When we know and believe without question or doubt, that in all that we do, God is there to help out. We hold in our hand the golden key, to peace and joy and serenity’. (Helen Steiner Rice)

My Katy☀️🙏🏻

Dearest Katy, today, two years ago, you took your leave, suddenly and without warning, of this wonderful world. Hearing the awful news, forever etched in my memory.

You and I hadn’t met up in such a long time, lockdowns and other stuff, five years to be exact. Then, God in His mercy and kindness, gifted us one last catch-up. You came walking towards me and I could not believe my eyes. I can still see your head lowered, your black hair.

I asked someone to take our photograph. So glad I did now. Priceless photo!

We found each other one last time in this world and I am forever grateful to God for that. 

Remember when our dear Mom died suddenly and I called you up in my agonising aloneness imploring; ‘If I get lost, will you find me Katy’. ‘I will find you’, you replied.

One fine day, we will find each other again please God, dear Katy. Together forever. No more tears.

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

Killian told me one time when he was a very small boy; ‘I have three mothers, Our Lady, Mom and Katy’.❤️

Come and see☀️🙏🏻

 ‘If you wish to go to extremes, let it be in sweetness, patience, humility and Charity’. (St. Philip Neri)

Her room mate called last evening letting me know that new lady had arrived in accommodation. This morning we met in Church. Young girl, lost and alone. Travelled many miles to get here. Completely out of her depth.

Gifting her a Rosary beads, I told her that holding it, particularly at night when fear drops by unbidden, she is touching the hem of Jesus garment. No fear - Jesus is here! She cried. I cried too. 

All you who want to keep Ireland only for the Irish - All you who say there are too many asylum seekers in our little island of Ireland…

Come and see what we see!!

‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me’. (Matthew 25:35-36)

Tea in Heaven☀️🙏🏻

Wonderful elderly lady accepted joyfully my powerful prayer after Holy Mass in this beautiful Church this morning (as did others) and what an enjoyable encounter ensued. Laughter, sadness and everything in between. Over tea and scones she told me that her dear son died some time ago and the very last words he uttered in this world were: ‘See you in Heaven Mom’. Oh how she cried.

Eighty years ago she met her future husband at a dance, his curly black hair and gorgeous set of teeth stealing her heart instantly. She, like myself, loves meeting folk, chance encounters, both of us wishing we could sit chattering, drinking tea for a far longer time. However, Mary was waiting on me back in the B&B.

Lady and I extremely grateful for precious moments gifted to us by God. She told me that every new encounter gifts her a new outlook, fresh eyes and strength to keep on keeping on.

Almost forgot! She took eleven powerful prayers for her grandchildren, not at all sure that they will pray it. I told her that a grandmother recently asked for seventeen for her grandchildren. Us grandparents have much to do while we still live in this wonderful world, thank God and we shall do it, by God’s glorious Grace.

Young Hungarian guy smoking his cigarette read my prayer aloud and smiling said: ‘This is lovely’. Young girl who told me more than once: ‘I really appreciate this’. Young girl who shared her Jesus experience one time, telling me she rarely speaks about it. Privileged me. Traffic warden who will put my prayer in his car even though he refused at first. Sad lady, utterly downcast who crossed my path a second time amazingly. (Hesitant, I missed my first chance. Wonderful Holy Spirit of second chances to my rescue and hers). Estonian lady wearing superb hat she herself knitted!

Huge need and desire for something good, true and beautiful, in this our day and time. Young folk in particular beyond shocked to be offered a prayer. Beyond thrilled too. 

Mary loves dancing, so that night I stayed home alone in our B&B, comatose in the cosiest of beds and softest of pillows. Long silent hours crammed with light and life. I have no other words!!

Firm friends, Mary and I, next to nothing in common but never a dull moment in our travels.

Journey home, we stopped to pray at the wake of a dear quiet reclusive man Mary once knew. No family of his own, neighbours and friends stood around his coffin respectfully lovingly. What a privilege for me, stranger in their midst, to be asked lead Holy Rosary. Seems my love for Holy Rosary is no secret. What a gift to my heart.

Sent by God on mission, sharing my powerful prayer, whenever, wherever, such delight in my life. Impromptu unforgettable encounters bouncing around in my heart until I put them in writing for posterity. Then, resting serenely, fading, never disappearing, each and every encounter part of the fabric of my being, forevermore. Indelible.

All of us will meet again of course, one day, I am sure of it. We will drink tea, chattering endlessly, eternally, in our Heavenly homeland above the clouds. What joy!

‘We will meet in Heaven, please God’. Parting words I love to use and words folk love to hear. 

‘You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You’. (St. Augustine)

‘You mind Mine and I will mind yours’. Comforting Holy Spirit words gifted to me in my sleep some time ago dance into my heart this morning, having written the above last evening. Beautiful confirmation to my heart. Our God will never be outdone in generosity and kindness. Not ever!

Just now on my way from Church, young guy took my prayer, looked at it and said: ‘Oh this is great. I have one at home’. Then sticking it in his pocket, he strolled away from me, smiling all the while. (Mind mine and I will mind yours).🙏🏻☀️
 

Everything is fine☀️🙏🏻

‘How well you know, that everything is always fine’. Jack’s text to me right now. Got me thinking! 

In Jack’s turmoil time I always tell him that and right away he relaxes, repeating aloud; ‘Everything is fine’. No, we are not pretending everything is perfect! We are simply taking the broad view. Things are not where we would like them to be but in the Gladsome Light of Christ order will surely once again be restored. Everything is fine!

Every time I invite Mary, deep in Alzheimers, to pray one Hail Mary aloud in our St. Anne’s Holy Rosary group, she sobs as she willingly lovingly prays. Stroking her beautiful hair, I tell her all the time that ‘everything is fine’. She smiles and nods, still praying, still crying.

Let us begin an ‘Everything is fine’ epidemic. Might just be the breathing space another needs to catch their breath and begin again.

My text back to John; ‘Everything is fine Jack, all the time. We are in God’s Good Hands’. 

‘He/she who carries God in his heart bears Heaven with him wherever he/she goes’.                                (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Having scribbled the above I made my way to pray 3PM live-streamed Holy Rosary in Church. Afterwards, Mother and young son came in and I offered them my powerful prayer. All three of us prayed my prayer together and then I shared with them Holy Spirit wisdom to my deepest heart one time as I shared my prayer with another young man: ‘I cannot tell you nothing will be wrong, but you’ll be strong’.

Mother repeating my words, gazed lovingly on her son saying; ‘He didn’t want to come in to Church. He actually stayed in the car but I went to fetch him’

Young man looked surprised and happy. He will pray it every morning, he told me. ‘It will be like you are drawing a cozy blanket filled with Heavenly Blessings around you and your family’, I told him.

Hard to articulate such an amazingly beautiful impromptu encounter straight from Heaven above. Our God is a God of surprises! Yes, everything is fine, all the time. Amen.

‘Refuse to look at the waves. Know that with you eyes on Me you can override all storms. It is not what happens that matters, but where your gaze is fixed’. (Jesus/God calling2)

((I read the above this morning. After scribbling the up above yesterday!! Divine confirmation))

Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord. ☀️🙏🏻

‘Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord. We want to see You. We want to see You’. Hymn

‘Funeral over, my mother is gone to Heaven. All of your sisters came to her Funeral Holy Mass’, uttered my friend John this morning. ‘I stayed right here waiting on your calls, John’, I replied. ‘Yes’, he replied. ‘Just like Mary, you chose the better part’. (Luke 10:42). What a guy is my friend John.

She walked around town lost and alone. She hadn’t cried at all, she told me. Then one day she joined a funeral cortège as it entered our Church. Sitting in their midst, dressed in her traditional attire, she cried buckets of tears. No funerals in Gaza, folk remain where they fall. 

In this sacrosanct space, far from home, she could cry and pray for her harried homeland. ‘I feel lighter now’, she tells me. ‘Like something is put right’.

Little girl could not contain her delight as the huge Christmas tree was about to be lit up. Countless glittering lights. Hearts lifted gazing on her joyful innocence. Gradually though, it became obvious to one and all that little joyful girl was totally blind. How can this be? Folk wondered in awe.

Thing is, little joyful girl could see perfectly with the eyes of her heart and because of this, folk present began to see a little clearer too.

Last night Tony, my visiting cat, got hit hard by a speeding car. I found him at my door bleeding profusely. Today Vet Angela tells me he has two broken jaws and will be wired up for some weeks. Looks like he will make it through though, thank God.

Up to now Tony would drop by every day, enjoy his meal and leave again without delay. No time to sit and stare. Who could ever have guessed that all the while, Tony felt accepted, loved and cherished by this grateful grandmother. Safe, secure enough to come to me in his darkest hour. What a compliment!

Just some of God’s amazing gifts to my heart this stormy day. 

‘If you become Christ’s you will stumble upon wonder upon wonder, and every one of them true’.            (St. Brendan)