Dear America

"The mystic cords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart...should swell into a mighty chorus of remembrance, gratitude, and rededication on this solemn occasion."- Abraham Lincoln

 

Dear America,

I hope as you are enjoying the Memorial Day sales you remember. I hope as you travel to meet family and friends, you remember. I hope as you dig in to your hamburgers and hot dogs, you remember. I hope whenever you pass a soldier, you remember.

You remember that Memorial day is not about the sales, about traveling, or grilling. It's about those people who gave up their lives for one of the greatest things we own in the United States: freedom.

I don't think we remember that sometimes. That out there in the world, there is still such a thing as slavery. Whole states are starving. There is civil war going on. Some countries are so torn up by war, you can't recognize the difference between your brother, or your enemy. Some people don't have protection, they just have empty promises.

Yes, America, it might seem today that our government is worse than ever, but look how far we have come. We fought through the American Revolution to gain our independence from Britain. We struggled through numerous blueprints of governmental structure until we created the Constitution. We fought brother against brother to abolish slavery. We tore through two World Wars to protect others. We battled through racism, and took steps of peace towards equality. Even today, we fight for our rights.

This would not be possible without our soldiers; without those who gave up their lives for us.

So on this Memorial day, dear America, I ask that you remember and pray for all the soldiers, especially those who have died in battle. For it is because of them that we have our freedom, and our rights. It is because of them that we do not have to worry about our city being bombed. It is because of them that we live in the "Land of the free, and home of the brave."

All through Christ,

Maddie

"Cover them over with beautiful flowers, Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours, Lying so silent by night and by day Sleeping the years of their manhood away. Give them the meed they have won in the past; Give them the honors their future forcast; Give them the chaplets they won in the strife; Give them the laurels they lost with their life." - Will Carleton

Post of an 8th Grade Graduate

(To my AMAZING friends... I will miss you all! This is for the amazing class of 2015.)

Although our time has ended

and we will be spending time apart

Just know you will have a special place

here, in my own heart.

I will never forget your smile, your laugh

or your voice.

Being friends with you was an amazing 

and unregretable choice.

May God bless you as you progress in the years to come

But don't forget the friends

where your foundation came from

I will miss you, and don't forget to keep in contact

high school is a pretty big deal

but not enough to forget that.

So now my poem's rambling

and I don't know what to say

But I had a wonderful time with you for 9 years

and your new life starts today.

Wow.

Yesterday was the final chapter in my life at my grade/junior high school. 9 years of memories, good teachers, angry teachers, bad lunch food, inside jokes and wonderful friends came to a close last night, in such a beautiful way. 

Thank you all.

Thank you first off to my parents, for giving me this AMAZING opportunity to blossom at this school. Thank you for paying the super expensive fees to attend a private school. Thanks to my mom for making lunches (until around 3rd grade, but even then making them fast if I ran out of time). Thanks for my dad for driving us to school when Mom needed a break. Thank you for driving me to who knows where! Thanks for coming to my field trips, and plays, and musicals. Thank you for planning playdates with my friends. Thanks to the both of you for supporting me throughout Kindergarten and all the way to the end of 8th grade. 

Thank you to my teachers who have helped my brain and knowledge grow. (Well not my actual brain but you get the point. :D) Thank you for pushing me when you knew I needed it, and for helping me when I got stuck. Thanks for yelling at me when I was being difficult, and comforting me when I had a bad day. Thank you for pushing off tests for an extra day... that can make a difference between an A and a B. Thank you for making me dissect a shark, doing a big vocations project, researching my family genealogy, reading a book I strongly disliked (and earned the nickname Debbie Downer for my not so secret hatred), and learning algebra. Most of all, thank you for shaping me into the young woman I am today.

Thank you to my parish priests. WOW you guys are amazing! I don't know about others, but if I were a guy, I would seriously discern the priesthood because you guys are that awesome! 

Father Tom, you are a rockstar. You have such passion and love for Jesus, it's hard not to jump for joy whenever you are talking! You are the wisest, holiest man I know. 

Father Nathan, you are certainly the Hip Priest, haha. :) In a good way, of course. You always know how to connect the hard symbolism of Jesus and the Bible to our daily lives. And I am pretty sure Jesus has a scrapbook of all your selfies. Do you get grace ever time you take one, especially with important people like Scott Hahn? :D 

And Father Alessandro... man you are one heck of a priest. Every single homily inspires me like I just got confirmed. I am so sure that Jesus is standing right behind you, whispering all the words because they sound like God! And not to mention your beautiful accent... I think you should do the entire Mass in Italian sometime. :) You inspire me so much! If I could remember all your homilies, I would have a ball writing them down for all the wonderful readers to see, in hopes that they inspire them as much as you inspired me! Thanks for being such a wonderful role model.

Also, thanks to the great deacon almost priest (wahoo) Deacon Dan! I kind of wish you weren't becoming a priest because Deacon Dan has such a great ring to it... but Father Dan sounds great too! I know we haven't talked that much, but hearing your vocation story and the stories of your travels are so amazing and they inspire me! And your vocation cirriculm is spot on. I hope to one day accomplish 1/5 of the things you have done. Have fun being a priest! :)

Thank you for my friends.I don't know what I would do without you. I don't know if I could've made through 9 years without the support of you guys! Each and every one of you has a special place in my heart, and I can't even begin to describe how you guys have shaped my life. 

(WARNING: SOME READERS MAY EXPIERENCE SIDE AFFECTS OF CONFUSION AND BEFUDDLEMENT AND MAY SAY "WHAT IS GOING ON" AS THEY READ THIS BIT. IT'S NORMAL. IT WOULD BE FUNNY IF YOU WERE THERE. :D) 

Cecilia-we've been through it all Cecil. From Kindergarten Daisy scouts to our jingles and talent shows, we have been the bestest of friends. I seriously don't know what would happen to me if we didn't play imaginary horses in second grade. I would've gone out of my mind... SOMEONE needed to play with me! :) 

Libby(Krispy Kramer)- You made me the crazy person I am. You made me appreciate unicorns, and maybe even tigers!You have always been my number one fan for the blog, and whenever I don't feel the inspiration I just think of you! Thank you for being the one to start our 7th Grade Girls Lenten Prayer group. You have such a heart for Jesus, and I am honored to call you one of my best friends!

Taylor(d of the Flies)- Maylor's Conterpritive Dance Team will always beat Abby Lee, and you know it. :) Thanks for being my friend and listening to my made up stories and tours of the heart. Thanks for being a broadcaster of games with me, and telling the clan about the weather. I am honored to work at the company with you, and you should be honored that I haven't demoted you to a SLAVE haha. 

Megan- MEGAN AH if I haven't told you yet and if you haven't read my letter, second grade me was jealous of you, and frankly, I still have a little left even today. Your beautiful-ness, organization, dancing.. agh you are perfect! I had so much fun messing around with you for 9 years! Hopefully you remember some words of wisdom I told you in 6th grade. Have fun at Joffrey, and don't forget little ol' me! >:)

Lauren- You are heading some pretty great places, my dear. I wish I could continue the journey in high school with you, but don't forget I am one call away. You are so beautiful, and you always lift my spirits. You're crazy in the best way, and everyone loves you! I am so glad you have become such a dear friend to me. ;)

Everyone else- You guys are awesome. 

Thank you to my readers! I don't know how you have stuck with me since I was at the wee age of 13. I mean, looking back I would've been kind of scared to read the ramblings of a new teenager! But you guys make it happen, you make the inspiration spark. Every comment, every nice thing, oh it makes my day!

And finally, Jesus. I love you soooo much and you love me enough to encourage my parents to send my to this school. Although some times I hated it, now I realize why. I don't think I would've been inspired this much if I went to a different school. I'm letting you know now, I will be holding your hand very tightly in high school, because sometimes I am scared of growing up. But everything will be just dandy because you are with me, and you have a very strong grip. I love you.

Until my next graduation post... which will be in high school *gulps*. Hehe, we won't talk about that for the sake of my parents, and my sanity. :)

All through Christ,

Maddie

-

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself 

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

-Dr. Seuss

-

(PS- Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, as you may tell, graduation preparation and finals, etc. took up a lot of my time! Hopefully I will clog up your email box with some new posts soon! :D)

Teresa of Avila

 

"It is here-my daughters- that love is to be found. Not hidden in away in corners, but in the midst of occasions of sin. Believe me, although we may more fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably greater." - Teresa of Avila

 

If it's not obvious yet, I will tell you that Saint Teresa of Avila is my Confirmation saint. People always ask me why I would choose this saint. Frankly, she wasn't too popular with my class, most people thought she was boring. At first glance, sure, she looks like a regular old nun.

But she was anything but regular. I chose her for her beautiful, passionate devotion to God. But many saints have that. I also chose her because she is not perfect, and had struggles that I can relate to. Many saints as beautiful as they are, just seem perfect. They were virgins, they died young, they were martyred. (Again, not saying that they aren't beautiful and inspiring and amazing because they are!) Teresa however, lived to a good old age. She grew up rich, and at first didn't want to be a nun. She loved the rich life, full of perfumes, jewelry and titled men. In fact, it was her father that sent her to the convent to be educated and safe from the outside world where her delicate health was not flourishing. It wasn't until later in her life that she realized God's love and calling for her.

Her relationship with God wasn't also picture perfect either. After she entered the convent, she loved and longed for prayer. She felt like she was were she was supposed to be. But then she got dangerously sick- sick enough to fall into a coma. Sick enough for people to assume she was dead, and they started to put wax on her body. It was a miracle that she survived, and it took her many months to recover. However, instead of feeling closer to God, she felt more distant. After she recovered, prayer felt forced and God felt far away. During her daily hour of prayer, she was counting the minutes until it was over. She didn't really know what was wrong.

Then her second conversion happened, when she was looking upon Christ's face, she became overwhelmed with a sense of sorrow and passion for our Lord. She wept for hours upon hours for Jesus, and sorrow for her sins.

"We ourselves feel like what we are doing is but a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that drop."

Since then, she left a legacy. She was a part of the Carmelite order, but she felt it was a little to posh and generous for her sake. So she reformed, and created her own little order which partially focused on poverty. She went around the whole face of Spain, establishing many convents. She was discriminated, especially by the sisters in her former convent. They thought she was crazy, and just wanted attention. She was also condemned for her visions of God. During this time in Spain, anything that had to do out of the ordinary with Jesus was considered to be wrong, and made up only to appear holy. Throughout all of her life, Teresa was mocked for these. However, Teresa of Avila kept on going .

She was also a great writer, which is another reason of why I chose her. Her book, The Interior Castle, shows us the "castles" or stages of prayer. To me and to many others, Teresa was the queen of prayer and her writings showed it. She also wrote The Way of Perfection, which was kind of like a guide book for her sisters in the reformed convent. She became very good friends with Saint John of the Cross, who also wrote many great poems.


"Let nothing disturb you

Let nothing make you afraid.

All things are passing

God alone never changes

Patience gains all things.

If you have God

If you want for nothing,

God alone suffices."

Teresa was also a feisty one, which is also why I find her so great. When talking to God, Teresa complained about having people mistreat her. With good humor, God replied, "But that is how I treat my friends." Teresa, being the sassy person she was said back, "That must be why you have so few friends." Despite her fiery-ness, she also had a great, endearing personality, which drew many people to admire both her spiritual knowledge and her lovely company.

But her relationship with Jesus was so beautiful and loving, that it is hard not to be jealous. In fact, Jesus even appeared to her in a vision (one of many) and took her as His "spiritual" wife, and gave her a ring. An angel pierced her heart with a golden arrow to purify her soul. She would levitate sometimes during prayer because she was so close to God. One day she was standing in front of the convent, probably tending to something, and a small boy comes up in front of her. He asked her, "What is you name?" Teresa replied, "Teresa of Jesus" (this was her given name at the convent. Today she is known "of Avila" because she was born in Avila, Spain). The little boy smiles and said back, "Then I am Jesus of Teresa." How cool is that?!

And finally, Teresa's last words were "My Lord, it is time to move one. Well then, may Your will be done. O my Lord, and my Spouse, the hour that I have longed for has come. It is time for us to meet one another." She was so happy to finally meet the man she loved most, after all these years. And if I have even 1/100 of her devotion to God, I know that I will be on very good terms.

Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us.

(Also, I ask that if you guys could please pray for me, since my Confirmation is coming up this Monday! I would appreciate all the prayers and the support to ask the Lord that I be ready and prepared to enter into this new chapter of my Catholic life. :) Thank you!)

 

 

 

the friday that changed the world

 (I ask before you start reading this, click here and listen to this song as you read.)

 

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29

 

Today is Good Friday, the most important day in the history of mankind. Because without this day, without Jesus' terrible suffering and death, we would not be here. Nor would we be in Heaven.
Because this Friday is the Friday that changed the world.

 

 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, to that everyone who believes in Him ma not perish, but may have eternal life." John 3:16

 

I don't think we realize how much Jesus really did suffer for us. Not only the unbearable pain of being whipped, shoved around, and having the heavy weight of a wooden cross on your bleeding shoulders, but having to know that He would die. Because His entire life, he knew that His crucifixion was coming. How would you act if you knew every day that passed was one day closer to your painful death? How do you tell your friends, your followers, your people?

 

 

"Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them." John 18:5

 

Think of your best friend, right now. What do you love most about him/her? Their humor, their empathy, their loyalty? One of Jesus' best friends betrayed Him. It's not like it was some follower who went to all of Jesus' sermons, or a Pharisee even. Jesus had thousands of followers, but only 12 apostles and the one who betrayed Jesus was one of them.

 

"At the cross her sorrow sharing

Torn with grief and torment bearing

Bitter sorrow pierced her heart"

 

And in the midst of all this, is Mary. Mary, Jesus' beautiful mother, who also knew from the moment of His birth that He would be crucified. Mary understood that it needed to happen, but it didn't change the sorrow that "like a sharp sword, pierced her heart". Mother Mary, pray for us.

 

"Truly, this man was the Son of God." Mark 15:19

But why should it matter today? Of course, Jesus died, but that was 2,000 years ago. But along with the soldiers and the Jews, we nailed Jesus to the cross. Because of our sin, our selfishness and our shame, we were right along with the Romans as they pierced his flesh with a nail. Every time we sin, we are pounding that hammer. Think about it. Think about our loving, sweet, beautiful Jesus who had as much innocence when He was 33 years old that He did when he was born, to be nailed to a cross and left there to suffocate and die. Because of our fallen nature, we helped. O Loving Jesus, have mercy on us.

Map of scars

A crown of thorns

Through all this pain was Heaven born

 A wooden cross

Stood on that hill

Our Savior was dying

Even still

 He saw you.

 



But the most important thing in, Jesus doesn't care. He just loves. He loves you so, so SO much that if you were the only person in existence, he would die the same death as He did for billions of people . How does that make you feel? That a perfect, loved human being would undergo humiliation, scourging and crucifixion just for you? 

As he was hanging on that cross, HE SAW YOU. He really did, he saw you right now, he saw your birth, and he sees your death. But most importantly, he sees you with Him in Heaven and that makes Him smile because that is the very reason of  why He died! So we could be with Him in Heaven.  And to Him, all that suffering was worth it. To us, it should be too.

"Therefore we, before him bending,
This great Sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear."

Pange Lingua

 

So today, I encourage you to stop everything. Stop your work, stop your social life, stop electronics.
Give up everything and spend some time with Jesus. If there is any Stations of the Cross or reflective hours at your church, go to it. Lock yourself in your room for an hour and sit and listen to Jesus. If gore doesn't bother you too much, I highly recommend watching either The Passion or the crucifixion of Jesus from The Bible Miniseries. When you see these actions come to life, you can really understand why and how Jesus did it.

Crack open your Bible, read some prayers. Light a candle and let God come to you. Because if Jesus could die for us, then I think we owe Him a little quality time.

Good Friday is the most beautiful day of the year. Make the most of it. :)

Have a blessed rest of your Triduum, and a very happy Easter!

All through Christ,

Maddie



 

/journal entry I / cast your anxiety on Him

The blue is information that I didn't write in my journal, but I added so you guys wouldn't be confused. Other than that, this all comes straight out of my journal. Have a blessed, and stress free week, and don't forget to cast your anxiety upon Christ.

-----

Sunday, March 8th, 2015
6:30 PM
Weary (I always write down one word that describes my emotions at the end of the day.)

God,

It's been a lonnng week, and I am sorry for neglecting to write. This whole play thing (I helped direct a 7th grade play at my school, and it was show week when I was writing this entry.) was beyond stressful and that's just another package on top of 8th grade, high school, driving, relationships, etc. It's getting hard to juggle God. Some of the packages are falling off, and everyday it's getting harder to pick them back up. I don't know if I can bear this much weight for the rest of my

life.

But I know what to do. When I was anxious about Tekakwitha (an overnight camp, I get stomach anxiety sometimes) last year, I remember giving it all to You, and look how it turned out. (very well indeed.)

So here God, take away my tired, weary soul. Fix the cracks in my heart, help me be excited for graduation, not stressed out about high school. Help me look forward to our talks, not dreading to get up early. let me have an open heart to change. Help me find time throughout this every-busy week and life to seek You, to rest in You... Here I am LORD, take it away and make something beautiful out of my hurt, and my heart because that is what you love to do: make the broken beautiful.

(This is one of my favorite worship songs, and I just felt called to write it down in my journal.)

I lean not on my own understanding

My life is in the hands of the Maker of Heaven

 

I give it all to You GOD
trusting that You'll make something

beautiful out of me

 

I give it all to You GOD

trusting that You'll make something

beautiful out of me

 

So I will climb this mountain

with my hands wide open

 

I will climb this mountain

with my hands wide open

 

I will climb this mountain

with my hands wide open

 

There's nothing I hold on to

Nothing I hold on to

Nothing I hold on to

 

Nothing I hold on to

Nothing I hold on to

Nothing I hold on to

 

 

"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7

 

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. " Matthew 11: 28-30

 

 

I think what this means is that You aren't going to take our sins, our faults, and our burdens and make them vanish. We are always going to have to carry a yolk, for we are sinners. But it's YOUR yolk that is easy and light. We will still be carrying burdens, yes, but You are right along besides me, whistling a happy tune, encouraging me when the road gets bumpy.

 

6:55 PM

I don't know if I feel peace yet or not, but that felt good. :) The writer/metaphorical person in me came out. Thank you God for being my coat holder.

 

-Madeline

 

Trial and Triumph- Lenten Style

So far, this Lent has actually been going pretty well. And by pretty, I don't mean all sugar and rainbows, and by well I mean the-best-Lent-that-I-have-had-yet-in-my-short-time-on-Earth.

Day One of Lent, my promises consisted of giving up all sweets and writing in my journal. A week or so in, things were going well except I was complaining more about sweets than school (which you know is a big deal). My mom and I had a chat, and she told me how she heard numerous homilies about how giving up sweets won't necessarily get you closer to God. And as I thought about it, I was like..."yes, that makes sense, because I have been more focused on how miserable I am than how to get closer to God." Don't get me wrong, there may be people out there who use that torture as a sacrifice to God, and they feel like it is helping them with their relationship. If that is you, kudos, and keep going!

So now I am really focusing on my journal, and it is a-mazing. I may actually do a "journal tour" so you all can see the messy spiritual-ness of my diary.

I have never really been a journal person though. I am someone who if I have a routine, I need to stick with it and have a schedule, otherwise it will fall apart. So the idea of journaling every day about randomness made no sense to me, until I saw some journal-spiration on Pinterest.

The cool calligraphy and pictures, and just overall organized chaos of the simple journal really intrigued me. And I realized it's kind of like writing a mini-blog post every day.. minus the readers and it's not all advice. So I set out on a quest to find the perfect journal. I didn't want it to be cheap, I wanted a quality diary that would make me feel good to write in. I wanted it to be ringed so I could turn the pages easier. I wanted a quote to be on it, I wanted it to be in a certain color.

I want
I want
I want.

After a week or so of searching, I realized that once again, I was caught up in the "making it perfect"

than focusing on God. So I went to Walmart, got a small, simple 5-Star book and started using it.

The things you learn from overachieving- God doesn't want perfect. He wants you no matter what shape, color or form you come in. So my writing may not lie in a 20 dollar Kate Spade journal, it lies humbly in some college-ruled lines, but God doesn't care.

And to tell you the truth- I love it because I can make it my own! I have already put my own quotes in there, I even made a college of Papa Francis (boredom=Papa Francis, don't ask :D) and I love it more and more each day, and I actually look forward to writing in it!

Here's to one Lenten post, look forward to many more in the near future. :)

All through Christ,

Maddie

If God is for Us, Who can be Against Us?

"Brothers and sisters:

If God is for us, who can be against us? 

He who did not spare his own Son, but handed Him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with Him?

Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?

 It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?

Christ Jesus it is who died-or, rather, was raised-

who is also at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us." 

Romans 8:31-34; Second Reading of the Second Sunday of Lent

If God is for us, who could ever be against us? What is in our way? With God, we can push away our laziness, we can go against the crowd, we can defeat the Devil. With God we can have the "courage" to wake up in the mornings...on time. We can have the will power of the Holy Spirit to ace that quiz. We can have the strength to help out a friend in need, even when you don't want to.

This Lent, rather than giving advice like I did in my Lenten Series last year, I am instead going to document my journey. So expect more heartfelt, random musings (wow you are so cool Maddie for using your blog title) and things that make no sense, but make total sense. 

I wish you all a great, faith-filled Lent. :)

All through Christ,

Maddie