A Note from Heaven

In a blog dating back to April 15, 2019, I wrote about my Mexican sister, Ana Isabel Lopez Borquez. In 2012, her battle with cancer came to an end y ahora ella está en el Cielo.  The reason for today’s blog has to do with a Holy Spirit moment I had today. It brought me much joy, so I want to share it with you.

Back in 2010, as my mission group was boarding the bus bringing us back to the United States from our final Lasallian mission together, Ana handed me a book entitled Oraciones (prayers). I put the book in my bag and didn’t give it much thought. I wish I would have known that would be the last time that I would see my Mexican sister.

When I arrived home, I added that book to a box of books for future reading and never really thought about it again. That box of books has made it through four different moves without me even looking at the books inside. The box is currently in my laundry room under another box.  As I was doing laundry today, that book was sticking out of the top of the box, which was very strange. With a laundry basket in one hand, I reached down and grabbed it. When I put down the basket, I opened the book and found a beautiful note from Ana, a note from heaven. Since I had never opened the book, I had never seen her note. As you can see in the picture, her note is in Spanish.

 

The question that came to mind was why. Why was that book sticking out even though there was another box on top of it? Why was I just now seeing this for the first time? 

Even though I am fluent in Portuguese, and the languages are similar, I’m not fluent in Spanish. Because I want to become fluent in Spanish, I’m on day 969 of Duolingo. Back in 2010, if I would have opened the book, I would have had a hard time reading her note and the prayers. And her note to me would not have had the same meaning as it does today. Today, I was able to read her note with ease and started reading the prayers in the book as well. Plus, my faith has greatly increased in the fifteen years since Ana gave me this book. This makes so much sense to me now because of the increase in faith and wouldn’t have made as much sense back then.

 

The Holy Spirit waited until time was right for me to appreciate Ana’s gift. Coincidence? Oh no! Definitely not! A coincidence is God working anonymously in your life. I have no doubt that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, and I could not be more thankful for this gift today. This is a gift fifteen years in the making, all in God’s time. I have a feeling Ana knew that I would read her note from heaven when the time was right.

 

I wish everyone many Holy Spirit moments.  Holy Spirit moments really feel good. When those moments occur, accept them with joy and be thankful. “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” – Romans 8:14

 

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit,

instructs the hearts of the faithful,
grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

God bless you,

Didier

Roaming Catholic

In my previous blog, I wrote about attending daily Mass. I not only enjoy attending daily Mass, I also enjoy being a roaming Catholic. Simply put, I enjoy roaming around to attend different Masses. This blog is about my nine-day plan to attend Mass at nine different places, and it has been a short wonderful and spiritual journey.

I started on Thursday, November 20th by attending Mass at the chapel at Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center. Fr. Carl Hood from St. Francis celebrated that Mass for the Catholic school leaders and members of the diocesan Catholic school board.

On Friday, I attended our weekly all-school Mass at St. Ann - Bartlett. Fr. Jacek Kowal celebrated that Mass for the student. It is heartwarming seeing our students serve the Mass as greeters, altar servers, lectors, gift bearers, and in the choir.

On Saturday, our Cursillo grouping attends Mass at Ave Maria with Fr. Mike Morgera. We usually have about six to nine Cursillistas attending that Mass before our weekly grouping. Fr. Mike is part of our grouping as well.

For Sunday Mass, my family attends St. Michael with Fr. Ben Bradshaw. We live about one mile from St. Michael and Fr. Ben is a good family friend. He married both my children and Baptized my granddaughter. His homilies really hit home for so many, and just what many of us need.

I attended Mass on Monday at St. Louis with Fr. Keith Stewart. Not sure there is a more active daily Mass in our diocese than daily Mass at St. Louis. Even though St. Louis is not my parish, I feel as if I know half the people there.

On Tuesday, I attended Mass at Holy Rosary. I've been to Mass at Holy Rosary on several occasions, but that was my first Mass with Fr. Jeo Poulose. I got to put a name with a face. I enjoyed his homily.

Nativity in Bartlett with Fr. José Cruz was my choice for Wednesday's Mass. Nativity is a beautiful and welcoming church.  I enjoy attending Mass there with Fr. José.

Thursday was Thanksgiving day. I attended Mass at Immaculate Conception with Bishop David Talley presiding. Fr. Kacper Wojcieszko was the homilist for that Mass. Like the Mass at St. Louis, I knew quite a few people there.

Now for the last Mass of my nine-day plan. I attended St. James with Fr. Gerald Azike. Not sure you are going to find a more welcoming priest in our diocese than Fr. Gerald. If you have never attended Mass at St. James, you are missing out. I like going there for the Spanish Mass. The Mass times on their website might not be accurate so check with masstimes.org before heading to St. James.

What did I gain from being a roaming Catholic and attending nine different Masses in nine days? The answer is great spiritual growth. I want to grow in my faith and grow closer to God. Receiving the Eucharist in different places helps me to stay more focused on the words and actions taking place in the Mass. The prayers are important and I don't want to daydream my way through Mass. Everything becomes more intentional. I don't just go through the motions. I participate in the Mass and not just being present for the Mass. For these nine Masses, what helped to make me more intentional was that I had to plan which Mass I would attend and at what time. It wasn't a last minute or automatic decision. I had to be intentional in my actions.

The Church offers so much goodness. For me, it would be a shame not to be a part of all the Church has to offer. I got to experience the grandeur of the Cathedral and St. Louis as well as the down to earth warmth of Nativity and St. James. I had the honor of praying with my Cursillo brothers at Ave Maria. I heard short yet powerful daily Mass homilies from many of the priest. I like the short daily Mass homilies that give us a better insight of the daily readings. I experienced the hospitality of Fr. Gerald, the faith-filled passion of Fr. Carl, the insight of Fr. Kacper, the inclusion of Fr. Jacek, the enthusiasm of Bishop Talley, the wisdom of Fr. Keith, the piety of Fr. Jeo, the humility of Fr. Jose, and the friendships of Fr. Mike and Fr. Ben.

These nine days happen to come together just right. Not sure when I'll have an opportunity like this again. It will probably have to wait until I retire. Until then, I will do my best to be a roaming Catholic. Being a part of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis brings me much joy. And, I want to experience all the Church has to offer.

Live Jesus in our hearts...Forever! Amen!

Daily Mass

St. Ann Altar

"Only God knows the good that can come about by reading one good Catholic book" - St. John Bosco

The one good Catholic book for me was Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. This book helped catapult me on a quest to learn as much as I can about my Catholic faith. For years, reading Catholic books has been my norm.

One of the many books I read was The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn. Hahn's book has taken me to an even higher level of faith in helping to create in me a desire to attend Mass as often as possible. It has helped me to understand the meaning of the Mass and all that is taking place at the Altar, which has given me a desire to become a daily communicant.

A daily communicant is a person who receives Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist every day or as often as possible. I have for some time now been a daily communicant; Monday through Friday at St. Ann-Bartlett, Saturday at Ave Maria, and Sunday at St. Michael.

Why do I go to daily Mass? I spend those 30-minutes each morning focusing on God. It feels good to hang out with Jesus at the foot of the Cross and receive the Eucharist. Plus, the church is the perfect place to pray for others and thank God for His many blessings.

I invite you to attend one morning Mass with me and bring your family with you. Once Mass ends at 6:45am, you have plenty of time to get some breakfast before getting to where you need to be. It is a great way to start your day.

“How happy is that guardian angel who accompanies a soul to Holy Mass!” – St. John Vianney

Morning Mass starts at 6:15am at St. Ann. It is usually held in the chapel but lately we have been in the big church.

Also, I have ten copies of Rediscovering Catholicism in my office. If you would like a copy, it is yours.

God bless you,

Didier Aur