Wrestling with my iPad.

Region One President   Provincial Promoter   Brother Tonto
Mrs. Kathy Kendrek, O.P.    Father Carlos Quijano, O.P.    Mr. Jordi Perez, O.P.

You have no idea how many times I've tried to write an article about my Lay Dominican meeting.  It's the pictures that drive me CRAZY!

The pictures are on my iPad and for some reason, they won't allow me to send them to my email accounts.  Sometimes they do.  I got one, out of the 50 or so I sent out.  And the editor that I'm sending them to isn't replying whether she got any or not.

So I thought I'd beat the system by using my iPad to write the article itself, then I'd have no trouble attaching whatever pictures I wanted.  Ha!  Think again!

I wrote the article and it took quite a while because I had to write in Lay Dominicanese, i.e., Faith Flaherty = Mrs. Faith Flaherty, O.P. and we had promises and advancements for more than a few people (in Lay Dominicanese) plus we had a forum with six people (in Lay Dominicanese).  I kept having to look up their names, who spoke on what topic, and then write their name in Lay Dominicanese.

But I did it.  Then when I went to attach some photos, the entire email, Lay Dominicanese et al, disappeared off the face of the earth.  I could not retrieve it. 

But it's Lent.  I did it over again!  I wrote it on my laptop, not the iPad.  The laptop had no pictures, but at least the article was written and sent to the editor.

Snow Gypsy

The Snow Gypsy by Lindsay Ashford is an ebook.  I forget why I bought it, but I'm glad I did.  The story hooked me.  It deals with the past.  The major character, Rose, is a veterinarian, who is interested in herbal cures. This interest leads her to gypsies.  She learns a lot from them in England, her own country.  But for a vacation, she thought she would go to Spain to learn more.  Coincidentally, Spain is where her brother Nathan died.  He got entangled in the Spanish troubles and was killed.  His body was never found.

Rose meets gypsies first and travels with them for a while,
especially when she meets a family that comes from the same village where her brother was last living.  Rose becomes friends with a little sweetheart of a girl named "Snow" in Spanish--Nieve.  Nieve's mother is Lola.  Lola is not her biological mother but she saved Nieve when her mother was killed in the same conflict Rose's brother, Nathan, was caught up in.

Lola wants to leave the gypsy life to be in the movies.  She wants more for herself and Nieve than the life of gypsies could offer them.  I learned how discriminated the gypsies were.  The government was taking the gypsies' children away from them because gypsies weren't considered good people.  Gypsies didn't go to school so they couldn't read.  Rose taught Nieve and Lola how to read.

So when Lola is raped and kills her assailant, she is immediately guilty. Rose is left to take care of Nieve.  Rose travels to the village where her brother last lived.  She meets people who knew Nathan.  Rose also falls in love.  Lola is eventually freed due to Rose's letter writing campaign and the three live in the village.  But Lola attracts attention and her father, a crazy fanatic wants to kill her.  Rose's boyfriend kills him.  Now they all have to get out of town.

Even though Rose loves Zoltan, she leaves with Lola and Nieve.  He was really a Nazi criminal and lied to Rose.  He goes to Argentina.  Rose, Lola, and Nieve settle in Madrid.  Rose is pregnant with Zoltan's baby and gives birth to a baby she names after her brother, Nathan.  Lola and Nieve are happy.  Everyone gets what they want.

Three Ways to Gain a Plenary Indulgence Before Easter

Three Ways to Gain a Plenary Indulgence Before Easter

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The Defeat of Failure

Thank God I am not an atheist.  When they meet failure, they must be crestfallen for a long time.  A Christian has hope.  He sees that God's plan ends well.  God will make the bad good. 

For Lent, I'm reading Fulton's Sheen's Lift Up Your Heart. It reminds me of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. It's full of maxims and sermons.  This chapter, "The emergence of Character" begins explaining why the Christian trust God.  The Lord is in control and wins in the end.

The Christian religion was born in failure.  Adam and Eve failed the disobedience test. People continually disappoint God.  Jesus' crucifixion looked like a failure to the Romans and His enemies.  But Christianity defeated failure on Good Friday. 

To those whom God loves, good will triumph.

Win a Pilgrimage

Win a pilgrimage to France, or the Avila Summit, or a free course, etc.  

https://spiritualdirection.com/2019/04/04/have-you-entered-to-win   

Smile while you are Being bullied?

St. Therese of Lisieux

This morning in the sacristy, I was talking to the altar server who was relating a story about bullying.  As usual, I couldn't think of anything useful to say.  However, upon reflection, I recall a story St. Therese tells in her Story of A Soul.  There was one grouchy, angry nun, who used to really annoy Therese.  So as a penance, Therese decided to be nice to the curmudgeon.  She made a point of greeting her with a smile.  Therese did this for the rest of her short life.

After Therese's death, that same annoying nun talked about being Therese's best friend.  Every time Therese saw her she broke out in a big smile.

Go figure.

Do you think that story would have helped the altar server?

Doors Will Be Opened

Fifth Sunday of Lent – Year C Reading

Lectio:

IS 43:16-21

Thus says the LORD,
who opens a way in the sea
and a path in the mighty waters,
who leads out chariots and horsemen,
a powerful army,
till they lie prostrate together, never to rise,
snuffed out and quenched like a wick.
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert, I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
Wild beasts honor me,
jackals and ostriches,
for I put water in the desert
and rivers in the wasteland
for my chosen people to drink,
the people whom I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.

Studium:

Better times are coming for the Hebrew captives in Babylon.  The description also applies to the exodus from Egypt. But this is the story of salvation.  Our God is all compassionate and He will save us again and again.

Meditatio:

How many times have I seen the Lord save people from situations?  I should just trust Him.  Wondrous things have been promised for those who believe.

Oratio:

Lord, You always save your people. Please count me in among Your followers.  I do perceive Your care and believe Your promises.

Contemplatio:

Jesus, I trust in You.

Resolutio:

I will telephone my sick friend and tell her I am praying for her.