Good and Perfect Gifts

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17
















I was overcome by sin, shaking inside and out
from the mess I had made of my life
and He offered me the Sacrament of Reconciliation
with the promise of a celebration in the end.
"Go have an ice cream cone for your penance"
the priest said.

I was feeling insignificant and invisible
looking for a little affirmation to draw me
out of my self-pity.
Father stopped and thanked me
for being a role-model by
faithfully bringing my children
to Mass each day. Those words lifted my spirits
and opened me to pay attention to others
who may be in need of a bit of praise.

I was looking for something new,
feeling worn down by the familiarity
of my faith.
He drew me to a Holy Hour
where enchantingly beautiful girls
covered their long hair with lace mantillas
and dressed in modestly long skirts;
where incense filled my nostrils and my
ears were delighted by prayers in Latin.

I wanted peace and quiet
after too many hours of frantic
weekend activity, racing from one place
to the next at a dizzying pace.
I found it in a Taize prayer service
where the hush of silence in glowing candlelight
punctuated by harmonious chants
stilled my weary soul.

I needed a smile to start my day and God blessed
me with a husband who remembers the fun of childhood,
and loves to amuse me in the most joyful of ways.
I sat behind the steering wheel of the van, ready to begin my day
and smiled at the prayer card of Archbishop Listecki that was
looking back at me-a visual sign from my husband
that he had been in the van before me and wanted to
cue me into his presence.
What he didn't know was that was the day of the week
which I had signed up to pray the rosary for the good Archbishop,
and my husband's little prank
was a pleasant reminder to do just that.

God always knows what I need-whether it be
forgiveness
a little praise
a unique way to pray
peace and quiet
a smile
or a reminder to pray for others-
He always makes sure that I receive it!

Praise be our God who cares for us so well!

A Joyful Mystery on Gaudete Sunday

Our parish youth group met this past Sunday. Paul and I are on the advisory committee that helps to plan, prepare and chaperone the teens’ events. We began our Gaudete Sunday celebration by attending Mass together as a group, families and teens together. The teens were invited to carry the Rose-colored Advent Candle to the front of church during the entrance procession and to place it in the Advent Wreath. As they stood in front of church, their beautiful smiles lit up the house of prayer as much as the flames flickering on the Advent Wreath!

That evening we gathered again at church to pray at a Taize Prayer Service. During that hour of beautiful chanted hymns by candlelight, our group of 15 teens and several other family members were blessed by peaceful Taize chant and prayerful silence. As I sat in front of the Holy Family Icon, I prayed for my own family. I asked God to bless us with our own special form of holiness and I felt joy well up inside of me as I focused on my blessings, knowing that God heard my prayer and would help us to model our lives on that of the Holy Family.

As we left the church to walk over to the parish center, flakes of pure, white snow were silently falling from the night sky. I felt it was a gift from heaven, God’s own way of silently rejoicing.

Upon entering the parish center, our group decorated Christmas cookies that I had baked earlier in the week. My sixteen-year-old son, John, spontaneously arose from his chair, embraced me, and said, “I love you, Mom!” Our youth minister, standing nearby, became teary-eyed at that sight. She spoke of how her four-year-old son is very open about showing affection and she only hopes that he will continue to be affectionate well into his teen years. I cannot remember any time when I had ever felt so proud. That moment was followed by another beautiful sight, as I saw my daughter Mary climb into 14-year-old Justin’s lap to snuggle during a Christmas movie.

I know that God answered my prayer that night, and in an immediate way. My children love Paul and I, and they love each other, and there is nothing holier than that! I often ponder the mystery of how God could come to bless me with five wonderful children and a loving spouse when I so often let Him down with sin. I catch myself in mistakes over and over again, especially mistakes of harshness towards my children, and coldness towards my husband, and yet, they keep showering me with nothing but love and warmth. My family is a reflection of God’s love for me through their generous gifts of loving words and actions that they share so frequently and openly. It is a Joyful Mystery and all I can do in response is rejoice! Gaudete!

Taize' Prayer-A Pilgrimage of Trust

Darkness envelops the spacious yet intimate church. Then, one by one- beginning at the altar- the lights of hundreds of candles begins to cast a warm glow, banishing the dark and bringing about the light of the Risen Christ. Groups of candles draw attention to hand-painted icons portraying Jesus, Mary, and the Saints, each brush stroke a prayer by the painter. The church remains beautifully silent as all gather in peace. Our unified hush is a poignant prayer in itself, a prayer of love and worship. Quiet voices begin to chant, emphasizing a recurrent refrain, alongside chanted verses of Scripture. Silence resumes allowing the words of our chant to hover in the air and fill our hearts. Scripture readings are gently spoken followed by reflective silence that permits the Word to be immersed into our souls. This sequence of silence, song, scripture- with meditation and icons is the substance of the liturgical prayer from the Taizé monastery.


Taizé is the name of the village in Burgundy, France in which Brother Roger Schutz settled in 1940. Here, beginning in a plain farmhouse, he offered hospitality to refugees- particularly French Jews- suffering the hardships and dangers of WWII. By the end of the war, he began a common life of prayer with 6 other men who were committed to celibacy and a life of community. Their basis was the Rule of Saint Benedict, which Brother Roger greatly respected. Brother Roger devoted his entire life to the unity of all Christians. Although he had been a Protestant pastor, he entered into full communion with the Catholic Church, and every Pope has admired his foundation of a monastery that included Protestant and Catholic monks since the community’s beginnings. He died during evening prayer in Taizé on August 16, 2005.

Today the village of Taizé draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, seeking the community offered through prayer for all Christians. Led now by Prior Brother Aloïs Löser, Taizé brothers travel the world to encourage Christian unity in what they call “A Pilgrimage of Trust.” A strong Christian witness that crosses denominational lines, ages, and nationalities, is considered “a parable of communion,” extending reconciliation and the love of Christ to all.

Taizé Prayer is a beautifully peaceful time to contemplate God’s love and to allow His voice to be heard in the silence of your heart. A typical worship service includes: one or two opening songs, a psalm, a song of light, scripture readings interspersed with more song, a time of silence, a prayer of intercession or adoration, the Lord’s Prayer and a concluding prayer.


Taize’ Prayer is a “don’t miss” prayer occasion, a chance to escape from the busyness of the hectic pace of life and spend some quiet time with God. For more information about Taize’ visit: the Taize' Community. A special thank you to Speculator at La Vie Graphite for your helpful expertise in this story! Merci!