The Odor of Sanctity

This post was circuitously inspired by "That Smell," an article in Dominicana.  Br. Paul Clark, op, the author, asks what holiness smells like.  He goes on to describe how the sense of smells many times will trigger memories, set the scene, make us drool.  It's a viable sense to reckon with.

I immediately thought of Anne Marie Schmidt.  She has the "odor of sanctity."  I know you're asking, "What?"  She carries around the smell of roses.  It emanates off of her.  She is not aware of it.  Her husband can't smell it, but everyone else can.

Some years ago, I was blessed by going to one of her retreats.  She is an elderly lady who lived through a concentration camp.  Her experiences are filled with God's mercy and providence.  Again I was blessed, with a session of spiritual direction with her.  What does holiness smell like?  Holiness, to me, smells like Anne Marie Schmidt.   I don't remember what she said; I do remember how she made me feel.  I felt God holding me in His hands. I felt all anxiety melt away.  All I felt was love.  May God bless Anne Marie Schmidt.

Museum Surprise

Massachusetts Archives Museum was our day trip, today.  Hubby is hooked on genealogy.  I appreciated the history of the place.  But as I was walking around the genealogy section I was surprised by seeing a friend's picture.  Shocked!

There on a column was a picture of the Jepsens.  Don Jepsen died a few years back, but Jane is still around.  They used to come to my prayer group.  They were very vibrant members.  I remember them showing me this family picture and saying, "Look what you two started."

I said a prayer for Don and I think I'll telephone Jane.  (I can take a hint.)

Time Not Wasted

I noticed today when traffic was stopped, due to an accident, that I wasn't exasperated.  My reaction was "Good.  Now I can finish praying my rosary."

I guess I pray all day.  I talk to God like He was with me.  Well, He is.  Always.

What would I do if I weren't a prayerful person?  Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel?  Trying to find a good radio station?  Calling friends on my cell phone?

I welcome all the inconvenient stops.  "Good.  I can pray."

Stargate

Image from Wiki Commons

This afternoon while waiting for my "cloistered brothers" to come, I looked across the yard and saw this huge circular structure.  I asked what it was and was told that it once was a huge gong.  But the middle gong part broke, never to be from again.  That left this huge circular frame that I was looking at.

I learned that it was called Stargate.  My "cloistered brothers" tried it.  It didn't work.

*Stargate was a science fiction series where a person could be transported to another place.

Sometimes When You Lose, You Win

Artist -- MEK

My friend, Donna and I saw an advertisement about a cribbage night at a nearby church, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.  Donna and I have been learning to play.  The ad had a category for "recreational players", so we signed up.

It was a very small group. And Donna and I were the only recreational players.  So we played with each other.  She won once and I won once and we started a third game to break the tie but we got involved in a long conversation with someone and when we got back to the game we couldn't remember whose turn it was and we didn't care.  (You can tell we're not serious players.)  So we quit.

The people were so friendly.  It was not a cutthroat atmosphere.  I knew three people from town or church.  I made friends with two others.  Everyone else was nice, too.

And!  I won free ice cream and a gift certificate. Donna won some flowers and free ice cream.  They actually had more prizes than people, so everyone got something.  Everyone was a winner.

Walk for Hunger

Women prisons walking in Cadillac prison
France 1864 (ca)

Can you Help?

On Sunday, May 3, the men at Norfolk State Prison will join in Boston’s annual WALK FOR HUNGER by walking up to 20 miles within the prison confines (that means walking over 140 times the inside perimeter of "the Yard"). This is the 26th year that the men at MCI Norfolk will participate in this worthwhile event. Besides helping those who suffer from hunger, it gives the men an opportunity to reach out to those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Because it is difficult for the men to find sponsors, we are reaching out to the outside community for support. All sponsor donations will be sent to PROJECT BREAD in Boston to help feed those who are hungry and suffer from malnutrition.

If you are willing to sponsor the men for this year’s WALK FOR HUNGER at Norfolk State prison, please make your checks payable to:

PROJECT BREAD
Send to: Bethany House Ministries
1049 Main Street
Millis, MA. 02054

Once Bethany House receives all the donations, they will send them directly to Project Bread. If you could forward this email to your friends and communities my brother and I would be grateful.

We know that there are those who read this post and are unable to sponsor with a donation to Project Bread. However we ask you to please pray for our walkers at Norfolk State Prison and for all those who suffer from hunger and malnutrition throughout the world.

For more information you can go to Bethany House Ministries at http://www.bethanyhouseministry.com or call 508-376-9923.

Resiliency is more than bouncing back. It is growing through life. The men in Norfolk Prison whom John reaches are growing through and reaching out. I hope you will understand my request.

A Star for Mrs. Blake

A Star for Mrs. Blake is a novel by April Smith.  It's an historical novel about a subject I never heard of and an era of which I know little--after World War I.  The subject is Gold Star Mothers and their journey to France.

Five mothers are invited by the US government to go visit their sons' graves in France.  Well, a lot more than five ladies go, but the novel is the story of these particular mothers.  As a mother, at times the plot is heart wrenching.  As a woman, I found the story heart wrenching.  As a human being, I found the novel heart wrenching.  I loved it.

Two women come from New England, which were the most familiar characters to me.  The others were from New York.  Added to the stories of the mothers, were the stories of Lily and Thomas who were their "guides."  Lily was a nurse, and Tom was career army.  Eventually, all the characters will become enmeshed in tragedy--from the past and the present.  I won't spoil the plot, for you, sorry.

The story that I found the most interesting was Lily.  She became the scapegoat for a tragedy.  The bad guy was General Perkins.  I think this story interested me the most because I used to work for the government.  The mentality of the general was all so reminiscent!  When something went wrong, the first question was not "How do we fix this," but rather, "Who did this?"  Somebody has to take the blame and more often than not, it wasn't fair.  Lily, who was wrongly accused, was the one who took the bullet, so to speak.  Poor Lily, simpatico!

I loved the book.  It  kept me up way beyond my bedtime, for a few nights.  I learned history; I was entertained; and I fell in love with Girf.  Griffin Reed was a character I didn't tell you about.  That's because he's mine and I'm not sharing him.

Did I tell you I enjoyed the book?