Godmother Jitters

[the_phoenix]

Mary ann R:

Many thanks for your kind prayers … Heaven knows I still need them for this intention. The day of my niece’s Baptism came and was beautiful. The days leading up to it, and the days following it this week, have been days of suffering … felt okay the day of the Baptism, then this week was hit by a headache which has lasted most of this week. Persecution at work has been terribly intense … I work among people hostile to Catholics (or at least against practicing conservative Catholics like me … the liberal ones tend to be tolerated and even popular). It seems like there’s a huge spiritual battle surrounding this whole thing.

You will be specially remembered in my prayers … Like the others, at Adoration.

~~ the phoenix

 

[po18guy]

**Mary ann R:**Many thanks for your kind prayers … Heaven knows I still need them for this intention. The day of my niece’s Baptism came and was beautiful. The days leading up to it, and the days following it this week, have been days of suffering … felt okay the day of the Baptism, then this week was hit by a headache which has lasted most of this week. Persecution at work has been terribly intense … I work among people hostile to Catholics (or at least against practicing conservative Catholics like me … the liberal ones tend to be tolerated and even popular). It seems like there’s a huge spiritual battle surrounding this whole thing. You will be specially remembered in my prayers … Like the others, at Adoration.
~~ the phoenix

the phoenix,
This Lenten season was one of particular note as far as suffering goes. All sorts of affliction, malaise, persecution, spiritual dryness cropped up. Despite what appears to be obvious, this is all a blessing, as it is necessary for the perfection of our souls. It would appear that purgatory sometimes begins in this life. That in it self is the Lord’s Mercy, since we must live for the next life and not this one. Offer your sufferings up to Christ as a penance. Daily, if need be.

He told us that we are to give thanks for everything in our lives:

Matthew 5:44-46 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”

He has placed you among those who persecute you, as a test of your worthiness for the Kingdom. Be joyful, as odd as that sounds, for we do not think as the Father does:

Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”

Keep your eye on the reward, the next life, which is perfection and unending joy. Eternal life in the Kingdom is worth several lifetimes of misery.

You remain in our prayers.

 

[Mary_ann_R]

Mary ann R:

Many thanks for your kind prayers … Heaven knows I still need them for this intention. The day of my niece’s Baptism came and was beautiful. The days leading up to it, and the days following it this week, have been days of suffering … felt okay the day of the Baptism, then this week was hit by a headache which has lasted most of this week. Persecution at work has been terribly intense … I work among people hostile to Catholics (or at least against practicing conservative Catholics like me … the liberal ones tend to be tolerated and even popular). It seems like there’s a huge spiritual battle surrounding this whole thing.

You will be specially remembered in my prayers … Like the others, at Adoration.

~~ the phoenix

Thanks Phoenix! I’m going to say some extra prayers for you and for healing, too. I suffer with headaches like that…sinus problems mostly, but stress adds to it. It seems like most everyone I talk to is going through the same thing at work…my husband has had some bad times as many of the men that he works with are very liberal and say some of the most horrific things to him…they know that he is Catholic and is involved as a lector and prayer group leader in the Church. One man in particular makes disgusting remarks about our Priests which makes my husband very angry. The more I hear, the harder I pray…that will really frost satan…