When Problems Weigh Us Down

            A young mother sits in front of her one-year-old child, feeling so depressed while holding to her unpaid bills. She fought with her husband the night before, for he used up all his salary to have a good time. Her son, sitting on a high chair, calmly sucks his pacifier. Her emotions get the best of her and she starts crying. Sobbing uncontrollably she picks her son up and hugs her tightly. Seeing her mom cry, the child takes his pacifier and sticks it to his mom’s mouth.

No one is exempt from troubles and problems that weigh man down. All of us in one way or another have experienced depression, loneliness and exhaustion. It is so consoling to know that in the midst of all these heaviness that we have in our hearts, there is a God who is very much willing to see us through. He offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.

Brett Blair tells of an old story about a little boy who was out helping dad with the yard work. Dad asked him to pick up the rocks in a certain area of the yard. Dad looked over and saw him struggling to pull up a huge rock buried in the dirt. The little boy struggled and struggled while Dad watched. Finally, the boy gave up and said, “I can’t do it.” Dad asked, “Did you use all of your strength?” The little boy looked hurt and said, “Yes, sir. I used every ounce of strength I have.” The father smiled and said, “No, you didn’t. You didn’t ask me to help.” The father walked over and then the two of them pulled that big rock out of the dirt.

And that is all that we need to do. There is a Father who is very much willing to unburden us, to lighten the load on our backs. All we need to do is ask.

And the hotline to Heaven?! P-R-A-Y-E-R

Love of a Mother: A Mother's Sacrifice

A friend of mine forwarded a very beautiful and touching story of how a mother is willing to do anything for the love of her child. It touched my heart, hope it touches yours...


My mom only had one eye. I hated her... She was such an embarrassment. My mom ran a small shop at a flea market. She collected little weeds and such to sell... Anything for the money we needed she was such an embarrassment. There was this one day during elementary school.


I remember that it was field day, and my mom came. I was so embarrassed.


How could she do this to me? I threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school..."Your mom only has one eye?!" and they taunted me.




I wished that my mom would just disappear from this world so I said to my mom, "Mom, why don't you have the other eye?! You're only going to make me a laughingstock. Why don't you just die?" My mom did not respond. I guess I felt a little bad, but at the same time, it felt good to think that I had said what I'd wanted to say all this time.


Maybe it was because my mom hadn't punished me, but I didn't think that I had hurt her feelings very badly.


That night...I woke up, and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. My mom was crying there, so quietly, as if she was afraid that she might wake me. I took a look at her, and then turned away.


Because of the thing I had said to her earlier, there was something pinching at me in the corner of my heart. Even so, I hated my mother who was crying out of her one eye. So I told myself that I would grow up and become successful, because I hated my one-eyed mom and our desperate poverty.


Then I studied really hard. I left my mother and came to Seoul and studied, and got accepted in the Seoul University with all the confidence I had. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. Then I had kids, too. Now I'm living happily as a successful man. I like it here because it's a place that doesn't remind me of my mom.


This happiness was getting bigger and bigger, when someone unexpected came to see me "What?! Who's this?!" ...It was my mother...Still with her one eye. It felt as if the whole sky was falling apart on me. My little girl ran away, scared of my mom's eye.


And I asked her, "Who are you? I don't know you!!!" as if I tried to make that real. I screamed at her "How dare you come to my house and scare my daughter! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!" And to this, my mother quietly answered, "oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she disappeared. Thank goodness... She doesn't recognize me. I was quite relieved. I told myself that I wasn't going to care, or think about this for the rest of my life.


Then a wave of relief came upon me...one day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. I lied to my wife saying that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went down to the old shack, that I used to call a house...just out of curiosity there, I found my mother fallen on the cold ground. But I did not shed a single tear. She had a piece of paper in her hand.... It was a letter to me.


She wrote:

My son...




I think my life has been long enough now. And... I won't visit Seoul anymore... But would it be too much to ask if I wanted you to come visit me once in a while? I miss you so much. And I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I decided not to go to the school.... For you... I'm sorry that I only have one eye, and I was an embarrassment for you.




You see, when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with only one eye... So I gave you mine...I was so proud of my son that was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. I was never upset at you for anything you did. The couple times that you were angry with me.




I thought to myself, 'it's because he loves me.' I miss the times when you were still young around me.




I miss you so much. I love you. You mean the world to me.



Love,


Mother


My world shattered!!!


Then I cried for the person who lived for me... My Mother


 

I hope it will not be too late for you. Love your Mother coz she loves you!

Another "miracle" to be thankful with

I was bother, before I slept, about things that is currently happening, My mom has a mini-retaurant. However, since there is a little land dispute over the structure that my mom has been operating, that bothers me. To think it deals with the brothers and sisters of my father. I am so worried because I do not want them to have conflict over these matters since these matters can be solve right away. However, since my aunt, and I am praying for her enlightenment, is kindda straining everything. She invited one of her friend to put up a store beside my mom's mini-resto. The conflict started here. Her friend has the impression that she owns the place. Yesterday due to a heated arguement of one of the tenant of my mom, she went straight to my aunt to report the matter and to ask her to reprimand the tenant. Before I slept, as I was doing my daily rosary, I was meditating on the sorrowful mysteries and in my mind was the picture of the friend of my aunt asking the Blessed Mother to intercede for me and my family, and on another instance in my mind was the picture of my aunt, that the Good Lord will enlighten her. I felt good after my prayers and I was pretty much positive that something good will happen. Indeed, something great did happen! When I woke up, my mom was already at the house, she told me that the "friend of my aunt" talked to her. She asked sorry for what happened. She narrated that on her way to my aunt's house, she say my father on his way to the mini-resto, then she realized that what she will be doing- the reporting to my aunt- will affect the relationship of my father and my aunt and that the main reason would be her. So she went back and did not continue her plan of telling my aunt. PRAISE BE THE LORD!!!, Thank you Mama Mary, my Mother!

Indeed, there is no intention or petition that will not be granted if you call on our Heavenly Mother. She is the Mother of our Redeemer, our Redeemer listens to her, just as a son listens to her mother. One way of talking to our Holy Mother is through her Rosary. It is our hotline to Heaven.

Try it, say it with all your heart and believe....

I want to share these 2 beautiful quotes about the Rosary. Hope this helps you:

"Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been so favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary" - Pope Pius IX

"Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother" - St. Padre Pio

Thanksgiving!

It has been a habit lately, before I go to sleep, to pray the rosary. I do not have any problems as to its recitation, the prayers, the mysteries but the only stuggle I have is when the sandman comes. I am stuggling to keep awake. There are times I pass out and sleep a bit.
My experience yesterday was quite good. I was able to fight my sleepiness, however, I still need to perfect it.
One of the petition I have when praying the rosary is for me and my family to have prosperity. Something happened when I woke up that my family and I have been always dreaming. I thank you Mother Mary, blessings has been coming in little by little, I have been feeling it. I can sense it. With all my heart, body and soul in behalf of my family.I thank thee for interceding for me and my family. Please protect us with the mantle of your love. May you be praised, together with your Most Divine Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. May He be praised and glorified forever. May your rosary be prayed by every single soul in this earth.
Thank you Mama Mary! We love you so much!

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, also know as St. Louis Gonzaga

Here is a short biography of Aloysius courtesy of Catholic Encyclopedia and Wikipedia:

"Born in the castle of Castiglione, 9 March, 1568; died 21 June, 1591. At eight he was placed in the court of Francesco de'Medici in Florence, where he remained for two years, going then to Mantua. At Brescia, when he was twelve, he came under the spiritual guidance of St. Charles Borromeo, and from him received First Communion. In 1581 he went with his father to Spain, and he and his brother were made pages of James, the son of Philip II. While there he formed the resolution of becoming a Jesuit, though he first thought of joining the Discalced Carmelites. He returned to Italy in 1584 after the death of the Infanta, and after much difficulty in securing his father's consent, renounced his heritage in favour of his brother, 2 November, 1585, a proceeding which required the approval of the emperor, as Castiglione was a fief of the empire. He presented himself to Father Claudius Acquaviva, who was then General of the Society, 25 November, 1585. Before the end of his novitiate, he passed a brilliant public act in philosophy, having made his philosophical and also his mathematical studies before his entrance. He had in fact distinguished himself, when in Spain, by a public examination not only in philosophy, but also in theology, at the University of Alcalá. He made his vows 25 November, 1587. Immediately after, he began his theological studies. Among his professors were Fathers Vasquez and Azor. In 1591 when in his fourth year of theology a famine and pestilence broke out in Italy. Though in delicate health, he devoted himself to the care of the sick, but on March 3 he fell ill and died 21 June, 1591. He was beatified by Gregory XV in 1621 and canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726. His remains are in the church of St. Ignazio in Rome in a magnificent urn of lapis lazuli wreathed with festoons of silver. The altar has for its centerpiece a large marble relief of the Saint by Le Gros.

"Aloysius was buried in the Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, that had later become the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Rome. His name was changed to Robert before his death, in memory of his confessor. Many people considered him to be a saint soon after his death, and his mortal remains were moved to the Sant'Ignazio church in Rome, where they now rest in an urn of lapis lazuli in the Lancelotti Chapel. His head was later translated to the basilica bearing his name in Castiglione delle Stiviere. He was beatified only fourteen years after his death by Pope Paul V, on October 19, 1605. On December 31, 1726, he was canonized together with another Jesuit novice, Stanislaus Kostka, by Pope Benedict XIII. Pope Benedict XIII also declared him to the patron saint of young students in 1729. In 1926, he was named patron of Christian youth by Pope Pius XI. Owing to the manner of his death, he has always been considered a patron saint of plague victims. In recent years, many have felt it proper to extend this to include people living with AIDS. St. Aloysius is also the patron of Valmontone, a town not far from Rome.

In art, St Aloysius is shown as a young man wearing a black cassock and white rochet, or as a page. His attributes are a lily, referring to innocence; a cross, referring to piety and sacrifice; a skull, referring to his early death; and a rosary, referring to his devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Saint Aloysius' feast day is celebrated on June 21, the date of his death. He is the patron saint of the family Rosselli Del Turco/Lais."

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for the youth, the future of our world, pray for us...

The feast day of Our Lady of Carmel

Yesterday before I slept, while I was thinking about the feast day of Our Lady of Carmel, which is today, I had a realization: why not write a blog about the Catholic Church, about Mama Mary, about our Lord, about my life, about my insight and about my thoughts instead of creating a worthless, no good blog.





I thank our Lady for giving me the inspiration and the strength to do this blog. I have made a very hard decision since I had a worthless, waste of time blog which leads its reader astray. Away from the divine love of our Lord.









I remember what Our Lady of Carmel said to St. Simon Stock:

"Whosoever dies clothed in this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire"


- Our Lady's scapular promise -

The awakening - The decision... YES I CAN

Blog - a frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and web links.

Blogger - someone or anyone who post to their own weblog

As I was growing up I always thought of keeping a diary. Documenting the important things and highlights of my life just so when I grow old, I have something to look back on the things that happened in my life. However, since I am a type of person who is very secretive, in a sense - mysterious. I fear that my family would make fun of me, of what I am writing, my insights, my thoughts - the fear and insecurities of growing up. now in the modern world that we have, I have decided to create my online diary: a blog.

My plan is to update this blog on my thoughts on some things, my likes, my dislikes, my inspiration, my desperation, my problem, my insecurities - in short: anything under the sun.

Above all things, I am dedicating this blog not just for myself but to my Creator - the Eternal living God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit together with the Most Blessed Virgin, my Mother and the Mother of us all. I am dedicating this blog to the Saints, Martyrs and Angels of God and for my Holy Mother Church.

May those who encounter this blog join me in my journey: to life, to praise our God, share problems, inspire and educate.

Always remember, everything happens for a reason. You did not encounter my blogsite just for nothing. You are here because you are looking for asnwers, because you are confused, because you need inspiration, and because your soul thirst - thirst for the love of God. Join me in this journey...