Papal Blessing Urbi et Orbi

 The Pope gave the world an extraordinary blessing and we stopped to pray with him. With the world at a standstill, and our life again in transition, it was so good to stop and pray--and be reminded of what is truly constant and essential.

On Holy Doors

Great link to learn the history of Holy Doors! 

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/blog/all-of-your-burning-questions-on-holy-years-and-doors-answered/

Saint Junipero Serra

Pope Francis just canonized the man who founded the California missions, and Fr. Austin made this beautiful handout !

Canonization Sunday

What a wonderful reason to rejoice! The canonization of two popes.

... I attended this mass of Saint JPII in Brazil in 1980. Unforgettable. He's pictured holding the miraculous statue of Our Lady Aparecida, patroness and Queen of Brazil. Our family sang in the 1000 voice choir pictured behind him.

He was only canonized today, but in our hearts, we knew in 1980 we were in the presence of a saint.

Cutout Pope

Well, it has been busy. Not too busy for fun of Facebook, however.

Today it is Pope Francis' Birthday!

Time's Person of the Year

Here is the cover story!

The face of WWD Rio 2013

The face of World Youth Day Rio 2013: my gorgeous, sweet and faithful nephew José Marcos Braga, a young engineer and all-around wonderful kid! He went down to Rio from the Imperial City of Petropolis where he lives, met the group from an old parish, camped out and reported that it was an unforgettable, spiritually-so-meaningful adventure! His very favorite part of it all? The mass!  (He is the one without hat or sunglasses.)
I love how the romance languages call it "Jornada": World Youth Journey, as opposed to World Youth Day.

Wow! Pope in Rio

Millions come out to greet Pope, as WYD comes to a close. Pope takes break and drinks Maté

Pope Francis in Brazil

I watched his address on EWTN following that of the resident of Brazil, as he spoke of love and of peace and of the Brazilian heart and the message of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He may have disappointed those who wished for political remarks, but isn't that always the case?

I found the image of one of the official stamps issued for this occasion, and I pray for his safety and for my Brazilian people as they are honored and encouraged by the Vicar of Christ in my homeland.

Important words

... "what does the spirit of the world say of Mother Teresa? 'Ah, Blessed Teresa is a beautiful woman, she did a lot of good things for others ...'. The spirit of the world never says that the Blessed Teresa spent, every day, many hours, in adoration ... Never! It reduces Christian activity to doing social good. As if Christian life was a gloss, a veneer of Christianity."

Our Papa!

His love for the faithful is so apparent. Thank you, Father in heaven, for giving us Church leaders who inspire by example! This video is from earlier today, as he was on his way to the Installation Mass.

:-)

"What do you mean, no Francis in your files?"

Habemus Papam!

What a joyful day for the Christian heart!

A surprise to all of us, and the first pope from the Americas! May God bless and guide Pope Francis!

We watched it live on TV and I enjoyed sharing the moments with my sister in Brazil via phone, and with my friends near and far via Facebook.  We had a steak dinner to celebrate, and then at family prayer, before bedtime, the girls were joyful in being able to petition again "for the pope"!

Thank You, Father of Infinite Wisdom, for giving us a Papa!

Update: I just watched this bit of news and isn't it so lovely that he brings the South American deep love for Our Lady Mary right in the beginning of his service to the world as the Vicar Of Christ?

Acreage for Sale

Perhaps the most telling of our acreage pictures I've dug lately is this one of Number Seven, on a spring day, pausing in the mudroom for a picture, smiling. And hands full of fresh-cut lilac.

We will miss this place for all of our days, and the memories of our life here will be food for conversation for many future evenings.

More acreage photos can be found in specific tags such as acreage life and garden.

Holy smokes...

I must admit it was hard yesterday to concentrate on the many tasks of the day-- and it will be even harder today.

We adopted a cardinal!

You can too! Just go to www.adoptacardinal.org

Here we go!

Exciting, prayerful times for the world!

Sede Vacante

My heart broke as he gave his last pontifical blessing in Portuguese. We went to sleep under a saintly Holy Father last night, tonight we are orphans. Photos credit here.

Ciao, Papa!