What's the big to-dew?

If your Eucharistic prayer was a "usual" this morning, you heard it twice....  you heard about dew.

The first time I heard "send down Your Spirit like the dewfall" I had to quick read the missalette to see if that's really what the priest said.  Dew doesn't fall!  Dew forms and it's just  ...  "there" in the morning.

Dew.  Have you ever really thought about it?  What does it mean to have the Spirit descend like the dewfall?  That's quite a gentle example, isn't it?  God doesn't force us to love him, we're not dumped on like a heavy rain.  If we're open to his Spirit, the fruits of that Spirit will become an outward sign of God's love.  Gently and quietly, we awaken to find that dew (the fruits of His labor) has formed and not only is God working in our lives, but He has become our source of life.

The folks in our first reading today experienced dewfall, too.  After their grumbling, God send them dew.  When the dew dried, what was left?  Manna.  Bread from heaven.  Their bread of life, supplied by God every day.  Did you know that God told Moses to put manna in the Ark of the Covenant?  OK, so they got tired of manna and kept complaining (just how much bamanna bread can one eat, anyway?), but that "bread of heaven" was saved in their tabernacle to remind them of who is taking care of them.

Remind you of anyone?  Sometimes we're like that, too.  Which reminds me...  I've got to remember to schedule some time to visit that Blessed Manna this week.  Life has been busy - the new boss moved in last month; the boys are preparing for school, one for high school, the other for college and we still haven't gotten away this summer!  Prayer time is usually the first to go when life gets in the way.  However, nothing refreshes the soul or allows the dew to fall and form, like a visit to the Tabernacle.  Find some time to pray this week.

Happy St. John the Baptist Day!

It's a Feast day!  The Feast of St. John the Baptist.  Got to attend Mass at West Bend with the bishop and some great friends.  I hadn't thought about this before:
The Feast of John the Baptist happens around the time when the days start to shorten.  The birth of Jesus happens when the days start to get longer.  Just like John said...  “[Christ] must increase. I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Isn't that cool?

Need a birthday gift idea?

Last week a good friend had a birthday.  She would tell you she didn’t want a gift.  This week, brings a couple more birthdays.  These friends would say the same thing.  So, I’ve decided on a new birthday gift plan.

What do you get someone who would say they don’t want a thing?  Perfect answer - a rosary!  

I made the birthday girl the recepient of my daily rosary.  I pray the mysteries with these intentions:

The first decade: In thanksgiving for the birthday person and the gifts that God gave them (that are a gift to me, too!)

The second decade:  For their family

The third decade:  For their health and well-being 

The fourth decade:  For their intentions and the people on their own prayer list

The fifth decade:  For their upcoming year and that they will be blessed

If it sounds like it takes a long time - just try it!  You don’t have it pray it all in one sitting, you can make it a part of your day all day long.  A decade here and there and by day’s end, you have gifted your friend with a gift that keeps on giving!

I dare you to try it.  You’d be amazed how much joy you will get with you give a rosary gift!!

Fortnight 4 Freedom

Wanted to let you know about some great resources for the Fortnight 4 Freedom that begins June 21.


The Archdiocese of Dubuque has a Litany for Liberty and a Fortnight for Freedom Novena.

I intend to use the Novena (which begins June 25) as our supper prayer.  That means it's 4 of us praying instead of 1!

You can find more info at Fortnight 4 Freedom

A quick note about Mass today:
From John 14:27-31a
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Fr. Bormann has been doing a great job of explaining scripture lately.  For example, today he talked about the second sentence, which actually is still about peace and could be read as:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not peace as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be afraid.

How often we see people looking for peace "as the world gives".  As we approach the year of evangelization, may we find our peace and strength in God first.  We can't give away what we don''t have.

Must-see video

December Globe Column

It was my turn to write again.  

Advent reflections to New Year’s resolutions

By Julie Storr
DCCW
Have you ever really thought about Advent? A few years ago, I started wondering what the very first Advent was like. You know the routine, Joseph and an expectant Mary on the way to Bethlehem to pay taxes. A Google Maps search says that Nazareth to Bethclehem is between 97 and 100 miles, depending on which route they chose. Joseph should also use caution as the route might be missing sidewalks and pedestrian paths. If we were going to walk it today, Google says it should take 1 day and 10 hours. I’m thinking Google’s idea of a day’s walk is different than mine.


So, how many miles can a pregnant lady make in a day? Did Mary “get” to ride a donkey? If so, was it a bumpy ride? What did they eat? Where did they stay along the journey? How many hours a day did they travel? Let’s be honest – they probably didn’t find many nice rest stops, either. I’ll bet Mary’s mom was worried. She couldn’t call Mary on her cell phone, either. Where was Mary on her Advent journey today? She wasn’t buying gifts, cleaning or making fudge. She was waiting. (Google also says it was probably 4 days of travel in Biblical times, in case you were wondering.)


No radio, no GPS, just the quiet travel to Bethlehem. Maybe Mary and Joseph sang. Maybe they talked about their visits from the angels (I’d like to have heard that conversation!). Did they talk about how this newborn would be like no other? Mary may have spent time in quiet prayer, asking God “why me?” then maybe Joseph said “why not you? Why not us?” “Will he be a good baby?” Mary could have even prayed “Lord, what were you thinking?” (I’ve prayed that one.) Or “Help me.” I pray that one a lot, actually.


Waiting. Joyful waiting to be more exact, that’s what Advent is about. Yet the season of joy, wonder and waiting seems to have become the busiest season, full of distractions. Baking, shopping, wrapping, parties, cleaning, travel, we quickly lose sight of what matters. Don’t despair! There’s still plenty of Advent left to make this season the most wonderful time of the year.


Try these ideas to add joyful waiting to your Advent and none of them are hard:
1. If you don’t already, attend one daily Mass during the week. Adding one more Mass to your week will bless you all the more. Let the Savior, born in Bethlehem (which actually means the ‘house of bread’ – cool, huh?) feed you with his love.
2. Find some time, at least once a week (every day if you can pull it off) for some quiet prayer –with the Blessed Sacrament in church if you can; a quiet spot in your home if you can’t. Ask Jesus to be with you and to show you what he wants you to learn today. Read the daily readings, use a reflection book. If you don’t have one, try the one at mycatholic.com/reflections. Maybe even try to think about where Mary was today or put yourself in the readings, as if the author was writing to you personally.
3. Add a good, solid Catholic book to your Christmas list (get another for your parish library!). Extreme Makeover by Teresa Tomeo is a good choice as you can use it for a book club or retreat. You can read about the saints, learn more about the Catechism, and discover something new about the Mass. God will reward you for it!
4. Turn off your distractions (like facebook, email or TV) and pray (not just say) a Rosary. This may help- www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com . Tune in a Catholic radio station. If you don’t have a local one, you can find plenty on line (try www.fhcradio.com). And, at least a couple nights a week, have a technology-free dinner with your family. Light a candle, too. They’ll love it. Actually, they may wonder what you’re up to, but oh well.


Don’t stop when Advent is over, either. You’ve started some wonderful habits that will become New Year’s resolutions that are easy to keep and that will change your life.


While winter has arrived, the diocesan council is already planning for spring.
Our convention will be April 21 in Moville. Watch the Globe for more information.


And from all of us at the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, we wish you a wonderful and very blessed Christmas.