St. B's...

Unique sculpture of the Holy Family. The adoration chapel is behind the wall, under the Corpus.

This is at St. Bonaventure, in Minneapolis, where we went to Mass one morning. It was great, we were able to go to mass every morning up in Minnesota. The only day we missed was Saturday, on our way home. For some reason we never thought to see if we might have made it to one on time along the way, but God is good. How wonderful it is to KNOW in most any town, that if you go to church, you don't have to wonder "what are we going to find or 'get'?" Being Catholic, JESUS is there in the tabernacle, and given to us by every single priest, no matter how great or not so great the homily...we know JESUS is who we will receive, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity! Does it get better than that?

Grotto for the unborn...House of Mary Shrine, Yankton, S.D.

This is where Mary and I went after our pilgrimage to Osmond. This is 7 miles west of Yankton, South Dakota. A fine way to end our pilgrimage, praying for the unborn and an end to abortion.

the long awaited International Pilgrim Statue of our Lady of Fatima...

I took these at Our Lady of the Seven Dolors church in Osmond, NE. There was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady's Statue ALL night, and my friend, Mary and I went up there on our little pilgrimage to stay up and worship and adore our Lord and be with Our Lady. It was quite a night! One man came in about 3 a.m. with a guitar and he and his girlfriend or wife sang and filled the House of God with song,and melodious praise. It gave us a second wind to make it the full night. About 5:00 we found a quick mart with some much appreciated coffee. It was a great time, following our Lady up there from Omaha. It's about 2.75 hour drive northwest. I believe we were blessed with many graces. I pray to never be separated from Our Lady's immaculate heart and the Sacred Heart of her Son.

This is rather interesting, how there are windows before you enter into the sanctuary.
Some churches have this feature, but not very many that we've seen.
The reverence is felt very much here. As opposed to today, when most at the 7:00 a.m. mass this morning were busy talking it up long before they left through the doors into the narthex.

a few of the interior of St Mary's...

You know when your mind sometimes wanders during Mass. Well, when you have a sanctuary like this, even if you "wander" you won't get far, because of the Saints standing ready to draw you back into the present and Presence of Christ. I would LOVE to belong to a parish like this! How awesome to be in such beauty, and to glance here or there and be reminded of a Saint's prayer, or humility, or love of a little way, or the Baby Jesus, or our Sorrowful Mother. It's a lot easier to remain in the "moment" in a church like this and I think it's sad that so many new churches leave so MUCH to be desired!

This is St Mary's in Alton, Iowa. Worth seeing! Just off hwy 75 going South to Sioux City, I saw these two spires and HAD to go see! I BRAKE FOR SPIRES!

Our Queen Mum and Baby Jesus...

This is a beautiful statue at All Saints parish, in Madison Lake, MN. on our way home. We left I 35 to take hwy 60 west. We like to go off the beaten path, as you all know, and find these 'Catholic gems' in the smaller towns and cities.

More of Basilica of St Mary, Minneapolis. The 2nd one, Mary in niche w/ cross above her is actually St. Mary, Alton, Iowa, on our way home yesterday. I like taking architectural photos in black and white, unless there some sort of interesting color in a tile roof or something. They seem more "dramatic" in b&w. It was a good week, fairly mild for Minnesota in November.

a few of Basilica of St Mary, Minneapolis...

More to come. We went to Minneapolis for Thanksgiving, and had a fun time. I just want to say that I'm very grateful for beds.....especially our own! Penance was a hard bed at Day's Inn for 4 nights, but it was such a small "suffering"...but eventhough it was small, I offered it up. It was a far cry from a "stone for a pillow" but not too far.... ha ha

MIA...

We went to Minneapolis Institute of Arts yesterday for a quick run through of a few centuries of art in the last 30 minutes of the institute's business hours. Many fine works, and of course, I loved all the Madonna & Child paintings, and statues,and tapestries.

In search of the Christ Child...

The "Ark of the New Covenant"...

A most tender icon...
Mary and Elizabeth

In the face of death, ...

One of the most heroic acts of the twentieth century reached its conclusion on August 14, 1941. That is when the Franciscan friar, Maximilian Kolbe, lifted up his arm to receive a lethal injection of carbolic acid.

When I look at his dear, holy face, his calm countenance in the face of death, I hear the word "prepare." That is what he is telling me at work everyday, (I have his picture on my cubicle wall.) Having read another bio on him, I pray to him now for our family and all my friends and their families, because we're in for a "shake down" and a "massive housecleaning" in the Catholic Church of America. While the world has been turned upside down, and it appears Obama is going to sign FOCA into play, (from what I've heard lately) OUR LADY is our Hope. She tells us to cling to her mantle, and NOT to fear. This is a scary time, feelings of fear WILL come, but we're safe next to Her Heart. It may be scary, yet it's also a time of exhilaration for the faithful, for the Church. The "separation of the men from the boys" is underway. Pray for our priests! This thorough housecleaning is a good thing. We need pruning as any garden or fruit tree needs pruning. As painful as it will be, we need it because this is keeping the faithful ever more diligent in prayer and penance and THAT is what we need, for the salvation of souls. I pray for Obama daily. I've never prayed for a president before on a daily basis, so this is a GOOD thing, and no matter what befalls us, we have no need to fear, for no one can take away our Lord from us, if He indeed resides in us! Mama Mary Most Holy is our Hope and our Light to keep us close to Jesus. Hang on, and let the bumps and blows that come, not knock us down in defeat, but give us the "wounds of Christ" to offer up for all the sinners every where, in the universal Church and within our home and our families. I've never had such a burning desire to go adore our Lord and I know St Maximilian is praying for us to "endure with hope, joy and love." If he could welcome and greet with kindness his those who tortured him, we can "greet" Obama in prayer every day and pray for his misguided soul. I do believe we're in for a very long 4 years, but it's God's will so greet it with a smile. And even if we perish on this earth, at the hands of our enemies, our home's in heaven anyway, and they can't take that away from us, unless we let them by falling into despair." Mary, keep us faithful to you, to our cross and to our Lord. May we never be separated from your Immaculate Heart." St Maximilian, pray for us!

The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.

....Saint Maximilian Kolbe

A martyr with a great love for Immaculate Mary...

I've been reading a couple of books about St. Maximilian Kolbe. We have MUCH to learn from him, especially with the times and happenings occurring in our country now, with many "anti-lie" and "anti-God" "pro-death" people coming into national leadership positions with the new presidency. I'm not saying all are 'anti-God' but many are, and that's been the case for quite some time, as we know. This man's gift is his tender heart towards our Mother, Mary. His unabashed love for her, that only grew more intense with the years. She helped him love the unlovable, his own torturers! Those who treated him brutally, and most inhumanely he always greeted, even while starving and emaciated in his "cell of death." Let us pray for his intercession as our Church is and will be under more intense scrutiny and persecution in the years ahead. For there is a "change" coming, but it's not going to be what the Obama supporters have in mind. No, this is going to be a change like America's never before seen. It's best to be "prepared" as was St. Kolbe, who gave his heart, soul, and entire life for another human being in the death camp, therefore, he gave his ALL for JESUS! St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us! Pray we'll have faith, hope and love come alive in our hearts, and keep us in perfect peace, while uniting our sufferings to those of Mary our Mother, and Her Son, our Lord. Sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Jesus, Mary we love you! Save souls!

National Shrine of St Maximilian Kolbe

We went to Immaculate Conception Church today...

For High Latin Mass. It was so reverent and so "holy" and so beautiful. I felt like a little girl just distracted by all the loveliness. My husband hadn't really been to latin mass since he was about 8, so it was a flash from the past for him. It is a gorgeous old church, and I loved it. I even wore a mantilla and Father wore a black biretta. The homily was challenging and much better than the "fluffy stuff" we've been hearing. I love our home parish, but I did find out that we can become members of both parishes, since IC is strictly Latin. We're considering it. Dual parish, bi-lingual Catholics? :) I would love to learn Latin. It is so soothing...the choir, singing the entire mass was like being bathed in God's sweet and glorious grace! Even if I didn't understand it all or follow very well. Kneeling at the communion rail....the attentive reverent altar boys...deacon, parishoners...just a wonderful and holy hour! If you're ever in Omaha or the area and desire a truly blessed experience and holy time with our Lord and our Lady, at Latin Mass, come to Immaclate Conception! Come December 8, I think I know where we'll be!!! HERE.

Ponder and pray, pray pray...

Some of JPII's sometimes sobering and most memorable quotes. God rest his saintly soul. Papa JPII we love you. Pray for us! Pray for our nation, that we will stop murdering our children in the womb and our aged, or otherwise ill, who are deemed no longer "productive."

Take a virtual, on line pilgrimage of the pontificate of our beloved Papa.
This is really, really cool!
Giovanni Paolo II
2004 & 2005 open to a wealth of info

Amazing statue!...

All Evangelization is preceded by the maternal presence of the Virgin Mary....
The Star leads the boat!
read this captivating article written by Mother Adela, SCTJM
HERE

Christ the King...

He's got the whole world, in His Hands...His rod and staff comfort me. He is King and is coming soon. May our hearts be prepared to receive Him and may our mouths praise His Name! King of Kings, Lord of Lords forever! Glory to the King of Kings for He has triumphed over sin and death and rules with mercy and justice. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us!

Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King (Iesu dulcissime, Redemptor)

A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King.

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever. Amen.

Prayer Source: Enchiridion of Indulgences , June 29, 1968