Nonnie's Observations

God of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac with the presence of the Virgin  Mary  of Guadalupe. May her  prayers  help all men and women to accept each other as brothers and sisters.  Through your  justice  present in our hearts  may Your peace reign in the world. We ask this through our  Lord   Jesus  Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,  for ever and ever. The image of Mary presented here shows a close resemblance to Our Lady of Guadalupe. I thought that this image came from here ,  but when I returned to the site, I was unable to find it. If any of you are familiar with this icon, please enlighten me. Thank you. our last day of A Virgin A Day hosted by the inimitable Rebecca thank you, dear Rebecca! Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

image found here Trying to modify my attitude while changing the date once again for the Christmas gathering of my family. Thoughts of “Why am I always the one  who needs to accommodate others’ plans?  Why can’t we have a tradition set in stone  so I don’t go through this each year?” Frustration layers upon resentment  till I just want to go to bed  and stay there till the onset of the new year. Then I gaze upon your face, sweet Mother,  and I ponder your long journey to Bethlehem while being heavily laden with your divine Babe. Your Immaculate Heart overcame any questions concerning the reason for this journey of 80 miles, just to be counted for the greedy King  and his tax-filled purse. I ask your intercession now,  Holy Mother,  to help me remember that there are 12 days of Christmas, not just the eve of Christmas and your birthday on the 25th,  and to ask your Son to send me the grace in order that our family’s Christmas get-together...

Information about where  the Black Madonna is traveling can be found here . The reason for this traveling is in support of life and family under the support of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Details can be found here . Prayer for Life ~Blessed Pope John Paul II~ Evangelium Vitae (105) O Mary, bright dawn of the new world,  Mother of the living,  to you do we entrust the vast numbers of babies  not allowed to be born,  of the poor whose lives are made difficult,  of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,  of the elderly and the sick  killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son  may proclaim the Gosper of life  with honesty and love to the people of our time.   Obtain for them the grace  to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,  the joy of celebrating it with gratitude  throughout their lives,  and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely,  in order to bui...

image from here Prayer to St. Anne Good St. Anne, you were especially favored by God  to be the mother of the most holy Virgin Mary,  the Mother of our  Savior.   By your power with your most pure daughter  and with her divine Son,  kindly obtain for us the grace and the favor we  now seek.   Please secure for us also forgiveness of our past sins,  the strength to perform faithfully our daily duties  and the help we need to persevere  in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen. an aside note: My journey continues with learning more about my faith and our Blessed Mother.   Of course, I knew that St. Anne was the mother of Mary, but I had not encountered prayers to her. continuing devotion  to the Blessed Virgin at Rebecca's A Virgin A Day

  image found  here SUB TUUM PRAESIDIUM WE FLY TO THY PROTECTION We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen You are all beautiful Mary, and there is not stain or original sin. linking to Rebecca's A Virgin A Day with other devotees of Mary

Mother of Perpetual Help,  you have been blessed and favored by God.  You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer,  but Mother of the redeemed as well.  We come to you today as your loving children.  Watch over us and take care of us.  As you held the child  Jesus  in your loving arms,  so take us in your arms.  Be a mother ready at every moment to help us.  For  God  who is mighty has done great things for you,  and God's mercy is from age to age  on those who love God.  Intercede for us, dear Mother,  in obtaining pardon for our sins,  love for Jesus,  final perseverance,  and the  grace  always to call upon you,  Mother of Perpetual Help.  linking to  devotees of Mary, at Rebecca's A Virgin A Day

O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, We dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you  under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign  of your affection for us  and a constant reminder of our duties toward you. Ever while wearing it,  may we be blessed by your loving protections  and preserved in the grace of your son.   O Most Powerful Virgin,  Mother of our Savior, keep us close to you every moment of our lives.   Obtain for us, your children,  the grace of a happy death;  so that in union with you,  we may enjoy the bliss of Heaven forever.  Amen  It is important to note as well that,  as with all sacramentals,  the Miraculous Medal is not some “lucky charm”.  Keep in mind also that in expressing devotion to Mary,  we do not  worship  her,  as many Christians in other denominations,  especially some Evangelicals, believe, ...

"Creation's New Eve reveals 'a people in darkness' not forsaken but waiting, for the blackness is contained within a warm and spotless womb dotted only with the Speck of a Savior." ~ Rita A. Simmonds ~ note: This is the first time  I've heard of Rita A. Simmonds.  With this poem, I know that I shall read more of her poetry. linking to the incomparable Rebecca and her A Virgin A Day

o blessed Mother, through these days of Advent, when mothers are taking on even more with shopping- whether online or in stores- planning menus for family and guests, driving children hither and yon, helping at the local food bank, buying extra food and gifts for families in need, remembering prayers for their Advent partners, reading the latest chapter for their Bible Studies, and taking the time to pray for themselves in order to have patience and love for their families and neighbors. o please, Mary, open your heart to cover over all these beautiful mothers with your divinity. amen a note about the collage: I borrowed the image of Mary from http://ww.123rf.com/stock-photo/ The other items are from my From Teddi with Love kit. linking with love to Rebecca's A Virgin A Day Rest in Peace, dear Joe Spado, of Round Circle

For Christians, Sunday, December 1st marks the beginning of the Advent season.  In simple terms, Advent means  "coming," and the season is about our waiting for the  most inexplicable and magnificent coming of all- into our hearts, our needy lives.   For my needs, I will be using the Magnificat Advent Companion plus a new (to me) Advent book called Sacred Space: for Advent and the Christmas Season 2013-2014. The latter is by the Irish Jesuits and is published by Ave Maria Press. What prompted me to buy Sacred Space was Father James Martin, SJ's book My Life with the Saints  that we are studying in Women at the Well this year.  No artist is credited  for this art work  .  The date given is the last of the 15th century. Just below is a site for those desiring more information concerning Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01165a.htm Advent, Latin ad-venio, to come to According to present (1907) usage, Advent is a period beginning wit...