‘With God, every moment is the moment of beginning again’. (Catherine Doherty)
No sooner had I spoken those words when the second guy shifted his gaze to Holy Tabernacle and made the sign of the Cross over himself devoutly meaningfully. Palpably, something - SOMEONE - slotting into place in his heart right before my eyes. Singular moment of Grace! Quite extraordinary!
‘I am sorry for your sadness’, he uttered as we parted. In the economy of salvation nothing is wasted, Father God makes use of every morsel we surrender into His loving Hands with open hearts.
‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing’. (John 15:5)
Thrilled to be back again too in St. Anne’s for delightful Holy Rosary. My Auntie Bridie prayed five Hail Mary’s and her daughter sobbed in surprise and joy, witnessing her dear Mom remember every word crystal clear. Sheila told me she loved praying her decade, I told her I loved hearing her pray it too. When I complimented her on her brightness, she replied: ‘I don’t know dear. There are no mirrors in this place’.😂 Beyond grateful spending time with my precious folk, I savour every second in their light-filled midst.
Tea and cake in the cozy home of young gentle couple I offered my prayer to over a year ago. Wonderful faith-sharing encounter - Grandmother me, new parents them. Right this minute my phone bleeped: ‘We had such a gorgeous evening...it was food for our soul’. Yes it most certainly was💎
Buying Goodfellas pizza in Centra Foodstore on way home, loud Steve queueing just behind me could not resist calling out for all to hear: ‘Take that mafia pizza away Bridget’.
I thanked him for making me laugh 😂
Spread Love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier’. (St. Mother Teresa)
Afterwards in Centra Foodstore, genial young shop assistant offered me his condolences, visibly upset for me. Then, smiling sadly he handed me bar of Dairy Milk chocolate: ‘I got you this for Christmas. Thank you for all the chocolate you gave us during the year’, he uttered.
Enduring power of kindness. How utterly thoughtful! Young friend’s kind gesture filled me with joy making me smile for a while.☀️
‘How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world’. (The Merchant of Venice)
We siblings would oftentimes remind one another how fortunate we were to be alive and well, all eight of us. Today, despite our searing grief, we are exceedingly grateful to God for countless graces and blessings up and down the long years. Gratitude lightens our load, pilgrims are we, so we keep our eyes on Jesus, He is the example for us to get to our destination Heaven.
Katy, delivering Christmas presents to the home of a good friend when she literally fell out of her stand, one week ago today. Donal, her heartbroken husband, could but look on in shocked disbelief as he sat waiting in their car. Poor man is in deep trauma and will be for quite a while.
I had the privilege of encountering the young girl who did everything in her power to resuscitate my sister. I got to share my prayer with her and now she has a special place in all our heart and prayer. Agnes’s son Sean too deserves special mention. Living nearby he got there quickly and witnessing his special aunty lying there on the cold ground asked the Guard on duty if he could pray with her.🙏🏻
I sang at my dear Katy’s Funeral Mass. Church organist Kevin seamlessly accommodating. Growing up together, oftentimes she would ask me to sing for her. Singing at her Funeral Holy Mass was both natural and heartbreaking. I am so glad I could do it.
Singing ‘Silent night’ from Church gallery as dear Katy was being taken for burial will remain with me forever.
Young baker guy in SuperValu who searched everywhere for Church Organist’s number, told me as he accepted my prayer: ‘Two weeks ago I was involved in a horrific car accident. I should not be alive but I am. I will pray this prayer every morning now’.
Katy’s bereft husband Donal and their two desolate dogs spent Christmas Day with us. Poor Bertie and Sheeba, grief stricken and confused just as all of us are.
‘Let us love the Cross and let us remember that we are not alone in carrying it. God is helping us and in God who is comforting us, as St. Paul says, we can do anything’. (St. Gianna Molla)
Thrilled with the outcome, delightful centrepiece from my sister Agnes, lights from my daughter- in-law Fiona, I forwarded Katy the above picture and text. Simultaneously my phone rang - Katy’s husband Donal ringing to impart those heartbreaking horrendous words I shall never forget: ‘Terrible news Biddy. Katy is dead’.
She died as I was texting her - we were together in Spirit during her final moments on this earth. Thank you Father God for the immense comfort I glean from that precious nugget in these desperately distraught days.
Suddenly and with absolutely no warning at all Katy was taken out of her shoes,Tuesday last at 5.33 PM. My ‘twin’ although we were born one year apart.❤️
May the Lord have mercy on your gentle soul my dearest Katy.
‘Nothing is more beautiful than Love. Indeed Faith and Hope will end when we die, whereas Love, that is, Charity, will last for eternity’. (Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati)
Before Holy Mass, three young Ukrainian ladies came into Church. They each accepted my prayer and we prayed it aloud together. One lady worked as a Train Conductor in her country. When time comes for her to return home she will take my prayers and share them with her passengers. 🚂
Second lady, a Psychologist and when I asked if she thinks I’m ok - in her professional opinion🧐 - she said :’Yes, you have a big heart. I can feel it’. Good to know😂😀
Third lady a ‘Makeup Master’. ‘Yes’, I told her, ‘I definitely could do with consultation’.
It sounds like a joke (3 men went into a pub!!) but it happened just as I write😀 Even in tumultuous times such as these, joyful encounters from God pop up when we least expect them. Always there is Hope.
Thank you Lord for giving us hope. Lord, May no one rob us of Hope! Thank you Lord because in the darkest moment of your own life, on the cross, You thought of us and You left us a mother, Your Mother. Thank you Lord for not leaving us orphans. (Pope Frances)
Tale from the past💎 My friend Eileen and I, teenagers, joined the Legion of Mary many moons ago. We were by far the youngest in the praesidium, the rest elderly (at least that is how we viewed them at the time🤨). Mrs. Howard asked Eileen if she would read aloud an article on Mother Mary from a newspaper cutting. Deep silence as Eileen began to read: ‘4 ways to remove mildew stains from linen’. In her nervousness and panic she had the wrong side up!!
Poor Mrs. Howard and her friends astonished and alarmed. Eileen and I could not contain ourselves with laughter but Thanks be to God dear ladies understood. Young and giddy - not disrespectful in the least. Wonderful memory😁 Cracks me up every time it dances into my heart.😂❤️
Thirty years ago, worn out and shattered, Eric offered to look after our children Eric, Ruairi and baby Diarmuid, granting me a whole afternoon and evening to myself. Unbeknownst to them I went to my much needed bed, that way I could rest easy while still keeping an eye on proceedings. I could ‘return home’ at a moment’s notice.
10.30PM and still not home, I heard Dad ask: ‘Did Mom say where she was going?’. To which Ruairi replied nonchalantly: ‘She’s probably at Mass’.
Holy Mass - My ‘go-to’ place thirty years ago. My ‘go-to’ place today too. Nothing has changed Thank God.
