Our Lord taught us the Our Father (the Lord’s prayer) as a guide to deeper prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13  (NABRE)

⁹ “This is how you are to pray:

This powerful prayer covers many aspects, such as leading  us to understand God’s holiness. His kingdom will have no end. God’s will will be done on earth and heaven. We thank Him for our daily bread. We ask forgiveness for our sins and those who have sinned against us. Above all it keeps us from sin and evil.

Pater Noster Catholic Church

Pater Noster Catholic Church is located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Within this holy site is a cave where Christians believed that Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer. This church is within walking distance from the Seven Arches Hotel where we stayed on our missionary journeys.

We prayed in the cave at Pater Noster and left some of our prayer petitions for the Carmelite nuns to collect and pray over. Unlike other holy sites, there is a small fee to enter this hallowed ground. This Byzantine church’s walls are covered with plaques made of tile framed in flowers. On these plaques are written the Lord’s Prayer in 140 languages. I can never remember where the English version of the prayers is located, but I always found it.

Bethany

The Mount of Olives is a few miles from Bethany, where Jesus must have made His way on foot to visit His friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Because Bethany is located in a Palestinian section of Jerusalem, only a Palestinian Arab guide could drive us to visit the site of the Church of Saint Lazarus and Lazarus’ tomb.  The church is surrounded by a Palestinian neighborhood and directly across the tomb is a home with a mustard tree. The owners of the home wait for us to finish visiting the tomb before approaching us to sell mustard seeds. This is the only place that I know of where you can purchase these biblical seeds. (Matthew 13:31-33)

We have on several occasions celebrated Mass with a wonderful Franciscan priest from Africa. On our last visit the church was preparing for the Easter Vigil. I asked the kind priest how many parishioners he had. His response was that there were only five Catholic families that are registered and attend Mass. Palestinian Christians are in the middle of all the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The war affects everyone in the Holy Land.

The grounds of the church are meticulously kept, but as soon as you leave the area of the church, the city looks abandoned and neglected. And that was before the current war.

Confirmation

Volunteering as a confirmation teacher at my parish has brought many things to light. For instance, I discovered through an ice breaker game that five of my students did not know the words to the Lord’s Prayer. Despite the fact that they are all baptized, and have completed the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, they did not know the prayer. So instead of blaming anyone, I will make sure that these students memorize The Lord’s Prayer.

First Holy Communion

I also teach a group of students preparing for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. The ages of my students in this class vary; there are several fourth graders and also a few seventh graders. When the class started last September, many of these students did not know the Lord’s Prayer as well. For this reason I gave them copies of the Our Father, along with the Hail Mary, and instructed them to memorize the prayers. To illustrate the importance of these prayers, each week a different student opens and closes our sessions with both prayers.

The Bible

This is my favorite book. I will always refer to the holy wisdom of God’s inspired words when teaching my students. You can never go wrong with Scripture because it always leads us to do the right thing.

How I Pray

I pray at different levels.  I begin with an opening prayer of praise and thanksgiving. These prayers may range from a simple petition to protect my loved ones to bombarding the heavens for something that’s troubling my heart. To get clarity from God, I go to Adoration. This is my happy place; it’s where God meets me. Any decision big or small I take to the Father. Of course I make wrong decisions that could lead to costly mistakes, but it’s usually because I did not pray beforehand.

An Example of How I Pray

I praise You and Honor You, Lord. You know the desire of my heart is to (special intention), but until I hear from You I will not move forward. Father, give me a sign to help me make this decision. If You open the door, please provide the means for this undertaking. Dear Jesus, You know of my impatient character; please give me special graces to wait for Your reply. Amen.

Eucharistic Adoration

Being before the Blessed Sacrament (the body of Christ) is my highest level of prayer. My mind is at ease, so all my thoughts are yielded to the Father. On my last visit I prayed a rosary and prayers from a small pamphlet I carry in my wallet. These prayers cover most of mine and others’ needs. In addition to these prayers I ask God’s will to be done in my life.

Although the drive is 20 minutes away from my home, nothing is more fulfilling than the emotional charge I receive when leaving Adoration because part of Him is with me. You do not need to be Catholic to pray at an Adoration Chapel. St. Martin de Porres in Yorba Linda, California, has perpetual Adoration. During Lent the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the sanctuary of the church during the day.

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for all students who do not know You. Lord, surround them with angels, both human and supernatural. May they hear Your still, small voice and answer the call to serve You. Amen.

Before visiting Mario I flew to Arizona to visit his mother Norma.

Arizona Bound

It was a short trip, two nights to be exact. My sister Norma works weekends, so I planned the trip accordingly. The main purpose for this visit was to meet Gabriel, my niece Maggie’s baby.

The Laundry

Norma and I always have a great time together. We have a lot in common; we are both insecure drivers, always asking Jesus to intervene on our behalf. When I arrived I was wearing a really cute, comfortable outfit, but some of the chicken tostada that I had for lunch stained my top. I wanted to wash it so that I could wear it home. Norma had just put a load in the washer and suggested, “I can throw it in with my laundry, I just started the load.” I got a flashback about all the bleach stains on her black pants and answered, “No, I’m okay.”

While Norma was getting her clothes out to transfer them  to the dryer, she noticed her black pants with a lot of white residue. “Oh my gosh, my pants are still dirty! I need to wash them again.” Then she pulled  her mophead out of the washer. She had forgotten to get the mop out of the machine when she threw in her dark colors. I breathed a sigh of relief!

Mass and Adoration

Lent is very important to me, so I wanted to be sure to attend Mass. We attended the 8:30 a.m. Mass. When I found out that All Saints Catholic Church has perpetual Adoration, I asked Norma and her grandson Eli if they wanted to go into the Adoration Chapel. Eli said that he loved the Mass and Adoration. Although this is about 20 minutes away from Norma’s home, she frequently goes there.

All Catholic churches have Adoration. For instance at my parish it is only on the first Friday of the month. So to say that I was excited is an understatement. I love being before the Blessed Sacrament. You can feel the holiness in knowing that you are in the presence of God.

Bible Study

Norma planned a dinner of mole.  Mole is  chicken prepared  in a sauce made with chili pepper, spices and chocolate. We also had potato salad and mixed green vegetables. My sister lives in senior cottages. She fixed a plate for one of her neighbors. Norma is so generous with her meals.

Our Bible study followed dinner. This grateful neighbor joined Jacob, Norma’s other grandson, Eli and Norma for the Bible study.

Chapter thirty-seven of Genesis describes Joseph and his eleven brothers. I love this story. Joseph went through so many trials.  He was sold into slavery, then thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. Joseph’s prolific life is still a testament but the Lord was at his side the entire time. We look to him as an example of fortitude in knowing that with God we will prevail.

Meeting Baby Gabriel

I finally got to meet Gabriel, my niece Maggie’s baby. We met halfway for dinner and had the most delightful time. I had a Margarita and started talking too much. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a lightweight when it comes to alcohol. Maggie, Gabriel and baby Gabriel were an added joy this visit.

The Confirmation

Before I left for Arizona, I made an appointment to visit Mario. I attended Mass and the Gospel on Friday was from Genesis 37. I had planned to read that same chapter to Mario! This is how God works in my life; He always confirms my plans to alleviate any doubt I may have. Norco, CA  is about 30 minutes from my home. From past visits I discovered that St. Mels Catholic Church has Adoration every Friday. So before the visit I drove to Adoration, which is located seven minutes from the prison. I Asked God for total surrender and for our visit to be led by the Holy Spirit.

The Line

Normally I’m the first to arrive at the facility, but since I  had attended Adoration a line had formed. I quickly became the clothes police telling two women that they did not meet the prison dress code, so for about two seconds I felt empowered. One lady from Delano had driven five hours to visit her son. She did not bring any money with her. The rest of us know better because part of the visit is breaking  bread with the person you are visiting. I felt bad for her.

Then I witnessed something that I can’t erase from my mind. A husband and wife were sitting in front of me (I was standing). Then the man plucked a hair from his wife’s chin. I was so disgusted by this action that I looked away.  But when I lifted my head, they were examining the hair! Lord, please get this vision out of my head!

The Checkpoints

We go through two clearances. The first one is minimal; the officers check your ID and make note of the jewelry you’re wearing. They also check the money you bring and use a hand metal detector. From there we formed another line to pass through double gates.

This is the second checkpoint. We sit and wait for our names to be called. At this point we must remove our shoes and belts and get a stamp on the inside of our right wrists. They double-check your jewelry,  then we must walk through a metal detector. Usually these officers are indifferent and rarely have eye contact with us, but the next set of officers are a little more personal. I always feel that we, the visitors, are treated like inmates.

As I hand in my ID, I ask for an outdoor table in the shade. Even though my words are ignored, my request is generally honored.

Table Thirty-One 

I purchased all the food we are going to eat before Mario arrived.  As I passed the lady from Delano, I was convicted because I had all this food in my hands. When Mario arrived I got up and purchased water and a package of Oreo cookies for her and her son. Table thirty-one was perfect.

Bible Study And Buttercup

I had so much to share with Mario about my visit with his mom. I told him about the mop and then I remembered that Norma had wrecked her car. “How did she wreck the car?”  Mario asked. “She ran into her garage!” I answered.

I read from Genesis 37 and though Mario is familiar with the story we both received new insight. We discussed all the text but still could not quite figure out how long Joseph was in prison. We came to the conclusion he was imprisoned from three to eight years.

Mario talked about the puppy he’s training. He is in love with Buttercup because  she brings so much joy to his life. He is training Buttercup to become a service dog. Buttercup will remain with him for several more months.

Great news to report: Mario will be up for parole in mid-July! Please pray for him to do well.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank You for the visit with Norma. Lord, we are asking for favor that  Mario will be paroled in Arizona. Heavenly Father, let this transition be guided by You. I pray that all inmates would seek You for guidance and walk humbly before You. May they never feel abandoned. Amen.

The Gospel reading for Sunday’s Mass was about the Transfiguration.

This Lent is different from last year.  I have incorporated more prayer by shutting out the noise and placing a time limit on social media. My commitment to fasting from noise and social media has deepened my prayer time. I use social media as a means to promote my Blog, so by 5:00 p.m. I shut it down. This is a big sacrifice because during these hours I find myself immersed, being entertained by meaningless posts that occupy too much of my time. May the Good Lord grant me favor; I pray that this will become a permanent change.

Purifying Your Mind

A subtle change has entered my mind. When I start to say something unfavorable about another person, the Holy Spirit filters my words. When God clearly is guiding our thoughts, the evidence of holiness is revealed. For instance, the other day during a phone conversation, the person on the other end was speaking critically about someone we both knew. Normally I would with agreed their statements and added to the conversation. But this time I was overwhelmed with anxiety. It was so bothersome that my heart started beating at an accelerated rate.

Listening to those  harsh words spoken distressed my spirit. Only after I ended the conversation did I come to this realization: the Lord is stripping me of uncharitable behavior.

Following these two great apps daily helps me keep my focus on seeking God.

Hollow App

This is my second year with Hollow. It may be a little on the expensive side, but for ninety days you can subscribe for free. I pray the rosary alongside Jonathan Roumie, as well as following The Catechism In One Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz. I’m also listening to Lent Pray 40.

Lately it’s been a bit challenging to complete the rosary, so this app is allowing me to devote more time and discipline to prayer.

Ascension App

Fr. Josh Johnson from Ascension is teaching how to be Set Free: Daily Lenten Reflections to Overcome the Seven Deadly Sins. In the segment on sloth, Fr. Johnson shared a prayer that we should all be praying as soon as  we wake up. He stated that all consecrated religious, including the Pope, pray this prayer daily: “Lord open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.”

The Seven Deadly Sins

Pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth are the seven deadly sins. These sins  are deadly because they are the root causes of other sins that lead to moral corruption. So many lost souls are filled with pride, which opens other doors like greed and envy. Personally sloth has caused my prayer life to become stagnant because of worldly distractions. Lord, deliver me from sloth!

Outward Purging

“Pre diabetic” was written all over MyChart (an online personal medical record). I fight this diagnosis daily, and many times, I lose the battle. This condition can worsen very fast, so now I’m exercising daily. This regimen is new for me, so it takes a lot more discipline. Exercising three or four times a week was the norm, but that’s now changing.

In the last four years I’ve managed to shed 25 pounds, but apparently I need to lose more. Since my favorite foods are all carb-related, it’s been a challenge to bring my numbers down. If I eat too many carbs, it’s followed by a 20-minute walk.

The Getty Museum 

Mikos and Jenny invited us to visit The Getty Museum in Los Angeles. We knew this venture entails a lot of walking, and we also had to climb many flights of stairs. With a slower pace, both Mike and I kept up. And the best part was I was not winded.

In 1974 the J. Paul Getty Museum opened. Its grounds are as beautiful as its art. Sometimes Mother Nature can be so generous; on this particular day she brightened the sky with a crispy breeze that provided spectacular views. Even though this museum is within driving distance, we had never been there. Off the busy 405 freeway, every time we’d pass the museum I’d make a mental note that one day we would pay it a visit. This museum is free of charge, but you do need to make reservations.

The Art

Of course I wanted to see the famous works of Van Gogh, Rembrandt and any religious artwork. What goes through the mind of great artists while they’re painting? Are their hands and minds moved by God? All that I can say is this: All their gifts are from God. Artists, whether they realize it or not, touch so many by their works. On the other hand, we walked into a modern artist’s work. Although it was beautifully done, this artist had been influenced by the darkness of the occult.

Seeing with my own eyes the beauty captured by Van Gogh’s Irises, made me want to become an art critic. But in my non artistic words, it is simply beautiful. Flowers always represent joy, a new life springing, and this is what I received from Van Gogh’s masterpiece. I felt blessed to finally see one of his paintings.

We are in the second week of Lent and, with a lot of effort, I can feel a difference in my spirit. The more I yield to practicing good virtues, the closer I feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I love being in His Holy Presence. There is a gentle peace that can only come from God. Nothing else suffices.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for all the gifts You have bestowed on Your people. May those You have hand picked to make a difference in the world have a great awakening. Lord, we are all a blank canvas, waiting for Your Masterful hand to complete in us the beautiful work  for what we were created. Reveal the gifts You have set aside for us, and may we guard and protect them. Amen.