History is Never Finished

 I just finished Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny.  As usual with Louise Penny's mysteries, I couldn't put it down.  There are at least two mysteries to solve.

One happened in the previous mystery, The Brutal Telling.  In that one, Olivier, who committed the crime, was sent to prison.  His husband sends Gamache letters, every day, with questions.  Eventually, Gamache sends his deputy, Jean-Guy to reinvestigate.  

Gamache is in Quebec reading up on Samuel Champlain.  Gamache is a history buff, especially French Canadian history.  The little library that Gamache is doing reasearch in, has a murder committed in it.  Gamache become involved.  

While investigating, the horrific events that have plagued Gamache are revealed.  We readers finally understand the anquish the Chief Inspector is going through.  It all makes sense.  Poor Gamache.  It's a wonder he's sane.

I learned about Samuel Champlain and how Quebec considers him their founder.  

People are complicated creations.  N'est pas?

Sacrilize Your Day

 How do you pray all day?  Make sure you pray a Morning Offering to God.  Offer Him all your work and business of the day.  That's your prayer.  

Remember the phrase, "Offer it up."  I always thought the phrase meant to stop complaining and give it to God.  Well, it does but it will be of more use if you pray, offering your complaint to God.  If anyone understands suffering, it would be Him.

Also, during the day, pray, "Oh God, come to my aid to help me."  Pray it often.

The aim is to think of God, throughout the day.  He is your friend.  He's like velcro.  Talking to Him is praying.  For more hints, watch this video by David Torkington.

 

No Euphemisms Please

 This picture reminded me of the time I went to use the restroom, in a restaurant.  I looked for the Ladies Room and saw a door with a picture of a naked lady on it.  I hesitated.  Why do I want to see a naked lady?  I looked at the adjacent door and it had a picture of a naked man. On the other hand, why do I want to see a naked man?  Just then, a man came out of the naked man door and that ended all my confusion.

What's with the fancy, analogous, related, rest room signs?

One time, down the Cape, I saw my husband enter a Ladies Room with the sign "Gulls."  He looked at it quick and thought it said "Guys."  The restrooms were Gulls and Buoys.

In California, I took a picture of a Ladies Room that had "Betty," on the door, and sent it to my sister, Bette.  She thought I was crazy but it really, really said "Betty."

C'mon!  Call a spade, a spade!

Psalm 40

 LECTIO:        Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."

"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

STUDIUM:

The psalm begins waiting.  Either the people are captives in Babylon or they have just been released from exile. It was the practice to pierce ears as a sign of servitude to a master. But as followers of the true Lord, "ears are open" to You, O Lord.  This psalm is both one of thanksgiving and also of supplication, which is unusual, we now have a new work, stressing loyalty, and service.

MEDITATIO:

As I think over the times, I've cried out to You, my Lord, I can only see the times You came to help me.  Surely there were times, You didn't come.  Weren't there?  I don't remember any.  I'm sure there are many times You answered in mysterious ways, that later resulted for the best.  Maybe, it's good that I can only remember Your help, because You promised to always answer prayers and I believe You do.

ORATIO:

It is in my heart to do Your Will.  That's why I am a Lay Dominican.  

CONTEMPLATIO:

Here I am, Lord.

Sexual Purity

 LECTIO:    1 Cor. 6:13c-15a, 17

Brothers and sisters:

The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore, glorify God in your body.

STUDIUM:

Paul is explaining the theology of the body. Note that telling us that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit follows "Avoid immorality."  Prostitution has been called the oldest profession. Pagan temples used prostitution as part of their worship.  But our baptism unites us with Jesus Christ.  This is the sacrament which is strengthen every time we receive the Eucharist. Jesus paid our dowry, so to speak, for our union with Him through grace. It's a spousal relationship.

MEDITATIO:

WOWZA!  A spousal relationship with Jesus when I receive Him in the Eucharist.  Imagine.

ORATIO:

Help me Jesus, to stay chaste for You.  Imagine, we are One when I receive You in the Eucharist.  Thank you Jesus, for loving me.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Lord, help me be mindful of whom my body belongs.  Only You, my Lord.

RESOLUTIO:

I must make a deliberate, conscious, effort to unite myself with You, My Jesus, when I take Communion.

Hearing Things

 Lectionary: 310

LECTIO:    1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am."
Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me."
"I did not call you, " Eli said. "Go back to sleep."
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
"Here I am, " he said. "You called me."
But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me."
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

STUDIUM:

Samuel's mother prayed for a long time for a child.  She prayed and promised that her child would be dedicated to God's service and true to her word, she gave him to temple service.  Here we see him sleeping in the temple.  God calls him.  We note how readily he jumps to do God's Will.  Samuel is called to be a prophet.

MEDITATIO:

Like Samuel, we don't always recognize God's voice.  God didn't give up calling Samuel.  Let's hope He doesn't give up on us!  Let us also jump up and say "Speak Lord, I am listening."

ORATIO:

Lord, I pray to always hear Your voice and the grace to do Your Will.

CONTEMPLATIO: Your Will be done.

Valentine Rosary

 Valentine's Day is coming.  I'd like this rosary ring, please.  Size 8.  My first rosary will be for you.